Red is the seventh studio album by English progressive rock band King Crimson, released in October 1974 on Island Records in the United Kingdom and Atlantic Records in North America and Japan. The album was recorded at Olympic Studios in London in July and August 1974, and produced by the band themselves.
Red is a progressive rock album with a noticeably heavier sound than their previous albums; it was later called one of the 50 "heaviest albums of all time" by Q. This was achieved with the performances of just three band members: guitarist and keyboardist Robert Fripp, bassist and vocalist John Wetton and drummer Bill Bruford. The dense sound of the album was created through multiple guitar and keyboard overdubs and guest appearances by musicians including former King Crimson members Ian McDonald and Mel Collins on saxophones, classical oboist Robin Miller and English jazz trumpeter Mark Charig. Many of the album's motifs were conceived during the band's live improvisations. The track "Providence" was edited down from an improvisation recorded by the previous lineup of the band, with violinist and keyboardist David Cross in addition to Fripp, Wetton and Bruford, at a live performance in Providence, Rhode Island; Cross had been fired from the band by the time the album sessions began. "Starless" was written for their previous album, Starless and Bible Black (1974), but was considered too primitive to be released at the time; the lengthy version included on Red was refined and performed during concerts throughout 1974. The lyrics describe anxiety, tension, violence, entrapment and existential dread, reflecting the band's internal turmoil and impending breakup.
Fripp disbanded King Crimson roughly two weeks before the release of the album. Red became their lowest-charting album at that time, spending only one week in the UK Albums Chart at No. 45 and in the US Billboard 200 at No. 66. However, it was well received among fans and critics. It has received further praise retrospectively, being recognised as one of the band's best works, and has been reissued many times.
Fuck yes. King Crimson's best. This is very high up on my "absolute favorite albums of all time" list. It was one of the albums I was thinking of submitting myself, but I didn't want to go for a band that already had multiple entries on here.
"Starless" is the greatest song of all time. Just straight up. The song is structured like if after nutting you could keep going to reach the coveted ultra nut. The final minute with that heavenly mellotron returning to reprise the main melody over the crunchy bass might just be the most beautiful combination of sounds ever recorded.
"Fallen Angel" and the two ultra-heavy "Red" songs aren't far behind either. "Providence" takes a while to get used to, but I think that it fits thematically really well and is a more interesting jam session than "Moonchild" was on the debut.
Easy 5/5.
King Crimson is one of my favorite rock bands in a genre (prog rock) that I have ambivant feelings about and Red is one of their top albums. At the time the band only consisted of the core members Fripp, Wetton and Bruford leading to an album with maybe a bit less experiment but more consistency and great songwriting. The marvelous starless is their magnus opus.
Goodness gracious this is so good; to the point of coming up on the perfection of their debut. Stunning production and arrangement, so heavy and weighty, absolutely gorgeous throughout. Wetton feels a lot more on-point than I last heard him in Lark's Tongue, too.
Is it 10/10 worthy? Time will tell for me; it doesn't jump to that height out of the gate, but this is an album that will reward deep dives and close listens... it just might climb to that achievement. Even if it doesn't, the beauty of this album shines just as bright.
One of those albums that I heard so early and have listened to so much that I don’t consider it in the same category as other albums. As such it’s hard for me too evaluate it critically in any other measure than being absolute. And it is absolute
Always down for a little King Crimson, and I do like this heavier rock side. High marks, although the midway point of the last track started to drag for me.
Another enjoyable King Crimson outing, felt like the band was dipping into some darker elements and the sense of experimentation felt more palpable. Don’t grip me per se, but I enjoyed the listen regardless.
It’s a heavy-duty prog rock tour de force and though it’s not my cup de tea, I can see the draw. It’s interesting to me to think that this album represented the end of the run for King Crimson and they left it on such a high. That reminds me of The Police and Synchronicity. That’s enough to warrant three stars, methinks.
More prog rock wankery. Like I said last time, at least it is short.
It's fine.
My personal rating: 3/5
My rating relative to the list: 3/5
Should this have been included on the original list? No.
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