# What King Crimson album should I buy?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-king-crimson-album-should-i-buy/133549
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [October 23, 2002, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-king-crimson-album-should-i-buy/133549 "2002-10-23T17:33:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ZooMetropolis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZooMetropolis)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2002, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-king-crimson-album-should-i-buy/133549/1 "2002-10-23T17:33:06Z")
I already have “In The Court Of The Crimson King”
What other album is good?
What are their bests songs (from each album and in general)?
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### Author:  [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2002, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-king-crimson-album-should-i-buy/133549/2 "2002-10-23T18:35:36Z")
I like almost all of their work, but I’d have to say “Discipline” was their best album, followed perhaps by “Three of a perfect pair.”
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### Author:  [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-king-crimson-album-should-i-buy/133549/3 "2002-10-23T20:23:31Z")
My own favorite from the early years would have to be _Starless and Bible Black_.
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### Author:  [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2002, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-king-crimson-album-should-i-buy/133549/4 "2002-10-23T20:58:54Z")
_In the Court of the Crimson King_ (their first album, 1969) would be a very good introduction for someone new to Progressive Rock. Skip over the next several KC albums, where they were plagued by instability of their personnel lineup. The really classic King Crimson albums are from the mid-70s: _Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black_, and _Red_. Any of these three is tops. _Red_ kicks the most butt, while _Starless and Bible Black_ is my personal favorite.
After a hiatus of several years, they put out the amazing _Discipline_, which may be their most overall highly realized album. Contrast the two pieces “Indiscipline” and “Discipline,” which present opposite views of artistic creativity. The first piece makes vain, empty claims about its artistry; the second makes no pretense but speaks eloquently for itself as a masterfully crafted and skillfully performed piece of music.
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### Author:  [@skot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skot)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2002, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-king-crimson-album-should-i-buy/133549/5 "2002-10-23T21:28:12Z")
My vote goes for _Lark’s Tongue in Aspic_, brilliant album. You can’t go wrong with _Red_, either.
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### Author:  [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2002, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-king-crimson-album-should-i-buy/133549/6 "2002-10-23T21:49:55Z")
Skip _In the Wake of Poseidon_ and _Lizards_.
My favorites, in order:
_Three of a Perfect Pair
Red
Discipline
Lark’s Tongue in Aspic
(all are very, very close)
Vrooom_
I’m also very fond of their live album _USA_, but I have never seen it on CD and it is has been out of print for quite some time.