Three Songs on a Trip to the United States

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Three Songs on a Trip to the United States

| type = studio

| longtype = / Live album

| artist = The Red Krayola

| cover = Red Krayola - Three Songs on a Trip to the United States.jpg

| alt =

| released = 1983

| recorded = Conny's Studio & Trident (studio)
August 28, 1983, in Cologne (live)

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Experimental rock

| length = 29:22

| label = Pure Freude (original release)
Drag City (reissue)

| producer = Jon Caffery

| prev_title = Black Snakes

| prev_year = 1983

| next_title = Malefactor, Ade

| next_year = 1989

}}

{{music ratings

|rev1 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

|rev1score = {{rating|2|5}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&q=Three+Songs+on+a+Trip+to+the+United+States+red+krayola&pg=RA6-PA1940|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|first=Colin|last=Larkin|date=May 27, 2011|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=9780857125958|via=Google Books}}

|rev2 = Spin Alternative Record Guide

|rev2score = 8/10{{cite book |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |publisher=Vintage Books |page=322}}

}}

Three Songs on a Trip to the United States is the fourth album by the experimental rock band Red Krayola, released in 1983 by Pure Freude.{{cite web |first1=Glenn |last1=Kenny |first2=Steven |last2=Grant |first3=Ira |last3=Robbins |url=http://trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=red_crayola |title=Red Crayola |publisher= |work=Trouser Press |year=2007 |accessdate=May 26, 2016}} The album was adopted by Drag City and re-issued on CD in 1997.{{cite web |first= |last= |url=http://www.dragcity.com/products/three-songs-on-a-trip |title=The Red Krayola: Three Songs on a Trip to the United States |publisher=Drag City |date=2012 |accessdate=August 11, 2012}} The album cover photos were provided by previous member Frederick Barthelme.{{cite web | url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/red-crayola-red-krayola/ | title=Red Crayola (Red Krayola) }}

Critical reception

Alternative Rock singled out the album, writing: "Essentially an EP, the set peaks across its second side and a hefty live slab of stripped-down psychedelics."{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZHP-r9-eqdAC&q=Three+Songs+on+a+Trip+to+the+United+States+red+krayola&pg=PA585|title=Alternative Rock|first=Dave|last=Thompson|date=July 12, 2000|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=9780879306076|via=Google Books}} Rock: The Rough Guide called it "highly recommended."{{cite book |last1=Tierney |first1=Gerard |title=Rock: The Rough Guide |publisher=Rough Guides Ltd. |page=808 |edition=2nd}}

Track listing

{{track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = Monster One

| length1 = 3:02

| title2 = California Girl

| length2 = 6:18

| title3 = Caribbean Postcard

| length3 = 3:42

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side two

| title1 = Discipline

| length1 = 2:33

| title2 = X

| length2 = 2:43

| title3 = Wives in Orbit

| length3 = 3:01

| title4 = Ergastulum

| length4 = 3:11

| title5 = Portrait of You

| length5 = 4:52

}}

Personnel

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

;Red Krayola

{{Col-2}}

;Additional musicians and production

  • Jon Caffery – production, mixing

{{col-end}}

References

{{reflist}}