blues influences are subservient to intense compositional rigour characterized by Mellotron-induced Western classical symphonic arrangements ... Individual and collective passages of arresting virtuosity and a rhythmic discontinuity bordering on the perverse are also components of an essentially tonal, approachable whole inoffensive to any classical or pop listener." Stump further commented that while the album is defined by avant-garde sensibility and subtle arrangements, it still communicates through the accessible language of rockers. Legacy The Who's Pete Townshend was quoted as calling the album "an uncanny masterpiece". In the Q & Mojo Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock, the album came fourth in its list of "40 Cosmic Rock Albums". The album was named as one of Classic Rock magazine's "50 Albums That Built Prog Rock". In 2014, readers of Rhythm voted it the eighth greatest drumming album in the history of progressive rock. In 2015, Rolling Stone named In the Court of the Crimson King the second greatest progressive rock album of all time, behind Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon. The album is also featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. It was voted number 193 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums. Rap artist Kanye West used samples of "21st Century Schizoid Man" in his song "Power", from his 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. In a 2022 lawsuit by Declan Colgan Music Ltd, the owners of the mechanical licence for the song, they claimed that West had sampled it without a licence. Track listing After the end of The Court of the Crimson King, there is a hidden track run from 9:41 to 10:00 on some pressings. The timings on the inner sleeve of original pressings, giving a total album time of 41:59, are incorrect. Personnel King Crimson Greg Lake – lead vocals, bass guitar, production Robert Fripp – electric and acoustic guitars, production Ian McDonald – saxophone, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, Mellotron, harpsichord, piano, organ, vibraphone, backing vocals, co-lead vocals on "I Talk to the Wind", production Michael Giles – drums, percussion, backing vocals, production Peter Sinfield – lyrics, illumination, production Production Robin Thompson – recording engineer Tony Page – assistant engineer Barry Godber – cover illustrations Charts Certifications References 1969 debut albums Island Records albums Atlantic Records albums Polydor Records albums E.G. Records albums Vertigo Records albums Virgin Records albums King Crimson