King Crimson – Red (Vinyl) Original Japanese Pressing
Atlantic Records (1974)

Product Description

Very Rare Actual 1974 Japanese First Pressing Of Superb King Crimson LP ~ Complete With Highly Collectable Obi Strip! Vinyl Still In Immaculate Condition! Nice Glossy Cover Includes Insert With Lyrics In English & Japanese. One Of The Most Powerful & Influential Albums In The Band’s Remarkable Career, ‘Red’ Is Totally Essential!!!

Robert Fripp (Guitars / Mellotron), Bill Bruford (Drums, Percussion), John Wetton (Bass, Vocals)

With: David Cross (Violin on “Providence”), Mel Collins (Soprano Saxophone on “Starless”), Ian McDonald (Alto Saxophone on “One More Red Nightmare” & “Starless”)

Condition – Vinyl: NEAR MINT! Sounds amazingly good! Beautifully preserved for over 51 years!

Condition – Cover:  EXCELLENT! Light shelf wear, corner wear.

Japanese vinyl pressings are highly sought after by audiophiles and collectors, due to their premium sound quality and beautifully presented packaging. The sonic quality of Japanese records is regarded as the best in the world. No wonder all the original Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab records were pressed in Japan! The covers are printed on better quality heavy stock paper too. Near Mint condition Japanese pressings are becoming scarcer ~ and therefore more collectable and valuable every year.

By the time King Crimson entered the studio in July 74, the band had spent the best part of two years on the road, recorded two albums along the way (‘Larks’ Tongues In Aspic’ & ‘Starless & Bible Black’), & shed two band members en route (percussionist Jamie Muir left for a monastery, violin/mellotron player David Cross had left at the end of the US tour a week earlier). They had also built a reputation as one of the tightest, most powerful bands on the rock circuit. Recording as a trio in Olympic studios in London, with contributions from former members & friends on sax, violin, oboe & clarinet, the group produced the last Crimson studio album of the 70s & one of the decade’s masterpieces ~ ‘Red’.

‘Red’ emerged as a distillation of everything Crimson had been working towards live & in the studio between 72 and 74. In the 44 years since its release, ‘Red’ has built an enviable, enduring reputation among fans & professional musicians alike ~ with bands from each succeeding decade citing it as an important influence. Vernon Reid (of Living Colour) has spoken of being “amazed” at the power of this band live, Butch Vig reputedly played it to Nirvana as the ideal rock trio sound/template prior to the recording of ‘Nevermind’, bass maestro Billy Sheehan regards it as one of the all time great recordings, while the members of Tool are also firm enthusiasts of the album. As with so many key records of the era, it is only in recent years that the album’s real significance has become apparent. As younger generations of fans discover the band, the album has become one of Crimson’s most successful. It also routinely emerges as the favourite studio album for many long term fans of the band ~ no mean feat with such a rich & varied recording history to choose from!

Side 1:
Red (6:16)
Fallen Angel (5:57)
One More Red Nightmare (7:08)

Side 2:
Providence (8:05)
Starless (12:13)

Additional Information