{"title":"King Crimson","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout King Crimson\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eKing Crimson formed in London in 1968 around guitarist Robert Fripp, who has been the only constant member throughout the band's multiple incarnations. Their debut In the Court of the Crimson King (1969), with its iconic Barry Godber-painted cover, is widely considered one of the foundational documents of progressive rock as a genre. The original lineup dissolved by mid-1970, with the subsequent 1973-1974 lineup (Fripp, John Wetton, Bill Bruford, David Cross) producing Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973), Starless and Bible Black (1974), and Red (1974). Fripp put the band on hiatus in 1974, reforming in 1981 with new lineups including Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, and Bill Bruford. The band has continued in multiple incarnations across decades, including a final touring lineup of seven members (the Seven-Headed Beast) before the band's 2021 dissolution announcement. The 2022 In the Court of the Crimson King documentary by Toby Amies addressed the band's history.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSound and style\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eKing Crimson's sound combines progressive rock, art rock, experimental rock, jazz fusion, math rock, and avant-garde with extensive instrumental virtuosity, polyrhythmic compositional approaches, intricate guitar work (particularly Fripp's signature angular approach), and consistent reinvention across the band's multiple incarnations. Their foundational influence on progressive rock, post-rock, and broader experimental music is widely documented.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDiscography highlights\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn the Court of the Crimson King (1969, Island\/Atlantic)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn the Wake of Poseidon (1970, Island\/Atlantic)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLizard (1970, Island\/Atlantic)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIslands (1971, Island\/Atlantic)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarks' Tongues in Aspic (1973, Island\/Atlantic)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStarless and Bible Black (1974, Island\/Atlantic)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRed (1974, Island\/Atlantic)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiscipline (1981, EG\/Warner Bros.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBeat (1982, EG)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThree of a Perfect Pair (1984, EG)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTHRAK (1995, Discipline\/Virgin)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Power to Believe (2003, Sanctuary)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFor collectors\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginal Island and Atlantic pressings of the late-1960s and 1970s King Crimson catalog are foundational items in progressive rock collecting. Multiple anniversary editions, audiophile reissues (Steven Wilson stereo and 5.1 surround remixes through Panegyric), and the comprehensive box set programs have been released.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhere to start\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eListeners new to King Crimson typically start with In the Court of the Crimson King (1969) or Red (1974). \u003cspan class=\"related-collections\"\u003eExplore more: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/prog-krautrock-vinyl-records\"\u003eProg \u0026amp; Krautrock\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/classic-rock-vinyl-records\"\u003eClassic Rock\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"king-crimson-cat-food-groon-ep-vinyl","title":"Cat Food\/Groon EP","description":"\u003cp\u003e50th-anniversary 10\" EP from King Crimson: single version of 'Cat Food', original B-side 'Groon', a 2019 live 'Cat Food' (Toronto) and an alternate David Singleton mix in a picture-sleeve replica of the original 7\" art.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540725215415,"sku":"210000058342","price":11.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3786417-2539329.jpg?v=1781154009"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-earthbound-vinyl","title":"Earthbound LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eEarthbound is a raw 1972 live document, reissued as a 50th-anniversary 200g LP. Cassette-sourced lo-fi captures of 21st Century Schizoid Man and Groon. Rough, immediate, and unvarnished.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540726952119,"sku":"210000075456","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4156219-2912434.jpg?v=1781154008"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-larks-tongues-in-aspic-vinyl","title":"Larks Tongues in Aspic LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eAs one of King Crimson's most influential and best-selling albums, Larks Tongues in Aspic has been one of the most requested titles for vinyl reissue.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540930179255,"sku":"210000032474","price":30.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/2296140.jpg?v=1781154758"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-larks-tongues-in-aspic-vinyl-200g","title":"Larks Tongues in Aspic LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eA pinnacle of progressive rock. More than four decades after its release, it remains a genre unto itself -- a mishmash of heavy and soothing, beautiful and unsettling, experimental and melodic.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540941287607,"sku":"210000061524","price":31.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/kc_1af8ec10-745b-4129-9a8f-2c4d6e46cda0.jpg?v=1781154800"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-discipline-vinyl","title":"Discipline LP","description":"\u003cp\u003e40th anniversary stereo mixes of King Crimson's 1980s albums 'Discipline', 'Beat' and 'Three Of A Perfect Pair' by Steven Wilson and Robert Fripp.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540988276919,"sku":"210000090100","price":35.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/r-24968023-1677427781-1751.jpg?v=1781154980"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-lark-s-tongues-in-aspic-vinyl-50th-anniv-deluxe","title":"Lark's Tongues in Aspic 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eLarks' Tongues in Aspic is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock group King Crimson, released on 23 March 1973.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48541060726967,"sku":"210000082732","price":46.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/tongue.jpg?v=1781155253"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-in-the-court-of-the-crimson-king-vinyl-200g-50th-anniv-2019-mix","title":"In the Court of the Crimson King 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eMasterful prog rock classic. Schizoid rhythms and shrieking guitars\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48541064691895,"sku":"210000032476","price":44.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3728005-2490937.jpg?v=1781155269"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-red-vinyl-50th-anniv-2024-steven-wilson-david-singleton-elemental-mixes","title":"Red 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eA complete album's worth of elemental mixes using the original multi-track recordings to present a very different audio picture of the album, with greater separation of instruments and utilizing many recorded elements recorded for the original mixes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48541064822967,"sku":"210000093356","price":48.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4367219-3225840.jpg?v=1781155269"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-live-penn-state-university-29-june-1974-vinyl-rsd-26-1st-200g","title":"Live: Penn State University 29 June 1974 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eLive King Crimson multi-track recording of live set from June 29th, 1974, at Penn State University. Available on vinyl for the first time, exclusively for Record Store Day 2026. 2LP set cut by Jason Mitchell at Loud Mastering and pressed on 200-gram audiophile vinyl.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48541066100919,"sku":"210000104715","price":49.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4486794-3511943.jpg?v=1781155274"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-in-the-court-of-the-crimson-king-cd","title":"In the Court of the Crimson King CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis CD of King Crimson's \"In the Court of the Crimson King\" is a pivotal entry in progressive rock. Key tracks include \"21st Century Schizoid Man\" and the title track, both exemplifying the band's early brilliance. It belongs in any serious music archive for its critical influence on the genre.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785677746359,"sku":"210000036245","price":19.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/701073.jpg?v=1783045627"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-red-cd","title":"Red CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe minimalist packaging of King Crimson's Red CD underscores the album's intense and uncompromising sound. This reissue features a formidable collection of tracks, including the renowned \"Starless,\" creating a profound impact in the realm of progressive rock. The CD's weight reflects a commitment to quality, inviting an engaged listening experience that fans value deeply. The attention to detail in this release enhances its status as a central piece for both seasoned listeners and newcomers alike.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785677877431,"sku":"210000034303","price":14.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/734580.jpg?v=1783045628"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-islands-vinyl-200g-import","title":"Islands LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eKing Crimson's Islands LP feels like stumbling upon a hidden gem while everyone else is too busy with the mainstream. This 200g import reveals the band's cerebral complexity, akin to if a classic British novel were unfurling its narrative with intricately woven instrumentals evoking a world of maritime nostalgia. With tracks like \"Formentera Lady\" and \"Sailor's Tale,\" it invites you into a sea of melody that remains sharp and engaging decades later. For those who appreciate the deep cuts of progressive rock, this album stands as a reminder that true artistry doesn't lose its relevance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785770741943,"sku":"210000066956","price":31.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/2126106.jpg?v=1783045868"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-in-the-court-of-the-crimson-king-vinyl-200g-new-fripp-wilson-stereo-mix","title":"In the Court of the Crimson King LP","description":"\u003cp\u003e... an uncanny masterpiece' - Pete Townshend, 1969 It's a quote that's forever associated with the album. It was used in advertising at the time of release. Unlike many claims made in advertising it has, like the album it heralded, stood the test of time. It's easy to forget how quickly things moved for the first incarnation of King Crimson: Formed January 13th 1969; by April they were regulars on stage at the likes of The Marquee and The Speakeasy clubs and performed with Tyrannosaurus Rex at The Lyceum, by May recorded the first of two BBC sessions, initial (abandoned) album recording sessions in June and then, in early July — the big breakthrough — played to 650,000 people in Hyde Park supporting The Rolling Stones, the album recorded in August, signed to Island Records (and Atlantic in the USA) Atlantic, missed the Isle of Wight festival due to illness\/exhaustion, more gigs and a second BBC session in September, a Top 5 charting, unanimously lauded album in the UK, followed by a Top 30 debut in the USA weeks later, then toured the USA — with concert appearances at legendary venues such as the Boston Tea Party, Chicago's Kinetic Playground, New York's Fillmore East \u0026amp; another appearance on a bill with the Rolling Stones — this time at a Miami festival and then, following a series of December appearances at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, it was over, as quickly as it had begun — the arc for the band from formation to dissolution had taken barely more than 11 months, leaving behind an iconic — both musically and in terms of cover art — self-produced debut album, a fearsome live reputation and the sense of a band that, in its brief period of existence, set its own agenda. King Crimson would return in many different line-ups over the years — each different from its predecessor and, with two concerts at The Palladium in late 2018 and three shows at The Royal Albert Hall in June, 2019, the current line-up has played to more people in in London, the city in which it began, than at any point since 1969 and in the process, played more of the material from 1969 than any line-up since the original. The current line-up has, on more than one occasion, been described as 'the best live band in the world' — something that also used to be said of the original band.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785781850295,"sku":"210000047226","price":35.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/apng-91610-151718-06042020105817-8683.jpg?v=1783045903"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-starless-and-bible-black-vinyl","title":"Starless and Bible Black LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eKing Crimson's \"Starless and Bible Black\" challenges the conventions of progressive rock with its intricate melodies and bold contrasts. This vinyl reissue breathes life into essential tracks like \"The Great Deceiver\" and \"Fracture,\" displaying the band's artistic depth. Each rotation offers complex layers that command attention and linger in your thoughts after the last note fades. This enduring project from an iconic band leaves a lasting impact on the listener.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785782898871,"sku":"210000090101","price":28.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3030501.jpg?v=1783045906"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-in-the-court-of-the-crimson-king-vinyl-200g-orig-69-stereo-mix","title":"In the Court of the Crimson King LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe epic debut from prog masters King Crimson. Insane shredding and beautiful prog-folk make this the ultimate yin yang of an album. Essential!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785784111287,"sku":"210000034305","price":32.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/king_82a4d635-8794-489d-8144-9cce24e32637.jpg?v=1783045909"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-starless-and-bible-black-vinyl-200g-new-fripp-wilson-mastering","title":"Starless and Bible Black LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe latest pressing of King Crimson's \"Starless and Bible Black\" sits firmly at 200 grams; a solid mass that tells you immediately about its careful mastering by Fripp and Wilson. Each track; whether it's the confrontational \"The Great Deceiver\" or the unsettling \"Fracture\"; commands attention. Limited to 2000 copies, this is not just vinyl but a chapter in rock history with heft.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785784144055,"sku":"210000070117","price":30.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3827844-2571684.jpg?v=1783045911"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-sheltering-skies-vinyl-200g","title":"Sheltering Skies LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 1980s live recordings of King Crimson merge improvisational brilliance with a laser-like precision, and this pressing delivers a clarity that almost feels disconcerting. \"Sheltering Skies\" layers Fripp's guitar work over emotional pieces like \"Heartbeat\" and \"Indiscipline\"; the result is a tense interplay between frenetic rhythm and delicate melody. This isn't just a retrospective; it's a clear assertion that their vigor endures, holding an audience captive until the final note.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785843716279,"sku":"210000092878","price":47.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4359528-3207305.jpg?v=1783046077"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-discipline-vinyl-200g-new-fripp-mastering","title":"Discipline LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Fripp mastering of King Crimson's \"Discipline\" hits like a freshly sculpted statue in a dark alley, revealing layers of intricate form and texture. Released in '81, this record tears through the air with complex rhythms and jagged melodies that leave tracks like \"Elephant Talk\" and \"Indiscipline\" echoing in your mind. Pressed on 200-gram vinyl, it brings audio clarity that would leave even the elite envious. Here, you're not just catching a sound; you're feeling the pulse of progressive rock's electric heartbeat.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785953325239,"sku":"210000070743","price":31.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3794929.jpg?v=1783046384"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-larks-tongues-in-aspic-vinyl-200g-alt-steven-wilson-mix","title":"Larks Tongues in Aspic LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eKing Crimson's \"Larks Tongues in Aspic LP\" presents a 200g alternative mix by Steven Wilson. This pressing enhances the complexity of the arrangements typical of progressive rock, making it essential for discerning listeners.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785958174903,"sku":"210000070112","price":29.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3827846-2571686.jpg?v=1783046398"},{"product_id":"king-crimson-thrak-vinyl","title":"Thrak 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eKing Crimson's \"Thrak\" is a wild beast of a double LP that demands your ear like a riotous rebel clawing through your speakers. This 1995 gem shatters the confines of prog rock with tracks like the gritty \"Vrooom\" and the ethereal \"Inner Garden,\" pulling you into a frantic yet confessional maelstrom. Each groove tells a story of legacy, with this Panegyric release standing defiantly among its contemporaries, ready to be cranked up by those who crave the raw intensity of rock history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48860499607735,"sku":"210000090103","price":41.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3718644-2506098.jpg?v=1783653938"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.waxtraxrecords.com\/collections\/king-crimson.oembed","provider":"Wax Trax Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}