In 1977 I had no intention of returning to the music industry, having experienced at close hand the stupidity, vanity, jealousy and greed that accompany success and its attendant income flow...
— Robert Fripp, 2006
Thankfully, the King Crimson founder and musical mastermind never followed through on such a dire threat. In the latter half of the 1970s, King Crimson was still a ghost (nobody was expecting the resurrection several years hence). Fripp as collaborator had his foot off the brake, playing on and producing Daryl Hall's Sacred Songs and Peter Gabriel's second solo album — that is, the first two albums of the "MOR" trilogy that Fripp's 1979 solo Exposure would complete. A more varied, more ambitious project than its counterparts, a few of Exposure's songs required redressing after Daryl Hall's label insisted the singer share full writing credit with Fripp — full as in on the album. Fripp also wanted Debbie Harry to guest, but it was not to be, thanks to more record label politics. These matters and more are detailed in the comprehensive 22-page booklet that accompanies this special reissue that will now take its place as the definitive edition, having compiled the rest of the Hall-sung tracks from 1978 and five alternate takes — a full plate and then some. In addition, a number of session & prog heavies lend their talents: Phil Collins (drums only), Tony Levin, Brian Eno, Jerry Marotta, Barry Andrews of XTC, and one-time Mahavishnu Orchestra drummer Narada Michael Walden.
Exposure, as stated, is a tremendously varied undertaking; the first few songs cover a lot of ground in little time. Fripp and Hall's "You Burn Me Up I'm A Cigarette" is a swift number that could be dubbed "lounge punk." Featuring the ubiquitous Levin, Walden and Fripp on guitar, "Breathless" is a nifty instrumental rocker that revisits Red. The aggressive "Disengage" and its complement alternately feature Peter Hammill (First Edition) and Hall (Third Edition) due to the aforementioned red tape. Next up is one of the best songs here, a lilting ballad titled "North Star," the only other Hall-sung tune to clear initial release, and an obvious choice for inclusion, as Hall's expressive pipes on this and "Chicago" (3rd Ed.) affirm why he was Fripp's favorite singer back then. Still, this reviewer prefers the versions of "Mary" and "Exposure" with Terre Roche over Hall; the Frippertronics-laced title track's lone lyric is its title, voiced with feral fury by Roche on both Editions (and "spelled out" in unison by Fripp & Eno). The alternate take simply doesn't pack the same whallop after hearing Roche belt it out — she also gets to stir things up into a frenzy once more with Peter Hammill on "I May Not Have Had Enough..." Introspect lyrics, piano, and a melancholic vocal by Peter Gabriel on "Here Comes The Flood" are embellished with a single synthesizer backing by Eno and a helping of Frippertronics, making it one of Exposure's most cherished songs. Five more instrumentals round things out, including the too-brief "Haaden Two" (another trio piece, with Levin and Marotta), three Frippertronics vehicles in "Urban Landscape," "Water Music I" and "Water Music II," and the subtle "Postscript," credited solely to Brian Eno for "indiscretion."
With its plethora of singers and players, songs and wordless music, and enhanced sound thanks to 24-bit remastering, Exposure will arguably be the most important reissue of 2006.
Tracklist:
† vocal — Peter Hammill
‡ vocal — Daryl Hall
¤ vocal — Peter Gabriel
* vocal — Terre Roche
CD1: Exposure (First Edition)
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. Haaden 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
CD2: Exposure (Third Edition)
1. Preface
2. You Burn Me Up I'm A Cigarette ‡
3. Breathless
4. Disengage II ‡
5. North Star ‡
6. Chicago ‡
7. New York, New York, New York ‡
8. Mary *
9. Exposure *
10. Haaden 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
Bonus Tracks (Alternate Takes)
18. Exposure ‡
19. Mary ‡
20. Disengage †
21. Chicago †
22. NY3
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