ALBUM OF THE MONTH

Album # 48 is The Brondesbury Tapes by Giles, Giles & Fripp from 1968.

This is a collection of recordings that Robert Fripp and Michael and Peter Giles made in their living room just before the birth of the legendary group King Crimson.

If you like the early Crimson, Pink Floyd (the first lineup with Syd Barrett), The Beatles a' la Sgt. Pepper/Magical Mystery Tour and maybe also Monty Python you will probably love just this album! There are even some vocal harmonies that probably would make Brian Wilson satisfied.

The songs are basically psychedelic and humorous pop ballads, sometimes with jazzy solos and improvisations.
The line up (in different combinations) is Peter Giles on bass guitar and vocals, his brother Michael on drums and vocals, quite jazzy guitar by Robert Fripp, Ian McDonald handles the flute, clarinet, piano plus guitar and vocals. (Phew!) But most of the vocals are handled by the Giles brothers plus Judy Dyble of Fairport Convention on some of the tracks.

The music was recorded on a 2 track reel machine but GG&F still managed to make some advanced overdubbing. This was made through the technique of "bouncing" the recorded sound from one track to another while at the same time adding new musical instruments. The procedure was repeated several times which at the same time added hiss and distortion.

In spite of all this the audio quality is remarkably high. Some drop outs here and there, but in overall a great production when you consider the circumstances under which these songs were recorded.
...and the musicianship is excellent!

These recordings languished for over 30 years in a private collection.
In 1999 thirteen of these tunes were released on a vinyl pressing entitled Metaphormosis.
A couple of years later twenty-one tracks were digitally remastered and for the first time released on CD as The Brondesbury Tapes.

Highlights are the charming and catchy pop dittie She Is Loaded, the rocking Why Don't You Just Drop In (the seed of The Letters that was recorded for the Islands album in 1972), plus two pre Crimson versions of I Talk To The Wind.

S.H.

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