The newer version of King Crimson’s album Discipline contains an alternate version of Matte Kudasai minus Robert Fripp’s guitar part. Is this so that you can play your own guitar solo over the song if you want?
It was Fripp’s decision. When the CD was remastered in 1989, he decided to remove his own part in that song, feeling that it was extraneous. Then when the CD was remastered again in 2001, he added the original version as a bonus track.
I’m all for modesty, but extraneous?! That wailing guitar part makes the song!
It’s taken me years to come to terms with how little Robert Fripp contributed to the best bits of that album. A recent trip to an Adrian Belew gig was the final nail in that coffin. sigh
From an interview I did with Fripp in 1991: