In the Wake of Poseidon

In the Wake of Poseidon is the second studio album by English progressive rock group King Crimson, released in May 1970 by Island Records in Europe, Atlantic Records in the United States, and Vertigo Records in New Zealand. The album was recorded during instability in the band, with several personnel changes, but repeats the style of their first album, In the Court of the Crimson King. As with their first album, the mood of In the Wake of Poseidon often and quickly changes from serene to chaotic, reflecting the versatile musical aspects of progressive rock. To date the album is their highest-charting in the UK, reaching number 4. It has been well received by critics.

In the Wake of Poseidon
Studio album by King Crimson
Released	15 May 1970
Recorded	January – April 1970
Studio	Wessex Sound, London
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	41:02
Label	Island Atlantic Vertigo
Producer	Robert Fripp Peter Sinfield
King Crimson chronology
In the Court of the Crimson King (1969) In the Wake of Poseidon (1970) Lizard (1970)
Singles from In the Wake of Poseidon
"Cat Food" Released: 13 March 1970

Background

Ian McDonald and Michael Giles left the band following their first American tour in 1969. Greg Lake was the next member to leave, after being approached by Keith Emerson to join what would become Emerson, Lake & Palmer in early 1970. This left Robert Fripp as the only remaining musician in the band, taking on part of the keyboard-playing role in addition to guitar.

Lake agreed to sing on the recordings for In the Wake of Poseidon (negotiating to receive King Crimson's PA equipment as payment). Eventually, he ended up singing on the band's early 1970 single "Cat Food" (the flip side was "Groon") and on all but one of the album's vocal tracks. The exception was "Cadence and Cascade", which was sung by Fripp's old schoolfriend and teenage bandmate Gordon Haskell. There does exist however, an early mix of the song with Lake singing a guide vocal which was unearthed and featured on the DGM site as a download.[1] At one point, the band considered hiring the then-unknown Elton John to be the album's singer, but decided against it.[2] Other former members and associates returned – as session players only – for the Poseidon recordings, with all bass parts being handled by Peter Giles and Michael Giles drumming. Mel Collins (formerly of the band Circus) contributed saxophones and flute. Another key performer was jazz pianist Keith Tippett.

With the album on sale, Fripp and Sinfield remained in the awkward position of having King Crimson material and releases available, but not having a band to play it. Fripp persuaded Gordon Haskell to join permanently as singer and bass player, and recruited drummer Andy McCulloch, another Dorset musician moving in the West London progressive rock circle, who had previously been a member of Shy Limbs (alongside Greg Lake, who recommended him to Fripp) and Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

Content

The album opens with an a cappella piece called "Peace – A Beginning", which is reprised instrumentally in the middle of the album and vocally again at the end. The strongly jazz fusion-influenced "Pictures of a City" was originally performed live, often extended to over ten minutes and was called "A Man, a City". An example of such a performance can be found on the live compilation album Epitaph.

The longest track on the album is a chaotic instrumental piece called "The Devil’s Triangle". This was adapted from the 1969 band's live arrangement of Gustav Holst's "Mars: Bringer of War" (from his The Planets suite) which can be heard on Epitaph (where it is titled merely "Mars").[3] "The Devil's Triangle" employs a different staccato riff than the one from "Mars". In 1971, a brief excerpt from "The Devil’s Triangle" was featured in "The Mind of Evil", the second serial of the eighth season of the BBC television series Doctor Who.[4] Also, the track includes part of the chorus from "The Court of the Crimson King", the title track from the band's first album, using a studio technique known as xenochrony.

Album cover

The work is called The 12 Archetypes or The 12 Faces of Humankind. The colour pictures were painted by Tammo De Jongh in 1967.[5][6]

The twelve faces in the picture are as follows:

1. The Fool (Fire and Water): The laughing man with a wispy beard.
2. The Actress (Water and Fire): The Egyptian girl with long pearl earrings and many pearl necklaces around her neck, she has tears in her eyes.
3. The Observer (Air and Earth): A scientist type person with round spectacles pushed up above his brow, mostly bald head with white hair at the sides; his left hand is held up to his chin, he looks thoughtful.
4. The Old Woman (Earth and Air): A woman with much wrinkled face wrapped up against the cold.
5. The Warrior (Fire and Earth): A dark and powerful warrior's face in blacks and reds. He wears a steel helmet, broad square face, open mouth with square teeth and a full black beard.
6. The Slave (Earth and Fire): A black African with large gold earrings and a ring through her nose; the lips are full and pink, the eyes half-closed, sultry and sensuous; the expression is warm and friendly.
7. The Child (Water and Air): A picture of innocence; a girl with delicate sweet smile and butterfly shaped bows at each side in her long golden hair; her eyes are large and watery and she has a delicate sweet smile on her mouth. She wears a gold chain, on the end of which is a small golden key.
8. The Patriarch (Air and Water): An old philosopher, with a long face and long white hair and long white beard and moustache; white bushy eyebrows; all around are shapes like flowers or snowflakes; the brow is furrowed upwards from the nose in a fan-like fashion.
9. The Logician (Air and Fire): A scientist or wizard type man with long face, dark hair and long dark beard; he appears to hold a long stick or wand with his right hand and his left is held aloft and surrounded by stars.
10. The Joker (Fire and Air): The picture in bright reds and yellows is of a smiling twinkle-eyed Harlequin with his typical gold-stuccoed, triangular hat.
11. The Enchantress (Water and Earth): A sad girl with watery eyes ; her long dark hair is blown sideways across her face and brow from right to left.
12. Mother Nature (Earth and Water): Lying asleep in the long grass; their face in silhouette is viewed from the left side and all around are the flowers and butterflies.

Release

Released on 15 May 1970, In the Wake of Poseidon was King Crimson's highest-charting album to date in the UK, reaching number 4.[7]

The album was re-released in 2010 with a near-complete new stereo mix by Steven Wilson and Robert Fripp as part of the 40th Anniversary release sequence. As tape for one track, "The Devil's Triangle", could not be located, the original stereo was included instead. The CD also includes a new mix of "Groon" ("Cat Food"'s B-side), an alternate take of "Peace – An End", and Greg Lake's guide vocal take of "Cadence and Cascade". The DVD-A features a 5.1 mix by Steven Wilson, with "The Devil's Triangle" up-mixed to 5.1 by Simon Heyworth, hi-res stereo versions of the 30th anniversary stereo master, the 2010 album mixes and ten hi-res bonus tracks including the original single "Cat Food"/"Groon", the bonus tracks from the CD, and a number of other session takes, rehearsals and mixes.[8]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[9]
Christgau's Record Guide	C+[10]
Sputnikmusic	[11]
The Daily Vault	A-[12]

Robert Christgau rated the album higher than the debut, describing it as "more muddled conceptually than In the Court of the Crimson King" but commenting that "they're not afraid to be harsh, they command a range of styles, and their dynamics jolt rather than sledgehammer".[10]

In his contemporary review, AllMusic's Bruce Eder praised the album, saying that it was better produced than their debut, but he also said that it "doesn't tread enough new ground to precisely rival In the Court of the Crimson King". "The Mellotron, taken over by Fripp after McDonald's departure", he continued, "still remains the band's signature". He also praised a 24-bit digitally remastered edition released in March 2000.[9]

Track listing

All European LPs issued by Island and Polydor have erroneously printed labels that leave off "Peace – A Theme" and list "The Devil's Triangle" and its three movements as four distinct tracks. Most US and Japanese Atlantic LPs use the correct track listing.

All tracks are written by Robert Fripp and Peter Sinfield, except where noted.

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Peace – A Beginning"	0:51
2.	"Pictures of a City"	7:57
3.	"Cadence and Cascade"	4:35
4.	"In the Wake of Poseidon"	8:24

Side B

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
5.	"Peace – A Theme" (instrumental)	Robert Fripp	1:15
6.	"Cat Food"	Fripp, Peter Sinfield, Ian McDonald	4:52
7.	"The Devil's Triangle" (instrumental) I. "Merday Morn" II. "Hand of Sceiron" III. "Garden of Worm"	Fripp, McDonald	11:30 3:47 4:01 3:45
8.	"Peace – An End"		1:54

Bonus tracks on 30th Anniversary Edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
9.	"Cat Food" (Single Version)	Fripp, Sinfield, McDonald	2:45
10.	"Groon" (Single B-Side)	Fripp	3:35

2010 40th Anniversary edition

Disc one - CD - Original Album - 2010 Mix

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Peace – A Beginning"		0:51
2.	"Pictures of a City"	Sinfield, Fripp	8:01
3.	"Cadence And Cascade"	Sinfield, Fripp	4:38
4.	"In The Wake of Poseidon"	Sinfield, Fripp	8:26
5.	"Peace – A Theme"	Fripp	1:15
6.	"Cat Food"	McDonald, Sinfield, Fripp	4:54
7.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part I"	Fripp, McDonald	3:46
8.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part II"	Fripp	4:00
9.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part III"	Fripp	3:54
10.	"Peace – An End"	Sinfield, Fripp	2:04
11.	"Groon" (Bonus Tracks - 2010 Mix)	Fripp	3:35
12.	"Peace – An End" (Bonus Tracks - Alternate mix)		2:06
13.	"Cadence & Cascade" (Bonus Tracks - Greg Lake guide vocal)		4:32

Disc two - DVD-A (various mixes and bonuses)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Peace – A Beginning" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)		0:51
2.	"Pictures of a City" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	Sinfield, Fripp	8:01
3.	"Cadence And Cascade" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	Sinfield, Fripp	4:37
4.	"In The Wake of Poseidon" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	Sinfield, Fripp	8:25
5.	"Peace – A Theme" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	Fripp	1:15
6.	"Cat Food" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	McDonald, Sinfield, Fripp	4:52
7.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part I" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	Fripp, McDonald	3:48
8.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part II" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	Fripp	3:58
9.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part III" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	Fripp	3:46
10.	"Peace – An End" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	Sinfield, Fripp	1:52
11.	"Groon" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	Fripp	3:34
12.	"Peace – A Beginning" (2010 New Stereo Mix - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))		0:51
13.	"Pictures of a City" (2010 New Stereo Mix - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Sinfield, Fripp	8:01
14.	"Cadence And Cascade" (2010 New Stereo Mix - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Sinfield, Fripp	4:37
15.	"In The Wake of Poseidon" (2010 New Stereo Mix - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Sinfield, Fripp	8:25
16.	"Peace – A Theme" (2010 New Stereo Mix - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Fripp	1:15
17.	"Cat Food" (2010 New Stereo Mix - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	McDonald, Sinfield, Fripp	4:52
18.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part I" (2010 New Stereo Mix - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Fripp, McDonald	3:48
19.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part II" (2010 New Stereo Mix - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Fripp	3:58
20.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part III" (2010 New Stereo Mix - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Fripp	3:46
21.	"Peace – An End" (2010 New Stereo Mix - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Sinfield, Fripp	1:52
22.	"Groon" (2010 New Stereo Mix - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Fripp	3:34
23.	"Peace – A Beginning" (2010 New Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))		0:51
24.	"Pictures of a City" (2010 New Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Sinfield, Fripp	8:01
25.	"Cadence And Cascade" (2010 New Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Sinfield, Fripp	4:37
26.	"In The Wake of Poseidon" (2010 New Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Sinfield, Fripp	8:25
27.	"Peace – A Theme" (2010 New Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Fripp	1:15
28.	"Cat Food" (2010 New Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	McDonald, Sinfield, Fripp	4:52
29.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part I" (2010 New Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Fripp, McDonald	3:48
30.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part II" (2010 New Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Fripp	3:58
31.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part III" (2010 New Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Fripp	3:46
32.	"Peace – An End" (2010 New Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Sinfield, Fripp	1:52
33.	"Groon" (2010 New Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Fripp	3:34
34.	"Peace – A Beginning" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))		0:51
35.	"Pictures of a City" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Sinfield, Fripp	8:01
36.	"Cadence And Cascade" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Sinfield, Fripp	4:37
37.	"In The Wake of Poseidon" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Sinfield, Fripp	7:55
38.	"Peace – A Theme" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Fripp	1:16
39.	"Cat Food" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	McDonald, Sinfield, Fripp	4:51
40.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part I" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Fripp, McDonald	3:4
41.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part II" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Fripp	3:59
42.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part III" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Fripp	3:46
43.	"Peace – An End" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96))	Sinfield, Fripp	2:0
44.	"Peace – A Beginning" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))		0:51
45.	"Pictures of a City" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Sinfield, Fripp	8:01
46.	"Cadence And Cascade" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Sinfield, Fripp	4:37
47.	"In The Wake of Poseidon" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Sinfield, Fripp	7:55
48.	"Peace – A Theme" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Fripp	1:16
49.	"Cat Food" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	McDonald, Sinfield, Fripp	4:51
50.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part I" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Fripp, McDonald	3:4
51.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part II" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Fripp	3:59
52.	"The Devil's Triangle - Part III" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Fripp	3:46
53.	"Peace – An End" (Original 1970 Stereo Mix, 30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	Sinfield, Fripp	2:0
54.	"Cat Food" (Bonus Tracks - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96) - Single version)	McDonald, Sinfield, Fripp	2:56
55.	"Groon" (Bonus Tracks - MLP LosslessStereo (24/96) - Single b-side)	Fripp	3:34
56.	"Cat Food" (Bonus Tracks - Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Single version)	McDonald, Sinfield, Fripp	2:56
57.	"Groon" (Bonus Tracks - Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Single b-side)	Fripp	3:34
58.	"Cadence & Cascade" (Cadence & Cascade: Versions - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Unedited master - Gordon Haskell)		5:44
59.	"Cadence & Cascade" (Cadence & Cascade: Versions - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Instrumental take from Wessex Studios)		5:32
60.	"Cadence & Cascade" (Cadence & Cascade: Versions - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Greg Lake guide vocal)		4:34
61.	"Groon" (Groon: Versions - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Take 1)	Fripp	3:31
62.	"Groon" (Groon: Versions - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Take 5)	Fripp	3:45
63.	"Groon" (Groon: Versions - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Take 15)	Fripp	3:55
64.	"The Devil's Triangle" (PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Rehearsal version from Wessex Studios)	McDonald, Fripp	10:55
65.	"Peace – An End" (PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Alternate mix)		2:08

Personnel

King Crimson

• Robert Fripp – guitars, Mellotron (2, 4, 7), celesta (3), Hohner pianet (7), devices, production
• Peter Sinfield – lyrics, production

Former King Crimson personnel

• Michael Giles – drums (2-4, 6, 7)
• Greg Lake – vocals (1, 2, 4, 6, 8)

Future King Crimson personnel

• Mel Collins – saxophones (2), flute (3)
• Gordon Haskell – vocals (3)

Additional personnel

• Peter Giles – bass guitar
• Keith Tippett – piano (3, 6, 7)
• Tony Page & Robin Thompson - recording & engineering

40th Anniversary Edition credits

• Stereo files prepared at Super Audio Mastering, Devon by Simon Heyworth
• 5.1 mastered by Simon Heyworth at Super Audio Mastering, Devon
• DVD Design & Layout by Claire Bidwell at Opus Productions Ltd
• DVD Authoring & Assembly by Neil Wilkes at Opus Productions Ltd
• Tape transfers by Kevin Vanbergen at FX
• DGM tape Archive: Alex Mundy
• Package Art & Design by Hugh O'Donnell
• Compiled & Coordinated by Declan Colgan for DGM
• Published by UMG Music Ltd.

Charts

Chart (1970-1971)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[13]	17
US Billboard 200[14]	31

References

1. "Cadence and Cascade - Greg Lake Vocal Download". DGM Live. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
2. Reed, Ryan (15 May 2015). "The Story of King Crimson's Turmoil-Filled Second Album, 'In the Wake of Poseidon'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Townsquare Media. Retrieved 29 May 2017. Poseidon was Lake’s King Crimson swan song, but he almost wasn’t needed for the LP. Though the fact’s become a peculiar footnote in rock history, emerging talent Elton John was originally hired to sing on the sessions before Fripp changed his mind.
3. Martin, Bill (1 December 1998). Listening to the Future: The Time of Progressive Rock, 1968-1978. Chicago and La Salle, Illinois: Carus Publishing. p. 186. ISBN 9780812693683.
4. Burk, Graeme; Smith, Robert (1 October 2013). Who's 50: The 50 Doctor Who Stories to Watch Before You Die - An Unofficial Companion. Toronto, Canada: ECW Press. pp. 97–98. ISBN 9781770904750.
5. "The Twelve Faces of Humankind". Retrieved 21 October 2013.
6. "Herewood Gabriel – Artist, Illustrator and Sculptures". Retrieved 25 February 2010.
7. "King Crimson | Full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
8. "40th Anniversary Edition Information". Retrieved 30 July 2010.
9. Eder, Bruce. "In the Wake of Poseidon – King Crimson | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
10. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: K". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 28 February 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
11. Campbell, Hernan M. (3 November 2012). "Review: King Crimson – In the Wake of Poseidon | Sputnikmusic". sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
12. Thelen, Christopher (2019). "The Daily Vault Music Reviews : In the Wake of Poseidon". dailyvault.com. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
13. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 167. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
14. "King Crimson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2017.

External links

• In the Wake of Poseidon at Discogs (list of releases)