King Crimson -1981-12-13 Mainichi Hall Osaka Japan (1981)

“Boy wasn’t that fun?” says Belew at the conclusion of a slow-moving Red. It’s easy to imagine how excited this audience would’ve been to have heard the track as part of a KC setlist given it had not been played live prior to 1981.

The Sheltering Sky continues to offer some truly beautiful moments. There’s a sensationally lyrical solo from Fripp soaring through the Belew’s rolling storm clouds of sound.

Manhattan’s initial introduction is missing causing the track to abruptly cut in. It’s like being dropped in middle of a murderously busy street at rush hour with everything coming at you. Demented, distorted and decidedly dangerous (these are words with a D at this time), this has to be one of most feverish readings of the piece.

A rhythmically novel TLev introduction to Elephant Talk lulls punters here into a quick clap-along before spladooshing into the main tune. Clearly the adrenalin from the previous number is still pumping in the veins of this lively version where sometimes things go a little out-of-kilter but always in the most entertaining of ways.

Bruford’s introduction on Indiscipline gives the crowd a virtuoso display on how move the groove and pull the pulse about the place. Fascinating from beginning to end, it’s impossible not to admire the fine balancing act between sheer exuberance and finely-crafted finesse, which Bruford achieves with such aplomb. Oh and the rest of guys ain’t too bad on this one as well!

An appropriately savage blast of LTIA concludes a slightly muffled audience recording of what is, in the parlance, “a smokin’ hot gig”. Belew’s air-raid siren noises at the end with Fripp’s detuned peg dive-bombing continues to be a thrilling finale.