KING CRIMSON — In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969) Three Version (1987, Japan, EMI-Toshiba, 32VD-1063) + (1990, RM | Serie The Definitive Edition | Virgin Japan, VJCP-2301) + (2009, UK, Discipline Global Mobile, KCCBX1 | RM | 5CD BOX-SET | King Crimson 40th Anniversary Series) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

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
Tracklist :
 1. 21st Century Schizoid Man (including Mirrors) 07:21
2. I Talk To The Wind 06:05
3. Epitaph (including March For No Reason and Tomorrow And Tomorrow) [08:47]
4. Moonchild (including The Dream and The Illusion) 12:13
5. The Court Of The Crimson King
(including The Return Of The Fire Witch and The Dance Of The Puppets) [09:25]
Total time [43:54]
Credits :
Greg Lake - Bass Guitar, Lead Vocals  
Michael Giles - Drums, Percussion, Vocals  
Robert Fripp - Guitar  
Ian McDonald - Keyboards, Mellotron, Woodwind, Vibraphone [Vibes], Reeds, Vocals
Peter Sinfield - Words By, Other [Illumination]

KING CRIMSON — In The Wake Of Poseidon (1970) Three Version (1988, Virgin Japan, VJD-28002 | Serie Big Artist Collection) + (1990, RM EG | Virgin Japan – VJCP-2302) + (2010, UK Discipline Global Mobile, KCSP2 | King Crimson 40th Anniversary Series) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

King Crimson opened 1970 scarcely in existence as a band, having lost two key members (Ian McDonald and Michael Giles), with a third (Greg Lake) about to leave. Their second album -- largely composed of Robert Fripp's songwriting and material salvaged from their stage repertory ("Pictures of a City" and "The Devil's Triangle") -- is actually better produced and better sounding than their first. Surprisingly, Fripp's guitar is not the dominant instrument here: The Mellotron, taken over by Fripp after McDonald's departure -- and played even better than before -- still remains the band's signature. The record doesn't tread enough new ground to precisely rival In the Court of the Crimson King. Fripp, however, has made an impressive show of transmuting material that worked on stage ("Mars" aka "The Devil's Triangle") into viable studio creations, and "Cadence and Cascade" may be the prettiest song the group ever cut. "The Devil's Triangle," which is essentially an unauthorized adaptation of "Mars, Bringer of War" from Gustav Holst's The Planets, was later used in an eerie Bermuda Triangle documentary of the same name. [In March of 2000, Caroline and Virgin released a 24-bit digitally remastered job that puts the two Mellotrons, Michael Giles' drums, Peter Giles' bass, and even Fripp's acoustic guitar and Keith Tippett's acoustic piano practically in the lap of the listener.] Bruce Eder
Tracklist :
1. Peace - A Beginning (00:49)
Robert Fripp / Peter Sinfield
2. Pictures Of A City (including 42nd At Treadmill) (08:01)
Robert Fripp / Peter Sinfield
3. Cadence And Cascade (04:38)
Robert Fripp / Peter Sinfield
4. In The Wake Of Poseidon (including Libra's Theme) (07:58)
Robert Fripp / Peter Sinfield
5. Peace - A Theme (01:15)
Robert Fripp
6. Cat Food (04:54)
Robert Fripp / Ian McDonald / Peter Sinfield
7. The Devil's Triangle ((i) Merday Morn; (ii) Hand Of Sceiron; (iii) Garden Of Worm) (11:36)
Robert Fripp
8. Peace - An End (01:53)
Robert Fripp / Peter Sinfield
Credits :
Bass – Peter Giles
Drums – Michael Giles
Guitar, Mellotron, Electronics [Devices] – Robert Fripp
Lyrics By, Artwork By [Sleeve Design & Inside Painting] – Peter Sinfield
Piano – Keith Tippet
Producer, Directed By – Peter Sinfield, Robert Fripp
Saxophone, Flute – Mel Collins
Vocals – Greg Lake