THE YOUNG PERSONS GUIDE TO KING CRIMSON

For me this indeed was a "young person's guide to King Crimson" when I ordered it at the age of 18. In fact my first encounter with the band had been Three of a Perfect Pair (84) and from the classic era I knew only 'Epitaph' as a Finnish-language cover by Hector - and BTW I still dig that version even more than the original!

The 2LP package was great: beautiful cover paintings by Fergus Hall (the backside is a crying planet Earth) and a booklet telling the KC history from the very start to the year 1975, chronologically, citing many magazine articles and contemporary reviews which are very interesting to read. It all forms a thorough picture of how King Crimson was dealt with in the public and how were the inner relations in the band, always led remorselessly by Robert Fripp, other members coming and going. Booklet is edited by Fripp - I believe he has made it very objective.

The tracks are put in an unchronological and perhaps a bit messy order. Side One and Side Four both start and end with the debut's material which therefore is the most represented album. 'I Talk to the Wind' is an earlier - and less fine - version featuring vocals of Judy Dyble. I give extra applause for not including awful and overplayed '21st Century Schizoid Man'! From the 2nd album In the Wake of Poseidon is only the tiny 'Peace - a Theme' and the wild jazzy rocker 'Cat Food' and from the fantastic Lizard - nothing! A shame really. John Wetton's singing is heard in 'The Night Watch', 'Book of Saturday' and 'Starless', all excellent choices. In all, the track order favours the debut at the expense of other albums and also the total length (74 min) leaves the album sides rather short. If you happen to see this vinyl, remember to check if the booklet is still there, and pick out your wallet. To old persons equally (maybe young at the time)!

1. Epitaph (8:52) 2. Cadence and cascade (3:36) 3. Ladies of the road (5:27) 4. I talk to the wind (3:15)

5. Red (6:18) 6. Starless (12:17)

7. The night watch (4:38) 8. Book of Saturday (2:52) 9. Peace - A theme (1:14) 10. Cat food (2:43) 11. Groon (3:30) 12. Coda from Larks' Tongues in aspic part one (2:09)

13. Moonchild (2:24) 14. Trio (5:38) 15. In the court of the Crimson King (9:21)