Best king crimson long epic track

Starless is perhaps a microcosm of the band's entire career, up to that point, contained within one song..  The balance of a great vocal tune in the first half followed by the slow build up to the frenzied ending with it's wailing sax before finally culminating in a restatement of the opening guitar motif.  It has both the symphonic mellotron sound of ITCOTCK and the metallic guitar of 70s band. 

sagichim wrote: progprogprog wrote: How could I leave Providence with no vote!  I salute you, a lot of people doesn't like it for some reason.

sagichim wrote: progprogprog wrote: How could I leave Providence with no vote!  I salute you, a lot of people doesn't like it for some reason.

Lizard was my vote. Dominated by brilliance. 

Starless is of course the obvious answer.... but I keep going back to Islands.  And listing LTA (all parts) is quite unfair.

Dayvenkirq wrote: sagichim wrote: progprogprog wrote: How could I leave Providence with no vote!  I salute you, a lot of people doesn't like it for some reason. Well, I do too. I'm pretty sure that lots of people out there actually like it.

Ambient Hurricanes wrote: Dayvenkirq wrote: sagichim wrote: progprogprog wrote: How could I leave Providence with no vote!  I salute you, a lot of people doesn't like it for some reason. Well, I do too. I'm pretty sure that lots of people out there actually like it. I love Providence.  There's so much tension in that song, you could cut it with a knife.  I love the way it builds, and the dissonant melodies are just brilliant. With that said... Starless is probably my favorite Crimson song ever.  But it's going to win, so my vote goes to my second favorite KC song: Moonchild, which is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard.  The interplay between the instruments in the improv part is phenomenal.

You definitely nailed it, the mood and tension is very high with sometimes only one note is playing, phenomenal stuff. Divided in two, one part builds the tension and the other breaks it madly, one of my most favourite tracks by the band. Like i said before i can't believe it's improvised!

In the Court of the Crimson King still gets my top vote. Dark Elf explained it well, but aside from its influence on later prog-rock, the tune achieves a perfect balance of melodic appeal, strong vocals, well-crafted orchestration, powerful use of instruments, all working to create a deep, moody, and mysterious piece of music.  Islands is wonderful as well.  In the Wake of Poseidon is supposedly not on the list because it about a minute too short, but it also ranks among my favourites. Not that I don't appreciate their later, more hard rock periods, but these earlier pieces are quasi masterpieces in my view.    

Gotta say Starless.

Brilliant.