In the Court of Crimson King [Import, Original recording remastered]

King Crimson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 20, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Virgin
• ASIN: B000025AJM
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #97,625 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. 21st Century Schizoid Man (Including Mirrors)

2. I Talk To The Wind

3. Epitaph (Including March For No Reason And

4. Moonchild (Including The Dream And The Illusion)

5. The Court Of The Crimson King

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars King Crimson cuts the first great progressive rock album, October 10, 2004

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: In the Court of Crimson King (Audio CD)

Time and time again we are confronted with artists who put out a great debut album and never climb that high ever again. When it comes to talking about the paradigmatic example of such a phenomenon my choice would be King Crimson and their debut album "In the Court of the Crimson King." Released in 1969 with its distinctive cover art, this was the album that set the standard for progressive/psychedelic rock for the next decade. Except for the title track the songs are ensemble efforts by guitarist Robert Fripp, drummer Michael Giles, bass player and lead vocalist Greg Lake, keyboard player Ian McDonald, and lyricist Peter Sinfield.

The best track on the album is the first, "21st Century Schizoid Man," with its big main riff and jazz-rock middle section ("Mirrors"). The music is somewhat distorted at times, but that does not stop the group's musical virtuosity from coming through. As you would expect from the title, the song paints a picture of dystopian future that embodies the worst tendencies of the late 1960s, and remains the standard by which other progressive rock epics are judged. In terms of political sensibilities nothing comes close. The song also stands out because the following track, "I Talk to the Wind," is more folk-rock and constitutes a sort of cleansing of the palate before proceeding to the rest of the album (it is actually a song members of the group had played on earlier efforts).

The title track is not the best King Crimson song, but it is probably their best known one (and the one song that was written just by McDonald and Sinfeld). The conceit is of a medieval court afflicted by a black queen, fire witch, and other equally dark images heading for total destruction. It is a daring finality, teetering on the brink of the sort of bombastic pomposity that often afflicted progressive rock (Emerson, Lake & Palmer's "Tarkus Suite," with its synthesizer excess is the example that springs to mind). Musically on this album as a whole it is McDonald who makes the biggest mark on the album, playing mellotron and assorted other instruments like saxophones, although Fripp's guitar is also prominent. When I was growing up the singing voice I most wanted to have was Greg Lake's, and this is the album when he sounds the best. The result is that "In the Court of the Crimson King" is one of the albums that has to be considered when you are making a list of top albums from the Sixites or in the history of progressive rock music. It does not matter that King Crimson had a revolving door lineup and that it would take them years to come up with anything close to this classic album.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The 30th Anniversary Edition and the Original Master Edition are NOT the same., October 11, 2008

By 

H.A.M. - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Court of Crimson King (Audio CD)

There is still much confusion as to which CD release has the best sound.

After having researched the various CD issues and re-issues of "In the Court of Crimson King" I feel I should pass on what I have learned.

The 30th Anniversary Edition (issued 1999) - side two is from an original master tape while side one is from an inferior higher generation tape.

The Original Master Edition (issued 2004+) - both album sides are from original master tapes.

"The original masters - with splicing tape still present between the various songs, and crossfade between I Talk To The Wind and Epitaph yet to be created - were discovered in the Virgin archives in 2003."

"The word I've heard is that the master tapes were basically rolled for the new Original Master Edition (OME) without any tinkering at all. They basically ran the master tapes flat."

"Simon Heyworth did the mastering for the new OME and the 30th Anniversary Edition. He does not use Noise Reduction."

The following CD issues should all be the superior "OME":

2004.11.15 UK DGM (Panegyric) DGM0501 (reissue, 2004 re-remaster)

2005 CD Discipline Global Mobile 501

2006.02.22 Japan WHD IECP-10003 (reissue, paperboard picture sleeve) (Ultimate Edition)

2006 CD JVC Japan 10003

2008.03.26 Japan WHD IECP-50001 (reissue)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite From Crimson, December 24, 2004

By 

Samhot (Star Land) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Court of Crimson King (Audio CD)

This debut here, released in 1969, influenced quite a few musicians in the rock world, especially those found under the "progressive" rock label. After more than 30 years since it's release, it still sounds as fresh, explosive and provocative. This is without a doubt my favorite King Crimson album (with their 1973's release _Larks' Tongues In Aspic_ in a close second.)

It starts off with the fiery "21st Century Schizoid Man," which is a mix of scathing proto-metal and fiery jazz: listen to how Greg Lake's processed vocals sound akin to something of an apocalypse, which are backed by some harsh, distorted, convulsive blasts, and how during the verses, we are treated to the scorching guitar and saxophone lines playing the same melody in unison. It's intense stuff, and this song -- for better or worse -- is the benchmark to which nearly everything Crimson released afterward would be compared. Indeed, this song embodies a *huge* part of what Crimson is, and what they would be for their entire career. "I Talk To The Wind" is an interesting and mellow mix of R&B and light orchestral: the kind of tune you would hear if The Everly Brothers got together with The Moody Blues, and sang lyrics to a Black Sabbath tune. It's very ethereal, melodic and soothing. Love the flute playing on here.

"Epitath" is a very absorbing extended tune with great vocals and lush, dramatic mellotron. The lyrics and singing here are quite disturbing. Once again, this track has an interesting crazed mix of psychedelia/R&B/classical rock. "Moonchild" starts off like an almost bedtime lullaby, which I find beautiful and imaginative, then it segues into the most challenging part of the disc. The last nine minutes of this song is nothing but instrumental experimentation. I don't personally find it as awful as many others seem to, in fact I find it enriching and mind-expanding, but still challenging. It especialy works best at nighttime. "The Court Of The Crimson King" is probably my favorite, though it's hard to choose. This is the most symphonic on here. The ahhh-ahh-ahh-ahh melody backed by the D-C-B progression is just phenomenal and too good for words. Listen to Greg Lake's dramatic, regal and enchanting vocals here.

This album is considered a classic for a reason. Highly recommended for fans of prog-rock, or music that is imaginative and challenging.