Three of a Perfect Pair

Three of a Perfect Pair is the tenth studio album by English band King Crimson, released in March 1984 by record label E.G.. It is the final studio album by the 1980s lineup of the group.

Three of a Perfect Pair
Studio album by King Crimson
Released	27 March 1984 (1984-03-27)
Recorded	Mid-to-late 1983
Studio	May 1983: Arny's Shack, Poole, Dorset, England; June 1983: Marcus Studio, London, England; November 1983: Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, New York, United States
Genre	New wave progressive rock post-punk industrial[1]
Length	40:59
Label	E.G. Warner Bros. (US)
Producer	King Crimson
King Crimson chronology
Beat (1982) Three of a Perfect Pair (1984) The Great Deceiver (1992)
King Crimson studio chronology
Beat (1982) Three of a Perfect Pair (1984) THRAK (1995)
Singles from Three of a Perfect Pair
"Three of a Perfect Pair" / "Man with an Open Heart" Released: 1984 "Sleepless" / "Nuages (That Which Passes, Passes Like Clouds)" Released: 1984

Content

The album balances traditional song structures on the "left side" with more free-form improvisation on the "right side", fitting somewhere between the experimental Discipline and the more commercially accessible Beat. Tony Levin had more input than on any other King Crimson album. The "other side" on the 2001 remaster consists of bonus tracks including an a cappella in which all four members supposedly sing in a barbershop quartet but is really Levin's voice overdubbed to create harmonization.

The name of the album is based on the idea of perfect opposites and "three sides to every story", or his, hers, and an objective truth.

The Peter Willis designed artwork illustrates the sacred–profane dichotomy while being a simplified version of the Larks' Tongues in Aspic cover; a rising phallic object represents a male solar deity about to penetrate the crescent figure, a female lunar deity. According to Fripp, the artwork is “a presentation of a reconciliation of Western & Eastern Christianity..the front cover has the two elements, representing the male & female principles. The back cover has the third element drawing together & reconciling the preceding opposite terms”.[2][3]

Tracks 10-15 were added for the 2001 30th Anniversary remaster. Two of the three "Sleepless" mixes were previously available on the UK 12" single. The Bob Clearmountain mix appeared (incorrectly credited and against the band's wishes) on the U.S. Warner Bros. LP pressing.

The hip hop duo Gang Starr would later sample the intro to "Dig Me" in their song "Words I Manifest (Remix)" from their 1989 debut album No More Mr. Nice Guy.

Release and reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Robert Christgau	B−[5]
Rolling Stone	[6]
Kerrang!	mixed[7]
Trouser Press	mixed[8]

Released on 27 March 1984, Three of a Perfect Pair reached number 30 in the UK Albums Chart[9]

Trouser Press described it as "a most disjunct album from a band that prided itself on carefully matched contradictions. The Left Side sports four of Adrian Belew's poorer songs and a self-derivative instrumental; the flip is nearly all-instrumental, nearly free-form, nearly brilliant. [...] Apparently the Frippressive "discipline" that forged the critically acclaimed pop/art synthesis of the first two latter-day Crimson albums is not a permanent condition."[8]

During an interview on BBC Radio 1 in 1984, Robert Fripp described the album's 'left' side as "accessible" and 'right' side as "excessive".

A new 5.1 surround sound mix by Steven Wilson and Robert Fripp was released in October 2016 for the 40th Anniversary Series as a standalone CD/DVD package and as part of the On (and off) The Road (1981 - 1984) boxed set.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Adrian Belew; all music is composed by Belew, Bill Bruford, Robert Fripp and Tony Levin, except "The King Crimson Barber Shop", with music & lyrics by Levin.

Side one (The Left Side)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Three of a Perfect Pair"	4:13
2.	"Model Man"	3:49
3.	"Sleepless"	5:24
4.	"Man with an Open Heart"	3:05
5.	"Nuages (That Which Passes, Passes Like Clouds)" (Instrumental)	4:47

Side two (The Right Side)

No.	Title	Length
6.	"Industry" (Instrumental)	7:04
7.	"Dig Me"	3:16
8.	"No Warning" (Instrumental)	3:29
9.	"Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Part III)" (Instrumental)	6:05

2001 remaster bonus tracks (The Other Side)

No.	Title	Length
10.	"The King Crimson Barber Shop"	1:37
11.	"Industrial Zone A"	1:44
12.	"Industrial Zone B"	4:33
13.	"Sleepless" (Tony Levin mix)	7:26
14.	"Sleepless" (Bob Clearmountain mix)	5:24
15.	"Sleepless" (François Kevorkian dance mix)	6:17

2016 40th Anniversary edition

Disc one - CD - Original Album - bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Three of a Perfect Pair" (2016 Stereo Mix)	4:13
2.	"Model Man" (2016 Stereo Mix)	3:49
3.	"Sleepless" (2016 Stereo Mix)	5:24
4.	"Man with an Open Heart" (2016 Stereo Mix)	3:05
5.	"Nuages (That Which Passes, Passes Like Clouds)" (2016 Stereo Mix - Instrumental)	4:47
6.	"Industry" (2016 Stereo Mix - Instrumental)	7:04
7.	"Dig Me" (2016 Stereo Mix)	3:16
8.	"No Warning" (2016 Stereo Mix - Instrumental)	3:29
9.	"Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Part III)" (2016 Stereo Mix - Instrumental)	6:05
10.	"The King Crimson Barber Shop" (Bonus Tracks)	1:38
11.	"Robert's Ballad" (Bonus Tracks)	3:23
12.	"Shidare Zakura" (Bonus Tracks)	2:40
13.	"Industrial Zone A" (Bonus Tracks)	3:15
14.	"Industrial Zone B" (Bonus Tracks)	5:34
15.	"Industrial Zone C" (Bonus Tracks)	15:50

Disc two - DVD-A (various mixes and bonuses)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Three of a Perfect Pair" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	4:13
2.	"Model Man" (Original Album)	3:49
3.	"Sleepless" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	5:24
4.	"Man with an Open Heart" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	3:05
5.	"Nuages (That Which Passes, Passes Like Clouds)" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround - Instrumental)	4:47
6.	"Industry" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround - Instrumental)	7:04
7.	"Dig Me" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	3:16
8.	"No Warning" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround - Instrumental)	3:29
9.	"Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Part III)" (Original Album - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround - Instrumental)	6:05
10.	"The King Crimson Barber Shop" (Bonus Tracks - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	1:38
11.	"Robert's Ballad" (Bonus Tracks - MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround)	3:23
12.	"Three of a Perfect Pair" (Original Album - DTS 5.1 Digital Surround)	4:13
13.	"Model Man" (Original Album - DTS 5.1 Digital Surround)	3:49
14.	"Sleepless" (Original Album - DTS 5.1 Digital Surround)	5:24
15.	"Man with an Open Heart" (Original Album - DTS 5.1 Digital Surround)	3:05
16.	"Nuages (That Which Passes, Passes Like Clouds)" (Original Album - DTS 5.1 Digital Surround - Instrumental)	4:47
17.	"Industry" (Original Album - DTS 5.1 Digital Surround - Instrumental)	7:04
18.	"Dig Me" (Original Album - DTS 5.1 Digital Surround)	3:16
19.	"No Warning" (Original Album - DTS 5.1 Digital Surround - Instrumental)	3:29
20.	"Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Part III)" (Original Album - DTS 5.1 Digital Surround - Instrumental)	6:05
21.	"The King Crimson Barber Shop" (Bonus Tracks - DTS 5.1 Digital Surround)	1:38
22.	"Robert's Ballad" (Bonus Tracks - DTS 5.1 Digital Surround)	3:23
23.	"Three of a Perfect Pair" (2016 Stereo Mix - MLP Lossless Stereo (24/48))	4:13
24.	"Model Man" (2016 Stereo Mix - MLP Lossless Stereo (24/48))	3:49
25.	"Sleepless" (2016 Stereo Mix - MLP Lossless Stereo (24/48))	5:24
26.	"Man with an Open Heart" (2016 Stereo Mix - MLP Lossless Stereo (24/48))	3:05
27.	"Nuages (That Which Passes, Passes Like Clouds)" (2016 Stereo Mix - MLP Lossless Stereo (24/48) - Instrumental)	4:47
28.	"Industry" (2016 Stereo Mix - MLP Lossless Stereo (24/48) - Instrumental)	7:04
29.	"Dig Me" (2016 Stereo Mix - MLP Lossless Stereo (24/48))	3:16
30.	"No Warning" (2016 Stereo Mix - MLP Lossless Stereo (24/48) - Instrumental)	3:29
31.	"Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Part III)" (2016 Stereo Mix - MLP Lossless Stereo (24/48) - Instrumental)	6:05
32.	"The King Crimson Barber Shop" (Bonus Tracks - MLP Lossless Stereo (24/48))	1:38
33.	"Robert's Ballad" (Bonus Tracks - MLP Lossless Stereo (24/48))	3:23
34.	"Shidare Zakura" (Bonus Tracks - MLP Lossless Stereo (24/48))	2:40
35.	"Industrial Zone A" (Bonus Tracks - MLP Lossless Stereo (24/48))	3:15
36.	"Industrial Zone B" (Bonus Tracks - MLP Lossless Stereo (24/48))	5:34
37.	"Industrial Zone C" (Bonus Tracks - MLP Lossless Stereo (24/48))	15:50
38.	"Three of a Perfect Pair" (2016 Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	4:13
39.	"Model Man" (2016 Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	3:49
40.	"Sleepless" (2016 Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	5:24
41.	"Man with an Open Heart" (2016 Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	3:05
42.	"Nuages (That Which Passes, Passes Like Clouds)" (2016 Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Instrumental)	4:47
43.	"Industry" (2016 Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Instrumental)	7:04
44.	"Dig Me" (2016 Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	3:16
45.	"No Warning" (2016 Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Instrumental)	3:29
46.	"Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Part III)" (2016 Stereo Mix - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Instrumental)	6:05
47.	"The King Crimson Barber Shop" (Bonus Tracks - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	1:38
48.	"Robert's Ballad" (Bonus Tracks - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	3:23
49.	"Shidare Zakura" (Bonus Tracks - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	2:40
50.	"Industrial Zone A" (Bonus Tracks - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	3:15
51.	"Industrial Zone B" (Bonus Tracks - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	5:34
52.	"Industrial Zone C" (Bonus Tracks - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48))	15:50
53.	"Three of a Perfect Pair" (30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Left Side)	4:13
54.	"Model Man" (30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Left Side)	3:49
55.	"Sleepless" (30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Left Side)	5:24
56.	"Man with an Open Heart" (30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Left Side)	3:05
57.	"Nuages (That Which Passes, Passes Like Clouds)" (30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Left Side - Instrumental)	4:47
58.	"Industry" (30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Right Side - Instrumental)	7:04
59.	"Dig Me" (30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Right Side)	3:16
60.	"No Warning" (30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Right Side - Instrumental)	3:29
61.	"Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Part III)" (30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Right Side - Instrumental)	6:05
62.	"The King Crimson Barber Shop" (30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Other Side)	1:38
63.	"Industrial Zone A" (30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Other Side)
64.	"Industrial Zone B" (30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Other Side)
65.	"Sleepless" (30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Other Side - Tony Levin Mix)
66.	"Sleepless" (30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Other Side - Bob Clearmountain Mix)
67.	"Sleepless" (30th Anniversary Remaster - PCM Stereo 2.0 (24/48) - Other Side - Dance Mix - F. Kevorkian)
68.	"Sleepless" (Video content - promotional video)

Personnel

King Crimson

• Adrian Belew – fretted and fretless guitars, lead vocals
• Robert Fripp – guitar, frippertronics
• Tony Levin – bass guitar, chapman stick, synthesizer, backing vocals
• Bill Bruford – acoustic and electric drums

Additional personnel

• Brad Davis – engineer
• Tony Arnold (Arny's Shack) – co-engineer on "Industry" and "Dig Me"
• Nick James, Ray Niznik, Peter Hefter – assistant engineers
• Tex Read – social services
• Peter Willis (Trevall Mill Studio) – cover symbol design basis
• Timothy Eames – cover art

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1984	U.S. Billboard 200	58[10]
	UK Albums Chart	30[9]

References

1. A Beginner’s Guide to the epic music of King Crimson
2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 January 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. Keeling, Andrew. "Smashwords – Musical Guide to Larks' Tongues In Aspic by King Crimson - A book by Andrew Keeling - page 31". Smashwords.com. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
4. Prato, Greg. "King Crimson Three of a Perfect Pair review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
5. Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide Reviews: Three of a Perfect Pair". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
6. Puterbaugh, Parke (10 May 1984). "Album Reviews: King Crimson – Three of a Perfect Pair". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
7. Sinclair, David (3 May 1984). "King Crimson 'Three of a Perfect Pair'". Kerrang!. 67. London, UK: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 10.
8. Grant, Steven; Fleischmann, Mark; Robbins, Ira. "TrouserPress.com :: King Crimson". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
9. "King Crimson | Full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
10. "allmusic ((( Three of a Perfect Pair > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 21 September 2010.

External links

• Three of a Perfect Pair at Discogs (list of releases)