Recorded in 1969 “In The Court Of The Crimson King” stands as one of the defining albums of British rock music & one of the finest debut albums of all time. Described at the time as “an uncanny masterpiece” by Pete Townshend, the album has achieved legendary status over the years. Fifty years on, the album is one of the most beloved & revered in the rock music canon.
The 50th anniversary edition features:
Blu-Ray: First time on Blu-Ray for this iconic album with all new mixes in stereo & 5.1, original album mixes and a multitude of extras all in Hi-Resolution.
CDs: 3 CDs present the 2019 mixes in stereo & instrumental forms, an expanded alternate album and the original album mix – also with additional tracks.
Packaged in two gatefold sleeves with booklet in a rigid exterior slipcase
Blu-Ray features all-new, 2019, 5.1 & stereo mixes by Steven Wilson, approved by Robert Fripp in 24/96 resolution – the first time the album has appeared in 5.1 at 24/96 resolution. Blu-Ray also features the original master edition of the 1969 album mix in 24/96 stereo. Blu-Ray also features a complete alternate album comprising 2019 mixes by Steven Wilson
A further album's worth of additional material drawn from studio takes – much of it mixed by Steven Wilson & including extracts from the 'wind session' that produced the intro to 21CSM in stereo for the first time, the single a/b sides of the album title track drawn, for the first time since on disc, from the original master tapes & more are also included.
The Blu-Ray is completed by a set of 2019 instrumental mixes and the surviving fragment of black & white footage from Hyde Park in 1969
This set marks the first appearance of the album on Blu-Ray completing the availability of all King Crimson studio albums on the format.
CD1 presents the album in its 2019 stereo mix – along with the 2019 instrumental takes (with 'Moonchild' edited to song length)
CD2 presents an expanded edition of the alternate album from the Blu-Ray
CD3 features the original master edition of the 1969 mix plus additional tracks
Presented as a 2 x gatefold sleeve edition containing the individual CDs plus booklet with new sleeve-notes by King Crimson biographer Sid Smith packed in a rigid slipcase. Artwork derived from the original paintings, as meticulously restored, for the limited edition full sized, signed prints
All material on this set will also feature on the forthcoming “Complete 1969 Sessions” – the eighth boxed set in the series documenting King Crimson's studio & live recordings from 1969 onwards.
The Alternate album appears, quite deliberately, in slightly different track-listings on the Blu-Ray & CD (& on the accompanying double vinyl set). The aim on the Blu-Ray was to provide a fully sequenced listen that closely resembled the original album running order. This was extended on the CD, gathering many of the new mixes on one disc & revised again to make for a satisfying listen on vinyl.
In common with all other King Crimson studio albums in the format, the 5.1 mixes are being made available in this affordable set rather than being held over exclusively for larger expensive boxed sets, a practice that limits the availability of the music in multichannel audio to the detriment of artists and fans alike.
In the 50 years since its release “In The Court of the Crimson King” has never been out of print or unavailable in any of the world's main music markets & continues to enjoy consistently high sales.
Blu-Ray NTSC, Zone ABC, playable on all BD players & drives
2019 5.1 mixes
1 21st Century Schizoid Man
2 I Talk to the Wind
3 Epitaph
4 Moonchild
5 The Court of the Crimson King
Additional track
6 I Talk to the Wind (duo version)
Mixed by Steven Wilson
Original Master Edition
1 21st Century Schizoid Man
2 I Talk to the Wind
3 Epitaph
4 Moonchild
5 The Court of the Crimson King
Produced by King Crimson
Alternate Album
1 21st Century Schizoid Man
2 I Talk to the Wind
3 I Talk to the Wind
4 Epitaph
5 Epitaph
6 Moonchild
7 The Court of the Crimson King
1 Morgan studios June 1969 take with Greg Lake vocal overdubs from Wessex August 1969 &
Mel Collins & Jakko Jakszyk August 2019 overdubs
2 Alternate 2019 mix
3 Duo version, full length master, 2019 mix
4 Vocals isolated/highlighted, 2019 mix
5 Alt take – 2019 mix
6 Take 1, 2019 mix
7 Morgan studios, June 1969 take, 2019 mix
Mixed by Steven Wilson except 1, 4 mixed by David Singleton
Additional material
1 Wind Session
2 21st Century Schizoid Man
3 I Talk to the Wind
4 Epitaph
5 Moonchild
6 The Court of the Crimson King
7 21st Century Schizoid Man
8 The Court of the Crimson King (part 1)
9 The Court of the Crimson King (part 2)
1 2019 stereo mix
2 Trio version, 2019 mix
3 Studio run through, 2019 mix
4 Backing track, 2019 mix
5 Album edit, 2009 mix
6 Take 3, 2009 mix
7 Morgan studios take, June 1969
8, 9 Single a/b side, 1969
Mixed by Steven Wilson 1 – 6, Mixed by King Crimson 7 – 9
2019 Instrumental mixes
1 21st Century Schizoid Man
2 I Talk to the Wind
3 Epitaph
4 Moonchild
5 The Court of the Crimson King
Mixed by Steven Wilson
Video: 21csm extract Hyde Park 1969
CD 1 2019 stereo mixes & instrumental mixes
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
7 I Talk to the Wind
8 Epitaph
9 Moonchild (edit)
10 The Court of the Crimson King
1 - 10 mixed by Steven Wilson
CD 2 Alternate Album, expanded edition
1 Wind Session
2 21st Century Schizoid Man
3 I Talk to the Wind
4 I Talk to the Wind
5 Epitaph
6 Epitaph
7 Moonchild
8 The Court of the Crimson King
9 21st Century Schizoid Man
1 Wind Session, 2019 stereo mix
2 Morgan studios June 1969 take with Greg Lake vox overdubs from Wessex August 1969 &
Mel Collins/Jakko Jakszyk August 2019 overdubs
3 Alternate 2019 mix
4 Duo version, full length master, 2019 mix
5 Vocals isolated/highlighted, 2019 mix
6 Alt take - 2019 mix
7 Take 1, 2019 mix
8 Morgan studios, June 1969 take, 2019 mix
9 Trio version, 2019 mix
Mixed by Steven Wilson except 2, 5 mixed by David Singleton
CD 3 Original Master Edition, expanded
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
7 I Talk to the Wind
8 Epitaph
9 The Court of the Crimson King (single a side)
10 The Court of the Crimson King (single b side)
1 to 5 Original master edition produced by King Crimson
Mastered by Simon Heyworth
6 Morgan studios instrumental take, 1969, produced by King Crimson
7 studio run through, 2019 mix by Steven Wilson
8 Backing track, 2019 mix by Steven Wilson
9/10 Original single master
To pre-order:
Distributed in North America by Amped Distribution.
Catch King Crimson's North American tour:
SEP 14, 2019 - BUDWEISER STAGE, Toronto
SEP 17, 2019 - ST DENIS THEATRE, Montreal
SEP 19, 2019 - BOCH CENTER WANG THEATER, Boston
SEP 21, 2019 - RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL, New York City
SEP 23, 2019 - THE MET, Philidelphia
SEP 25, 2019 - HARD ROCK ROCKSINO, Cleveland
SEP 27, 2019 - THE RYMAN AUDITORIUM, Nashville
SEP 29, 2019 - THE COBB CENTER, Atlanta
