This is my first King Crimson post. I’ve heard their debut album the most and I like it. I went exploring, found some others I liked, and wrote up one song (publishing later) but I decided to start with this. I have been a Robert Fripp fan from way back. This song is the opening track to their debut album In the Court of the Crimson King. I found out about this band through a big brother of a friend I have…the same one who introduced me to Big Star and The Grateful Dead.
The song was written by the original lineup of King Crimson, which included Robert Fripp (guitar), Greg Lake (bass and vocals), Ian McDonald (saxophone, flute, keyboards), Michael Giles (drums), and Peter Sinfield (lyrics). The debut album was called In The Court of the Crimson King. The album was a hit. It peaked at #5 in the UK, #27 in Canada, and #28 on the Billboard Album Charts in 1969.
For me to like progressive rock it has to have a good melody to it. King Crimson, ELP, and some of Yes do…, especially the live cuts. The musicianship on these albums is out of this world. I like this song’s changing time signatures and the rock, jazz, and classical feel.
This live cut is short but it’s the only thing I could find in this era. I always try to include a live version in the era it was released.
21st Century Schizoid Man
Cat’s foot iron clawNeuro-surgeons scream for moreAt paranoia’s poison door.Twenty first century schizoid man.
Blood rack barbed wirePolititians’ funeral pyreInnocents raped with napalm fireTwenty first century schizoid man.
Death seed blind man’s greedPoets’ starving children bleedNothing he’s got he really needsTwenty first century schizoid man.
PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture 