King Crimson: Red LP

King Crimson was conceived in November of 1968 and born on January 13th 1969 in the Fulham Palace Cafe, London (Robert Fripp/Ian McDonald/Greg Lake/Michael Giles/Pete Sinfield), coming to prominence after supporting The Rolling Stones at Hyde Park. Their ground-breaking debut In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969) described by Pete Townshend as "an uncanny masterpiece," began a career that has spanned four decades and influenced many bands and individuals including Yes, Genesis, Tool, and Porcupine Tree.

 

Despite the original line-up imploding after an American tour King Crimson continued to produce constantly challenging and intriguing music on albums such as In The Wake of Poseidon (1970), Lizard (1970), Islands (1971), Earthbound (1972), Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973) and Red (1974). Following Red, an exhausted Fripp declared "King Crimson is completely over for ever and ever," although the group would reconvene 7 years later.

 

By the time King Crimson entered the studio in July of 74, the band had spent the best part of two years on the road, recorded two albums along the way (Larks' Tongues In Aspic, Starless And Bible Black), and shed two band members en route (percussionist Jamie Muir left for a monastery, violin/mellotron player David Cross had left at the end of the US tour a week earlier). They had also built a reputation as one of the tightest, most powerful bands on the rock circuit. 

 

Recording as a trio in Olympic studios in London, with contributions from former members and friends on sax, violin, oboe and clarinet, the group produced the last Crimson studio album of the 70s and one of the decade's masterpieces - Red. The 5-song set emerged as a distillation of everything Crimson had been working towards live and in the studio between 72 and 74. In the 35-plus years since its release, Red has built an enviable, enduring reputation among fans and professional musicians alike - with bands from each succeeding decade citing it as an important influence.