Three of a Perfect Pair
Encyclopedia
Three of a Perfect Pair is an album by the band King Crimson
, released in 1984. The album is the culmination of the band's 80s period and is a balance between the experimental sounds of the "Red" album, Discipline, and the accessibility of the "Blue" album, Beat
. Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew took more control over the sound of the previous two albums. This caused rumors to spread that this album is a "Tony Levin album", however, there are no instences of anyone actually referring to it as such. Other have referred to this album as "Yellow" due to the packaging. It was noted for being quite clearly divided into a left and right side, with a third side added in 2001. This split was meant to emphasize Belew on the Beat
sounding first half, and Fripp on the Discipline sounding second half. It may have also been a concession to fans of King Crimson's poppier material, such that the album is front-loaded with the listener-friendly tracks. The title's meaning as well as the album's concept is based on there being "three sides to every story", representing "He, She, and They". The front cover designed by Peter Willis portrays a male lunar deity
on the top and a female solar deity
on the bottom, similar to that of Larks Tongues in Aspic.
Tracks 10-15 were added for the 2001 remaster. The three Sleepless mixes were previously available in separate vinyl releases of that single.
, Bill Bruford
, Robert Fripp
and Tony Levin
except where noted.
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
, released in 1984. The album is the culmination of the band's 80s period and is a balance between the experimental sounds of the "Red" album, Discipline, and the accessibility of the "Blue" album, Beat
Beat (King Crimson album)
Beat is an album by the British rock band King Crimson, released in 1982.Of King Crimson's thirteen studio albums, this is the only album that does not have a title track, although its title is included in the name of the song "Heartbeat"....
. Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew took more control over the sound of the previous two albums. This caused rumors to spread that this album is a "Tony Levin album", however, there are no instences of anyone actually referring to it as such. Other have referred to this album as "Yellow" due to the packaging. It was noted for being quite clearly divided into a left and right side, with a third side added in 2001. This split was meant to emphasize Belew on the Beat
Beat (King Crimson album)
Beat is an album by the British rock band King Crimson, released in 1982.Of King Crimson's thirteen studio albums, this is the only album that does not have a title track, although its title is included in the name of the song "Heartbeat"....
sounding first half, and Fripp on the Discipline sounding second half. It may have also been a concession to fans of King Crimson's poppier material, such that the album is front-loaded with the listener-friendly tracks. The title's meaning as well as the album's concept is based on there being "three sides to every story", representing "He, She, and They". The front cover designed by Peter Willis portrays a male lunar deity
Lunar deity
In mythology, a lunar deity is a god or goddess associated with or symbolizing the moon. These deities can have a variety of functions and traditions depending upon the culture, but they are often related to or an enemy of the solar deity. Even though they may be related, they are distinct from the...
on the top and a female solar deity
Solar deity
A solar deity is a sky deity who represents the Sun, or an aspect of it, usually by its perceived power and strength. Solar deities and sun worship can be found throughout most of recorded history in various forms...
on the bottom, similar to that of Larks Tongues in Aspic.
Tracks 10-15 were added for the 2001 remaster. The three Sleepless mixes were previously available in separate vinyl releases of that single.
Track listing
All songs written by Adrian BelewAdrian Belew
Adrian Belew is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer...
, Bill Bruford
Bill Bruford
William Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
, Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
and Tony Levin
Tony Levin
Tony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass ....
except where noted.
Side one (The Left Side)
- "Three of a Perfect Pair" – 4:13
- "Model Man" – 3:49
- "Sleepless" – 5:24
- "Man with an Open Heart" – 3:05
- "Nuages (That Which Passes, Passes Like Clouds)" – 4:47
Side two (The Right Side)
- "Industry" – 7:04
- "Dig Me" – 3:16
- "No Warning" – 3:29
- "Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Part III)" – 6:05
2001 remaster bonus tracks (The Other Side)
- "The King Crimson Barber Shop" (Levin) – 1:37
- "Industrial Zone A" – 1:44
- "Industrial Zone B" – 4:33
- "Sleepless" (Tony Levin Mix) – 7:26
- "Sleepless" (Bob ClearmountainBob ClearmountainBob Clearmountain is an award-winning American music engineer, mixer and producer. He has worked with many prominent names in music including Bruce Springsteen , The Rolling Stones , Bryan Adams , Robbie Williams Bob Clearmountain is an award-winning American music engineer, mixer and producer. He...
Mix) – 5:24 - "Sleepless" (Dance Mix: François KevorkianFrançois KevorkianFrançois Kevorkian, alias François K, is a French DJ of Armenian origin, remixer, producer and record label owner. Having started his career in renowned clubs such as the Paradise Garage and Studio 54, the New York City resident is widely considered as one of the forefathers of house...
) – 6:17
Personnel
- Adrian BelewAdrian BelewAdrian Belew is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer...
– vocals, fretted guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, fretless guitarFretless guitarA fretless guitar is a guitar without frets. It operates in the same manner as most other stringed instruments and traditional guitars, but does not have any frets to act as the lower end point of the vibrating string... - Robert FrippRobert FrippRobert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Tony LevinTony LevinTony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass ....
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, stickChapman StickThe Chapman Stick is an electric musical instrument devised by Emmett Chapman in the early 1970s. A member of the guitar family, the Chapman Stick usually has ten or twelve individually tuned strings and has been used on music recordings to play bass lines, melody lines, chords or textures...
, synthSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, vocals - Bill BrufordBill BrufordWilliam Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
– acoustic and electric drummingDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... 200 |
58 |