A vehicle for left-field guitar hero Robert Fripp, King Crimson are one of the major progressive rock acts, surviving countless personnel changes since their formation more than five decades ago. The other original members were singer/bassist Greg Lake, drummer Michael Giles, lyricist Peter Sinfield, and keyboard/ vibes/woodwind player Ian McDonald. This lineup only recorded one LP, but it remains their best-known work.
From the scary cover painting—best appreciated on gatefold vinyl—to the portentous lyrics. In The Court Of The Crimson King is a heavy-duty album. "21 st Century Schizoid Man" sets the tone. It's perhaps the first alternative anthem, featuring a gargantuan main riff, squalling sax and apocalyptic visions.
There's yet more doom in "Epitaph," a beautifully resigned ballad that finds Lake’s plaintive voice supported by a rich array of textures.
"Moonchild" is a spooky pastoral love song stretched out to epic length by an improvised ambient-jazz interlude, while the title track melds folky arabesques, bombastic drum rolls, and baroque flute to conjure its medieval scenario.
In The Court Of The Crimson King peaked at UK No. 5 and U.S. No. 28. Other landmarks include the colorful follow-up In The Wake Of Poseidon, 1973's electrifying freakout Larks' Tongues In Aspic and 1981's funky, Talking Heads-influenced Discipline. The band are revered by contemporary neo-prog stars Tool and The Mars Volta, while the ever-versatile Fripp has played on several iconic records by David Bowie and Brian Eno.
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