Easy Money

Another type of albums I don't include in my favorite albums are the live albums. There weren't really all that many of them that I listened to last year, but one of them was King Crimson's Live in Chicago. It was recorded June 28, 2017 and it was released October 14, not even 4 months later. And it is spectacular. Way spectacular. The band this time had 8 members - once again led by founding (and only constant) member Robert Fripp on guitar and mellotron. Original member Mel Collins was present on woodwinds and mellotron (and backing vocals), long time member Tony Levin on bass (man, I worship at this man's musical feet), Jakko Jakszyk on lead vocals and guitar, and then the four drummers: Bill Rieflin (although he now plays keyboards of just about any kind), Jeremy Stacey, long time collaborator Pat Mastellotto, and percussion hero Gavin Harrison. It is a monstrous lineup, and they play so amazingly well throughout that this is one of my absolute favorite live albums of all time. One of the classic King Crimson songs was originally released on the album Larks' Tongues In Aspic from 1973, where it opened side 2, and it has grown into one of my favorites - and this version is amazing. Easy Money.