In the Court of the Crimson King

by King Crimson

Overview

The group's definitive album, and one of the most daring debut albums ever recorded by anybody. At the time, it blew all of the progressive/psychedelic competition (the Moody Blues, the Nice, etc.) out of the running, although it was almost too good for the band's own good -- it took King Crimson nearly four years to come up with a record as strong or concise. Ian McDonald's Mellotron is the dominant instrument, along with his saxes and Fripp's guitar, making this a somewhat different-sounding record from everything else they ever did. And even though that Mellotron sound is muted and toned down compared to their concert work of the era (e.g., Epitaph), it is still fierce and overpowering, on an album highlighted by strong songwriting (most of it filled with dark and doom-laden visions), the strongest singing of Greg Lake's entire career, and Fripp's guitar playing that strangely mixed elegant classical, Hendrix-like rock explosions, and jazz noodling. Lineup changes commenced immediately upon the album's release, and Fripp would ultimately be the only survivor on later King Crimson records. ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	06/19/2020
Label:	Panegyric
UPC:	0633367791610
Rank:	297

Album Credits

Performance Credits

King Crimson   Primary Artist
Keith Tippett   Piano
Greg Lake   Bass,Vocals,Lead Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Robert Fripp   Guitar,Keyboards
Peter Sinfield   Spoken Word
Michael Giles   Drums,Vocals,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Ian McDonald   Flute,Reeds,Vocals,Woodwind,Keyboards,Mellotron,Vibraphone,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Tony Arnold   Engineer,Remastering
Tony Levin   Composer
Trey Gunn   Composer
Simon Heyworth   Remastering
Bill Bruford   Composer
King Crimson   Producer
Gustav Holst   Composer
Jakko M. Jakszyk   Composer
Pat Mastelotto   Composer
David Singleton   Mixing
Greg Lake   Composer
Gavin Harrison   Composer
Jamie Muir   Composer
John Wetton   Composer
Robert Fripp   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Remastering,Executive Producer
Jeremy Stacey   Composer
Peter Sinfield   Composer,Lyricist,Illustrations
Richard Palmer-James   Composer
Mel Collins   Composer
Steven Wilson   Mixing,Producer
Michael Giles   Composer
David Cross   Composer
Ian McDonald   Composer
Robbin Thompson   Engineer
Robin Thompson   Engineer
Tony Page   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Dik   Equipment Manager,Equipment Technician
Vick   Equipment Manager
Hugh O'Donnell   Design
Donovan Leitch   Composer
Barry Godber   Cover Art,Cover Design
Fripp   Composer
Belew   Composer
Marian Hafenstein   Remastering