In the Court of the Crimson King [Original recording remastered, Extra tracks, Original recording reissued]

King Crimson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 8, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered, Extra tracks, Original recording reissued
• Label: Discipline Us
• ASIN: B002LLE3Q8
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,989 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. 21st Century Schizoid Man

2. I Talk to the Wind

3. Epitaph

4. Moonchild

5. The Court of the Crimson King

6. Moonchild 2009 Mix (Full Version - Bonus Track)

7. I Talk to the Wind (Alternate Duo Version - Bonus Track)

8. I Talk to the Wind (Alternate Mix - Bonus Track)

9. Epitaph (Bonus Backing Track)

10. Wind Session (Bonus Track From Album Session Recordings)

Disc: 2

1. 21st Century Schizoid Man

2. I Talk to the Wind

3. Epitaph

4. Moonchild

5. The Court of the Crimson King

6. 21st Century Schizoid Man (instrumental)

7. 21st Century Schizoid Man (BBC Peel session)

8. I Talk to the Wind (BBC Peel session)

9. The Court of the Crimson King (single a side)

10. The Court of the Crimson King (single b side)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars WELL WORTH THE PRICE FOR MORE FROM THIS CLASSIC ALBUM SESSION, December 8, 2009

By 

Stuart Jefferson (San Diego,Ca) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: In the Court of the Crimson King (Audio CD)

Two discs 70,78 minutes each approximately. Comes in a standard jewel case,with some color photographs of the band on the inside back portion of the case. The sound in this 2009 version,which was mixed from the original master tapes is clean and crisp. There seems to be a bit more openess to the sound in this edition,compared to the 2004 release. The only real change from the original release is an edit of the improv following "Moonchild". The booklet is well done,with short,but pertinent information on the tracks. There is a short overlook at the album from Robert Fripp. There is also a look at the band from it's beginnings by Sid Smith,which is fairly informative,especially if you aren't familiar with KING CRIMSON's first album. The original artwork has been preserved,as have the lyrics. There are also a few black and white photographs of the band from 1969.

By now if you've read this far you're probably familiar with this album and it's impact,both on it's original release and through subsequent years. I vividly remember buying this on vinyl (and the cover-what an attention grabber!) when it first was released as an "import". And like many listeners feel (except in the beginning when I had to convince people to give it a listen),the album has never lost it's impact. But whats great about this release are the bonus tracks on each disc.

"Moonchild" is heard in it's full version,which,finally,is nice to hear. This ethereal,almost spooky sounding track is even more ethereal in this full version. "I Talk To The Wind" is heard in both a duo and alternate version. The duo version with lovely guitar and flute is very nice,with a slightly different,more delicate feel to it than the original. A definite highlight of this release. The alternate version is just that-slightly different in sound,with different solos,but still sticking fairly close to the original. The vocal,which was mixed perfectly with the instruments,is very nice on this track. "Epitath" is heard hear as a backing track,which is nice,but nothing extraordinary. The final track,"Wind Session",is full of various sounds,both organic and electronic. There is also some "talk-back" from the engineer to whomever is creating this track. It's an inside look at how parts of this album were created,but musically not totally essential.

The second disc contains the 2004 mix of the complete album-nothing really new here. The bonus tracks on this disc give an inside look into how this album was constructed. The first bonus track is the instrumental backing of "21st Century Schizoid Man",which even without the vocal is impressive to hear,especially considering the era when this music was recorded. "I Talk To The Wind" is heard here from a BBC session,and the overall sound of this track is fairly flat and distant sounding. But it's still a nice addition-hearing a live,period recording from a unique (at the time) band,that straddled both rock and progressive music. "21st Century Schizoid Man",also from A BBC session is better sounding,though sonically still a little weak. Again,its nice to have this version appended to this release,especially Fripp's ripping guitar,and Ian McDonald's horn out front of that great rhythm section. "In The Court Of The Crimson King",Parts 1 and 2 are both heard here in their mono single versions. They are reproduced from a vinyl source,and are heard as originally split,into two sides of a 7" vinyl single.

If you liked this album in the past,you're going to like this version. For once the price seems fair for what's included,and is probably the definitive look at this album. This is one of those unique records that,once heard,seems to grab hold of your head and never lets go. It's still impressive,even now,after all these years. And that's the mark of great music.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all time favorites, October 12, 2011

By 

Laurel Felber (Bellingham, Wa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In the Court of the Crimson King (Audio CD)

Well, I was thirteen years old and bought this album for its cover. To say I was blown away was an understatement. Because I was a Moody Blues fan I definitely noticed the vocal and atmospheric influences of the Moodies Yet, there was something else here never heard before. This was an entirely different "animal" indeed. I loved the way they could be softly beautiful one minute (helped by Greg Lake's lovely voice) and the next minute fill the room with screechy and bold, and for the time, almost "unmusical" sounds.(almost noisy and unpleasant but undeniably "New" )The lyrics were always profound and intelligent. I played this album until I wore it out. I bought a new copy and now I bought the C.D. Of course I will keep all three copies. I have followed King Crimson through all their changes and they were continually innovative, provocative, beautiful and scary. One of the best groups of all times. Holds up completely to anything of this time. This is their classic, first attempt and belongs in any music collection.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Schizoid Man is coming to get you!, March 31, 2011

By 

jmd123 (Oscoda, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Court of the Crimson King (Audio CD)

This quintessential album begins the career of King Crimson, a.k.a. Robert Fripp and those musicians he chooses to create his musical vision as his "group". And it has all the elements of all later Crimson albums: terrifying intensity alternating with delicate, incredible beauty and ALWAYS superb musicianship. A fitting beginning in the very late 1960s, somewhat comparable to the contemporary Moody Blues in their use of flute, Mellotron, and exquisite guitar but of considerably darker vision and more psychedelic, mystical, and cynical. "21st Century Schizoid Man" is truly a premonition of things to come, both with the band and the world at large, with blistering intensity and a truly terrifying message, then when you think you just can't stand it anymore comes "I Talk to the Wind", a welcome respite of amazing loveliness yet sharp and contrarian words: "You don't posess me, don't impress me..." Then the very dark and cynical "Epitaph", quite literally about the end of the world at "the hands of fools"...Then another break with the mystical "Moonchild" with a long (and early for its day) ambient instrumental section, exploded by "The Court of the Crimson King", a huge enormous piece of mystical magical reference with overwhelming Mellotrons sweeping you away to lyrics about a Medevil city populated by a purple piper, the keeper of the city keys, the black queen, the fire witch, the gardener, the pattern juggler, the orchestra, widows, wise men, the yellow jester, the puppets, and of course, The Crimson King. J.R.R. Tolkien would have been proud! All intertwined with amazing flute solos and Robert Fripp's incredible guitar playing.

If you are a fan of King Crimson and/or the music of the 1960s, this is an absolute MUST HAVE.