King Crimson Red

In the context of King Crimson’s difficult career, 1974’s Red represents another career high point. The band strip down to the trio of drummer Bill Bruford, bassist/vocalist John Wetton, and guitarist/Mellotron man Robert Fripp, with a number of guests performing key passages. Each song qualifies as a classic, with the 12-minute closing epic “Starless” providing a catharsis that few pieces in Western music achieve. Mel Collins’ and Ian MacDonald’s saxophones are beyond sublime. Adding three bonus cuts, including the live Central Park version of “Starless," proves you can never have too much of a groundbreaking thing.