The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles and Fripp
Encyclopedia
The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles and Fripp was the first album from the 1960s psychedelic rock
group Giles, Giles and Fripp
.
In addition to 13 songs, the album contains two comedic spoken word
pieces, "The Saga of Rodney Toady" and "Just George", which are interspersed between the songs. The album is a mix of various styles (folk
, classical
, pop
, psychedelic rock and religious music
).
The original U.S. LP version released in 1968 has a completely different cover than the UK version. The album has been released on CD at least 4 times. First in Japan with no bonus tracks, then on Deram in the U.S. and UK with bonus tracks compiled from singles and previously unreleased recordings. A later Japanese re-issue in a paper sleeve contained the bonus tracks and also a bonus paper sleeve reproduction of the U.S. alternative cover. The most recent CD version released by Eclectic Discs has the same bonus tracks as the Deram CD.
According to Robert Fripp the album sold only 500 copies. This information came from his royalty statement, but it is very unlikely that this was the total number of original copies sold. Also during 1968 the group recorded a series of demos at their home demo studio, which would be released as The Brondesbury Tapes in 2001. Peter Giles was replaced on bass by Greg Lake
soon after and the band renamed themselves King Crimson.
)
Just George (Michael Giles
)
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
group Giles, Giles and Fripp
Giles, Giles and Fripp
Giles, Giles and Fripp were an English late 1960s band, featuring brothers Michael Giles on drums and vocals, Peter Giles on bass guitar and vocals, and Robert Fripp on guitar.-Career:...
.
In addition to 13 songs, the album contains two comedic spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
pieces, "The Saga of Rodney Toady" and "Just George", which are interspersed between the songs. The album is a mix of various styles (folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, psychedelic rock and religious music
Religious music
Religious music is music performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence.A lot of music has been composed to complement religion, and many composers have derived inspiration from their own religion. Many forms of traditional music have been adapted to fit religions'...
).
The original U.S. LP version released in 1968 has a completely different cover than the UK version. The album has been released on CD at least 4 times. First in Japan with no bonus tracks, then on Deram in the U.S. and UK with bonus tracks compiled from singles and previously unreleased recordings. A later Japanese re-issue in a paper sleeve contained the bonus tracks and also a bonus paper sleeve reproduction of the U.S. alternative cover. The most recent CD version released by Eclectic Discs has the same bonus tracks as the Deram CD.
According to Robert Fripp the album sold only 500 copies. This information came from his royalty statement, but it is very unlikely that this was the total number of original copies sold. Also during 1968 the group recorded a series of demos at their home demo studio, which would be released as The Brondesbury Tapes in 2001. Peter Giles was replaced on bass by Greg Lake
Greg Lake
Gregory Stuart "Greg" Lake is an English musician, songwriter and producer, best known as a vocalist and bassist of King Crimson, and the bassist, guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist of Emerson, Lake & Palmer.-1960s: King Crimson:...
soon after and the band renamed themselves King Crimson.
Track listing
The Saga of Rodney Toady (Robert FrippRobert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
)
- North meadow (Peter Giles) – 2:29
- Newly-weds (Peter Giles) – 2:07
- One in a Million (Michael Giles) – 2:25
- Call Tomorrow (Peter Giles) – 2:31
- Digging My Lawn (Peter Giles) – 1:50
- Little Children (Robert Fripp) – 2:48
- The Crukster (Michael Giles) – 1:35
- Thursday Morning (Michael Giles) – 2:50
Just George (Michael Giles
Michael Giles
Michael Giles is an English drummer, best known as a co-founder of King Crimson in 1969...
)
- How Do They Know (Michael Giles) – 2:14
- Elephant Song (Michael Giles) – 3:15
- The Sun is Shining (Michael Giles) – 3:06
- Suite No. 1 (Robert Fripp) – 5:33
- Erudite Eyes (Robert Fripp) – 5:05
Production
- Produced By Wayne Bickerton
- Engineers: Terry Johnson, Bill Price, Martin Smith
- Re-Mastering: Anthony Hawkins
Giles, Giles & Fripp
- Robert FrippRobert FrippRobert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
: Guitars - Peter Giles: Bass, Lead and Backing Vocals
- Michael GilesMichael GilesMichael Giles is an English drummer, best known as a co-founder of King Crimson in 1969...
: Drums, Percussion, Lead and Backing Vocals, Spoken wordSpoken wordSpoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
Additional Personnel
- Ted Barker, Cliff Hardy: TromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
- R. Cohen, G. Fields, K. Isaccs, B. Pecker, W. Reid, G. Salisbury: ViolinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
- John Coulling, Rebecca Patten: ViolaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
- A. Ford, Charles Tunnell: CelloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
- Ivor RaymondeIvor RaymondeIvor Raymonde was a British musician, songwriter, arranger and actor, best known for his distinctive rock-orchestral arrangements for Dusty Springfield and others in the 1960s.-Life and career:...
: String Arrangements - "The Breakaways": Backing Vocals
- Mike Hill, Nicky HopkinsNicky HopkinsNicholas Christian "Nicky" Hopkins was an English pianist and organist.He recorded and performed on noted British and American popular music recordings of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s as a session musician....
: Keyboards