Customer Reviews

In the Court of the Crimson King

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Two discs 70,78 minutes each approximately. Comes in a standard jewel case,with some color photographs of the band on the inside back portion of the case. The sound in this 2009 version,which was mixed from the original master tapes is clean and crisp. There seems to be a bit more openess to the sound in this edition,compared to the 2004 release. The only real change from the original release is an edit of the improv following "Moonchild". The booklet is well done,with short,but pertinent information on the tracks. There is a short overlook at the album from Robert Fripp. There is also a look at the band from it's beginnings by Sid Smith,which is fairly informative,especially if you aren't familiar with KING CRIMSON's first album. The original artwork has been preserved,as have the lyrics. There are also a few black and white photographs of the band from 1969.

By now if you've read this far you're probably familiar with this album and it's impact,both on it's original release and through subsequent years. I vividly remember buying this on vinyl (and the cover-what an attention grabber!) when it first was released as an "import". And like many listeners feel (except in the beginning when I had to convince people to give it a listen),the album has never lost it's impact. But whats great about this release are the bonus tracks on each disc.

"Moonchild" is heard in it's full version,which,finally,is nice to hear. This ethereal,almost spooky sounding track is even more ethereal in this full version. "I Talk To The Wind" is heard in both a duo and alternate version. The duo version with lovely guitar and flute is very nice,with a slightly different,more delicate feel to it than the original. A definite highlight of this release. The alternate version is just that-slightly different in sound,with different solos,but still sticking fairly close to the original. The vocal,which was mixed perfectly with the instruments,is very nice on this track. "Epitath" is heard hear as a backing track,which is nice,but nothing extraordinary. The final track,"Wind Session",is full of various sounds,both organic and electronic. There is also some "talk-back" from the engineer to whomever is creating this track. It's an inside look at how parts of this album were created,but musically not totally essential.

The second disc contains the 2004 mix of the complete album-nothing really new here. The bonus tracks on this disc give an inside look into how this album was constructed. The first bonus track is the instrumental backing of "21st Century Schizoid Man",which even without the vocal is impressive to hear,especially considering the era when this music was recorded. "I Talk To The Wind" is heard here from a BBC session,and the overall sound of this track is fairly flat and distant sounding. But it's still a nice addition-hearing a live,period recording from a unique (at the time) band,that straddled both rock and progressive music. "21st Century Schizoid Man",also from A BBC session is better sounding,though sonically still a little weak. Again,its nice to have this version appended to this release,especially Fripp's ripping guitar,and Ian McDonald's horn out front of that great rhythm section. "In The Court Of The Crimson King",Parts 1 and 2 are both heard here in their mono single versions. They are reproduced from a vinyl source,and are heard as originally split,into two sides of a 7" vinyl single.

If you liked this album in the past,you're going to like this version. For once the price seems fair for what's included,and is probably the definitive look at this album. This is one of those unique records that,once heard,seems to grab hold of your head and never lets go. It's still impressive,even now,after all these years. And that's the mark of great music.

Well, I was thirteen years old and bought this album for its cover. To say I was blown away was an understatement. Because I was a Moody Blues fan I definitely noticed the vocal and atmospheric influences of the Moodies Yet, there was something else here never heard before. This was an entirely different "animal" indeed. I loved the way they could be softly beautiful one minute (helped by Greg Lake's lovely voice) and the next minute fill the room with screechy and bold, and for the time, almost "unmusical" sounds.(almost noisy and unpleasant but undeniably "New" )The lyrics were always profound and intelligent. I played this album until I wore it out. I bought a new copy and now I bought the C.D. Of course I will keep all three copies. I have followed King Crimson through all their changes and they were continually innovative, provocative, beautiful and scary. One of the best groups of all times. Holds up completely to anything of this time. This is their classic, first attempt and belongs in any music collection.

This quintessential album begins the career of King Crimson, a.k.a. Robert Fripp and those musicians he chooses to create his musical vision as his "group". And it has all the elements of all later Crimson albums: terrifying intensity alternating with delicate, incredible beauty and ALWAYS superb musicianship. A fitting beginning in the very late 1960s, somewhat comparable to the contemporary Moody Blues in their use of flute, Mellotron, and exquisite guitar but of considerably darker vision and more psychedelic, mystical, and cynical. "21st Century Schizoid Man" is truly a premonition of things to come, both with the band and the world at large, with blistering intensity and a truly terrifying message, then when you think you just can't stand it anymore comes "I Talk to the Wind", a welcome respite of amazing loveliness yet sharp and contrarian words: "You don't posess me, don't impress me..." Then the very dark and cynical "Epitaph", quite literally about the end of the world at "the hands of fools"...Then another break with the mystical "Moonchild" with a long (and early for its day) ambient instrumental section, exploded by "The Court of the Crimson King", a huge enormous piece of mystical magical reference with overwhelming Mellotrons sweeping you away to lyrics about a Medevil city populated by a purple piper, the keeper of the city keys, the black queen, the fire witch, the gardener, the pattern juggler, the orchestra, widows, wise men, the yellow jester, the puppets, and of course, The Crimson King. J.R.R. Tolkien would have been proud! All intertwined with amazing flute solos and Robert Fripp's incredible guitar playing.

If you are a fan of King Crimson and/or the music of the 1960s, this is an absolute MUST HAVE.

One of my first memories of "In The Court Of The Crimson King" was listening to it at a dance club on the Jersey Shore in the early 1970's called "Le Garage". While everyone danced with black light and psychedelic colors projecting around, they played this music as they showed clips of science fiction movies on a big screen. I remember this song being played to the finale of "This Island Earth" and it has stayed with me till today. The remastering and remixing is great. The bonus stuff is okay but not why you should buy this wonderful recording.

The music is still outstanding, and you get 2 CDs worth of remastered material that includes alternate versions of songs. If you love this album, it's worth it for the clean sound. If you've never heard this album, you deserve to give it a listen. Greg Lake is at his best, along with Robert Fripp, John Wetton, Bill Bruford, and others. Outstanding!

This album is the original progressive rock masterpiece. Although I don't know a lot about the recording, I have heard it several times. Robert Fripp was the major player behind this album but others contributed to it as well. The music reminds me of ELP a little bit, or maybe Gentle Giant. But this album truly started the progressive movement, which was largely centered in Britain at the time. Many of today's bands are influenced by this as well, including The Mars Volta.

I gave this album 5 stars because all of the music is great. All five tracks are excellent but in particular 21st Century Schizoid Man, Epitaph, and In the Court of the Crimson King stand out as perhaps the best material. The music is very complicated and focused on instruments especially guitar. It is noted for use of unusual instruments such as mellotron.

Buy this album, or at list give it a listen! It just might expand your musical horizons and open your mind.

This is one of the greatest musical work of the humanity, not only for progressive rock. That energy & imagination is a rare breed.
Now, this 2 cd edition brings a kind of justice to the original: Steven Wilson did a good job, showing his understanding and empathy to the music iself. His remaster is nicely doubled with the 2004 original master recording, for evaluation.
Still, I'm wondering if there will be the 45th anniversary, as well? ;)

When this album was first released, the Mellotron (a predecessor of the synthesizer) that King Crimson used was startlingly new. I remembered "In the Court of the Crimson King" as being an amazing single, and when I saw the CD was available I quickly bought it. That one song holds up well, but alas, the rest of the songs on the album do not. Now that the technology is a thing of the distant past, the avant-garde noodlings aren't particularly appealing. Still, if you remember King Crimson you might find it worth while.

THANK THE FRIPPIAN HEAVENS for including the ORIGINAL MIX of the 1969 Toe Tapping Classic Album.
The music unearthly. Remastering Bursts with Staccato Thunder of Michael Giles. As great as the new 2009 Stereo Mix is,
the original still has that Thrill that Fripp does to us oh so well. This Issue is beyond 'recommended', to not enjoy this release
is to not enjoy life itself. As some other wise man once said; "I never met a Fripp I didn't Like"