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King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King



9.1 | 694 votes |
Release date: 12 October 1969
Style: Progressive rock

Owners:

773 have it
74 want it


01. 21st Century Schizoid Man
    1 - Mirrors
02. I Talk To The Wind
03. Epitaph
    1 - March For No Reason
    2 - Tomorrow And Tomorrow
04. Moonchild
    1 - The Dream
    2 - The Illusion
05. The Court Of The Crimson King
    1 - The Return Of The Fire Witch
    2 - The Dance Of The Puppets

Top 20 albums of 1969: 1
Top 200 albums of all time: 20

Additional info
[40th Anniversary Series bonus tracks]
06. Moonchild [full version]
07. I Talk To The Wind [duo version]
08. I Talk To The Wind [alternate mix]
09. Epitaph [backing track]
10. Wind Session

[40th Anniversary Series Disc II: Original Master Edition 2004]
01. 21st Century Schizoid Man
02. I Talk To The Wind
03. Epitaph
04. Moonchild
05. The Court Of The Crimson King
[bonus tracks]
06. 21st Century Schizoid Man [instrumental]
07. 21st Century Schizoid Man [BBC Session]
08. I Talk To The Wind [BBC Session]
09. The Court Of The Crimson King Part 1 [mono single version]
10. The Court Of The Crimson King Part 2 [mono single version]

[40th Anniversary Series DVD-A: MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround Sound, DTS 5.1 Digital Surround, MLP Lossless Stereo, PCM Stereo 2.0, Original Master Edition 2004]
01. 21st Century Schizoid Man
02. I Talk To The Wind
03. Epitaph
04. Moonchild
05. The Court Of The Crimson King

[Additional Audio Content]
01. Moonchild [full version]
02. I Talk To The Wind [duo version]
03. I Talk To The Wind [alternate mix]
04. Epitaph [backing track]
05. Wind Session

[The Alternate Album]
01. 21st Century Schizoid Man [instrumental]
02. I Talk To The Wind [studio run through]
03. Epitaph [alternate version]
04. Moonchild [take 1]
05. The Court Of The Crimson King [take 3]

+ 21st Century Schizoid Man [video]

Guest review by
AndyMetalFreak
Rating:
9.7
It's been over 50 years since the legendary progressive rock group, King Crimson, released their magnificent debut, In The Court Of The Crimson King, and this album is not only a progressive rock masterpiece, it is also considered by many, as well as myself, to be amongst the greatest albums in history to ever be released.

Read more ››
published 20.09.2021 | Comments (10)

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Comments page 3 / 3

Comments: 81   Visited by: 1936 users
24.07.2021 - 23:27
Rating: 10
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
This album is simply genius, and a timeless masterpiece!
To think this was released in 1969 is unbelievable, it was well ahead of it's time, especially the song 21st Century Schizoid Man, which was and still is a Rock classic.
These were three extremely talented musicians, that could use multiple instruments, such as keyboard synthesisers, wind instruments, and both electric and acoustic guitars, and could craft together mind blowing music in a completely unique style, unlike anything done before, this style was what was to become known as progressive rock, which would have a huge influence on so many future bands, aswel as many of my favourite progressive legends such as Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull and Yes.
I admit at times it does drag a little and get a little but dull in parts, but like many Progressive Rock masterpieces, it's not about individual songs, the whole album is an epic journey.
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19.01.2022 - 05:01
Rating: 9
Ace Frawley
The Spaceman
This album has been on my wishlist for many years and so I finally bought it the other day and have been listening to it on repeat and loving it. I can see why this has been cited by so many prog rock musicians as being influential to them. I saw that Enslaved’s Ivar Bjørnson had it on his "10 albums that changed my life", and I can understand why. Must have been pretty unique when it was released back in 1969.
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16.04.2022 - 07:09
Rating: 10
Jack_Torrance
In the 60s/70s you have real progressive music like this and then you have the prog wankery like Yes.
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16.04.2022 - 11:23
JoHn Doe
Written by Jack_Torrance on 16.04.2022 at 07:09

In the 60s/70s you have real progressive music like this and then you have the prog wankery like Yes.

maybe, but then Fripp's playing was sometimes a bit weird and quirky.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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16.04.2022 - 14:18
Rating: 10
Jack_Torrance
Well, ofc it was weird and different. That's why it is so good.
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16.04.2022 - 15:04
JoHn Doe
Written by Jack_Torrance on 16.04.2022 at 14:18

Well, ofc it was weird and different. That's why it is so good.

Calling Yes prog wankery is unfair, they did a lot of great music as well.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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16.04.2022 - 16:03
Rating: 10
Jack_Torrance
Alright, maybe I did exaggerate a bit, but I think King Crimson is just so much better.
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16.04.2022 - 17:43
Rating: 10
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
Written by Jack_Torrance on 16.04.2022 at 07:09

In the 60s/70s you have real progressive music like this and then you have the prog wankery like Yes.

I'm not really into everything Yes did, but I admit Close To The Edge is one of my favourite progressive rock albums of all time. I do slightly prefer King Crimson overall, but both bands are good in their own way imo, and have their own unique style. But for me Pink Floyd will always come out on top, that's imo anyway.
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16.04.2022 - 21:17
Rating: 10
Jack_Torrance
Yeah for me the pinnacle of prog is Pink Floyd and King Crimson
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16.04.2022 - 21:18
Rating: 10
Jack_Torrance
Also Pink Floyd should be added on MS
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16.04.2022 - 21:37
JoHn Doe
Written by Jack_Torrance on 16.04.2022 at 21:18

Also Pink Floyd should be added on MS

They were for a while. So was Queen. There was some nice discussion, but it was decided that they'd be removed.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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18.04.2022 - 20:57
Rating: 10
Azarath
Free as a.. Fish
I certainly understand Pink Floyd not being featured here, but Queen definitely should be.
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18.04.2022 - 21:08
JoHn Doe
Written by Azarath on 18.04.2022 at 20:57

I certainly understand Pink Floyd not being featured here, but Queen definitely should be.

Pink Floyd has influenced many other musicians in both rock and metal. I would not mind if they were featured on MS. There are also many prog rock bands as well.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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19.04.2022 - 22:15
Rating: 10
Azarath
Free as a.. Fish
Written by JoHn Doe on 18.04.2022 at 21:08

Pink Floyd has influenced many other musicians in both rock and metal. I would not mind if they were featured on MS.

I wouldn't mind it either, but I understand why they're not here. Not because of their influence, which is of course immense, but purely on musical grounds as their sound was psychedelic, spacey, proggy... but not "heavy" as such.

Early Queen was really heavy though and with the distinction between hard rock and heavy metal in the '70s being somewhat nebulous I would argue they'd fit in nicely here alongside Purple and Zeppelin. They came as close to "metal" as those bands ever did.
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19.04.2022 - 22:34
JoHn Doe
Written by Azarath on 19.04.2022 at 22:15

Written by JoHn Doe on 18.04.2022 at 21:08

Pink Floyd has influenced many other musicians in both rock and metal. I would not mind if they were featured on MS.

I wouldn't mind it either, but I understand why they're not here. Not because of their influence, which is of course immense, but purely on musical grounds as their sound was psychedelic, spacey, proggy... but not "heavy" as such.

Early Queen was really heavy though and with the distinction between hard rock and heavy metal in the '70s being somewhat nebulous I would argue they'd fit in nicely here alongside Purple and Zeppelin. They came as close to "metal" as those bands ever did.

Psychedelia was an influence on both prog and early metal. For example Nile Song and ibiza Bar from More were pretty heavy for 1969.

There are few odd bands here on MS, being offended PF or Queen would be on MS is rather ridiculous (for lack of a better word). That ship has sailed.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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23.04.2022 - 01:52
Rating: 10
Jack_Torrance
I mean even Rush is on MS, so why wouldn't you add Pink Floyd as well which is the better band and more influential.
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24.04.2022 - 11:27
nikarg
Staff
Please go here if you want to continue the conversation about Pink Floyd or here if you want to talk about Queen. This thread is for King Crimson's In The Court Of The Crimson King. Thank you.

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21.09.2022 - 12:19
Rating: 9
nonZero
I remember first hearing 'The Court Of The Crimson King' on a Spotify playlist for the book '1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die' around 2010-2013 time (I was working my way through the book at the time). I was blown away by it as my first time hearing King Crimson. This has gradually become one of my top 60 albums since then.

9.3/10 for me - 'The Court Of The Crimson King' was and still is the standout song. '21st Century Schizoid Man' and 'Epitaph' are both also great. 'Moonchild' is the weakest song IMO.
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21.09.2022 - 16:31
Rating: 10
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
Written by nonZero on 21.09.2022 at 12:19

I remember first hearing 'The Court Of The Crimson King' on a Spotify playlist for the book '1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die' around 2010-2013 time (I was working my way through the book at the time). I was blown away by it as my first time hearing King Crimson. This has gradually become one of my top 60 albums since then.

9.3/10 for me - 'The Court Of The Crimson King' was and still is the standout song. '21st Century Schizoid Man' and 'Epitaph' are both also great. 'Moonchild' is the weakest song IMO.

I have no idea how many times I've listened to this album over the years, all I know is it's a hell of alot. And I have to agree with you that "Moonchild" is the weakest track, in fact it's the only track I don't find myself throughly enjoying, the rest however is simply masterpiece standard perfection
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10.04.2023 - 06:12
A Real Mönkey
Love this album so much I bought it three times. All physical reissues, each bigger than the last.
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05.04.2024 - 16:14
Rating: 9
JOPE OF STEELE
Steelemeister
I appreciate the songs 21st Century Schizoid Man and The Court Of The Crimson King a lot, they're definitely some of my favorite songs by the band. I don't see the overall album quite as the strongest by KC nor in terms of the individual songs, but it's quite strong overall.

The songwriting is pretty interesting for the whole album, with some quite great musicianship approaches, and some less common instruments, like the mellotron -- doesn't beat Spring's mellotron usage on their 1971 s/t debut though -- and maybe some other instruments too that I'm not recognizing.

Not for folks with low attention span; even myself I am struggling with songs like Moonchild waiting for something to happen.
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