King Crimson-where to begin?

You cannot go wrong with this one..

In The Court Of King Crimson




Or


Lark's Tongues In Aspic





Dean...

That's the only one I have. I really like it, especially Lake's vocals.

Who sings on Lark's Tongue?

John Wetton, but much of it is instrumental Steve.



Dean...

If you want to rattle the windows with Whetton's bass playing try Red. If you've got DBLs, try the live double B'Boom - the 90s incarnation. You can't fail to be impressed.

You've started at the right place with IN the Court...

The other 70's Crimson albums...

In the Wake of Poseidon - similar to In the Court... but not as good.

Lizard - very jazzy, features Jon Anderson on one song.

Islands - Hmmm, never liked that one much

Larks Tongues in Aspic - the first of three albums featuring the Fripp/Wetton/Bruford axis. Excellent album - recommended.

Starless and Bible Black - much of it was recorded live but it's presented as a studio album - features more improvisation, not as good as the other two.

Red - Final one of the Fripp/Wetton/Bruford years. Another excellent album also recommended.

That should do for starters...

"In The Court of the Crimson King" is the classic debut, then I would skip forward to "Red", then "Lark's Tongues in Aspic", then "Starless and Bible Black."

I also like the early 80s KC though it is rather different (new wave influenced), esp. "Discipline"

KC were excellent live and there are lots of live albums available, I like "The Night Watch"

Avoid "Earthbound" (live album of dubious sound quality), and I am not convinced by "Lizard"

My all time favourit by King Crimson is Lizard.

In The Court of the Crimson is the place to start, then I'd go for In The Wake of Poseidon and then I'd jump to Starless and Bible Black - as others have said Lark's Tongue and Red.

One album I'd seek out is The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles and Fripp - this is a quite outstanding elpee that pre-dates In The Court of ..

ATB Rotf

It depends on what you want from King Crimson. If you are looking for something like Asia, or Whetton's other stuff, you will not find that in King Crimson.

Wetton is very melodic, Fripp was not, and it was Fripp's band. Wetton sang and played bass, but in those days the sound was far heavier and more raucous. If you want something that develops on the rawness of '21st Century Schzoid Man' then either 'Lark's Tongues in Aspic', if you want to hear the conclusion of where that lead, the I would say 'Red' is their finest moment.

Don't expect much mellotron richness, it is dark and powerful album, and apparently one of Kurt Cobain's favourites.

If you are looking for material that is more melodic like Azia, the I would suggest trying any UK you do not already have. Originally John Whetton, Bill Bruford, Eddie Jobson and Allan Holdsworth. Bruford and Holdsworth left to form the excellent jazz-rock band 'Bruford'. Jobson and Wetton recruited ex Zappa drummer Terry Bozzio and did two more albums as a three piece.

The first three King Crimson albums follow on from 'In The Court ...', so if you want more of that, then 'In The Wake of Posidon' and 'Lizard'. 'Islands' becomes a little darker.

'Larks Tongues in Aspic' is the first Wetton, Bruford, Cross and Fripp album, that one with Jamie Muir, some mellotron based 70's prog, but moving towards some powerful riffing, and getting heavier. 'Starless and Bible Black' continued these ideas, but is patchy. 'Red' concluded the first major passage of King Crimson. 'USA' is a good live album, and 'The Great Deceiver' is fantastic, but I don't think a four CD boxset is what you are asking about.

The 1980's King Crimson were good, but very different, rather like a prog version of 'Talking Heads'. The 90's Crimson blended the two, and as they moved into this decade they became a very powerful and cleaver metal band. The opened for Tool, who they had greatly influenced.

My gut feeling, is that you might like UK more though. My heart is with 'Red'.

JamieL & others- Thanks for the very informative info. I think I will seek out Lark's Tongue and Poseidon. I have all the U.K. albums. Saw U.K. many years ago opening for Jethro Tull in Long Beach, California.

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:
One album I'd seek out is The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles and Fripp - this is a quite outstanding elpee that pre-dates In The Court of ..

ATB Rotf

I still need to get my hands on this one.

I got this lately having had it on my wish list since the BBC4 Prog series.

totally underwhelmed by it on first listen and haven't gone back to it since.

Must have another listen.


SJB