Eye Of The Needle
RF@80 Vol. 9
This week, a newly edited version of Eye Of The Needle from the 1991 album Show Of Hands.
Recorded in June 1990 at Manhattan Center Studios in New York. It was released on what would be Fripp’s final recording for EG Records.
A version of Eye Of The Needle had first appeared in 1985 on the League of Crafty Guitarists - Live album, where it is subtitled Guitar Craft Theme III. As Robert reveals in this week’s commentary, it remains for him one of the most powerful pieces of music to come out of Guitar Craft. Its evolution came as part of the movement from playing the calisthenic exercises for left and right hands that are foundational to the courses, towards playing music.
The composition came to life on a Guitar Craft course at Claymont Mansion in West Virginia in 1985 after Robert presented the themes to the piece to the assembled students.
Working in the guitar circle in the ballroom with the full group of course attendees was a daily part of each course, where Robert would typically present parts to individual players while building up a complete piece of music played by the whole group.
A typical day in Guitar Craft in 1985.
The League of Crafty Guitarists are represented on this recording by Steve Ball, Tobin Buttram, Guido Ernst, Nigel Gavin, Tony Geballe, Curt Golden, Ralph Gorga, Trey Gunn, Steve Jolemore, Bert Lams, Victor McSurely, Hideyo Moriya, Hernán Núñez, David Pittaway, Paul Richards, Pietro Russino.
Download Robert Fripp @ 80 Vol.9 Eye Of The Needle.
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My late brother Christopher fairly idolized you and attended a Crafty Guitarists seminar years ago. Revisitibg King Crimson tunes invokes good memories of those years of progressive rock (“…Impaled on nails of ice…”). I knew Gang of Four bassist Sara Lee when she roomed with a friend in NYC. She said “Please, no cake jokes,” ha ha.