King Crimson

art rock, jazz rock, progressive rock, psychedelic rock

United Kingdom Est. 1968

"A dense web of interlocking rhythms and jagged melodies creates an unpredictable yet immersive listening experience that demands both attention and reflection."

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Begin with King Crimson…

Lizard

1970

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Career Arc

King Crimson's discography from 1969 to 2021

1969 1995 2021

In the Court of the Crims... (1969) The Court of the Crimson... (1969) Lizard (1970) In the Wake of Poseidon (1970) Cat Food / Groon (1970) Islands (1971) Earthbound (1972) Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973) Red (1974) Starless and Bible Black (1974) The Night Watch (1974) USA (1975) A Young Person's Guide to... (1976) Epitaph / 21st Century Sc... (1976) Discipline (1981) Matte Kudasai (1981) Thela Hun Ginjeet (1981) Elephant Talk (1981) Beat (1982) Heartbeat (1982)

King Crimson matters for its audacious reimagining of rock music as a complex, immersive experience that challenges listeners to engage with sound on multiple levels.

King Crimson matters for its audacious reimagining of rock music as a complex, immersive experience that challenges listeners to engage with sound on multiple levels. The band's willingness to embrace dissonance and unconventional structures has not only influenced the progressive rock movement but has also carved out a space in which the genre can explore deeper emotional and intellectual territories, encouraging audiences to rethink their relationship with music. The band approaches songwriting with a meticulous attention to texture and form, often weaving intricate musical conversations that defy traditional song structures. This innovative spirit manifests in their use of improvisation and layered instrumentation, allowing each performance to evolve uniquely while maintaining a cohesive vision. Their collaborative ethos draws from various disciplines, merging elements of jazz, classical, and avant-garde traditions to create an ever-shifting sonic landscape. Lyrically, King Crimson often delves into themes of existential inquiry, inner conflict, and the human experience. Their writing balances between impressionistic imagery and reflective storytelling, frequently adopting a tone that oscillates between melancholy and introspection. This duality invites listeners into a contemplative space where emotions are explored rather than neatly resolved.

Full discography

King Crimson's albums in order, from earliest releases to latest.

120 releases • 102 albums • 5 EPS • 1969–2021

Type:

Albums ()

Music Is Our Friend: Live in Washington and Albany

2021

The Complete 1969 Recordings

2020

Heaven & Earth

2019

Meltdown: Live in Mexico City

2018

Live in Vienna (King Crimson album)

2018

Live in Chicago

2017

Sailors’ Tales

2017

Radical Action to Unseat the Hold of Monkey Mind

2016

Live in Toronto

2016

On

2016

Rehearsals & Blows

2016

Live at the Orpheum

2015

The Elements of King Crimson

2015

THRAK

2015

The Crimson Projekct live in Tokyo

2015

Starless

2014

The Road to Red

2013

Larks' Tongues in Aspic

2012

In the Court of the Crimson King

2010

Live in Philadelphia, PA, August 26, 1996

2008

The Condensed 21st Century Guide to King Crimson

2006

The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson – Volume Two – 1981–2003

2005

Live in Heidelberg

2005

Live in Warsaw

2005

Live in Brighton

2005

The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson – Volume One – 1969–1974

2004

Live in Philadelphia, PA

2004

Live at Fillmore East

2004

Neal and Jack and Me

2004

EleKtrik: Live in Japan

2003

The Power to Believe

2003

The Power to Believe Tour Box

2003

The Champaign–Urbana Sessions

2003

Eyes Wide Open

2003

Live in Orlando, FL

2003

Live in Guildford

2003

Ladies of the Road

2002

Live in Nashville, TN

2002

Live at the Zoom Club

2002

King Crimson Live in Hyde Park, London

2002

Vrooom Vrooom

2001

Live in Detroit, MI

2001

King Crimson Live in Mainz

2001

King Crimson Live at Plymouth Guildhall

2001

Live in Berkeley, CA

2001

Heavy ConstruKction

2000

the construKction of light

2000

Discipline: Live At Moles Club, Bath 1981

2000

King Crimson Live at Summit Studios

2000

Live in Central Park, NYC

2000

A Beginners' Guide to the King Crimson Collectors' Club

2000

Nashville Rehearsals

2000

Cirkus: The Young Persons' Guide to King Crimson Live

1999

The Deception of the Thrush: A Beginners' Guide to ProjeKcts

1999

The Beat Club, Bremen

1999

The Vrooom Sessions

1999

The ProjeKcts

1999

Live at Cap d'Agde

1999

King Crimson on Broadway

1999

Live in Mexico City

1999

Deja VROOOM

1999

Absent Lovers: Live in Montreal

1998

Live at the Marquee

1998

Live at Jacksonville

1998

Live at the Jazz Café

1998

The Night Watch

1997

Epitaph

1997

Thrakattak

1996

B'Boom – Official Bootleg - Live In Argentina

1995

Thrak

1995

Sleepless: The Concise King Crimson

1993

The Great Deceiver

1992

Frame by Frame – The Essential King Crimson

1991

The Compact King Crimson

1986

Three of a Perfect Pair

1984

The Noise: Frejus

1984

Three of a Perfect Pair: Live in Japan

1984

Beat

1982

Discipline

1981

A Young Person's Guide to King Crimson

1976

USA

1975

Red

1974

Starless and Bible Black

1974

Larks' Tongues in Aspic

1973

Earthbound

1972

Islands

1971

Lizard

1970

In the Wake of Poseidon

1970

Live at the Pier

Live in Zurich

Live at the Marquee 1971

Live in Milan

Live in New Haven

Live in Chicago, II

live in Boston

Live in Denver Sound Track

The King Crimson Collectors' Club

Live in Toronto

Live in Kassel

Live in München

Live at the Wiltern

In the Court of the Crimson King

1969

EPs ()

Heroes

2017

Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With

2002

Level Five

2001

Vrooom

1994

Heartbeat: The Abbreviated King Crimson

1991

Singles ()

Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream

1995

Dinosaur

1995

People

1995

Sleepless

1984

Heartbeat

1982

Matte Kudasai

1981

Thela Hun Ginjeet

1981

Elephant Talk

1981

Epitaph / 21st Century Schizoid Man

1976

The Night Watch

1974

Cat Food / Groon

1970

Atlantic Sampler

The Court of the Crimson King

1969

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Timeline

How their sound evolved over time

In the Court of the... (1969)

Lizard (1970)

In the Wake of Posei... (1970)

Islands (1971)

Earthbound (1972)

Larks' Tongues in As... (1973)

Starless and Bible B... (1974)

Red (1974)

USA (1975)

A Young Person's Gui... (1976)

Discipline (1981)

Beat (1982)

Three of a Perfect P... (1984)

The Noise: Frejus (1984)

Three of a Perfect P... (1984)

The Compact King Cri... (1986)

Frame by Frame – The Essential King Crimson

Frame by Frame – The... (1991)

Heartbeat: The Abbre... (1991)

The Great Deceiver (1992)

Sleepless: The Conci... (1993)

Vrooom (1994)

Thrak (1995)

B'Boom – Official Bootleg - Live In Argentina

B'Boom – Official Bo... (1995)

Thrakattak (1996)

The Night Watch (1997)

Epitaph (1997)

Live at the Marquee (1998)

Live at Jacksonville (1998)

Absent Lovers: Live... (1998)

Live at the Jazz Caf... (1998)

Cirkus: The Young Persons' Guide to King Crimson Live

Cirkus: The Young Pe... (1999)

The Deception of the Thrush: A Beginners' Guide to ProjeKcts

The Deception of the... (1999)

The Beat Club, Breme... (1999)

The Vrooom Sessions (1999)

The ProjeKcts (1999)

Live at Cap d'Agde (1999)

King Crimson on Broa... (1999)

Live in Mexico City (1999)

Deja VROOOM (1999)

the construKction of... (2000)

Discipline: Live At Moles Club, Bath 1981

Discipline: Live At... (2000)

King Crimson Live at... (2000)

Live in Central Park... (2000)

Heavy ConstruKction (2000)

A Beginners' Guide to the King Crimson Collectors' Club

A Beginners' Guide t... (2000)

Nashville Rehearsals (2000)

Vrooom Vrooom (2001)

Live in Detroit, MI (2001)

King Crimson Live in... (2001)

King Crimson Live at... (2001)

Level Five (2001)

Live in Berkeley, CA (2001)

Live in Nashville, T... (2002)

Ladies of the Road (2002)

Live at the Zoom Clu... (2002)

King Crimson Live in... (2002)

Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With

Happy with What You... (2002)

The Power to Believe (2003)

Eyes Wide Open (2003)

Live in Orlando, FL (2003)

Live in Guildford (2003)

The Champaign–Urbana... (2003)

EleKtrik: Live in Ja... (2003)

The Power to Believe... (2003)

The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson – Volume One – 1969–1974

The 21st Century Gui... (2004)

Live in Philadelphia... (2004)

Live at Fillmore Eas... (2004)

Neal and Jack and Me (2004)

Live in Heidelberg (2005)

The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson – Volume Two – 1981–2003

The 21st Century Gui... (2005)

Live in Warsaw (2005)

Live in Brighton (2005)

The Condensed 21st Century Guide to King Crimson

The Condensed 21st C... (2006)

Live in Philadelphia, PA, August 26, 1996

Live in Philadelphia... (2008)

In the Court of the... (2010)

Larks' Tongues in As... (2012)

The Road to Red (2013)

Starless (2014)

Live at the Orpheum (2015)

The Elements of King... (2015)

THRAK (2015)

The Crimson Projekct... (2015)

Radical Action to Unseat the Hold of Monkey Mind

Radical Action to Un... (2016)

Live in Toronto (2016)

On (2016)

Rehearsals & Blows (2016)

Live in Chicago (2017)

Heroes (2017)

Sailors’ Tales (2017)

Meltdown: Live in Me... (2018)

Live in Vienna (King... (2018)

Heaven & Earth (2019)

The Complete 1969 Re... (2020)

Music Is Our Friend: Live in Washington and Albany

Music Is Our Friend:... (2021)

Frequently Asked Questions

What does King Crimson sound like?

A dense web of interlocking rhythms and jagged melodies creates an unpredictable yet immersive listening experience that demands both attention and reflection. Rooted in progressive rock and psychedelic rock. Start with In the Court of the Crimson King.

What is the best King Crimson album to start with?

The best album to start with is "In the Court of the Crimson King" (1969). It's the most representative of what makes King Crimson worth hearing.

Who is King Crimson for?

If you're into progressive rock and psychedelic rock, King Crimson is worth your time. A dense web of interlocking rhythms and jagged melodies creates an unpredictable yet immersive listening experience that demands both attention and reflection.

How many albums does King Crimson have?

King Crimson has 120 releases in their discography, including 102 albums and 5 EPs.

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