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 — Red (1981) Four Version (1987, Japan EMI-Toshiba, 32VD-1086) + (1988, Serie Big Artist Collection | Japan, Virgin, VJD-28021) + (1990, RM | Serie The Definitive Edition | Japan, Virgin, VJCP-2307) + (2013, USA | RM | 2CD | Serie King Crimson 40th Anniversary Series) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

King Crimson fell apart once more, seemingly for the last time, as David Cross walked away during the making of this album. It became Robert Fripp's last thoughts on this version of the band, a bit noiser overall but with some surprising sounds featured, mostly out of the group's past – Mel Collins' and Ian McDonald's saxes, Marc Charig's cornet, and Robin Miller's oboe, thus providing a glimpse of what the 1972-era King Crimson might've sounded like handling the later group's repertory (which nearly happened). Indeed, Charig's cornet gets just about the best showcase it ever had on a King Crimson album, and the truth is that few intact groups could have gotten an album as good as Red together. The fact that it was put together by a band in its death throes makes it all the more impressive an achievement. Indeed, Red does improve in some respects on certain aspects of the previous album – including "Starless," a cousin to the prior album's title track – and only the lower quality of the vocal compositions keeps this from being as strongly recommended as its two predecessors. Bruce Eder
Tracklist :
1. Red (6:17)
2. Fallen Angel (6:03)
3. One More Red Nightmare (7:10)
4. Providence (8:10)
5. Starless (12:17)
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Ian McDonald
Bass, Vocals – John Wetton
Cornet – Marc Charig
Guitar, Mellotron – Robert Fripp
Oboe – Robin Miller
Percussion [Percussives] – William Bruford
Soprano Saxophone – Mel Collins
Violin – David Cross