Audio Source Quarter Inch Reel To Reel and Bootleg Cassette
DGM Audio Quality
#
Title
Time
1
07:33
2
26:06
3
12:19
4
12:31

The Kitchen

Robert Fripp
New York
5 Feb 1978

By the time Robert Fripp arrived at The Kitchen, one of New York’s leading avant-garde arts spaces, King Crimson had been declared dead and buried for nearly three and a half years. Having used the resulting space to spend time in search of personal equilibrium through a spiritual retreat, this public unveiling of Frippertronics presented Fripp as the living embodiment of the ‘small, independent, mobile and intelligent unit.’

Such was the demand to see the dapper-suited Englishman performing in New York, a second show was added on the night with long queues braving the freezing cold weather. The importance of the performance wasn’t lost on bootleggers and for several years a double LP of the first house show had been in circulation.

However, as Frippertronics expert as Al Okada observes this bootleg LP had been released at the wrong speed and with tracks appearing out of sequence. Listening to the work of DGM’s Alex ‘Stormy’ Mundy in restoring both the first and second houses, Okada says, “This new transfer, direct from the master tapes, enhanced with solos from bootlegged cassette recordings, has vastly improved on that sound quality. This is by far and away the ‘definitive version.’”

Al continues, “I am particularly struck by the opening section of 1st House-Loop I, which is very reminiscent of a fanfare. This was highly appropriate for the opening piece of the world premiere of Frippertronics. Loop II opening is also extremely memorable to my ears. There’s some great soloing on top of Loop IV with the end of that piece sounding like cars whizzing past on a highway.”

Okada comments that this show is important for another reason - the lack of any “beeping” type sounds that would be a hallmark of future performances. “Those sounds are created by a signal bypass switch, added to the pedalboard. It’s likely that at the time of this show, Fripp had not discovered this technique. All notes played here are either played directly or are swept in via volume pedal. This is a subtle yet distinct difference, distinguishing itself from all subsequent Frippertronics performances. 2nd House-Loop III at around 10 minutes in, Fripp creates some riveting sounds that can be best described as a fleet of dive-bombing wartime aircraft. These are just a few of the many highlights for me.”


Attended shows at the Kitchen, not sure if this was the one.
Written by Chris Inguanta
Subscription Icon
It was a weird experience, I seem to remember a short play before Robert played. I enjoyed this rele...
Written by Chris Inguanta
Subscription Icon
What was old is new again.
Written by Leslie Heifner
Subscription Icon
I was already well familiar with Frippertronics when I made an exciting vinyl purchase at Amoeba rec...
Written by Leslie Heifner
Subscription Icon
The Holy Grail of Frippertronics releases.
Written by Bruce Bubier
I've been asking for this to be released since the early days of DGMLive. I got a cassette of the fi...
Written by Bruce Bubier
Frippertronics: The Earnest Young Man Year
Written by Jonathan Block
Fantastic. Just buy it and reimagine the live debut of Frippertronics. Have fun picking out the bits...
Written by Jonathan Block
Just For You
ARTICLES

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

MORE

Happy Birthday Robert!

King Crimson's guitarist turns 79 today. To mark the occasio...

MORE

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

MORE

Toyah and Robert's Weekend.

Catch up with Toyah and Robert's latest weekend on YouTube.

MORE

Toyah & Robert's Easter Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Easter Weekend

MORE

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

MORE

Creating the Larks print.

Here’s a look behind the scenes at the making of the Larks’...

MORE

Queen Elizabeth Hall Soundscapes

It’s been a 29 year wait but finally we can now hear the res...

MORE

Cruise lineup

The 2025 Cruise To The Edge has concluded. Here's a great ph...

MORE

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Upbeat Moments & Sunday Lunch

MORE

Hanging Around With The Stranglers in 1980

On this day 45 years ago on April 4, 1980 Robert Fripp appea...

MORE

Larks’ Tongues silkscreen print.

The famous artwork from the sleeve of Larks’ Tongues in Aspi...

MORE

Fripp's New York: Then and Now

So what did happen to all the music places from Robert’s tim...

MORE

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Upbeat Moments (feat. Eno) - Saturday at 19...

MORE

Guitar Craft News

Guitar Craft 40th anniversary and news.

MORE

On 51st Street

Hugh's Archive Deep Dive: 2. Robert Fripp outside 443 West...

MORE

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

MORE

How Does Music Enter Our World?

Q: You often say that Music creates the musician, that Music...

MORE

Hugh's Archive Deep Dive: 1

Queen Elizabeth Hall foyer floorplan for the 1996 Soundscape...

MORE

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

Toyah & Robert's Weekend

MORE
DIARIES

Satch Bus.

09.23

Satch Bus.

We arrived at Hotel Adeq...

MORE

Satch Bus.

10.53

Route 66 gives a route of 1535 mil...

MORE

Cabin 6020, Silja Ferry >Stockholm.

16.21

Cabin 6020, Silja Ferry >Stockholm.

...

MORE

Satch Bus.

10.29

Bags at 09.30, lobby 10.00, set off for Got...

MORE

Satch Bus, outside venue, Copenhagen.

24.47

An experientially long overnight drive, inc...

MORE

Hotel Pricey And The Staff Are Superb, Amsterdam.

10.47

Breakfast this morning with Joe alone. He w...

MORE

Hotel It-Is-Almost Posh, Amsterdam.

09.10

Into the breakfast room at 06.30 for a quie...

MORE

The Basement, Chateau Belew.

10.28

The Basement, Chateau Belew.

The su...

MORE

The Basement, Chateau Belew.

05.30

One proper response to being alive is joy....

MORE

The Basement, Chateau Belewbeloid.

16.41

The event of the day: Martha Belew is 31 to...

MORE

Los Molinos.

07.23

Rising at 05.52, or 04.52 UK & body tim...

MORE

Crimson Tourbus, Outside Hotel Acceptable, Phoenix.

01.00

Crimson Tourbus, Outside Hotel Acceptable,...

MORE

#504, Hotel Quite Acceptable, Vancouver.

00.15

A supportive & generous audience and wh...

MORE

Hotel Quite Acceptable, Vancouver.

11.03

The weather is changeable, a blue sky rapid...

MORE

Hotel Quite Acceptable, Vancouver.

23.57

We arrived at Denver International Airport,...

MORE

Hotel Quite Acceptable, Denver.

10.42

The sun is shining, the sky is mostly blue,...

MORE

Hotel Quite Acceptable, Denver.

20.04

Snowbound in Denver. Rising at 08.30, a not...

MORE

Room Most Acceptable, Hotel Quite Acceptable.

11.00

Driving snow is blowing past on the other s...

MORE

Hotel Quite Acceptable, Denver.

23.15

And with free Ethernet access, too. A call...

MORE

Mobile HQ, Crimbus.

12.47

We left our hotel punctually at noon and ar...

MORE
DOWNLOADS

Music For Quiet Moments 26 - Evensong (Haapsalu 24 Aug 2006)

Robert Fripp
DGMHQ Soundworld 1
23 Oct 2020

MORE

Music For Quiet Moments 3

Robert Fripp
DGMHQ Soundworld 1
15 May 2020

MORE

The Bottom Line 2

Robert Fripp
The Bottom Line
13 Dec 1997

MORE

Park West Chicago USA

Robert Fripp
Park West
12 Jan 1998

MORE

Washington Square Church

Robert Fripp
Washington Square Church
9 Sep 1995

MORE

Music For Quiet Moments 39 - Elegy Pt II (Hannover 15 Oct 2009)

Robert Fripp
DGMHQ Soundworld 1
22 Jan 2021

MORE

Music For Quiet Moments 38 - Elegy Pt I (Hannover 15 Oct 2009)

Robert Fripp
DGMHQ Soundworld 1
15 Jan 2021

MORE

Music For Quiet Moments 52 - Time And Time Again (Mendoza 2 June 2007)

Robert Fripp
DGMHQ Soundworld 1
23 Apr 2021

MORE

Teatro la Comedia

Robert Fripp
Teatro La Comedia
30 May 2007

MORE

The Painted Bride

Robert Fripp
The Painted Bride
22 Nov 1998

MORE

Music For Quiet Moments 40 - Doubt (Greenville 23 Feb 2006)

Robert Fripp
DGMHQ Soundworld 1
29 Jan 2021

MORE

My Father's Place

The League Of Gentlemen
My Father's Place 1st performance
19 Jul 1980

MORE

World Financial Centre 2nd Performance

Robert Fripp
World Financial Centre 2nd Performance
3 Dec 2010

MORE

Piazza Mentana

Robert Fripp
Pop Eye Festival, Piazza Mentana
28 Jun 2006

MORE

Mud Club

The League Of Gentlemen
Mudd Club
20 Jul 1980

MORE

Palau de la Música

Robert Fripp
Palau de la Música
19 Apr 2007

MORE

Decade

The League Of Gentlemen
Decade
5 Jul 1980

MORE

The Painted Bride Art Center 2

Robert Fripp
Painted Bride Art Center
12 Dec 1997

MORE

Finger Lakes Art Center

Robert Fripp
Finger Lakes Arts Center
25 Jun 1997

MORE

The Painted Bride

Robert Fripp
The Painted Bride
22 Nov 1998

MORE
ARTISTS

Robert Fripp

MORE
PHOTO GALLERY