In the court of the Crimson King
King Crimson
1580 €
Estimated vinyl value [2026 Valuation]
Technical Identification Sheet
| RELEASE NUMBER (Discogs ID) | 20894023 |
| Excel File Row | 296 |
| Date Added to Archive | 27/09/2026, 14:08:06 |
| Pressing Year | 1969 |
| Pressing Type (Press) | 1ST |
| Country of Pressing | UK |
| Record Label | Island Records |
| Stereo / Mono | STEREO |
| Catalogue Number | ILPS 9111 |
| Barcode | N/A |
| Matrix / Runout Side A | ILPS 9111 A ▽ 2 1 4 ("STEREO""Island Records Big I""Polygram/Philips-POLYDOR Press""label Textured (rugosa)""E.J. Day London cover") |
| Matrix / Runout Side B | ILPS 9111 B // 2 1 5 - |
| Sleeve Condition | EX |
| Media Condition | NM |
| Inner Sleeve Condition | EX+ |
| Genre | Experimental/Psychedelic Rock |
| External Link | View Original Release ↗ |
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Story & Background
The famous and unsettling cover of "In the Court of the Crimson King", a true visual manifesto of progressive rock, was the work of artist Barry Godber, friend and collaborator of Peter Sinfield (the band's lyricist). The genesis of that iconic image, with "The Schizoid Man" on the front and the "Faccia urlante" on the back, is imbued with an almost prophetic dramatic quality. Godber, self-taught and not a professional painter, with his raw and instinctive talent created what Robert Fripp defined as "l'unica immagine possibile per la musica". His work, created with wax crayons, is as visceral as the music itself. Sadly, after completing this masterpiece destined to become a legend among collectors, Barry Godber died a few months after the album's release, aged just 23. This tragic event added a veil of mystery and melancholy to the album's legacy. The uniqueness and power of that design were such that, unlike many other releases, it was never replaced or altered for subsequent reissues, making every first pressing from 1969 with this cover an invaluable piece of history for any self-respecting expert vinyl collector.
Image Gallery
Official Tracklist
- A1 - 21st Century Schizoid Man (Including "Mirrors") (6:52)
- A2 - I Talk To The Wind (5:40)
- A3 - Epitaph (Including "March For No Reason" And "Tomorrow And Tomorrow") (8:30)
- B1 - Moonchild (Including "The Dream" And "The Illusion") (12:09)
- B2 - The Court Of The Crimson King (Including "The Return Of The Fire Witch" And "The Dance Of The Puppets") (8:48)
Audio / Video Preview