Recommendation for King Crimson - Starless And Bible Black ?
Posted by: sjust on 25 August 2004
All those Crimsoneers, out there:
On Vinyl, it has been already a drag to pick the right pressing, so now on CD:
Which is the all time / all seasons / best ever CD I can get with the above ? On Amazon, I see crazy expensive Japanese (hdcd ?) versions. Anybody has these ? And recommends them over the standard (EG) version ?
Best regards, freundliche Grüße
Stefan
On Vinyl, it has been already a drag to pick the right pressing, so now on CD:
Which is the all time / all seasons / best ever CD I can get with the above ? On Amazon, I see crazy expensive Japanese (hdcd ?) versions. Anybody has these ? And recommends them over the standard (EG) version ?
Best regards, freundliche Grüße
Stefan
Posted on: 25 August 2004 by Peter Stockwell
I have a HDCD remaster of S&BB. Compared with others, USA or 'LT in A' for example, it doesn't seem so good. Definitely not up to more recent recordings like Discipline or Three of a perfect Pair.
Peter
Peter
Posted on: 25 August 2004 by bhazen
As an old Crimsonian, I must say that S&BB was not one of their better recordings; a bit scratchy & lean, even on vinyl; however, as a performance...whew. I suppose the 30th Anniv. version will do you as well as any. I have the orig. EG, which has the label for In the Court on the CD!!!
I have heard that Fripp is planning yet another remastering when the catalogue reverts to DGM from Virgin. !@#$%^&
I have heard that Fripp is planning yet another remastering when the catalogue reverts to DGM from Virgin. !@#$%^&
Posted on: 26 August 2004 by sjust
Oh, great and many responses, guys !!!
Maybe I've misguided you with the topic title - I WAS looking for recommendations for S+BB, only. I've probably been their biggest fan - to the degree that I've even visited Fripp when he was touring with the "League of crafty Guitarrists" (somebody remember the troup of 20 non-musicians where each of them knew a single note and played it when it was his turn in the musical piece ? hihihi... Wonder what Fredrik would say to that.) in a dark Frankfurt club - together with 50 or so other maniacs. OK, I'm drifting away...
So. You're saying, there exist re-mastered versions of the (good) old 70's and 80's stuff from KC ? I'd be moved to tears to find and own some of them. All I have is burried in the vinyl grave: I can very well look at and touch the covers, but without a TT, that's all I will get...
Guess, I have to do some research where to get the remastered stuff. Any source, you guys ?
Best regards, freundliche Grüße
Stefan
Maybe I've misguided you with the topic title - I WAS looking for recommendations for S+BB, only. I've probably been their biggest fan - to the degree that I've even visited Fripp when he was touring with the "League of crafty Guitarrists" (somebody remember the troup of 20 non-musicians where each of them knew a single note and played it when it was his turn in the musical piece ? hihihi... Wonder what Fredrik would say to that.) in a dark Frankfurt club - together with 50 or so other maniacs. OK, I'm drifting away...
So. You're saying, there exist re-mastered versions of the (good) old 70's and 80's stuff from KC ? I'd be moved to tears to find and own some of them. All I have is burried in the vinyl grave: I can very well look at and touch the covers, but without a TT, that's all I will get...
Guess, I have to do some research where to get the remastered stuff. Any source, you guys ?
Best regards, freundliche Grüße
Stefan
Posted on: 26 August 2004 by Paul Davies
quote:
Originally posted by sjust:
All those Crimsoneers, out there:
On Vinyl, it has been already a drag to pick the right pressing,
The pressing to have is the original UK issue on Island records, ILPS 9275 (white label with "Island" in green). This pressing is much better than the Polydor reissue (2302-065) which came out in 1977 after the EG catalogue was sold to Polydor. The Polydor reissue sounds compressed by comparison and, from the tape hiss audible through most of Trio, something seems to have gone awry during the remastering process.
quote:
Originally posted by sjust:
so now on CD:
Which is the all time / all seasons / best ever CD I can get with the above ? On Amazon, I see crazy expensive Japanese (hdcd ?) versions. Anybody has these ? And recommends them over the standard (EG) version ?
Best regards, freundliche Grüße
Stefan
As other posters have recommended, the regular 30th Anniversary 24-bit HDCD remaster is much better than the 1989 EG "Definitive Edition".
Between 1999 and last year, the entire KC back catalogue from In the Court... to Thrak was remastered in 24-bit HDCD. Early versions of these remasters came in limited-edition gatefold sleeves, which are rather nifty. I believe that the jewel-case editions that are currently available (at least while stocks last) contain the same 24-bit HDCD remaster as their niftily packaged counterparts.
The Japanese imports still seem to come in the nifty cardboard packaging. I suspect that this packaging is all that you get for the extra (easy) money.
quote:
Originally posted by bhazen:
I have heard that Fripp is planning yet another remastering when the catalogue reverts to DGM from Virgin. !@#$%^&
According to Discipline Global Mobile, the KC back catalogue is being re-released, not necessarily remastered. For the details, follow these links from the home page:
- SHOP
- August Newsletter
When you get to the newsletter, scroll down to the text "King Crimson Catalogue". Apologies for the information treasure hunt, but the site's navigation features prevent me from giving a more direct route to this information.
Robert Fripp's online diary does, however, reveal that he and David Singleton have just finished work on the 21st Century Guide to King Crimson.
[This message was edited by Paul Davies on Fri 27 August 2004 at 6:21.]
Posted on: 26 August 2004 by Paul Davies
quote:
Originally posted by sjust:
Guess, I have to do some research where to get the remastered stuff. Any source, you guys ?
Stefan
DGM seems to be sold out of most of the back catalogue.
Amazon.com still seems to have stocks most of the remasters.
Or you could wait until DGM re-releases them.
Posted on: 28 August 2004 by sjust
Found a used S+BB (the 30 anniversary edition on hdcd) in the US through Amazon. Very nice guy, out there, telling me, he has the full "King Crimson studio catalog (as well as USA and Earthbound) in this remastered series", and is happy to accept orders...
I'll wait until I have S+BB in my hands, and eventually move on, then. BTW: Price was 18 US$...
Best regards, freundliche Grüße
Stefan
I'll wait until I have S+BB in my hands, and eventually move on, then. BTW: Price was 18 US$...
Best regards, freundliche Grüße
Stefan
Posted on: 30 August 2004 by Pete
Another vote for the recentish remasters. The EG "Definitive" series aren't actually very definitive.
The packaging for the remasters was initially miniature album sleeve replicas, though reverting to jewel cases after the initial run. The CD is the same though, and should also include the "scrapbook" of various archive material from the relevant times and places for each release.
No complaints on the sound of any of the remasters. They are basically as the album originally was in terms of material (except Discipline has two versions of Matte Kudasai and 3 of a Perect Pair has 3 versions of Sleepless, alternative takes of the Improv and the KC Barbershop as bonus tracks), but cleaned up with RF overseeing.
Recommended. I gave away all of my older KC CDs and replaced them with the remasters, except for THRAK as I didn't really feel that needed it being relatively recent anyway.
Pete.
The packaging for the remasters was initially miniature album sleeve replicas, though reverting to jewel cases after the initial run. The CD is the same though, and should also include the "scrapbook" of various archive material from the relevant times and places for each release.
No complaints on the sound of any of the remasters. They are basically as the album originally was in terms of material (except Discipline has two versions of Matte Kudasai and 3 of a Perect Pair has 3 versions of Sleepless, alternative takes of the Improv and the KC Barbershop as bonus tracks), but cleaned up with RF overseeing.
Recommended. I gave away all of my older KC CDs and replaced them with the remasters, except for THRAK as I didn't really feel that needed it being relatively recent anyway.
Pete.