"Stripping the intermittent skits uncovers the captivating, ornate pop of Giles Giles & Fripp's new album, Brondesbury Tapes demo collection"
In early 1968, a pioneering album was recorded at Decca's Studio 2 in Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead. This album, titled The Cheerful Insanity Of Giles, Giles & Fripp, was the work of the band of the same name, consisting of Peter Giles, Michael Giles, and Robert Fripp.
The band, who had relocated to Brondesbury in north London, landed a contract with Decca's progressive imprint, Deram. Notable individuals involved in the production of the album included pop supremo Wayne Bickerton, Nicky Hopkins on piano, Ivor Raymonde handling the orchestration, and Gered Mankowitz capturing the album's essence with his sleeve photography.
Before the release of The Cheerful Insanity, some tracks that would eventually become part of The Brondesbury Tapes were recorded at home. The album, musically reminiscent of The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and sunshine pop, showcased Fripp's guitar talent in the suite number one.
Unfortunately, the album was a commercial failure, and the band dissolved soon after. However, this marked the beginning of a new chapter for Fripp, Giles, and Michael, as they formed King Crimson in 1968. With the addition of Ian McDonald and Greg Lake, they moved away from the lighter style of Giles, Giles & Fripp to a more neoclassical and improvisational progressive rock direction.
One of the standout tracks on The Cheerful Insanity, The Sun Is Shining, has a structure similar to I Walk The Line. Another notable track, Elephant Song, features a gigantic riff and verses reminiscent of Viv Stanshall. Thursday Morning is a piece of ornamental pop from the album, while I Talk To The Wind, with lyrics by Peter Sinfield, was recorded with and without Judy Dyble, and it marks the beginning of King Crimson.
In recent years, a new version of the album has been released, removing the skits that appeared in the original, allowing the beauty of the strange, baroque pop to shine through. For fans of King Crimson, A Delection From The Brondesbury Tapes and The Cheerful Insanity Of Giles Giles & Fripp together are an essential addition to any respecting King Crimson collection.
Meanwhile, Robert Fripp, often referred to as a 'singing organist', went on to release his solo album, Little Children, which includes elements of bossa nova and vaudeville. Despite the initial failure of Giles, Giles & Fripp, their unique sound and the foundation they laid paved the way for the groundbreaking music that would come from King Crimson.
- Giles, Giles & Fripp, the band behind the pioneering album "The Cheerful Insanity Of Giles, Giles & Fripp," released some tracks prior to the album's release, which were collectively titled "The Brondesbury Tapes."
- The band's album, reminiscent of The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and sunshine pop, offered a taste of Fripp's guitar prowess in the suite number one.
- A new version of "The Cheerful Insanity Of Giles, Giles & Fripp" has been released, omitting the skits from the original, revealing the beauty of the strange, baroque pop.
- Robert Fripp, a member of the band, later went on to release his solo album, "Little Children," which incorporated bossa nova and vaudeville elements.
- The album, "The Cheerful Insanity Of Giles, Giles & Fripp," may have been a commercial failure, but it marked a significant beginning for the band members, who later formed King Crimson.
- For music enthusiasts and King Crimson fans, "A Delection From The Brondesbury Tapes" and "The Cheerful Insanity Of Giles Giles & Fripp" together make an indispensable addition to any respectable King Crimson collection.
