Beat (King Crimson album)


Beat is the ninth studio album by the British rock band King Crimson, released in 1982 by record label E.G. It is the first King Crimson studio album to feature a band line-up identical to that of their previous album.

Background and production

According to the Trouser Press Record Guide, the album focused on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the publication of the novel On the Road by Jack Kerouac. The album makes several references to the writings of the Beat Generation:
Although not an obvious reference to any Beat-related writings, "Requiem" is notable for the drama it caused within the band. It is an improvisation set to the backdrop of a Frippertronics loop from Fripp's 1979 tour. Levin and Bruford recorded the rhythm tracks, and Belew returned to the studio alone to record more guitar overdubs. Fripp later did the same, and when the group had re-convened in the studio, Belew told Fripp to leave. He did, and was visibly upset. Fripp headed for Wimborne, and was not heard from for around three days. Bruford wrote a supportive letter and the group's manager at the time, Paddy Spinks, had a phone call with Fripp, where they managed to "piece it all back together". Belew would later apologise, but the group had broken up and didn't reunite until the 1982 tour.
Fripp has said this about the album's production: "At the time, Bill and Adrian thought that Beat was better than Discipline. For me, this is an indication of how far the band had already drifted from its original vision. The group broke up at the end of Beat... I had nothing to do with the mixing of Beat, nor did I feel able to promote it. Somehow we absorbed that fact, and kept going." Belew would later go on to say, "Beat was the most awful record-making experience of my life and one I would never choose to repeat." Both Belew and Bruford have said that "Heartbeat" and "Two Hands" shouldn't have been on the album. Regardless, the album was commercially successful and the group was well-received on tour.

Album cover

The halftone quaver image on the cover was designed by artist Rob O'Connor.

Release and reception

Released on 18 June 1982, Beat reached number 39 in the UK Albums Chart. Trouser Press wrote that "the players push their instruments into a new form, akin to fusion and art-rock, but miles beyond either, and beyond description as well."
A new 5.1 surround sound mix by Steven Wilson and Robert Fripp, started in 2009 and finished in 2013, was released on October 2016 for the 40th Anniversary Series as a standalone CD/DVD package and as part of the On The Road boxed set.

Legacy

The Chapman Stick introduction to "Sartori in Tangier" is featured in the first scene of the premiere of the MTV show The Maxx.

Track listing

by Adrian Belew, except "Two Hands", by Margaret Belew; music by Belew, Bill Bruford, Robert Fripp, and Tony Levin.

2016 40th Anniversary edition

Personnel

;King Crimson
;additional personnel
Album
YearChartPosition
1982Billboard Pop Albums52
1982UK Albums Chart39

Single
YearSingleChartPosition
1982"Heartbeat"Billboard Mainstream Rock57