King Crimson
In the Court of the Crimson King

The debut studio album by English progressive rock band King Crimson, released on 10 October 1969. Widely regarded as one of the greatest progressive rock albums of all time, In the Court of the Crimson King reached number five on the UK Albums Chart and number 28 on the US Billboard 200, where it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). I recommend.

This is a CD reissue of the first album from King Krimson. Reissued on HDCD, it contains the original five tracks remastered Released in standard jewel case with twelve page booklet.

In the first lines of my review, I would like to cite one quote from the well-known book by Jeremy Pascal, The Illustrated History of Rock Music, published in 1978. "In 1969 ... the King Crimson burst onto the British scene, without a single single, thanks to In the Court of the Crimson King, full of auditory fireworks ..." This is actually an innovative, progressive album to the bone marrow, but its enduring value is not in a wild riot of colors and elusiveness of shades, but in mathematically verified harmony and wise beauty. The very first song, “21st Century Schizoid Man”, gives us the opportunity to appreciate the crazy energy and excellent mastery of the instruments of the members of King Crimson. Here the principle of harmony is just violated; it's a very eclectic thing: guitar and saxophone merging into the foreground, a dizzying jam in the middle (awesome technique!), and then a return to the main theme. Perhaps their visionary gift does not deserve a thunderous ovation, but they foresaw the instability and chaos in the world of the 21st century brilliantly. The second number - “I Talk to the Wind” - is very appropriate: the listener needs to calm down and relax, and the sound of this delightful song can bring everything that exists to harmony. After the terrible urban opus “21st Century Schizoid Man”, you need to move into a world of peace and verbosity, which is facilitated by a very gentle flute melody and unhurried rhythm. If in the previous composition the alarming red color conditionally dominated - pain, suffering, chaos, then here green appears in the imagination - the color of life and hope. The third composition “Epitaph” continues the line of the previous song, but with a different vector - this is an epitaph, and this song calls to grieve along with the lyric hero, to be imbued with his pain and fear of the future. From the timeless paradise oblivion, we are again transported into a terrible world ... "Moonchild". This is what is called "too clever". This extremely quiet thing that calls for contemplation threatens to spill out into something original for all 12 minutes, but it does not go beyond some isolated rudiments of a melody, drumming and chimes. I can vividly imagine the organization of space: an endless green meadow far from civilization, illuminated by a full moon. As a placeholder on the album, this number fits very well, it cannot be said that it is completely bad. The fifth track "In the Court of the Crimson King" should, judging by the title, be perceived as the band's manifesto. The heavenly harmonies and character of this wonderful song were painfully reminiscent of Pink Floyd '1973. Its striking feature is that it periodically ends in order to start again. I will also mention something without which this band would have lost their face: the guitar of the legendary prog figure Robert Fripp, filigree, i.e. Greg Lake's emotionally refined vocals, mellotron, flute and the most complex rhythmic patterns of drummer Michael Giles - a harmonious unity of ideal (from all points of view) elements. In a conceptual sense, I can't say anything about King Crimson: to connect the musical themes of this album with the personality of the monarch of the 13th century is impossible for me. The album cover is one of the most emotionally poignant and memorable in rock music. An epochal album - the very origins of progressive art!

Starting with 21st Century Schizoid Man and ending with the title track In the Court of the Crimson King, this entire album is amazing from start to finish. KING CRIMSON forever

If you are wonder why almost all my King Crimson products are rated with 5 star, this is because of professional reeditions, not only for the music. This 30th anniversay edition coms with a lot of old paper cuttings and an avesome sound. Recomended.

Good reissue of great album, 2003. Booklet with original artwork (lyrics on minigatefold) and additions. Good sound (remastered like HDCD, if you have pleer with same function - I have not). If you not interested delux edition with DVD-audio (have more channels that mixing console in 1969) - it's right choice.

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In October 1969 five unknowns produced one of the most striking debuts in rock history. Its mix of brooding Wagnerian angst and whizz-bang virtuosity ...

Este 2019, In the Court Of The Crimson King cumple 50 años. Sin dudas, una excelente excusa para hacerse de una copia de un los clásico esencial del rock progresivo.