photos by Styrous®
Most of the great vinyl LP purchases I've made has been because of the art/design on the album cover. Such was the case with this album, In the Court of the Crimson King (An Observation By King Crimson) by King Crimson.
I had never heard of the group before but the cover grabbed me by the eyeballs and never let go. Anyway, how could you pass up a title like that?
Barry Godber (1946–1970), a computer programmer, painted the album cover. Godber died in February 1970 of a heart attack, shortly after the album's release. It was his only album cover, and is now owned by Robert Fripp. Fripp had said about Godber:
Peter brought this painting in and the band loved it. I recently recovered the original from [managing label E.G. Records's] offices because they kept it exposed to bright light, at the risk of ruining it, so I ended up removing it. The face on the outside is the Schizoid Man, and on the inside it's the Crimson King. If you cover the smiling face, the eyes reveal an incredible sadness. What can one add? It reflects the music.
back cover painting by Barry Godber
vinyl LP cover
cover painting by Barry Godber
vinyl LP gatefold cover
interior painting by Barry Godber
vinyl LP gatefold interior
interior painting by Barry Godber
vinyl LP gatefold interior detail
Godber's art snagged me but the music kept me coming back. I went on to collect almost all of the Crimson works which I will write about, eventually.
King Crimson was labeled, "The Band that will Live Forever"!
Links to more info & music below
Tracklist:
Side 1:
1 - 21st Century Schizoid Man including Mirrors
- written by Lake*, McDonald*, Giles*, Sinfield*, Fripp* - 7:21
Side 1:
1 - 21st Century Schizoid Man including Mirrors
- written by Lake*, McDonald*, Giles*, Sinfield*, Fripp* - 7:21
2 - I Talk To The Wind
- written by McDonald*, Sinfield* - 6:08
- written by McDonald*, Sinfield* - 6:08
3 - Epitaph including March For No Reason and Tomorrow And Tomorrow
- written by Lake*, McDonald*, Giles*, Sinfield*, Fripp* - 8:52
Side 2:
1 - Moonchild including The Dream and The Illusion
- written by Lake*, McDonald*, Giles*, Sinfield*, Fripp* - 12:15
- written by Lake*, McDonald*, Giles*, Sinfield*, Fripp* - 8:52
Side 2:
1 - Moonchild including The Dream and The Illusion
- written by Lake*, McDonald*, Giles*, Sinfield*, Fripp* - 12:15
2 - The Court Of The Crimson King including The Return Of The Fire Witch and The Dance Of The Puppets
- written by McDonald*, Sinfield* - 9:25
- written by McDonald*, Sinfield* - 9:25
Companies etc.
- Recorded At – Wessex Sound Studios
- Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute
- Mastered At – Atlantic Studios
- Manufactured By – Atlantic Recording Corporation
- Published By – TRO-Total Music, Inc.
- Copyright (c) – E.G. Music Ltd.
- Copyright (c) – Atlantic Recording Corporation
Credits:
- Bass, Lead Vocals – Greg Lake
- Cover – Barry Godber
- Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Michael Giles
- Engineer – Robin Thompson
- Engineer [Assistant] – Tony Page
- Guitar – Robert Fripp
- Keyboards, Mellotron, Woodwind, Vibraphone, Reeds, Vocals – Ian McDonald
- Producer – King Crimson
- Words By, Other [Illumination] – Peter Sinfield
Notes:
Terre Haute pressing with CTH suffix in matrix.
Textured gatefold sleeve.
Textured gatefold sleeve.
King Crimson – In The Court Of The Crimson King An Observation By King Crimson
Label: Atlantic – SD 8245
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock
Label: Atlantic – SD 8245
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock
Links on the Net:
Pure and Easy Ode to Barry Godver
The Dork Report
Artists UK Great album art and strange stories
Songs on YouTube:
21st Century Schizoid Man
I Talk To The Wind
Epitaph
Moonchild
The Court Of The Crimson King
Styrous® ~ Monday, July 20, 2015
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