Three of a Perfect Pair
| Three of a Perfect Pair | ||||
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| Studio album by King Crimson | ||||
| Released | 27 March 1984 | |||
| Recorded | Mid-to-late 1983 | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock | |||
| Length | 40:59 | |||
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| Producer | King Crimson | |||
| King Crimson chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Three of a Perfect Pair | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Robert Christgau | B− |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Kerrang! | mixed |
| Trouser Press | mixed |
Three of a Perfect Pair is the tenth studio album by English band King Crimson, released in March 1984 by record label E.G.
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. However, one can also make out a Christian cross if staring at the empty spaces between the figures. The back cover illustration is the same but adds a third element, a curved line stretching to reconcile the opposing sides.
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.
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