As the progressive rock titans King Crimson continue their Europe leg of their current Uncertain Time tour, the group has announced two new six-disc, 200-gram vinyl box sets that celebrate their formative years. Arriving on the Panegyric imprint this month, the collections -- entitled 1969-1972 and 1972-1974 -- bring together seven classic albums between them, as well as an array of rare tracks that are new to vinyl. This marks the first time that King Crimson's 40th Anniversary mixes, prepared by Steven Wilson and Robert Fripp from 2009 to 2013, have appeared on vinyl.

1969-1972, which arrives tomorrow, November 2, is a deluxe, 6-LP box set that brings together the celebrated 40th Anniversary mixes of King Crimson's first four albums: In the Court of the Crimson King, In the Wake of Poseidon, Lizard, and Islands. In addition, 1969-1972 includes a special 2-LP set entitled The Alternative Guide to King Crimson. Loosely based around the 1975 compilation A Young Person's Guide to King Crimson, the collection brings together a host of rarities, including an alternate version of the entire In the Court of the Crimson King album. It features the same artwork that originally appeared on A Young Person's Guide, and includes a full-scale replica of the King Crimson timeline that had been included with the original 1975 collection. All but one of the alternate tracks are brand-new to vinyl, the exception being the single edit of "Cat Food."

Each album in the box set was prepared for vinyl from the same high-resolution masters that made the successful, Robert Fripp- and Steven Wilson-led 40^th Anniversary CD/DVD-A editions of the iconic albums. The tracks were cut to vinyl by Jason Mitchell at Loud Mastering, and subsequently pressed to super-heavyweight, 200-gram vinyl, promising superior audio reproduction and outstanding presentation.

If all that wasn't enough, November 23 sees the release of the second volume in the series: 1972-1974. The 6-LP box collects a further three albums: Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black, and Red -- all in their Fripp- and Wilson-approved 40^th Anniversary mixes and featuring original album artwork. The set boasts a fourth disc that presents an alternate version of Larks' Tongues in Aspic that is housed in a replica of the original U.S. Larks album cover. This alternate view was produced and mixed by Wilson, though "Easy Money" appears in its 2012 David Singleton and Alex R. Mundy mix. Fans can also enjoy an expanded, 2-LP version of the USA live album that originally appeared on CD/DVD-A in 2013. Rounding out 1972-1974 is a 24-page photo booklet and a replica poster of King Crimson album artwork that originally came with A Young Person's Guide to King Crimson in 1975.

Similar to its companion box set, all the discs on 1972-1974 are sourced from the 40th Anniversary mixes, cut by Jason Mitchell at Loud Mastering, pressed on super-heavyweight, 200-gram vinyl, and presented in their original artwork.

In all, 1969-1972 and 1972-1974 present King Crimson in all their early, prog-y goodness. Between the packaging, the heavyweight pressing, the adventurous and engaging music, and all those welcome bonus tracks, fans of King Crimson can expect two box sets fit for royalty.

1969-1972 and 1972-1974 are available on November 2 and November 23, respectively. Both box sets are available separately from Amazon. A bundle of the two box sets is available from Burning Shed and will ship November 23. Check out the pre-order links and the full track lists below!

King Crimson, 1969-1972 (Panegyric, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada )

LP 1: In the Court of the Crimson King
Side One

1. 21^st Century Schizoid Man (including "Mirrors")
2. I Talk to the Wind
3. Epitaph (including "March for No Reason" and "Tomorrow and Tomorrow")

Side Two

1. Moonchild (including "The Dream" and "The Illusion")
2. The Court of the Crimson King (including "The Return of the Fire Witch" and "The Dance of the Puppets")

LP 2: In the Wake of Poseidon
Side One

1. Peace - A Beginning
2. Pictures of a City (including 42nd at Treadmill)
3. Cadence and Cascade
4. In the Wake of Poseidon (incl. Libra's Theme)

Side Two

4. Peace - A Theme
5. Cat Food
6. The Devil's Triangle
   - a. Merday Morn
   - b. Hand of Sceiron
   - c. Garden of Worm
7. Peace - An End

LP 3: Lizard
Side One

1. Cirkus (including Entry of the Chameleons)
2. Indoor Games
3. Happy Family
4. Lady of the Dancing Water

Side Two

1. Lizard:
- a. Prince Rupert Awakes
- b. Bolero - The Peacock's Tale
- c. The Battle of Glass Tears (including Dawn Song)
- d. Last Skirmish
- e. Prince Rupert's Lament
- f. Big Top

LP 4: Islands
Side One

1. Formentera Lady
2. Sailor's Tale
3. The Letters

Side Two

1. Ladies of the Road
2. Prelude: Song of the Gulls
3. Islands

LPs 5 and 6: The Alternative Guide to King Crimson (All tracks/versions previously unreleased on vinyl except Side 3, Track 1)
Side One

1. 21^st Century Schizoid Man (instrumental, trio version)
2. I Talk to the Wind (studio run through)
3. Epitaph (alt. instrumental version)

Side Two

1. Moonchild (take 1)
2. The Court of the Crimson King (take 3, instrumental)
3. I Talk to the Wind (duo version)
4. Cadence and Cascade (guide vocal, Greg Lake)*
5. Peace - An End (alt. mix)*

Side Three

1. Cat Food (single version)
2. Groon (2010 mix)
3. Indoor Games (alt. take)
4. Lady of the Dancing Water (alt. take)
5. Prince Rupert Awakes (piano, Keith Tippett)
6. Prince Rupert's Lament (alt. take)

Side Four

1. A Peacemaking Stint Unrolls
2. Sailor's Tale (alt. guitar takes)
3. Ladies of the Road (remix)
4. Prelude: Song of the Gulls (string section, take 2)
5. Islands (run through with oboe prominent)

King Crimson, 1972-1974 (Panegyric, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada )

LP 1: Larks' Tongues in Aspic
Side One

1. Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part One
2. Book of Saturday
3. Exiles

Side Two

4. Easy Money
5. The Talking Drum
6. Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two

LP 2: Starless and Bible Black
Side One

1. The Great Deceiver
2. Lament
3. We'll Let You Know
4. The Night Watch
5. Trio
6. The Mincer

Side Two

1. Starless and Bible Black
2. Fracture

LP 3: Red
Side One

1. Red
2. Fallen Angel
3. One More Red Nightmare

Side Two

1. Providence
2. Starless

LP 4: Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Alternate Takes/Mixes)
Side One

1. Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part One (Alt. mix)
2. Book of Saturday (Alt. take)
3. Exiles (Alt. mix)

Side Two

4. Easy Money (Jamie Muir solo)
5. The Talking Drum (Alt. mix)
6. Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two (Alt. mix)
7. Easy Money (Alt. take)

LPs 5 and 6: USA (Expanded Edition, 2013 Mix)
Side One

1. Walk On: No Pussyfooting
2. Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Part II)
3. Lament
4. Exiles

Side Two

1. Improv: Asbury Park
2. Easy Money
3. Improv

Side Three

1. Fracture
2. 21^st Century Schizoid Man

Side Four

1. Starless