The term ‘Classic album’ has been devalued
somewhat through overuse, but if ever an album has proved worthy of the term
it’s Robert Fripp’s 1979 solo debut Exposure. An invitation from David Bowie
& Brian Eno in July 1977 resulted in his appearance as lead guitarist on
Heroes, David Bowie’s 2nd 1977 album from his own golden year & marked
Fripp’s return to full time musician. Further work with Daryl Hall, Peter
Gabriel, The Roches & Blondie (a version of “I Feel Love” sung by Debbie
Harry was planned for inclusion on the album but never recorded), preceded the
sessions.
Recorded at the Record Plant in New York,
Exposure was originally conceived as part of a trilogy alongside Daryl Hall’s
Sacred Songs & Peter Gabriel’s 2nd solo album (both Fripp produced). Exposure
was delayed from its scheduled 1978 release date by RCA’s postponement of the
release of the Hall album (that remained unissued until 1980) & Hall’s then
manager’s insistence that some of his vocals be removed from the album. When
the album finally appeared in 1979, its mixture of songs, singers,
instrumentals, snatches of speech, audio-vérité sound collages – all linked by
an autobiographical/diary approach - presented a very different musician from
that of the initial King Crimson period 1969-74.
Even in a period when the wheel - as
represented by a vinyl album - seemed to be reinvented on a routine basis, a
time when “expect the unexpected” was the best approach to any number of then
new or current recordings, Exposure stood apart. It still does.
With the emergence of digital technology
but, crucially, prior to the emergence of suitable re-mastering equipment, the
album was remixed in 1983 & reissued in 1985. This remix was issued as the
CD version.
The new 2 LP edition consists of the original
1979 release on LP1, while LP2 presents the 2006 third edition on vinyl for the
first time. This is essentially, a version of the 1983 remix/1985 reissue with
the inclusion of the 3 formerly unreleased Daryl Hall vocal tracks.
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