King Crimson: What Album To Start With?

[BassGod]

Title says it all, really. I've been wanting to check out this band for a while, but I don't know where to start.

Reccomendations?

Graeme

[James Hart]

Red

[StreamerDavid]

I would start with RED and then move to DISCIPLINE, BEAT, and THREE OF A PERFECT PAIR. KC is a band that changed identities quite a bit. RED is their essential album, but DISCIPLINE is probably my favorite and the one I listen to the most.

[BassGod]

Originally Posted by James Hart

Red

Good bass playing on this one?

I've seen this album mentioned a number of times, along with In The Court of the Crimson King, The Power To Believe, Larks' Tongue in Aspic, Discipline, and Starless and Bible Black.

Thanks,
Graeme

[Peter McFerrin]

Originally Posted by BassGod

Good bass playing on this one?

Oh hell yeah. As a rhythm section, John Wetton and Bill Bruford were a combined lead instrument.

Red and Discipline are the absolute essentials, and then In the Court... if only for "21st Century Schizoid Man." The live albums are really the best way to experience the group's sound, though, IMO. The Night Watch is the definitive two-disc live set from the Wetton/Cross ('72-'74) lineup, while Absent Lovers fills that role for the Belew/Levin one ('81-'84).

As far as the "latter-day" King Crimson albums go, I consider The Power to Believe to be just slightly better than THRAK; both are very strong. The ConstruKCtion of Light, by contrast, is wretched to the point of self-parody. The VROOOM VROOOM live album from the THRAK tours is incredibly strong.

[Eland]

I totally agree with Peter McFerrin.

I would just like to ad Thrakc with the doubble trio with Tony and Trey Gunn on basses and sticks.

[perfektspace6]

I would go with "Beat". Can't go wrong with "Red" as others have said.

[jenderfazz]

I love Red. Wetton's distorted P bass tone is awesome. In the Court of the Crimson King is another strong album to begin with.

[Freaky Fender]

I think "Red", "Discipline" and "Thrak" are all great. The latter is pretty heavy, even compared to some bands today, when they really get at it, it sounds so... thick.

[wwittman]

In The Court Of The Crimson King!

without that, no one would have remained interested.
Fripp, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald, Michael Giles... wow.

by FAR the best one.

[Freaky Fender]

Originally Posted by wwittman

In The Court Of The Crimson King!

without that, no one would have remained interested.
Fripp, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald, Michael Giles... wow.

by FAR the best one.

Personally I think it's their weakest. The only good song on there is "21st". Other than that it's all pretty generic prog, although I've probably been spoiled by the adrian/belew lineups...

[bradjonesbass]

Do yourself a favor and get "The Essential King Crimson". It's a greatest hits of sorts and features music from almost all eras of King Crimson. From there, you can decide which era you might wish to pursue further first. For me, the Tony Levin era is my favorite, especially Thela Hun Ginjeet, Discipline, Three of a Perfect Pair, and Elephant Talk. Sick, sick, sick, sick, sick...

[Matt Till]

Red.

I figure if it mentioned enough, you'll get it... maybe not first. But it's certainly a favorite.

[Fawkes007]

Hard to say...depends on which era...there have been, what, at least 4 important eras in Crimson. My favorites below:

For the Belew Levin Fripp Bruford era, of course it has to be Discipline.

John Wetten era, Starless and Bible Black, Red, and Lark's Tongue in Aspic.

I would buy all of those CDs. Now. That should get you going.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by wwittman

In The Court Of The Crimson King!

without that, no one would have remained interested.
Fripp, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald, Michael Giles... wow.

by FAR the best one.

Originally Posted by Freaky Fender

Personally I think it's their weakest. The only good song on there is "21st". Other than that it's all pretty generic prog, although I've probably been spoiled by the adrian/belew lineups...

*sigh* Where do I start?

What may now sound like just "generic prog" to you, was one of the most groundbreaking rock albums ever recorded when it was released in 1969 - twenty years before you were even born, youngster! In fact, progressive rock was at that time still in its infancy - the term itself had scarcely been even coined yet. King Crimson was one of only a handful of bands that had begun to explore this sophisticated new direction for rock music - along with Procul Harum, The Moody Blues - and of course, The Beatles (Pink Floyd was still semi-underground). As such, King Crimson were one of the original inventors of the genre...

If the original question of this post - "I've been wanting to check out this band for a while, but I don't know where to start. Recommendations?" - is still valid, then KC's very first album would be an excellent choice - not only because of its place in music history, and not only because of the insight it can lend into the evolution of the band, but also because it's a fine piece of music in its own right...

MM

[BassGod]

Cool. I'll be using my tax return to buy these. Free money is awesome.

It seems I'll be buying Red for sure. And if I like that, I'll probably end up buying more. Thanks for the suggestions.

Graeme

[BassGod]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

*sigh* Where do I start?

What may now sound like just "generic prog" to you, was one of the most groundbreaking rock albums ever recorded when it was released in 1969 - twenty years before you were even born, youngster! In fact, progressive rock was at that time still in its infancy - the term itself had scarcely been even coined yet. King Crimson was one of only a handful of bands that had begun to explore this sophisticated new direction for rock music - along with Procul Harum, The Moody Blues - and of course, The Beatles (Pink Floyd was still semi-underground)...

If the original question of this post - "I've been wanting to check out this band for a while, but I don't know where to start. Recommendations?" - is still valid, then KC's very first album would be an excellent choice - not only because of its place in music history, and not only because of the insight it can lend into the evolution of the band, but also because it's a fine piece of music in its own right...

MM

The Beatles are prog? I would have never thought of them like that.

Graeme

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by BassGod

The Beatles are prog? I would have never thought of them like that.

Graeme

Of course you wouldn't. Because they were way before your time. To you, Beatles songs probably sound very tame and mainstream. But at the time the Beatles were happening, they were pioneering things - artistically and conceptually - that had never even been attempted before. That's the very essence of "progressiveness".

If you compare Sargeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band against practically any other rock/pop music that was on the market at the time of its release - in June, 1967 - there simply wasn't anything else that even came close - with the possible exception of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. Sargeant Pepper alone was so hugely influential that it created an entirely new template for creation of rock & pop music that lasted for at least another generation.

The fact that it may not sound so distinctive to you now is evidence of how much of a new standard it truly became - and thus, of how truly ubiquitous its influence has become since then...

MM

[KayCee]

Originally Posted by BassGod

Title says it all, really. I've been wanting to check out this band for a while, but I don't know where to start.

Reccomendations?

Graeme

My favorites:

I seem to prefer their 70's stuff:

Starless And Bible Black
Red
Islands <----- (underrated, I think)