King Crimson Reaction: Classical Guitarist REACTS to King Crimson Epitaph

[@JoneRuiz]

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[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

King Crimson and "The Mellotron", the keyboard of Classic Prog are always linked together during their Classic years 1969'-1974". A fantastic instrument that sets moods and atmosphere for many of their great songs ! 👍🎶🎹🎼✌

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

Ian McDonald, one of Prog/Rocks greatest Multi instrumentalist we lost at 75' from colon cancer in 2022' so very sad. 👍🎶🎷🎹🎺🎸🎼✌

[@danielmora7382]

Hi Jone! Great reaction! The mellotron is the glacial string sound present in all through this track. In my opinion, this track is the best example of the breathtaking beauty of the mellotron sound. It's not an orchestra, it's the first analog sampler available as a keyboard, and it marked the whole prog rock genre. One of King Crimson's mellotrons was later bought by Genesis, at the urge of Steve Hackett who was a great fan of Crimson!

[@JoneRuiz]

Great stuff! Thank you!

[@sooty951]

Hackett used to sit down playing as did Fripp

[@chefren77]

In case "analog sampler" seems hard to wrap your head around, it's basically a tape player where every key starts playing tape with recorded sounds on it and then it auto-reverses when you release the key. This does limit it in some ways - the tapes have limited length, you need to give it time to rewind and apparently on the road it was constantly going out of tune, barely making it through a single concert. Crimson had three at one point. But who cares about the limitations when the sound is so great :)

[@jamescanole3940]

Thanks for mentioning my name (that was a first) and reading my comment that you needed to listen to Epitaph. I'm glad you enjoyed it! I first learned of King Crimson and heard Epitaph in the fall of 1969 when the album was released. I was a freshman in college. The student in the adjacent dormitory room played his music loud. Before I had even met him I was hearing the music of progressive rock bands like King Crimson and Genesis for the first time.... just coming through my walls. I eventually met that neighbor and he was an influence on my musical taste for many years. He also became a best friend. Sadly, he passed away last year. Another classic you have to hear is A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum, an English ProgRock band. It was released in 1967. In this link they are accompanied by an orchestra and choir for this 2006 live performance in Denmark. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaWZm6x7e8poja8. Also, I know you're a Billie Holiday fan. The next time you feel like 'hearing' Billie, listen to 11 year old Angelina Jordan channel Billie with a studio performance of I'm A Fool To Want You. It was learning about Angelina five years ago that got me listening to music reviews on KZbin...... James from Boston, MA. www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=angelina+fool+to+want+you+studio&mid=96B6D5D37978D9A19E8A96B6D5D37978D9A19E8A&FORM=VIRE

[@thomasmoroney1079]

Hello! I’ve been watching these reaction videos for a few years now. You are my favorite! I can see it in your eyes that you feel the beauty of some of this music. I enjoy watching you discover what you’ve been missing. I also enjoy your guitar playing! ✌️❤️Epitaph is another masterpiece!

[@maraboo72]

Genesis reported that this was the last album they listened to after leaving school and moving to a house in the countryside preparing their professionel career as musicians. Later on when Steve Hackett was in the band he convinced them to buy the mellotron from King Crimson. So the influence King Crimson had is probably also shown by this anecdote. Another group that was very influential to prog rock is Procol Harum. Their music is very much influenced by J. S. Bach. Not only was their biggest hit "A Whiter Shade of Pale" based on a theme of Bach but also their extensive use of diminished and dissonant chords was unusaual before them in rock music. On their second album the B-side contains the suite "In Held Twas in I" a 17 min long sequence of 5 independant parts which on a formal level might have been an inspiration for "Supper's Ready". I don't know that but I can imagine because Peter Gabriel once told that Procol Harum were among the Genesis role models. For me this group is a must know..

[@yes_head]

Hey, this has been up for two days and not taken down yet. Congrats! 😄 BTW, I'd bet money that the big Mellotron swells in this song were lifted by Genesis for "The Fountain of Salmacis". But for 1969 there was nothing else like it. Maybe the Moody Blues at times, but King Crimson took their sound to a completely different planet. But this song is much more Ian McDonald and Greg Lake than Robert Fripp, which is why this album is so special since their songwriting contributions basically start and end with this album. That 'beautiful sadness' you point out is something that you'll find throughout prog, but it doesn't it always work. Steven Wilson has done some great stuff in that vein if you want some more modern examples.

[@christopherhuot2826]

I've always considered this song a MASTERPIECE 😅 the music and vocals are superb 👌 😊

[@JoeBlow_4]

Gosh, this brings back memories. Haven't given this a listen in quite a minute.

[@peters7025]

loved this song from the moment I first heard it and the album is probably in my top 5. Yet another band that the great John Peel turned me onto in the late 60's.

[@WubWIFF]

Such a glorious piece of music. So rewarding on many levels. For me though the drumming just raises it high, high above so much else that was similar around this time.

[@MisterWondrous]

During the prog renaissance of the late 60 and early 70s, there was a lot of interest in space...both inner and outer. And spaciness. Orchestras provide a spaciness, but so does the mellotron...which is why it, and synthesizers, were pretty much essential components of any prog band worth their salt. King Crimson and the Moody Blues, with Merlin Pinder, made the best use of the instrument, from my reckoning. This was a first album, which always remained a top favorite.

[@martinm1231]

Many like other King Crimson albums - But I love the King Crimson "ISLANDS" album

[@urbangardener66]

Thoughtful reaction, for a provocative album of songs. Mellotron is responsible for most of the orchestral and choral sounds you here throughout the song. I think what you are trying to express about melancholy is that the sadness often goes hand in hand with a certain resolution or recognition that things are what they are, a certain peace that comes with the understanding. The familiarity here may come from the singer Greg Lake, who went onto be a founding member of ELP, and early tracks from them at times had a Crimsonesque quality. Cheers and Thanks for a great reaction!

[@tobytanzer]

Thanks Jone! For giving my old comment a shout out. Mellotron was the key in those days for adding strings (or choir) to the arrangements. Epitaph is about nuclear annihilation so of course it's going to be sad. Not all of KC was sad, a lot was confusing or weird, but none of it was happy. The instruments of death are ICBM's I think. "Upon the instruments of death The sunlight brightly gleams When every man is torn apart With nightmares and with dreams Will no one lay the laurel wreath When silence drowns the screams." If you like orchestral rock arrangements with strong classical influences check out the 70's group Renaissance. Anything from Prologue, Ashes are Burning, Turn of the Card, Scheherazade and Other Stories, and A Song for All Seasons. Their singer Annie Haslam has a trained powerful voice with a 5 octave range. Mother Russia, Things I Don't Understand, Kiev, Ocean Gypsy, or any title track from the above albums. Please give Renaissance the exposure they deserve.

[@steffNewtown]

100% agree for your great suggestion 👍🤩

[@MrHannu62]

In the 1990s I listened to a lot of crimson

[@NewBritainStation]

This album is widely considered a masterpiece. But only the second album really resembled this. With various lineup changes the music changed dramatically. Robert Fripp, the guitarist, doesn’t consider KC “progressive rock” except perhaps the first two albums. Some key tracks from the next few albums. The second album comprised a lot of music written while on tour for the first, but with a transitional lineup: Pictures of a City and Cat Food The next two albums were more jazz-leaning, but very different styles, yet recognizably King Crimson. Cirkus and side 2 of Lizard Sailor’s Tale and Islands Then a drastic musical change that is mapped out in two tracks: Larks’ Tongues in Aspic Part I and Part II Key tracks from these three albums include Exiles, Great Deceiver, The Night Watch, Fracture, and pretty much all of the Red Album. Another feature of this era in particular was their live improvisations. Trio and Providence are both entirely improvised live. Another key one is Asbury Park. These aren’t “jams with solos.” They are whole band improvisations. That covers the ‘70s era in broad strokes. The ‘80s was another dramatic change.

[@erict9020]

what you thought were strings was the mellotron. saw these guys live at the 1st Atlanta Pop Festival. it was amazing the amount of sound coming from that stage. Robert Fripp, their guitarist, blew me away. their tune, "21st Century Schizoid Man", which i believe is on their 2nd album, is so spot on it sounds like it could have been written yesteday

[@marklar9156]

'Schizoid man' is also on this knockout first album of King Crimson!

[@thomasmoroney1079]

You may have heard it or something similar to it from Emerson Lake and Palmer?? Great reaction.❤

[@seajaytea9340]

Epic, emotional, evocative = Epitaph!

[@wardka]

King Crimson is almost a different band and different feeling with each album. They are not always melancholy. By the 3rd album and onwards they were quite surreal and experimental, often abrasive. But there are also tracks even on this first album that would terrify a lot of people, very different from this and the title track. Epitaph to me is the ultimate angst of youth anthem, and it's also relevant to the adult angst many of us feel today when we turn on the news.

[@thelyricologist9568]

King Crimon is n interesting story. So many line-ups, and so many genres. The King Crimson of 1968-1972 is different from the King Crimson of 1972-1974 which is different from the King Crimson of 1981-1984 (yes, there was such a long hiatus in the meantime) which id different from the King Crimson of the 1990s. 🙂

[@ZosoLU]

Have you heard the first song on the album, 21st Century Schizoid Man? It's fantastic.

[@RGRG3232]

Their song "In The Wake Of Poseidon" from their second album is a must if you enjoyed this track. Even more mellotron, and a slightly better song, imo.

[@franckb8279]

Happy you can react to this masterpiece without being blocked by the Fripp police...😅

[@carlgranz7368]

Greg Lake lead voice

[@georgesheffield1580]

This band was very progressive for when this was first produced so didnt get the air time that others did. Maybe the cover scared them too much. It is excellent as are all of KING CRIMSON 's 🎶

[@georgesheffield1580]

The lyrics are classical British poetry.

[@OlausPulaus]

Since you like acoustic guitar, why not listen to this composition from Robert Fripp with acoustic arrangement? kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoDSpGeti76Bgpo&ab_channel=MartinSchwutke