In the Court of the Crimson King - Definition and Overview

In the Court of the Crimson King
LP by King Crimson
Released	October 10, 1969
Recorded	August-September 1969 at Wessex Sound Studios in London
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	43 min 45 s
Record label	Atlantic Records
King Crimson Chronology
	In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)	In the Wake of Poseidon (1970)

In the Court of the Crimson King is the title of a 1969 album by the British progressive rock group King Crimson.

The album was enormously important and influential on the development of psychedelic, progressive rock, and heavy metal music. It combines exceptional musicianship, poetic lyrics, and a dark vision. While other bands (notably Pink Floyd) had used long form songs, and still others had pushed the rock song to take in jazz freeform (including Frank Zappa), In the Court of the Crimson King has a whimsy about its poetry and a nightmare to its visions. The band has often been called "intelligent heavy metal" (helped by Robert Fripp himself saying that his goal in forming King Crimson was to make such), and the first album by King Crimson defies genre and forges new ground on several fronts.

The album opens with a track called "21st Century Schizoid Man", which features heavily distorted vocals, a driving mechanical rhythm and piercingly loud saxophone and guitar. The pace then abruptly changes with a gentle melodic piece called "I Talk to the Wind". "Moonchild" is an ethereal psychedelic piece which closes with a quiet freeform jam. Both "Epitaph" and the title track, "In the Court of the Crimson" King, feature sweeping mellotron orchestrations.

The album was remastered and re-released in the late 1990's.

Track listing

1. 21st Century Schizoid Man (Fripp/McDonald, Lake/Giles/Sinfield) 7:20, including:
   • Mirrors
2. I Talk to the Wind (McDonald/Sinfield) 6:05
3. Epitaph (Fripp/McDonald/Lake/Giles/Sinfield) 8:47, including:
   • March for no Reason
   • Tomorrow and Tomorrow
4. Moonchild (Fripp/McDonald/Lake/Giles/Sinfield) 12:11, including:
   • The Dream
   • The Illusion
5. The Court of the Crimson King (McDonald/Sinfield) 9:22, including:
   • The Return of the Fire Witch
   • The Dance of the Puppets

Personnel

• Robert Fripp (guitar)
• Ian McDonald (reeds, woodwind, vibes, keyboards, mellotron, vocals)
• Greg Lake (bass guitar, lead vocals)
• Michael Giles (drums, percussion, vocals)
• Peter Sinfield (words and illumination)