King Crimson in The Court Of The Lp Original Master Recording Factory Sealed

Artwork By Cover Barry Godber Bass, Lead Vocals Greg Lake Drums, Percussion, Vocals Michael Giles Engineer Assistant Tony Page Guitar Robert Fripp Producer King Crimson Woodwind, Reeds, Vibraphone Vibes Ian McDonald Words By, Other Illumination Peter Sinfield

Originally released by Atlantic Records 1969.
Pressed in Japan for the USA.
Gatefold sleeve.

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.