Robert Fripp Exposure - Fourth Edition (Steven Wilson Mix) 200g Import LP

After King Crimson's dissolution in 1974, Robert Fripp embarked on a lengthy sabbatical away from the public eye. His relocation from Great Britain to New York in February 1978 marked his return as a producer, solo artist, and "wild card" collaborator with an impressive roster of artists including Daryl Hall, Blondie, Peter Gabriel, and David Bowie.

Fripp's first solo album, Exposure, was released in 1979. A further two solo records, Under Heavy Manners/God Save The Queen and Let The Power Fall, followed, and in 1980 he formed The League Of Gentlemen. Described as a New Wave dance band, this led to King Crimson's reformation in 1981.

The term "classic album" has been devalued somewhat through overuse, but if ever an album has proved worthy of the term, it's Robert Fripp's 1979 solo debut, Exposure. An invitation from David Bowie and Brian Eno in July 1977 resulted in his appearance as lead guitarist on Heroes, David Bowie's second 1977 album, and marked Fripp's return to being a full-time musician. Further work with Daryl Hall, Peter Gabriel, The Roches & Blondie (a version of ''I Feel Love'' sung by Debbie Harry was planned for inclusion on the album but never recorded) preceded the sessions.

Recorded at the Record Plant in New York, the album was originally conceived as part of a trilogy alongside Daryl Hall's Sacred Songs and Peter Gabriel's second solo album (both Fripp-produced). Exposure was delayed from its scheduled 1978 release date when RCA postponed the release of the Hall album (which remained unissued until 1980) and Hall's then-manager insisted that some of Hall's vocals be removed from the album.

When the album finally appeared in 1979, its mixture of songs, singers, instrumentals, snatches of speech, audio vérité sound collages - all linked by an autobiographical/diary approach - presented a very different musician from that of the initial King Crimson period (1969-74). Even in a period when the wheel seemed to be reinvented on a routine basis, a time when ''expect the unexpected'' was the best approach to any number of recordings, Exposure stood apart. It still does.

Now presented in single LP form, remixed from the original multi-track master tapes by Steven Wilson as part of his work on the Exposures box set, the album retains all of the power and vitality that made it such a compelling listen when first released.

Exposure is one of [Fripp's] most varied and successful rock albums, offering a broad selection of styles.