Rob's Top Ten: King Crimson Songs


I'm not thinking that there are many bands that have been through as many near complete line-up changes that King Crimson have been through. The only constant member of the band from the first album to today has been guitar wizard Robert Fripp. As a result, the band have gone through many changes in sound. From the early prog days of the 70's, to the total 80's sounding albums (you know what I mean here), and then back again to the heavier albums of their latter career, this band has been through a lot of changes.

King Crimson is a band that I will be doing an entire studio discography review on in the future, but I wanted to do a list of my top ten favorite songs from their discography. Like most of my top ten lists, I'm sure that many won't agree with me, but I'm fine with that. Music is very subjective, and this band definitely has something for everyone out there.

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10: Lizard (Lizard)
The title track to King Crimson's third album, "Lizard" takes up the entire side B, at about 23 minutes. Broken into four parts, this is one of the best prog rock epics to have ever been written, in my opinion. From the piano, and keys, to the drums, and vocals, everything about this long track is absolutely perfect.


09: Epitaph (In the Court of the Crimson King)
"Epitaph" is a beautiful song from the first album, and is high on my list of Greg Lake vocal performances. He sings with such power, and passion here, it's hard not to love his voice. Musically, this song is absolutely beautiful.


08: Red (Red)
King Crimson are no strangers to writting fantastically executed instrumental songs. The title track to their seventh album is a musicians dream come true. The band were only three members at this point, but with John Wetton, Bill Bruford, and of course Robert Fripp, fans of progressive rock at its finest are sure to find something mind-blowing during this tracks six minutes.


07: Three of A Perfect Pair (Three of A Perfect Pair)
Another title track on my list, this track shows King Crimson at their 80's best. This song is nothing like every other song on my top ten list. But I think that only adds to the charm here. It's such a strange song, and one that I have always loved. And with Adrian Belew on vocals, can you blame me?


06: Level Five (The Power To Believe)
From the band's "The Power To Believe" album, "Level Five" is an instrumental, as only King Crimson could record. It's a crazy rollercoaster ride of guitar licks, rhythmic insanity, and tasty melodies. It's hard to believe that a band with a much more electronic 80's output could ever write something so intense.


08: One More Red Nightmare (Red)
In addition to having a killer instrumental track, John Wetton turns in some of my very favorite vocals from him. This song is almost as chaotic as the title track, but with vocals. There is some very cool stuff going on in the background of this song, as well as an amazing guitar track.


04: Larks' Tongues In Aspic, pt. 2 (Larks' Tongues In Aspic)
The second part of the band's "Larks' Tongues In Aspic" instrumentals, this track is just about the most chaotic song ever written. The instrumentation goes from hard rock, to typical over-indulgent 70's prog. Now to some that may not sound so great, but to me, it's just what the doctor ordered.


03: Industry (Three of A Perfect Pair)
I'm a sucker for a good King Crimson instrumental, and this is my favorite of all of KC's instrumental tracks. It starts out so slow, but the vibe being created is a major foreshadow of the cacophany that unfolds as the track continues on, carried by that same rhythemic line established at the beginning of the track. I couldn't even tell you everything going on in this track. I find it to be absolutely stunning.


02: The Court of the Crimson King (In the Court of the Crimson King)
Few albums are as iconic within' their genre as King Crimson's debut release. The album has so much great material on it, but for me it's the final track on the album that I love the most. With Greg Lake's beautiful, haunting vocals, and more mellotron than you can shake a stick at, this heavy prog track is an absolute classic.


01: Starless (Red)
Originally intended for the "Starless And Bible Black" album, for some reason Fripp and Bruford didn't care for it, and decided to not record it for the album. When it came time for the "Red" album, the track was dusted off, and became possibly the greatest song that this band will ever record. The vocals are perfect (as most songs to feature John Wetton are), but it's the music that really shines here. Mellotron, horns, a killer bass line, fantastically executed drums, and of course Fripp's guitar, make this song an obvious choice for my number one.

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