KING CRIMSON IN THE COURT 1ST UK PRESS AWESOME AUDIO

	£		293
	$		388

KING CRIMSON ''In the Court of the Crimson King'' (an observation by King Crimson) 1ST UK PRESSING CAT NO. ILPS-9111 (ORIGINAL ISLAND LABEL) MEGA MEGA RARE! EARLIEST EVER PRESSING! MATRIX A#2 and B#2 TEXTURED LABEL CENTERS (ONLY EARLIEST PRESSINGS) E.DAY GATEFOLD COVER (ONLY 1ST PRESSINGS!!!!! VINYL PLAYING SURFACE LOOKS VERY NEAR PRISTINE!!!!!!HEAVY THICK ORIGINAL VINYL!!! AWESOME TOP! TOP! TOP! AUDIO!!!!!

In the Court of the Crimson King (an observation by King Crimson) is the 1969 debut album by the British progressive rock group King Crimson. The album reached No.3 on the British charts. The album was remastered and re-released in the late 1990s, and given a subsequent remastering after the original masters were found in the Virgin vaults, which in turn was released in 2004. The album is certified gold in the United States!!!!.

The album is considered by many the launching point of progressive rock where blues-oriented rock is completely abandoned in favour of more jazz and European symphonic elements incorporated!!!!

1. "21st Century Schizoid Man" (Fripp, McDonald, Lake, Giles, Sinfield) – 7:21
   • "Mirrors"
2. "I Talk to the Wind" (McDonald, Sinfield) – 6:05
3. "Epitaph" (Fripp, McDonald, Lake, Giles, Sinfield) – 8:47
   • "March for No Reason"
   • "Tomorrow and Tomorrow"
4. "Moonchild" (Fripp, McDonald, Lake, Giles, Sinfield) – 12:13
   • "The Dream"
   • "The Illusion"
5. "The Court of the Crimson King" (McDonald, Sinfield) – 9:25
   • "The Return of the Fire Witch"
   • "The Dance of the Puppets"

King Crimson are a musical group founded by guitarist Robert Fripp and drummer Michael Giles in 1969. King Crimson's style has typically been categorised as progressive rock, although it incorporates diverse influences ranging from jazz, classical and experimental music to psychedelic, New Wave, heavy metal, gamelan and folk music. King Crimson has garnered little radio or music video airplay, but there is a cult following.Their debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King, is widely regarded as a landmark in progressive rock. Their later excursions into even more unconventional territory have been influential on many contemporary musical artists!!!.

In the late-1960s, the band was influential in popularising a previously unexplored mellotron rock style. Throughout the early-1970s, King Crimson's membership fluctuated as the band explored elements of jazz and funk. The band developed an improvisational sound influenced by heavy metal and became a more stable unit in the mid-1970s, before their breakup in 1974. The band re-formed in 1981 for three years, influenced by new wave and gamelan music, before breaking up again for around a decade. Following their 1994 reunion, King Crimson blended aspects of their 1980s and 1970s sound, which has continued into the 21st century!!!.

King Crimson's membership has fluctuated considerably throughout its existence, with 17 musicians passing through its ranks as full band members. Fripp, the only constant member of King Crimson, has arranged several disparate line-ups of the band, and he has stated that he does not necessarily consider himself the band's leader. Fripp describes King Crimson as "a way of doing things", and notes that he never originally intended to be seen as the head of the group!!!!

ANOTHER FROM MY PERSONAL COLLECTION! I PURCHASED THIS FROM NEW IN 1970 AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE PLAYED THIS A FEW TIMES INITIALLY BUT THIS HAS BEEN STORED FOR AT LEAST 25 YEARS IN A CASE WITH THE VINYL SEPERATED FROM ITS SLEEVE! THIS HAS BEEN LOVINGLY CARED FOR AND IS EXTREEMELY COLLECTABLE AND AWESOME TO BOOT!!!!

The Matrix

side 1. ''ILPS-9111 AV2''         side2. ''ILPS-9111 B#2'' (EARLIEST AND RAREST MATRIX)

Please note! So rare to find these early pressings! You normally see later matrix such as b3 or b4 and these are half as thick as the earliest! but this being (b2) is so rare and in this condition is unbeleivable!!!!! Thick heavy and chunky original more robust and deep groved!!!

The Vinyl.

To start with on initial inspection I can't see a blemish at all on the playing surface!!! This looks like new and still retains its original sheen from new!!!! Any marks that could possibly be seen would be mainly sleeve removal marks (non audio sounding) Please note! To be honest I can only see an extreemely (extreemely) minute surface scratch on this vinyl even when looked at under a strong light!!!! I have stored this vinyl seperately from the cover in a case for the best part of 25 years!! This vinyl lays perfectly flat on the turn table!!!  I have played this through track for track as usual! The audio is absolutely superbe throughout! Absolutely (no) signs of distortion or grooveware this plays with (no) loud clicks or pops that I heard!  The audio is cristal clear and vibrant in fact this is the best copy that I have heard! (The really early stampers make all the difference) Points to note! I play these records on a top system at very loud volume!   There was some light static crackle\ticks that can be heard in some quiet places which seems that is always seems enhanced on my system!(also when played on other systems might not be heard) This also could be contributed to the fact that this could do with constant cleaning, due to the fact that this has been stored in a case for the best part of 25 years (as are a lot of my vinyls) and build up of dust and dirt in the grooves over the years of laying dormant!!! Please note I must emphisise that when the audio is playing this plays at top top quality! with no interferance at all that i can hear! One last note! At the very end of the track on side 1. for the last few seconds on the fade out of the track on to the run off groove I could hear a light scuff noise! That's all! I would class myself as highly critical, Please look at my completed listings of records that I have sold of this calaber and you will see that i normally get it right! I have heard a few copies of this album and this is the best that I have heard! In my opinion this will be hard to surpass for an original 37 year old vinyl!!!! 

please note! I always add this disclaimer! Please allow for the odd static ticks\crackle (not consistant throughout the audio) Please remember this is a genuine 37 year old vinyl that would have originally been played on a 37 year old system!!!!

The labels

These are superbe (see photos) the original pink Island labels (only early press) Please note! these have textured centers around the spindle hole!!! These are only found on 1st pressings (later were smooth) These are very hard to find! There are signs that this has been played in the form of some spidering around the spindle hole but little if (no) ware on the splindle hole this is perfectly round!!!! ''Made in Great Britain' is featured (UK press)

The Cover

The original unlaminated gatefold cover has (no) splits or tares very (very) light general storageware\rubbing very very light creases hardly worth to mention (see photos) (no) nasty names or handwriting!!! Please note! This is the original and has not been swapped  with another cover which is often the case!! Printed by E.DAY & CO ENGLAND! (ONLY 1ST PRESS COVERS) also features the white 'i' logo (only 1st press covers) This cover is strong and straight a superbe example!!!!!!  

As always I have tried to give my honest personal opinion when describing items listed! Although it is my honest opinion! I always urge others to do their own personal research on any items that they are interested in purchasing, before, they commit to bidding!) I have Highlighted all aspects as clearly as possible!! I have taken time to play this vinyl track for track to give a clear and accurate description of the audio quality. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 800 items) and you will see that I normally get it right) I have also provided as many photos as I can and supersized so that all aspects can be seen clearly in strong light!!!!!Please note! These photos are the actual item for sale and not copies of other items!!!!!!!

Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions regarding this item or any other items that I have listed!

I HAVE 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK SO PLEASE BID WITH TOTAL CONFIDANCE!!!!

SHIPPING TO THE USA IS 10.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 7.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS 3.90 SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

Please note! All items are now despatched by signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!!!

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement!!!!!!

I offer a postage discount for multiple purchases!!!,, but i do insist that the buyer pay for the items as they are won! I can not any longer allow winning bidders to run up a large bill and then not pay! I do not have a problem with holding the goods to be despatched untill they are ready (at the buyers request), for multiple items purchased!!!!!

PLEASE LOOK AT MY OTHER RARE 1ST UK PRESSINGS LISTED NOW!!!! (click the link bellow)

                             >>>>MY OTHER ITEMS < <<<