KING CRIMSON IN THE COURT 1st UK PRESS ISLAND PiNk I

	£		385
	$		510

KING CRIMSON ''In the Court of the Crimson King'' (an observation by King Crimson) ORIGINAL EARLY UK PRESSING CAT NO. ILPS-9111 (ORIGINAL ISLAND LABELS) LOOK! MEGA EARLY!  A#2 and B#3 ORIGINAL E.DAY & CO. GATEFOLD COVER (ONLY 1ST PRESSINGS!!!!! HEAVY THICK AND HEAVY ORIGINAL VINYL!  

This is one of the early UK pressings, with the Island pink 'I', look A2 and B3, much rarer to find than the more common A2 and B4 matrix often seen for sale!   I have decided to list this album more for its rarety rather than for its condition. Visually the vinyls playing surface looks awesome and retains its sheen from new and on initial inspection it is hard to see a blemish, I certainly can't see any deep needle scratches. Having said that, this is a very enjoyable and playable copy, although there is some very light isolated interfearence heard at loud volume during some quiet isolated places, amaizingly there is no signs of distortion or that this has been over played at all in fact this doesn't look like it has been played that much in my opinion!! This is complete with the original E.Day gatefold with no real creases to talk of and just light general storageware in the form of rubbing at the edges only really noticable if looked for, a very respectable copy in my opinion! overall grading at least excellent in my opinion!!      

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!!!!

The Matrix

side 1. ''ILPS-9111 AV2''        

side2. ''ILPS-9111 B#3'' (EARLY PRESS)

Thick heavy and chunky original more robust and deeper grooved type of vinyl only found on the earliest pressings!!!

The Vinyl.

To start with on initial inspection I can barely see a blemish  on the playing surface!On initial inspection this looks superbe, super glossy sheen!! This looks awesome and still retains its original sheen from new!!!! Any marks that could possibly be seen would be mainly sleeve removal marks (non audio sounding its hard to see any at all) When scrutinised under a very strong light i can just barely see a very small light surface marks\scuffs only. This vinyl lays perfectly flat on the turn table!!!  I have played this through track for track as usual on a top system at very loud volume!!

It is important to note that these early pressings are notorious for static and ticks heard during the many quiet places on this album in vinyl which in my opinion is a common pressing fault, and it is also important to note that I could also hear some static\ticks in some isolated places, notably the very quiet track ''moon child'' which is extreemely common !

The Audio Quality

I have played this vinyl through four times track for track each time at very loud volume and have carefully given my honest opinion on the audio quality as I heard it! My grading is for the audio quality only (although visually the playing surface looks absolutely stunning in my opinion) Please note!  I follow (no) other codes or practices other than my personal opinion,, I would class myself as highly critical when it comes down to the audio quality. Please look at my completed listings of records that i have sold of thisd calaber and you will see that I normally get it right!  

The first this to note is that this vinyl has not been overplayed in my opinion! Absolutely (no) signs of distortion or grooveware! this plays with (no) major loud continuing, annoying clicks or  pops that that I heard!  The main audio is cristal clear and vibrant throughout!!

 The audio is truly stunning super sharp and very vibrant throughout, with the odd light interfearence only! During some of the quiet places there were the odd light static crackle\ticks evident. To note, for example on side 1 in one mega quiet place on the track 'I talk to the wind' I heard some light mainly isolated static\ticks and of course 'moonchild' but Nothing too bad in my opinion that spoilt the overall absolutely superbe audio experiance)  In my opinion this is still quite exceptional for an original 38 year old Crimson vinyl!!!! 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 so much) 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 awesome!  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 quite a few copies of this album and own most of the original variations of this album and this one is quite exceptional in that I heard no distortion throughout! I would grade the audio overall as excellent with light static interfearence during quiet places in the form of isolated light static ticks or pops no distortion and no skips or jumps!

Please note! having played this vinyl through a few times prior to listing! This is my honest and personal opinion, I follow no other codes other than this!  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!! 

side 1. The audio is graded as excellent (light static ticks scuff noise heard during intro to track 2 only isolated static pops) super vibrant audio!

side 2. The audio is graded as excellent certainly vibrant with just minimal interfearance\static ticks light isolated pops during quiet places only, audio super vibrant! 

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! There are signs that this has been played in the form of some\very minimal spidering around the spindle hole can be seen angled to the light but little if (no) ware on the splindle hole this is perfectly round!!!All indications are that this vinyl has not been over played at all in my opinion! ''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 \light rubbing to the edges at the spine, edges and corners only! Amaizingly (no) real creases worth to mention on the outside any that there may be would have to be scrutinised to notice. Very light creasing on the inside near spine only (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 all writing legable at the spine which is nice and square and has not been crushed with age !!!must be at least excellent !  Original 1st press cover so hard to find like this!!!  

HOW I SEND MY RECORDS!

THIS ALBUM WILL BE SENT IN A LARGE BOX WITH CARDBOARD STIFFENERS THE ALBUM IS ALWAYS PUT IS A POLY SLEEVE AND ENCASED IN THE BOX WITH PLENTY OF BUBBLEWRAP FOR ADDED PROTECTION (SEE PHOTOS)

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 as i hear it. (please look at my completed listings of albums that I have sold of this calaber (more than 1000 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 11.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

SHIPPING TO EUROPE IS 8.76GBP INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING

POSTAGE WITHIN ENGLAND IS FREE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY

Please note! All items are now despatched by Royal Mail signed for 1st class delivery!!!! I normally despatch weekdays within the next working day on receipt of cleared funds!!!I POST ON WEEKDAYS ONLY (NOT OVER THE WEEKEND)!! Tracking details are always emailed to the winning bidder after despatch.

All items are despatched securely with ample reinforcement (It is my prime interest to make sure that the items arrive in the same condition that they left me!!!!

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)

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

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