King Crimson
In the Court of the Crimson King
The debut Robert Christgau dismissed as 'ersatz shit'
Released in the UK on 10 October 1969 by Island Records, In the Court of the Crimson King was King Crimson's debut album and is now recognised as a landmark of progressive rock. A contemporary hostile review, alongside chart results with their dates.
The verdict at the time
Christgau opened his Consumer Guide column in the Village Voice with the warning 'Beware the forthcoming hype' and closed by calling King Crimson's debut 'ersatz shit', awarding it only a D+ and crediting any merit solely to Peter Townshend's liking of the record.
Chart peaks
European positions are listed by country. Later chart entries are labelled separately.
Sources & context
One critic's opinion, summarised from Robert Christgau's Consumer Guide column in the Village Voice of December 1969. The album is now widely lauded as one of the greatest progressive rock albums ever released.
