30th Anniversary Edition - The linup that recorded Islands was the only incarnation of King Crimson to look towards rock's traditional blues origins for influence. The one studio album they left behind is, nonetheless, a fine example of the many disparate influences that informed the 1971 King Crimson. The album also marks the final appearance of Pete Sinfield as a member. For futures lineups, Robert Fripp would be the sole surviving founder member of King Crimson. At first glance - with a similarly extended lineup, pieces such as the opening Formentera Lady, Prelude and title track Islands, and the first appearance of stings, King Crimson's 4th studio album seemed likely to expand upon the nature of Lizard, the album that had preceded it in 1970. But the presences of a new rhythm section (Boz Burrell & Ian Wallace) and the fact that the core lineup was performing again as a live band, helped ensure Islands sounded, at least in part, more like the product of a gigging rock band than that of a purely studio based recording group.
Track listing: 1. Formentera Lady
2. Sailor's Tale
3. The Letters 4. Ladies Of The Road
5. Prelude: Song Of The Gulls
6. Islands
