Album of the Day

Red, by King Crimson (1974): If In the Court of the Crimson King announced the arrival of prog to a broader audience in 1969, than Red is the thundering conclusion to the genre's golden age (at least commercially). Red was the last album from Crim in the 70s and was made as the USA lineup was in its death throes. Ironically, it included return performances from Ian McDonald and Mel Collins - sort of a 70s Crim all star effort. It was a hell of a way to go out. In addition to the long-time concert staple "Red," the album's finale, "Starless," is my favorite 12 minutes of Crim ever. An emphatic closing statement for the first epoch of prog.