Exposure by Robert Fripp

Robert Fripp’s 1979 album, Exposure (DGM0601), was intended to form part of a trilogy together with Peter Gabriel’s second solo album and Sacred Songs, by Daryl Hall. Fripp produced all three albums and also plays on all three. As things turned out, the scheme was too much for “dinosaur” (Fripp’s term) record company executives, they regarded Hall’s album as uncommercial then buried its release.

Exposure is (for me) the most successful of the three. Although it mixes styles and vocalists (Daryl Hal, Peter Hammill, Terry Roche and Peter Gabriel singing his own Here Comes The Flood), it manages to maintain a consistent atmosphere very much influenced by Fripp’s life in New York and his connections with the NYC New Wave of the time (he played on Fade Away And Radiate by Blondie). It also forms the bridge between the King Crimson of old and what would become the Eighties’ Crimson. Fripp’s experimental side is to the fore here, with the first showcasing of his “Frippertronics” in a musical setting and many taped conversations being mixed into the music.

The new CD set released this week manages to reinvent the album to some degree, presenting the original album on one disc then a whole disc of different vocal mixes on the other, some of which use different singers, such as Daryl Hall singing on tracks that featured Peter Hammill originally. The sound is also considerably enhanced, making the heavier pieces sound especially ferocious. An album that’s nearly thirty years old suddenly sounds fresh again.

More details after the jump.

Original sleeve notes:

This album was originally conceived as the third part of an MOR trilogy with Daryl Hall’s solo album Sacred Songs and Peter Gabriel II both of which I produced and to which I contributed. With the non-release of Sacred Songs and the delay by dinosaurs of this album it is impossible to convey the sense which I had intended.

Instead Exposure is now the first part of my own series and will shortly be followed by »Frippertronics« and »Discotronics« . Taken together these should provide an overview different in kind but similar in nature to that of my original intention.

Recorded mainly and mixed entirely at The Hit Factory, New York between January 1978 and January 1979.

Engineer: Ed Sprigg
Assistant Engineers: Jon Smith, Michael Ruffo, David Prentice
Track for »Exposure« recorded at Relight Studios, November 1977.
Engineer: Steve Short
Track for »Here Comes The Flood.« Engineer: Steve Short
»Water Music II« recorded at The House of Music, New Jersey, July 1977.
Engineer: Jim Bonneford

N.B. Ms. Roche’s voice on »Exposure« was Fritched.
All Frippertronics other than »Water Music II« – recorded at the Fripp Mobile in the Lower East Side, Upper East Side, Hell’s Kitchen and the West Village of New York between June 1977 and November 1978. Engineer: Fripp.

The album of pure Frippertronics for release in September 1979 is drawn mainly from these recordings.

Location recordings mainly at W. 51st and the West Village.
Obviously, no one location was sufficient to contain all the action described within this record.
®1979 E.G. Records Ltd.

Contributors:
Barry Andrews (courtesy of Virgin Records)
Phil Collins (courtesy of Charisma Records)
Brian Eno
Robert Fripp
Peter Gabriel (courtesy of Charisma Records)
Daryl Hall (courtesy of RCA)
Peter Hammill (courtesy of Charisma Records)
Tony Levin
Jerry Marotta
Sid McGinness
Terre Roche (courtesy of Warner Bros.)
Narada Michael Walden (courtesy of Atlantic Records)
And the voices of (among others)
Shivapuri Baba (courtesy of Mrs Elizabeth Bennett)
J.G. Bennett (courtesy of Mrs Elizabeth Bennett)
Mrs Edith Fripp
Mrs Evelyn Harris

Album Cover:
Chris Stein: design and photography:
Steve Sprouse: colorist
Amos Poe: VTR images
Thanks to Mick and Ernie
Mary Lou Green: hair
Cream: typography

This Fripp is indebted to all those who took part in the hazardous series of events culminating in this record, and several who do not appear but who helped determine the final shape: Tim Cappella, Alirio Lima, Ian MacDonald and John Wetton. For the enthusiasm of all involved, thank you. Additional gratitude to Paul Higgins for equipment, moving and kitchen support; Charlene, Walter and the perennial Dik Fraser; latterly Ann and Ed; Managers Mark and Sam for following despite disbelief, to Brian Eno for generously introducing me to the technology of skysaw guitar and the tape system which enabled the development of Frippertronics and for advice; Joanna Walton for her unerring criticism and sense of the appropriate; the Fripp family for withstanding my investigation of family customs; and J. G. Bennett for infinitely more than words could repay.

Disc: 1
1. Preface
2. You Burn Me Up I’m a Cigarette
3. Breathless
4. Disengage
5. North Star
6. Chicago
7. NY3
8. Mary
9. Exposure
10. Häaden Two
11. Urban Landscape
12. I May Not Have Had Enough of Me But I’ve Had Enough of You
13. First Inaugural Address to the I.A.C.E. Sherborne House
14. Water Music I
15. Here Comes the Flood
16. Water Music II
17. Postscript

Disc: 2
1. Preface [Third Edition]
2. You Burn Me Up I’m a Cigarette [Third Edition]
3. Breathless [Third Edition]
4. Disengage II [Third Edition]
5. North Star [Third Edition]
6. Chicago [Third Edition]
7. New York, New York, New York [Third Edition]
8. Mary [Third Edition]
9. Esposure [Third Edition]
10. Häaden Two [Third Edition]
11. Urban Landscape [Third Edition]
12. I May Not Have Enough of Me But I’ve Had Enough of You [Third Edition]
13. First Inaugural Address to the I.A.C.E. Sherborne House [Third Edition]
14. Water Music I [Third Edition]
15. Here Comes the Flood [Third Edition]
16. Water Music II [Third Edition]
17. Postscript [Third Edition]
18. Exposure [Alternate Take][*]
19. Mary [Alternate Take][*]
20. Disengage [Alternate Take][*]
21. Chicago [Alternate Take][*]
22. NY3 [Alternate Take][*]

The Exposure pages are an excellent in-depth look at the creation of this album.