King Crimson ‎– In The Court Of The Crimson King (An Observation By King Crimson)

Been collecting vinyl my whole life, and this and the other reissues in this same series are literally some of the most amazing vinyl pressings I have ever heard. Dead quiet, incredibly deep and vibrant sound field, etc.. Amazing work and quality standards befitting one of the greatest bands of all time. Reference quality, for sure. I’ve picked up four so far, and plan to get four more soon.

Of course this has to sound better, this is what I am talking about, If this was the case, why bother make common stereo prressings than make a mono promo that I didnt even know existed and have it become so rare and expensive. It just does not make sense. I can't tell you how many albums I am interested in have this sort of treatment. Its very infuriating!!!!

My copy's insert doesn't mention Canada but the jacket does. Probably got mixed up through the years...

No need I hope, to announce that this album musically is a masterpiece, it's as simple as that. This remix by Steven Wilson, in keeping with every one of his efforts I've purchased so far is nothing short of excellent, superb. Don't sit there debating what to spend your money on, buy it!

An Amazing pressing, so silent and the music... It's like hearing it for the first time, the Soundstage has totally blown me away!

This was worth waiting for. I was a senior in HS when this was a brand new album. I've been wanting to upgrade for the past couple of years having old worn copies. The old CD's were ok but never much more than that. I considered the 2010 version for a while. Then I heard that Steven Wilson was getting involved and decided to wait for this one. I already have some of his vinyl Tull and the Yes box set of his remixes and they are all awesome. Made me not even care what the original mixes were like. Wilson has a gift. He understands the music and appears to be a fan, too. He only seems to do what is necessary to improve things as opposed to changing things just because he can.

This remix is no exception. I have a solid idea of what this album should sound like after 50 years of listening. This exceeds all of my expectations and takes the music to a level that I could only wish for. To me, it sounds just like it should, only better now. The vocals and bass are centered where they should be and the instruments sound naturally placed with an excellent soundstage. Once again Wilson has made me not care what the original may have sounded like. This will be what I will listen to for the rest of my years and love listening to. I will always give anything that Wilson is involved with a nod over any other version of an album going forward.

I've only listened to the first disc so far. It is flat and dead quiet after a run through the VPI Cyclone. A true quality pressing and mastering job.

Played on an SL 1200 MK3 with an AT Precept PC440 with the Shibata stylus.

Unlike most people I'd never heard this record, but it seemed like a seminal record that I needed to own, and so when the remastered 50th anniversary edition was announced I ordered it.

Love the music - it really is excellent and very varied.

The pressing and mastering is superb too with excellent realistic instrumentation and vocals and great dynamics and sound stage. Brilliant.

You might at first be fooled, thinking this is a remix to skip out on, but listen further and you might change your mind.
The opening track Schizoid Man, which we have all heard, is left more or less the same. Maybe a few touch ups here and there, refining some of the inherent distortion. Moving past that its a whole other ballgame however, and later you really appreciate the thought that went into it.
I Talk To The Wind blew me away. Going back to my 2010 reissue with the original mix its clear to see that its also good, its a well produced song and we all praised that reissue back then. On the remix, the changes really bring it home for the better though.
The most striking one for me was how the vocals just breathed such realism. They might have more presence on the 2010, but the fact that everything else seems to compete for front stage makes it sound flat and more artificial in comparison.
Here we get depth and not to mention a bass boost that is felt. Im so impressed that I might call this a true audiophile test track at this point, it really has all the features of a great soundscape that reveals your systems capabilities through it. I would maybe have liked slightly more shimmer on drums, but with upgrades Ill be sure to check if this area isnt improved, because Im quite sure it will.
Moving on I do skip some stuff since I at this point already feel the proof has been laid out. To manage making a 1969 prog effort sound audiophile at times is really a feat.
Im sure some of the bells and strings on Moonchild are more highlighted and spacious, the vocals here are favored to remain more low end however. More interesting I suppose would be if its quiet or not, which I will get to towards the end.
Lastly I just wanted to mention how our final track has better separation, fullness and air to it than on the 2010.
Vocal wise I hear more clearly how 5 pillars of sound appear, singing the title track oh so majestically, over the general blob of sound on the original mix.
How much of these differences should be attributed to the mixing or the mastering I can not say and dont feel I need to. This is just through and through a passion project it seems. Going back to how the opening track is kept very much the same, its not a sign of laziness, rather a smart decision to keep whats rough and gritty as it classically is.
This shows an understanding of the material which is quintessential to making a great product.
Pressing wise this is excellent as well. Near dead quiet playing surfaces which is needed for some of these songs. And while Moonchild isnt void of any pops or crackles, thats just my copy, and it did come with 2 visible marks that lightly tick. You might be luckier. It is the quietest vinyl version Ive heard yet anyway.
I havnt even gotten to the second disc with extras yet and Im already wishing they do remix projects like this for all the other KC albums, I would buy them all again!

Equipment Used:
Rega RP1 with Paratrace tipped Nagaoka MP-200
Cyrus 2 Amplifier
System Fidelity SF-3050 Tower Speakers
Custom made HQ Speaker Cables

The Images don't show the Label Catalogue No.: 2459 349 (as shown on Images of discs) but 2344 093. So the cover don't belongs to the discs.