King Crimson - "As Silence Drowns The Screams" - In The Court Of The Crimson King 40TH Anniversary Edition Box Set

Amidst the onslaught of CD BOX SET Christmas releases of 2011 including the Definitive Beach Boys "SMiLE" collection, The WHO's Classic QUADROPHENIA and the ongoing Pink Floyd Triumvarate of Classic Releases, My favorite box set of 2011 is the 2009 40th anniversary "In The Court Of The Crimson King" collection. All in all you get 5 CDs and a DVD (containing lossless stereo mixes, a video and 5.1 remix), a 24 page 12X12 booklet with essay by Robert Fripp/diary excerpts and ephemera, 12X12 replica of the LP gatefold sleeve for current and future generation's to get a glimpse of what it was like to read lyrics and gaze at artwork in its original Album size most preferably performed while listening to said album, 2 King Crimson buttons/badges (the cover and inner sleeve "schizoid man"), 4 jewel cases (2 double disc) to house all 6 discs and in a mysterious white envelope two 8X10 glossy b&w press kit photos of the 1969 lineup and then of course there's the Glorious Music.

I am drawn to the LP transfers even listening on my MP3 Ipod, theres something vibrant in the murkiness of these mixes. Included is the British Stereo and American Mono LP Vinyl recordings that have been "de-clicked" to cut down on excessive vinyl surface noise. The Bonus tracks are fascinating, The (duo version/Fripp & McDonald) of "I Talk To The Wind" is just stunningly beautiful and with or without vocal track "Epitaph" remains one of the greatest emotionally gloomy tracks ever committed to tape.

Alongside the Nice and Procol Harum this is where Progressive Rock started and it started Brilliantly.

One would be hard pressed to dream of including any further versions of the record on a CD set as included herein is the 2009 Stereo Remaster, the 2004 Master Edition remaster, British stereo vinyl, American mono vinyl and an "Alternate Mix" version alongside studio outtakes, single mixes, BBC recordings and Live concert performances. Disc 6 which is the DVD includes the 2009 5.1 Remix as well as MLP Lossless Stereo (24/96) and PCM Stereo (24/48) encoded versions of the 2009, 2004, alternate mix and outtakes from the 2 disc 2009 re-issue.

So There!!!, No Complaints!!, Just CRIMSO!, Music as remarkable as this deserves the kind of treatment, respect and excitement this package delivers.



CD inlay card [Disc 5]



The JAMIE/AMAZON Review.

ELP - "They've Only Got 'Am Or Cheese!!!!!" - The Legacy Of TARKUS

In the annals of the much beloved and respected Prog Rock format (ask any rock critic) 'Tarkus' Is amongst the top five masterpieces in the albumsidelong twentyplussomethingminute epics of the genre for many reasons, you may feel daft upon the initial listen becoming rather confused with what can be a puzzling muddle of early 70s Dube over Drama Lyrical Poetic License (of which it is) But!!!,.... As a Classic, Different, Adventurous record even for 1971 (and the trio's sophomore effort at that) its Very listenable, groundbreaking, extremely heavy and lets not forget way ahead Of its time For its time and in substance, performance and scope the piece continues to be way ahead of its time (as far as popular music goes) right HERE in the 21st Century.

Tarkus is also possibly the Greatest 20 minute piece ELP ever wrote but most importantly amongst the best of the LP's of Any Decade featuring a half mammal/half cannon on its cover, We also get some colorful landscape/action/battle shots depicted inside the gatefold sleeve and the first look at the mythical Manticore which would become ELP's very own imprint label (Manticore Records) two years later in 1973.



Below we see the infamous Inner Gatefold Sleeve (in digital .jpeg format), its said that people used to "roll" things on the original 33 1/3 RPM vinyl record encasing cardboard versions but I wouldnt know anything about that.

I dont Know, That Looks Kinda Like A Manticore in the middle there !!! (Lion's Body, Scorpion's Tail, ya know)



And then of course theres 'Tarkus' Merchandise.

My initial impetus for placing this article online was influenced greatly by this dandy little number, of course I am speaking of the Tarkus Medallion. I was initially shocked to see this item even existed and still question wether or not there is ANY Time in my life when I would have thought this a cool item even as a gift, I still remain on the fence about it.



Backed with a facsimile of Emo's signature.



The Cock Rock Disco Record Label.



The 2008 Japanese Re-Issue



The Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab CD Pressing.



The Stage 'Tarkus" YES its my term but there is a stage 'Tarkus' (seen here "onstage" in 1973)



Performed by the Japanese in the Classical format.



The word 'Tarkus' means Wisdom in the Estonian Language.



My cottage industry VHS trading company catalog cover.