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Product Details
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Track Listings
| Disc: 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. 21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson | |||
| 2. I Talk to the Wind - King Crimson | |||
| 3. Epitaph - King Crimson | |||
| 4. Moonchild - King Crimson | |||
| 5. The Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson | |||
| 6. Moonchild 2009 mix (full version) - King Crimson | |||
| 7. I Talk to the Wind (Alternate take - Duo version) - King Crimson | |||
| 8. I Talk to the Wind (Alternate Mix) - King Crimson | |||
| 9. Epitaph (Backing track) - King Crimson | |||
| 10. Wind Session (from album session recordings) - King Crimson | |||
| Disc: 2 | |||
| 1. Moonchild 2009 mix full version | |||
| 2. I Talk to the Wind Alternate take - Duo version | |||
| 3. I Talk to the Wind Alternate Mix | |||
| 4. Epitaph Backing track | |||
| 5. Wind Session from album session recordings | |||
| 6. 21st Century Schizoid Man Instrumental mix | |||
| 7. I Talk to the Wind Studio run through | |||
| 8. Epitaph Alternate version | |||
| 9. Moonchild Take 1 1 | |||
| 10. The Court of the Crimson King Take 3 | |||
See all 11 tracks on this disc
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Editorial Reviews
Second release in the 40th Anniversary series, this version of one of the most revered rock albums of all time contains a compact disc with 5.1 surround sound mix by Steven Wilson, with Robert Fripp as executive producer, from the original studio masters, as well as a new stereo mix from the original multitrack tapes. Disc one also features five previously unreleased tracks. Disc two is a DVD A which features both the original album imx and the new album mix in high res stereo, as well as three bonus tracks in high res stereo.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
174 of 186 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In the life of any music fans, there are albums that change the way you perceive music-- "In the Court of the Crimson King" was, for me, one of them.
The original King Crimson band-- Robert Fripp (guitar), Ian McDonald (keys, reeds, vocals), Michael Giles (drum kit, backing vocals), Greg Lake (bass, vocals), and Peter Sinfield (lyrics) was a group positioned to do something great-- when Ian McDonald joined Giles, Giles & Fripp (an off kilter pop band and the prototype for King Crimson), and eventually the arrival of vocalist Greg Lake, the band's former pop sensibilities were largely replaced by a neoclassical form and a love for improv. The only resulting document of this group in the studio is this album.
I'm going to briefly jump into the sound before talking about the music-- if you're not interested, skip to the next paragraph. Fripp has remastered the album for what seems like the millionth time-- this time from the original session tapes. The result is stunning-- there's a clarity here not present on previous editions, the production seems to have slightly changed, Lake often sounds like he's singing right in your ear, the vocal harmonies, always for me one of the things that separated this album from similar acheivements (the stunning playing of Fripp and Giles being the other) are clear and distinct. And for an album of dynamic, it has long gone without any clear hearing-- "Moonchild", which often sounded like unfocused tinkling, finally sounds coherent on record. From a sonic standpoint, this is finally the treatment the record deserves.
The music is this album is breathtaking-- the sound is in some ways very 1969-- mellotrons abound, lead playing splits between reeds and guitars, and a unique, high tuned drum sound, but there's a certain timeless quality to some of the tracks that make it stand out, even when seeped in the technology of the time. The album's opener, "21st Century Schizoid Man", is the closest thing to a hit the band had-- a group composition, the song opens with a whisper, mellotron effects, before exploding into power chord guitar and wailing sax-- Lake's voice, neveer a favorite of mine, takes a powerful and harsh edge and runs through two verses before the song breaks into a syncopated rhythm over which McDonald (on sax) and Fripp both take brilliant solos before coming back around to the verse again. By the time this ended for the first time, I was hooked. The level of playing on here, in particular hearing the four musicians playing complex lines in unison, will grab hold of anyone. Combine that with a great metal hook, and you've got something in many ways overwhelming.
The following track, "I Talk to the Wind", is quite the opposite-- delicate, with quiet guitars, reeds, a brilliant flute solo, and soft harmonies, makes you realize this band is not a one trick pony. This may be the finest lead vocal Lake has ever sung-- he sounds relaxed, confident, and without that air of pretension that so often dominates his singing. Again, simply breathtaking, but in its own way. Skipping ahead a bit to "Moonchild", the first two minutes are similar-- quiet musical performance and a great lead vocal from Lake before meandering into an extended guitar, vibes and drums improv. While the trio improv is a bit overlong, it does (at least on this edition, not nearly as well on previous ones), work without having a feeling of draggin.
The other two tracks on the album are really the only ones that lack a timeless quality, largely in part because they're dominated by the lush mellotron strings that clearly point to their era. "Epitaph" is probably my least favorite track on the album, dark, building, boiling, with some great guitar work from Fripp, I find it (and to a lesser extent the album closer) marred by Lake's overblown vocal delivery. The album closer, again dominated by the string sounds and Lake's vocal, is also washed in vocal harmonies, features a really incredible reed bridge, and some great distorted guitar interplaying with the mellotron-- while it feels dated, its one of those period pieces whose performance is so brilliant and whose composition is so strong, it gets past its sound.
The album was one of a kind-- while Crimson would continue and produce many stunning albums, McDonald and Giles abdicated leaving Fripp to continue. This is an effort that would never be repeated-- it also, unfortunately, established King Crimson as a progressive rock band, a sound that, by the mid-70s, they largely abandoned, and by the 80s, they totally turned their back on. Nonetheless, its a great record, and definitely should be heard.
The original King Crimson band-- Robert Fripp (guitar), Ian McDonald (keys, reeds, vocals), Michael Giles (drum kit, backing vocals), Greg Lake (bass, vocals), and Peter Sinfield (lyrics) was a group positioned to do something great-- when Ian McDonald joined Giles, Giles & Fripp (an off kilter pop band and the prototype for King Crimson), and eventually the arrival of vocalist Greg Lake, the band's former pop sensibilities were largely replaced by a neoclassical form and a love for improv. The only resulting document of this group in the studio is this album.
I'm going to briefly jump into the sound before talking about the music-- if you're not interested, skip to the next paragraph. Fripp has remastered the album for what seems like the millionth time-- this time from the original session tapes. The result is stunning-- there's a clarity here not present on previous editions, the production seems to have slightly changed, Lake often sounds like he's singing right in your ear, the vocal harmonies, always for me one of the things that separated this album from similar acheivements (the stunning playing of Fripp and Giles being the other) are clear and distinct. And for an album of dynamic, it has long gone without any clear hearing-- "Moonchild", which often sounded like unfocused tinkling, finally sounds coherent on record. From a sonic standpoint, this is finally the treatment the record deserves.
The music is this album is breathtaking-- the sound is in some ways very 1969-- mellotrons abound, lead playing splits between reeds and guitars, and a unique, high tuned drum sound, but there's a certain timeless quality to some of the tracks that make it stand out, even when seeped in the technology of the time. The album's opener, "21st Century Schizoid Man", is the closest thing to a hit the band had-- a group composition, the song opens with a whisper, mellotron effects, before exploding into power chord guitar and wailing sax-- Lake's voice, neveer a favorite of mine, takes a powerful and harsh edge and runs through two verses before the song breaks into a syncopated rhythm over which McDonald (on sax) and Fripp both take brilliant solos before coming back around to the verse again. By the time this ended for the first time, I was hooked. The level of playing on here, in particular hearing the four musicians playing complex lines in unison, will grab hold of anyone. Combine that with a great metal hook, and you've got something in many ways overwhelming.
The following track, "I Talk to the Wind", is quite the opposite-- delicate, with quiet guitars, reeds, a brilliant flute solo, and soft harmonies, makes you realize this band is not a one trick pony. This may be the finest lead vocal Lake has ever sung-- he sounds relaxed, confident, and without that air of pretension that so often dominates his singing. Again, simply breathtaking, but in its own way. Skipping ahead a bit to "Moonchild", the first two minutes are similar-- quiet musical performance and a great lead vocal from Lake before meandering into an extended guitar, vibes and drums improv. While the trio improv is a bit overlong, it does (at least on this edition, not nearly as well on previous ones), work without having a feeling of draggin.
The other two tracks on the album are really the only ones that lack a timeless quality, largely in part because they're dominated by the lush mellotron strings that clearly point to their era. "Epitaph" is probably my least favorite track on the album, dark, building, boiling, with some great guitar work from Fripp, I find it (and to a lesser extent the album closer) marred by Lake's overblown vocal delivery. The album closer, again dominated by the string sounds and Lake's vocal, is also washed in vocal harmonies, features a really incredible reed bridge, and some great distorted guitar interplaying with the mellotron-- while it feels dated, its one of those period pieces whose performance is so brilliant and whose composition is so strong, it gets past its sound.
The album was one of a kind-- while Crimson would continue and produce many stunning albums, McDonald and Giles abdicated leaving Fripp to continue. This is an effort that would never be repeated-- it also, unfortunately, established King Crimson as a progressive rock band, a sound that, by the mid-70s, they largely abandoned, and by the 80s, they totally turned their back on. Nonetheless, its a great record, and definitely should be heard.
89 of 93 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
First of all, let me preface my comments by saying that I am a fan of surround. Generally, when given the choice between stereo and 5.1 I will always listen to the 5.1 version. This time, I prefer the MLP lossless stereo version of In the Court of the Crimson King. I think that it has enormous clarity, but is smoother and more listenable than the surround version.
I am not sure whether it is the excellent mix on this 2009 stereo version or a weakness in the 5.1 version (probably a little of both), but this time around the separation and distinct presentation of the instruments and voice were at times a bit distracting to me in surround. In particular, "The Court of the Crimson King" sounded much better to me in the stereo version. For example, the keyboards coming from the left channel in 5.1 were a bit overwhelming to me. The distorted vocals in 21st Century Schizoid Man are isolated in the center channel, which makes Greg Lake sound, well, even more distorted.
I have the 1999 remaster, which as I understand it, was not taken from the original master tapes (as was this new version). The clarity of this 2009 version, compared to the 1999 mix of In the Court of the Crimson King, is very much improved. If you do not have a remix taken from the original master tapes, this is worth the money. Plus, there are so many different versions of this album it's hard to compare them all. It's fun to try, though. The 2 disc set contains: 1.) MLP lossless 5.1 surround; 2.) MLP lossless stereo; 3.) DTS 5.1 surround; 4.) LPCM stereo; 5.) standard CD stereo on a second disc. The CD stereo is the 2009 remaster, but the DVD also contains the 24-bit "Original Master Edition 2004." There is additional audio content on the DVD, including a "full version" of Moonchild, a duo version and alternate mix of "I Talk to the Wind," the backing track from "Epitaph," and studio tapes from the sound effects recording for the beginning of "21st Century Schizoid Man." There is an "alternate album" mix. The video is a brief edit from Hyde Park in 1969, and the quality is poor.
I just noticed that the December issue of Sound and Vision magazine has an article (several, actually) on the King Crimson 2009 releases as well as Steve Wilson and surround sound. It's worth a read if you are interested in these recordings.In the end, I have to go with five stars on In the Court of the Crimson King. This is, after all, one of the top 100 records ever made. I may have gone less than five stars for the surround mix, but the 2009 stereo mix is top notch. There is something here for every fan of this album to enjoy.
I am not sure whether it is the excellent mix on this 2009 stereo version or a weakness in the 5.1 version (probably a little of both), but this time around the separation and distinct presentation of the instruments and voice were at times a bit distracting to me in surround. In particular, "The Court of the Crimson King" sounded much better to me in the stereo version. For example, the keyboards coming from the left channel in 5.1 were a bit overwhelming to me. The distorted vocals in 21st Century Schizoid Man are isolated in the center channel, which makes Greg Lake sound, well, even more distorted.
I have the 1999 remaster, which as I understand it, was not taken from the original master tapes (as was this new version). The clarity of this 2009 version, compared to the 1999 mix of In the Court of the Crimson King, is very much improved. If you do not have a remix taken from the original master tapes, this is worth the money. Plus, there are so many different versions of this album it's hard to compare them all. It's fun to try, though. The 2 disc set contains: 1.) MLP lossless 5.1 surround; 2.) MLP lossless stereo; 3.) DTS 5.1 surround; 4.) LPCM stereo; 5.) standard CD stereo on a second disc. The CD stereo is the 2009 remaster, but the DVD also contains the 24-bit "Original Master Edition 2004." There is additional audio content on the DVD, including a "full version" of Moonchild, a duo version and alternate mix of "I Talk to the Wind," the backing track from "Epitaph," and studio tapes from the sound effects recording for the beginning of "21st Century Schizoid Man." There is an "alternate album" mix. The video is a brief edit from Hyde Park in 1969, and the quality is poor.
I just noticed that the December issue of Sound and Vision magazine has an article (several, actually) on the King Crimson 2009 releases as well as Steve Wilson and surround sound. It's worth a read if you are interested in these recordings.In the end, I have to go with five stars on In the Court of the Crimson King. This is, after all, one of the top 100 records ever made. I may have gone less than five stars for the surround mix, but the 2009 stereo mix is top notch. There is something here for every fan of this album to enjoy.
45 of 46 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Okay....Exactly how many versions of this album does one need ? EVERY BLESSED ONE OF THEM !
December 2, 2009
By Jim Z
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
"In The Court Of The Crimson King" has always been one of my top ten albums. It started the whole prog rock scene , and has not a single wasted moment on it. I have literally listened to this recording at least once a month for the past 40 years.
So what is so special about this 40th anniversary reissue , and is it worth the $$$$ ?
You get the 2009 Stereo mix by Porcupine Tree genius (and Crimson fan) Steven Wilson
Original Master Edition from 2004
The original mono album mix for US radio promos
The alternate takes mixed for the first time from the original studio recordings
The de-clicked vinyl transfer of the original stereo pressing
PLUS : Live 1969 recordings of key period tracks
The mono single mix of "The Court Of The Crimson King" radio US promo only
10 Bonus track versions of demos , BBC recordings , alternate mixes , duo versions and instrumentals
AND : a DVD which feature MLP lossless 5.1 Surround mix
MLP Lossless Stereo of the 2009 stereo mix , the original master edition from 2004 , the alternate album,
and additional audio content PLUS : Video of "21st Century Schizoid Man"
And the sound is phenomenal (aside from the boot live recordings)
Is it too much material devoted to a single album ? Judge for yourself. I say not. I only know from here on out , it is going to be a BEAR to decide upon which version I will listen too.
So what is so special about this 40th anniversary reissue , and is it worth the $$$$ ?
You get the 2009 Stereo mix by Porcupine Tree genius (and Crimson fan) Steven Wilson
Original Master Edition from 2004
The original mono album mix for US radio promos
The alternate takes mixed for the first time from the original studio recordings
The de-clicked vinyl transfer of the original stereo pressing
PLUS : Live 1969 recordings of key period tracks
The mono single mix of "The Court Of The Crimson King" radio US promo only
10 Bonus track versions of demos , BBC recordings , alternate mixes , duo versions and instrumentals
AND : a DVD which feature MLP lossless 5.1 Surround mix
MLP Lossless Stereo of the 2009 stereo mix , the original master edition from 2004 , the alternate album,
and additional audio content PLUS : Video of "21st Century Schizoid Man"
And the sound is phenomenal (aside from the boot live recordings)
Is it too much material devoted to a single album ? Judge for yourself. I say not. I only know from here on out , it is going to be a BEAR to decide upon which version I will listen too.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mellotron at its classic peak
Great CD. The CD notes are very detailed about the history of the group. This CD master is one every collector should have.
Published 1 day ago by Steve McElyea
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's like a Suspension Bridge.
Well, it is.
It's got a dirty great highpoint at both ends and it sags in the middle. Now, before you all start complaining, that doesn't mean the saggy bits are that bad,... Read more
It's got a dirty great highpoint at both ends and it sags in the middle. Now, before you all start complaining, that doesn't mean the saggy bits are that bad,... Read more
Published 12 days ago by King Troll
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I first heard this album on vinyl almost forty years ago, and have always wanted to get a CD version. I'm glad I did. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Patrick FitzPatrick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stands the Test of Time!
After listening to this album for about 35 years, during which time I fell in love with the inventiveness of the music, the alternating hard and soft styles, the psychedelic... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Madrok
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic greatness
This 2 CD expanded set is the version I have and having listened to this original KC release hundreds of times since the early 70's I was really hoping to hear a better sounding... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Miles Morris
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mr. Peabody's Wayback Machine, Sherman, and Robert Fripp
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Published 1 month ago by bugsplat
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not for everyone, but if you like progressive "rock" it's a must have.
First off, in the title above "rock" is in quotes for a reason, this is not Rock, this is one of those groups that got the "after midnight" play on the progressive... Read more
Published 2 months ago by David S.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enchanting Prog Rock.
Cool mood music with wacky overtones.
A longtime favourite - almost indescribable, worth a listen if you're visiting with pixies!
A longtime favourite - almost indescribable, worth a listen if you're visiting with pixies!
Published 2 months ago by Debbie Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Progressive Psychedelia
Strangely enough what attracted me first was the artwork, a wonderfully trippy, but strange image of a screaming man. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Adrian
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Progressive Rock Masterpiece
PThere are very few albums i call masterpieces but i have to call this one that,if anyone new is into weird rock classics start with this,the opening track is the best gem in the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ahh,angry birds,one of the best mobile games ever,great on kindle fire and great on anything
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