King Crimson remains one of the most important and arguable most influential bands in the art and progressive rock pantheon. Starting out in 1969 in the “classic” art rock mold (or, as one hostile critic put it, as a “mellotron” band, after the very early version of a kinda-sorta string synthesizer, which it wasn’t), it morphed into an extremely inventive jazz/heavy metal band in the early 1970’s, collapsed completely in 1974, and has been back in existence since 1981 in various forms.

This is the first part of a two-volume series entitled The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson. Assembled by Crimson’s leader, the extraordinarily talented and influential Robert Fripp, the first volume under review here looks are Crimson in the 1969-1974 conglomerations that are responsible for creating some utterly superb rock and roll over the course of seven studio and one live albums.

I highly recommend this set for anyone who does not have a significant acquaintance with the band and has more than a passing interest in 1970’s progressive rock. I cannot over-emphasize the importance of this band and its work, despite the flaws and self-indulgence. If you have some patience, this is great listening. So, if you have any liking for Yes, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Peter Gabriel, early Genesis and early Jethro Tull and you never heard of these guys, here’s your chance. (Those of you who wish to learn more about the band may wish to read my biography at http://www.epinions.com/content_3876561028 .)

And for these people, let me make one thing clear: This music requires repeated, serious listenings. Be patient, it will grow on you.

On the other hand, fans of the band probably already have most of the stuff on this set. There’s only one new cut, a live improv from 1974 entitled Augsberg. There’s also some assorted live stuff from CD’s that are not widely available, such as the Epitaph and Night Watch sets. If you have those and the studio albums, don’t bother, unless you really want to read Robert Fripp’s liner notes, which are outstanding.

The set contains two studio and two live CD’s, each arranged in order of the band’s two major incarnations during this time frame. The first is the Robert Fripp/Greg Lake/Ian McDonald/Michael Giles classic form on the first two CD’s, In the Court of the Crimson King and (barely) In the Wake of Poseidon, as well as that band’s evolution over the next two albums, Lizard and Islands. The second is the Fripp/Bill Bruford (the great ex-Yes drummer)/John Wetton (bass and vocals, later to join Uriah Heep and Asia)/David Cross (violin) team that is responsible for the next three superb studio albums, Lark’s Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black, and Red.

The songs are:

Disc: 1 (studio, 1969-72)
1. 21st Century Schizoid Man
2. I Talk to the Wind
3. Epitaph
4. Moonchild
5. Court of the Crimson King
6. Peace - A Theme
7. Cat Food
8. Groon
9. Cadence and Cascade
10. In the Wake of Poseidon [Instrumental Edit][Edit][Instrumental]
11. Ladies of the Road
12. Sailor's Tale [Abridged]
13. Islands [Instrumental Edit][Edit][Instrumental]
14. Tuning Up
15. Bolero

Disc: 2 (live 1969-72)
1. Court of the Crimson King [Live]
2. Man, a City [Live]
3. 21st Century Schizoid Man [Live]
4. Get Thy Bearings [Live]
5. Mars [Live]
6. Pictures of a City [Live]
7. Letters [Live]
8. Sailor's Tale [Live]
9. Groon [Live]
10. 21st Century Schizoid Man [live]

Disc: 3 (studio 1973-75)
1. Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Pt. 1 [Abridged][Edit]
2. Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Pt. 1 [Edit]
3. Easy Money
4. Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Pt. 2
5. Night Watch
6. Great Deceiver
7. Fracture
8. Starless [Abridged]
9. Red
10. Fallen Angel
11. One More Red Nightmare

Disc: 4 (live 1973-74)
1. Asbury Park [Live]
2. Talking Drum [Live]
3. Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Pt. 2 [Live]
4. Lament [Live]
5. We'll Let You Know [Live]
6. Improv: Augsburg [Live]
7. Exiles [Abridged][Live]
8. Easy Money [Live]
9. Providence [Live]
10. Starless and Bible Black [Live]
11. 21st Century Schizoid Man [Live]
12. Trio [Live]

The first studio CD contains the entire Crimson King album as well as the important stuff from the next three studio albums. On this CD, one can see a band that peaks almost immediately and then proceeds into a slow and steady pace of frank decline. Though some like it, to me the last pieces from Islands are almost unlistenable.

The experience is the same on the first live CD. The first five cuts (through Holst’s Mars show the band at its live peak in 1969 with truly great performances on the BBC and at the Fillmore, featuring Greg Lake’s superb voice. The other material has much weaker vocal performances. It is kind of cool to compare how A Man, A City evolved into Pictures of a City, but that’s really it. (Note that this material is culled from Epitaph, Ladies of the Road, and Earthbound.)

The material on the last two CD’s show that band in its second grouping and is truly terrific. Most of the key songs from the last three albums are included, although it’s a shame that the lovely Book of Saturdays from Lark’s Tongues and the autobiographical Lament from Starless didn’t make it (although the latter is at least represented on the live CD). The material runs from very adventurous prog/jazz rock to some very intense “killer heavy metal” (as Bill Bruford put it) in the last three tracks from Red.

The last live CD is culled primarily from the USA live album from 1975 and the 1990’s 2-CD set The Night Watch. They show a great live band performing evolving versions of their studio tracks—not much note-for-note work here—as well as some intriguing improvisational work. Not for everyone, but for those who like it, it’s great.

As I said, the liner notes by Robert Fripp are excellent. They contain a listing of all the live dates the band played during the period, various memorabilia and photos, and short history of the band along with fascinating excerpts from album and concert reviews and newspaper articles. The love-hate relationship that the critics had with this band is quite striking: some people really loved the band, others hated it.

I do have a complaint. I simply do not understand why Fripp, who is ordinarily a total music fanatic, permitted edited, incomplete versions of his songs to be presented here. Why don’t we get the full live version of Exiles from USA? I don’t get it.

That whining aside, The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson Volume One is a wonderful tour through the career of a truly seminal band. Most modern music listeners have never heard of these guys, or think they’re just and ELP rip-off. Not true. For heavy metal heads in particular, there’s going to be some music on these CD’s that you will really dig. Buy it now.


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out