Court of the Crimson King - 2009 Remastered!!

Bruce Lindfield · #1 10-18-2009, 02:50 AM

So - got the double CD this week - the idea is that they have found the original recorded tracks for this album and a big fan was able to put these tracks onto digital recording and then worked with Robert Fripp to do a proper digital re-master for the first time!

On the original album - there were so many tracks that they had to do "sub-mixes" to deal with the limitations of the technology at the time so final mixing was compromised as these stereo sub mixes could not be separated.

Anyway - has anybody else heard it - notice any differences? The quieter tracks sound a lot clearer to me..?

I thought it would be a big topic here..?

(There's also a lot of extra tracks, live versions, demos etc.

UncleFluffy · #2 10-18-2009, 03:14 AM

This is the first I'd heard of this. Thanks for the heads-up - I've just ordered my copy. Will give a review when it arrives.

Bruce Lindfield · #3 10-18-2009, 03:27 AM

I forgot to mention it is the 40th Anniversary edition - but really the selling point is the digital re-master from original multitrack...

Coeball · #4 10-18-2009, 03:54 AM

When I next go on am album buying spree I am buying that!

Audiophage · #5 10-18-2009, 08:53 AM

Not to mention that this "big fan who digitally remastered the original recordings with Robert Fripp" is none other than Steve Wilson of Porcupine Tree.

Bruce Lindfield · #6 10-18-2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audiophage

Not to mention that this "big fan who digitally remastered the original recordings with Robert Fripp" is none other than Steve Wilson of Porcupine Tree.

It's a very common name and in the liner notes he just talks like a fan who was pleased to have this opportunity - no mention of his own credentials, so I just assumed it was an engineer....?

Audiophage · #7 10-18-2009, 09:09 AM

You should look into Steve Wilson if you're into Progressive Music. He was obviously very humbled to do the 40th anniversary of "In The Court". Very cool.

There is also a 5 disc version of this reissue as well with hours and hours of extra material. Does your copy have the King Crimson rendition of "Mars"?

Bruce Lindfield · #8 10-19-2009, 03:18 AM

I bought and liked the Porcupine Tree album "The Sky Moved Sideways" and as a consequence went to see them play live in Brighton and hated it! I hated the singing and the over-blown guitar playing - completely self-indulgent! What was worse was that I found I really hated their leader and from the performance and his comments inbetween songs, I thought the was a total idiot - I walked out and have never looked at their stuff again!

It does seem strange now that the person I saw on stage in the late 90s is the same person who is thoughtful and humble in the liner notes to this CD - as that was the exact opposite to the image he portrayed on stage...

Bruce Lindfield · #9 10-19-2009, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audiophage

There is also a 5 disc version of this reissue as well with hours and hours of extra material. Does your copy have the King Crimson rendition of "Mars"?

No - I just looked at the album on Amazon and it seems we have got this before the US !!

So it looks like the US release date is in November :

http://www.amazon.com/King-Crimson/e...tt_mus_gen_pel

See full product details Audio CD
November 10, 2009

List Price: $24.98
Price: $18.99
You Save: $5.99 (24%)

1 used & new from $18.99

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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)
7. I Talk to the Wind (Alternate take - Duo version)
8. I Talk to the Wind (Alternate Mix)
9. Epitaph (Backing track)
10. Wind Session (from album session recordings)
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

KJung · #10 10-19-2009, 11:34 AM

Man, I remember wearing the grooves out on that album way back in the day. I'm not sure I need to hear it again though, remastered or not. Talk about music for a different time IMO.

lunarpollen · #11 10-19-2009, 11:47 AM

I remember the previous CD version sounded very harsh and brittle, as if it was not EQed well in mastering. I wonder if the remastered version sounds warmer and more balanced.

matrok · #12 10-19-2009, 12:00 PM

I need to get all my old Crimson on CD, still have the vinyl and no turntable. Looking forward to this.

nad · #13 10-19-2009, 04:07 PM

Sweet, will have to check this out. I didn't get into KC until 2001 when they opened for Tool (Maynard said "this lineup is backwards, we wouldn't exist without King Crimson" or something to that effect) but ever since then I have been absolutely hooked. I went on a spree and scooped up pretty much every studio album within a year period, and then a handful of live stuff as well. Personal favourite is Larks' Tongues in Aspic but really, they are all great albums. I even like Islands.

matrok · #14 10-19-2009, 06:25 PM

You like Islands?!?!?1 You've gone hardcore!!!

I do like most of the early stuff, but the Wetton/Bruford era really stands out for me. They kind of lost me after Thrak.

gweimer · #15 10-19-2009, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matrok

You like Islands?!?!?1 You've gone hardcore!!!

I do like most of the early stuff, but the Wetton/Bruford era really stands out for me. They kind of lost me after Thrak.

Borderline Crimhead here. I've got most of the legit releases, one boot, and a bunch of the Collector's Club series. Thrak was OK, but didn't really pan out as the "double trio" they said it would be. The last studio release, The Power To Believe, is a MONSTER. It's replaced Lark's Tongue in Aspic as my favorite. I even have the original Earthbound, and don't mind it. If you ever want to hear KC do straight-up funk, that's the record to get ("Peoria").

Funny thing is, I don't think the debut holds up very well over time, outside of the most popular (well-known) cuts.

Lackey · #16 10-19-2009, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

I bought and liked the Porcupine Tree album "The Sky Moved Sideways" and as a consequence went to see them play live in Brighton and hated it! I hated the singing and the over-blown guitar playing - completely self-indulgent! What was worse was that I found I really hated their leader and from the performance and his comments inbetween songs, I thought the was a total idiot - I walked out and have never looked at their stuff again!

It does seem strange now that the person I saw on stage in the late 90s is the same person who is thoughtful and humble in the liner notes to this CD - as that was the exact opposite to the image he portrayed on stage...

Good grief - is this the same Porcupine Tree I've seen live 3 times?

Never heard this complaint before. He's a bit opinionated about the music industry and music in general, but rather self effacing about himself and more than willing to give praise to other musicians.... and his guitar playing isn't exactly Yngvie Malmsteen...

Weird.

Anyways, I'm looking forward to the Steven Wilson KC remixes; I always thought the pre-Red records sounded pretty moldy.

infamusblkdeath · #17 10-19-2009, 10:07 PM

has this all been established just recently??? it's the first i've heard of it as well. lol,i guess it's kind of ironic that i just started listening to king crimson this year.never heard them before that,but i LOVE them! i'll have to check it out.

Bruce Lindfield · #18 10-20-2009, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infamusblkdeath

has this all been established just recently??? it's the first i've heard of it as well..

Well as I pointed out in one of my posts - the US release date is not until November 10 2009 - but in the UK it came out last week!! One up for us!!

I copied the CD in lossless format to my iPod and was listening again yesterday.

So Schizoid Man doesn't sound that different - although I did notice that the bass was a lot clearer - I could actually hear the detail of the bass sound - it sounded like he was using a pick, whereas on previous versions, it was quite bassy with no treble end - now you can hear the fret noise etc.

It's the other tracks that sound better - more dynamic range - the quiet parts are quiet with no background noise or hiss. All the guitar parts are much clearer and the sound of I Talk to the Wind is hugely improved - greater space in the mix...?

Epitaph again sounds much better - every sound is clear and bright but works in the mix - loud parts are very loud with no distortion.

Really it's a Hi Fi mix, less compressed - which I do like a lot - but it may unsettle those used to the imperfections of vinyl and the original mix.

Nothing earth-shattering has been changed - it is just all much clearer, no hiss and as I said before - there is space around the instruments...I am impressed!

Bruce Lindfield · #19 10-20-2009, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lackey

Good grief - is this the same Porcupine Tree I've seen live 3 times?

Well when was that - I saw them in the late 90s - maybe he has changed and got more confidence than when they were first starting out as a band..?

matrok · #20 10-20-2009, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gweimer

Borderline Crimhead here. I've got most of the legit releases, one boot, and a bunch of the Collector's Club series. Thrak was OK, but didn't really pan out as the "double trio" they said it would be. The last studio release, The Power To Believe, is a MONSTER. It's replaced Lark's Tongue in Aspic as my favorite. I even have the original Earthbound, and don't mind it. If you ever want to hear KC do straight-up funk, that's the record to get ("Peoria").

Funny thing is, I don't think the debut holds up very well over time, outside of the most popular (well-known) cuts.

I remember buying Earthbound back in the early 80's and thinking "What the heck is this?!?!?!?" Be interesting to hear it again with a much more open mind.

I've heard a lot of good about TPTB from a major Crimhead friend, will have to check it out.