King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King / 50th Anniversary Edition

Recorded over a period of 10 days in August 1969 and released on October 10 of the same year, In The Court of the Crimson King stands as one of the defining albums of British rock music and one of the finest debut albums of all time. Described at the time as "an uncanny masterpiece" by The Who's Pete Townshend, the album has achieved legendary status over the years.

It is the only studio document of an extraordinary year in the life of King Crimson; a year that began with the group's first rehearsals on January 13, included a residency at the Marquee Club, a concert in Hyde Park with The Rolling Stones, the recording and release of the album (In the Court of the Crimson King was in the Top 5 of the U.K. album charts, shortly followed by a Top 30 position in the U.S. album charts and a No 1 slot — replacing Abbey Road — in the Japanese international chart) and ended with the dissolution of the lineup at the close of Crimson's first American tour in December.

The Blu-ray + 3CD 50th Anniversary Edition of In The Court of the Crimson King feature an enormous amount of content, including all new 2019 stereo and 5.1 mixes by Steven Wilson (at 24/96 resolution), the original mix (the ‘master edition') also at 24/96, a complete alternate version of the album comprising 2019 Steven Wilson mixes, 2019 instrumental mixes and more. This Blu-ray is all-region and playable on all drives.

The three CDs in the box set feature the new 2019 Steven Wilson stereo mix, an exapanded edition of the alternate album in the Blu-ray and the original master edition of the 1969 mix plus additional tracks. Full track listings and details below.

In terms of packaging the four discs are presented into two card gatefold sleeves which sit alongside a booklet within a rigid exterior slipcase. New sleeve-notes by King Crimson biographer Sid Smith feature in the booklet.