God Save the Queen/Under Heavy Manners

God Save the Queen/Under Heavy Manners is the second solo album by British guitarist and composer Robert Fripp, released on E.G. Records in 1980.

God Save the Queen/Under Heavy Manners
Studio album by Robert Fripp
Released	January 1980
Recorded	July–December 1979
Venue	Tower Records, Berkeley ("Red Two Scorer") Calgary Planetarium, Calgary ("Under Heavy Manners" loop) Madame Wong's, Los Angeles ("The Zero of the Signified" loop)
Studio	The Hit Factory, New York City
Genre	Ambient, drone, art rock, disco
Length	47:56
Label	E.G., Polydor
Producer	Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp chronology
Exposure (1979) God Save the Queen/Under Heavy Manners (1980) The League of Gentlemen (1981)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

The album largely consists of Frippertronics, with much of the work being performed by improvisation. On the Under Heavy Manners side of the album, the effect was modified in what Fripp described as "Discotronics", adding a solid drum beat and bass line to create a dance sound.^[2]

The design concept was by Fripp and Chris Stein, with Stein credited for the cover portrait.

Music

Fripp considered the Frippertronics of God Save the Queen and the "Discotronics"-based Under Heavy Manners as two independent pieces contained within one album, leading to the duality of the album's title and its two sides being designated as "Side A" and "Side One."

The guitar loops for the five tracks were recorded live in concert during 1979 (including an appearance on The Midnight Special),^[3] with overdubs for the Under Heavy Manners side added later that year by Michael "Busta" Jones (bass guitar) and Paul Duskin (drums). All of the tracks on both sides are instrumental except for "Under Heavy Manners", which features vocals by David Byrne of Talking Heads (credited as "Absalm el Habib").

The track "God Save the Queen" bears little resemblance to the British national anthem, although it is based on its opening phrase. It was inspired by a comment from an audience member, who suggested that, as the performance was taking place on the tenth anniversary of the Woodstock Festival in August 1979, Fripp should reprise Jimi Hendrix's performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner".^[2]

Release

The original planned title for the album was Music for Sports, but Fripp eventually decided to choose a title that would not be associated with Brian Eno's Music for... albums.

The original album was released on CD for the first time in 2021, remastered by David Singleton, and including the previously unreleased "Music on Hold". The track "Under Heavy Manners" and a longer version of "The Zero of the Signified" (retitled "God Save the King") are also included on the League of Gentlemen God Save the King CD release.^[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Robert Fripp.

Side A: God Save the Queen

1. "Red Two Scorer" - 6:54
2. "God Save the Queen" - 9:50
3. "1983" - 13:20

Side One: Under Heavy Manners

1. "Under Heavy Manners" - 5:14
2. "The Zero of the Signified" - 12:38

Personnel

• Robert Fripp – electric guitar, Frippertronics, voice (4), sleeve concept
• Busta Jones – bass guitar (4, 5)
• Paul Duskins – drums (4, 5)
• Absalm el Habib (David Byrne) – lead vocals (4)

Also credited are:

• Ed Sprigg – recording engineer (4, 5)
• The Handlery Motor Inn, San Francisco – cover photo
• Chris Stein – cover photo of Fripp, sleeve concept
• The famous Mary Lou Green – hair
• Ron Cohen – inner liner photo