Sid Smith (author)

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Sid Smith is an English freelance writer, [1] contributing music-related articles [2] [3] and reviews to both national and regional press. He is the author of the biography of King Crimson, In The Court Of King Crimson, [4] [5] and one of the co-authors of Northstars, the book of Granada TV's award-winning profile of musicians from the north east of England, [6] [7] as well as numerous sleeve notes for both major and indie record labels.

After spending the 1970s as a musician (playing bass in rock and improvised music) and performance artist, he joined local government in the 1980s, working in the arts until turning to writing full-time in 2002.

In addition to providing web-based content for several music sites, he has maintained an online diary since 1999, initially on King Crimson's website, before transferring to Krimson News in 2003. In May 2005, Smith began his 'Postcards From The Yellow Room' blog, containing album reviews, domestic life (including his mother's battle with leukaemia in 2006) and other commentaries on the arts in general.

Related Research Articles

King Crimson English progressive rock band

King Crimson are a progressive rock band formed in 1968 in London, England. They exerted a strong influence on the early 1970s progressive rock movement and continue to inspire subsequent generations of artists from multiple music genres as well. Guitarist and primary composer Robert Fripp, the band’s only remaining founding member, has acted as the driving creative force throughout its history. Although this causes him to be viewed as the band’s leader, Fripp himself shuns this label. King Crimson has earned a large cult following. They were ranked No. 87 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. Initially considered a seminal founding force in progressive rock, the original King Crimson influenced and altered the music and approach of contemporaries such as Yes and Genesis. Despite this, Fripp in particular has often distanced himself from this genre. Crimson has drawn inspiration from a wide variety of music over the years, keeping their work fresh by incorporating elements of Classical music, jazz, folk, heavy metal, gamelan, industrial and experimental music.

Progressive music Type of music that emphasizes expansion of form and stylistic variety

Progressive music is music that attempts to expand existing stylistic boundaries associated with specific genres of music. The word comes from the basic concept of "progress", which refers to development and growth by accumulation, and is often deployed in the context of distinct genres, with progressive rock being the most notable example. Music that is deemed "progressive" usually synthesizes influences from various cultural domains, such as European art music, Celtic folk, West Indian, or African. It is rooted in the idea of a cultural alternative and may also be associated with auteur-stars and concept albums, considered traditional structures of the music industry.

Robert Fripp English guitarist, composer and record producer

Robert Fripp is an English musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the guitarist, founder and longest-lasting member of the progressive rock band King Crimson. He has worked extensively as a session musician and collaborator, notably with David Bowie, Blondie, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Daryl Hall, Midge Ure, Talking Heads, and David Sylvian. He has also contributed sounds to the Windows Vista operating system. His discography includes contributions to over 700 official releases.

Progressive rock is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States throughout the mid- to late 1960s. Initially termed "progressive pop", the style was an outgrowth of psychedelic bands who abandoned standard pop traditions in favour of instrumentation and compositional techniques more frequently associated with jazz, folk, or classical music. Additional elements contributed to its "progressive" label: lyrics were more poetic, technology was harnessed for new sounds, music approached the condition of "art", and the studio, rather than the stage, became the focus of musical activity, which often involved creating music for listening rather than dancing.

Peter Sinfield

Peter John Sinfield is an English poet and songwriter. He is best known as the co-founder and former lyricist of King Crimson, whose debut album In the Court of the Crimson King is considered one of the first and most influential progressive rock albums ever released.

<i>Larks Tongues in Aspic</i> 1973 studio album by King Crimson

Larks' Tongues in Aspic is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock group King Crimson, released on 23 March 1973 through Island Records in the UK and Atlantic Records in the United States and Canada. This album is the debut of King Crimson's third incarnation, featuring co-founder and guitarist Robert Fripp along with four new members: bass guitarist and vocalist John Wetton, violinist and keyboardist David Cross, percussionist Jamie Muir, and drummer Bill Bruford. It is a key album in the band's evolution, drawing on Eastern European classical music and European free improvisation as central influences.

Greg Lake

Gregory Stuart Lake was an English singer, songwriter, bassist, guitarist and record producer. He gained prominence as a founding member of the progressive rock bands King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP).

<i>In the Court of the Crimson King</i> 1969 studio album by King Crimson

In the Court of the Crimson King is the debut studio album by English rock band King Crimson, released on 10 October 1969 by Island Records. The album is one of the first and most influential of the progressive rock genre, where the band combined the blues influences that rock music was founded upon with elements of jazz, classical, and symphonic music.

<i>In the Wake of Poseidon</i> 1970 studio album by King Crimson

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.

<i>Lizard</i> (album) 1970 studio album by King Crimson

Lizard is the third studio album by British progressive rock band King Crimson, released in December 1970 by Island Records in the UK, and in January 1971 by Atlantic Records in the United States and Canada. It was the second consecutive King Crimson album recorded by transitional line-ups of the group that did not perform live, following In the Wake of Poseidon. This is the only album by the band to feature singer and bass guitarist Gordon Haskell and drummer Andy McCulloch as official members of the band.

<i>McDonald and Giles</i> 1970 studio album by McDonald and Giles

McDonald and Giles is an album of music released by British musicians Ian McDonald and Michael Giles in 1970. The album was first issued on Island Records in the UK and Cotillion Records, a division of Atlantic Records, in the US. The album was recorded at Island Studios between May and July 1970. Although McDonald and Giles remains popular among King Crimson fans, its commercial success was limited. The duo did not record a second album.

Discipline Global Mobile Record label

Discipline Global Mobile is an independent record label founded in 1992 by Robert Fripp and producer/online content developer David Singleton. DGM has released solo music by Fripp as well as work by various affiliated musicians and bands including King Crimson, The Vicar, the California Guitar Trio and others. The label has offices in Salisbury, England, and Los Angeles, California.

21st Century Schizoid Man Song composed by Robert Fripp performed by King Crimson

"21st Century Schizoid Man" is a song by the progressive rock band King Crimson from their 1969 debut album In the Court of the Crimson King.

TriPod

TriPod is a rock trio with no guitars or keyboards.

Epitaph (song) 1969 single by King Crimson

"Epitaph" is the third track on British progressive rock band King Crimson's 1969 album In the Court of the Crimson King. It was written by Robert Fripp, Ian McDonald, Greg Lake, and Michael Giles with lyrics written by Peter Sinfield.

<i>King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Greg Lake in Concert</i> 1995 live album by the Greg Lake Band

King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Greg Lake In Concert is a live album of the Greg Lake Band recorded in concert November 5, 1981, at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, England, that was broadcast live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour radio program, first released on CD in 1995.

The 16 Deadly Improvs

The 16 Deadly Improvs are an American improvisational progressive rock band based in Madison, New Jersey. They record and release music through their own label, Rosemont Recordings. They're noted for their unique sound which combines the elements of "traditional" improvisational blues and jazz with the "non traditional" styles of heavy metal, ambient, progressive rock and electronica. The majority of their music is performed together live in a studio without any prior rehearsals or sharing of musical thoughts before the recording process begins. This gives their recordings an overall warm organic feel that creates a completely refreshing listening experience. Although the band rarely plays live in front of an audience, they've been known to perform one-off shows over the past 15 years.

Proto-prog is the earliest work associated with the first wave of progressive rock music, known then as "progressive pop". Such musicians were influenced by modern classical and other genres usually outside of traditional rock influences. They often employed longer and more complicated compositions, interconnected songs as medley, and studio composition. Some of the artists that were essential to the development of progressive rock, rather than just anticipating the movement, include The 1-2-3 (see Clouds, the Beatles, the Who, the Beach Boys, the Doors, the Mothers of Invention, the Pretty Things, the Zombies, the Byrds, the Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd.

Larks' Tongues in Aspic is the second of the major box set releases from English progressive rock group King Crimson, released in 2012 by Discipline Global Mobile & Panegyric Records.

References

  1. "15 questions | Interview | Sid Smith | Chasing the Heat". 15questions.net. Retrieved 13 August 2020.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  2. Sid Smith (December 2016). "Remembering Greg Lake". Prog Magazine. Retrieved 13 August 2020.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  3. Sid Smith (February 2017). "Greg Lake: From the beginning to the end". Prog Magazine. Retrieved 13 August 2020.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  4. Smith, Sid (2019). In The Court Of King Crimson - An Observation Over 50 Years. Burning Shed. ISBN   9781916153004.
  5. Smith, Sid (1 March 2002). In The Court Of King Crimson. Helter Skelter Publishing. ISBN   978-1900924269.
  6. Topler, John; Smith, Sid; Phipps, Chris (7 November 2005). Northstars. Newcastle upon Tyne: Zymurgy Publishing. ISBN   9781903506097.
  7. Marshall, Ray (21 December 2005), "North's Music Heroes", Evening Chronicle