December 19, 1970 Rehearsal
Taken from a time when the future of Crimson hung in the balance, Bob, Mel and new recruit, Ian Wallace, had still yet to find a bassist. Clearly, the guitar line would become the bass part to the slow sections of Sailor’s Tale. Though it would go through some major changes in the following months, this is the earliest glimpse we have of the piece and its development. As Fripp maintains the centre, his colleagues move and shift the mood around him, highlighting both Wallace’s dexterity and the exceptional fluency which Mel Collins brought to the group. If ever you wanted proof as to why Fripp was so keen to secure Mel’s place in Crimson, then even this tiny fragment should furnish you with all you need to know.