Looking for Best Sounding King Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

What sources would you folks recommend for these three classic King Crimson albums: LARK'S TONGUE IN ASPIC, RED, STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK?
The recent prog thread got me to thinking about them and realizing I don't have them on CD.

thanks..

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

That's easy! The 30th Anniversary Editions, readily available.

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

30th Anniversary Editions, fer sure.

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

Thanks all, I'm there

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

Are those the HDCD versions?

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

Yup.

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

Dont forget to pick up the live album USA as well.

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

Newbury Comics seemed to have the best price, $34.65 for the three, $4.55 shipping, no tax.

cool... Newbury looks like a decent shop as well, we'll see how this first order goes.

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

hi all,

what would be recommended for the best sounding LP versions of these particular albums?

i've recently scored and original "Larks" on Japanese vinyl, and it sounds very good, although i'm wondering if an original Island Pink Rim label would beat it?



thanx!

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

Larks is great on an Atlantic 1841

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

IMO the original UK Islands are the best followed by the Atlantic's, stay away from the EG Editions they are terrible. US Promo versions of Lark's sound very good for some unknown reason.

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

You are talking about CD's, right?

The one I can speak for is Starless and Bible Black. The Editions EG from the late 80s, pressed in France, is superb.

FYI, I didn't care for any of the early 90s remasters by Fripp. Very drab.

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

yes, CD. I have the EG versions of Bruford's first four solo albums on CD and they're great.

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

The 30th Anniversary Editions are the best for all King Crimson albums except In The Court Of The Crimson King and In The Wake Of Poseidon - for those 2 you need the later Original Master Editions. ITCOTCK uses the recently discovered original stereo master tape instead of a slightly out of alignment copy, and ITWOP adds 2 extra tracks, whereas the rest of the album sounds the same.

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

What about the Thrak remaster? Any reason to get it?

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

Apart from the booklet I doubt it - I never did a comparison, just bought the new version.

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

I didn't notice any difference in sound. The booklet is pretty nice though.

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

Just wondering ... I have Definitive Editions of all these. (And before that, I had the original EG records releases. Oh well.) If I want to try one 30th anniv edition to compare, what do you think is the CD with the largest improvement in sound quality?

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

30th Anniversary Editions made in Japan I prefer them to USA pressing!

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

Kevin, that's easy. Islands is the most improved original was from a terrible tape. Finally found the original master tape for the 30th - HUGE improvement!

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

IMO:

Everything from Court to USA has never sounded better than the 30th Ann's... including vinyl (UK / Jpn)... if you have original UK vinyl, I wouldn't necessarily get rid of it, if only to make the best possible comparison... feel free to dump the (not-very-)Definitive Editions, however.

The 80s titles (30th Ann) sound as good as any vinyl... though Discipline seems a bit compressed, or slightly lacking in detail.

I've not done a serious comparison of Thrak, but I've got both issues... if this thread stays alive, I'll try to spin both.

I sure can't detect any difference between the EU and Japan 30th Red, but you may well have better ears than me.

Again, the usual disclaimer: IMO.

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

I have two USA made CDs: Court and Posiedon - pressed by a small Los Angeles CD presser called Rainbo Records for DGM. They sound great and have very, very nice booklets.

I would expect given Fripp and his OCD, that all the CDs around the world are digital clones.

 

Re: Looking for Best Sounding Crimson: Lark's, Red, Starless

Last winter i bought the 'Beat' remaster. It was made in USA. I like how it's sound. But i want more So i bought the Japan mini LP-sleeve version that came out in the april (or may). At this time i had 2 "same" CD's on my hands & cood compare them. Of course there are no so much difference between them like between remastered & non remastered versions. But Japanese version has more clear, pleasent & natural sound. Yes, this CD's are digital clones. But as usual Japanese used the better glass (IMHO). I'm ready to pay some more money to have the best (& pleasent for my ears) version. I sold my USA remaster.

PS: all of my friends who like King Crimson also prefer the Japan pressings.