King Crimson- In The Wake Of Poseidon

During the US tour in late 1969, King Crimson imploded. Ian McDonald and Michael Giles had too much too soon and would depart to record an eponymous record. Similarly, Greg Lake had met up with Keith Emerson (formerly of The Nice) while on tour and agreed to form a band upon their return to the UK. (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) Robert Fripp & Peter Sinfield were left with the reigns of the band and faced the task of recording the follow-up. (though both Lake & Giles did make contributions to the album with the latter's brother Peter adding bass). In March of 1970 Robert Fripp was asked to join Yes. He declined, indicating he was still trying to find his style and as a result could only function as a leader.

With all the upheaval, little new material was written. The crazy "Cat Food" b/w "Groon" single came out in March of 1970, previewing where the following album would go. Much of the material for the album then was pulled from their live set. The rocking "Pictures of a City" was first heard as "A Man, A City". It tracks the same territory as "21st Century Schizoid Man", but Mel Collins horn playing and Giles fabulous drumming are sublime on record. Another archetype, the title track "In The Wake Of Poseidon", takes it's melodies and refines them further. It's those two tracks and the fierce mellotron orgy of "The Devil's Triangle" based on Gustav Holst's "Mars" that make up the bulk of the album. "Cadence and Cascade" is also reprised, this time with Gordon Haskell singing.

The cover art is quite unique. The paining is called "The 12 Faces of Humankind" 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 mustache; 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.

The album is overlooked in King Crimson's history, however "In The Wave Of Poseidon" did closely follow the blueprint of it's predecessor. It's a carefully constructed album with an excellent production. The album again was well received, reaching number 4 in the UK and Number 31 in the US charts. Gordon Haskell and session men Mel Collins and Keith Tippet would barely remain in service for another album. That's another time, another place.