Prog-rockers King Crimson are set to give their debut album the royal treatment, with an impressive 26-disc box set appropriately titled The Complete 1969 Recordings. The long-awaited set was previewed last year with a digestible 3-CD/Blu-ray edition of their game-changing debut In The Court of the Crimson King. The band had promised a copyright-extending mega-set to follow, and on October 23 it will hit shops.

The Complete 1969 Recordings promises to provide "the complete audio history" of the band's debut. It will feature a brand-new Dolby Atmos mix by Steven Wilson alongside 6 CDs of session material fully mixed by David Singleton (also available on Blu-ray.) The box also features every alternate take and mix variation known to exist of the Court material, plus radio sessions, all known live material from the era, and a number of versions of the completed album. For context, the compilation producers have elected to include a selection of "pre-Crimson" 1968 recordings by Giles, Giles, and Fripp.

Steven Wilson was on hand to remix the album once more. Following his 5.1 mixes for the 40th and 50th anniversary box sets, Wilson has expanded the album to the Dolby Atmos format. "I've definitely had a bit more fun with this mix," Wilson said in a post on social media. "Watch out for solos and mellotrons circling overhead." The band promises an active Atmos mix, "with plenty of ear-catching moments to offer to listeners."

Another highlight is the special "fly on the wall" single-track, CD-length "Let's Make a Hit Waxing," which places the listener in the studio as the band creates their first magnum opus. This was prepared by David Singleton, who also mixed all existing multi-track sessions to stereo. "Listening to the original recording sessions was astonishing," Singleton said in a statement. "Time collapses and you are suddenly there in the studio with a young band, just starting out, as they experiment with recording their first album. It is not so much listening to a slick product, more witnessing a process. You are present at the birth."

Fans will be happy to hear that The Complete 1969 Recordings will be housed in a 12"x12" box that's sure to fit alongside your other King Crimson box sets. The enclosed booklet features an introduction written by founding member Robert Fripp, production notes by audio archivist David Singleton, historical essays by biographer Sid Smith, and photos from the sessions. It's all wrapped in a protective outer sleeve.

This box set should be the last word on an album that still captivates listeners over fifty years on. With 26 discs practically bursting with all the content you can think of, this is the box to get if you're a big fan of this album. (And really, how can you not be?) So mark your calendars - this massive set, sure to crush your porch - arrives October 23. You can purchase your copy from Inner Knot (US) or Burning Shed (UK/EU). Keep scrolling for all the details -- and Amazon links, too!

King Crimson, The Complete 1969 Recordings (DGM Live, 2020) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Your Local Record Shop)

Note from DGM: "Discs 1-3, 6 & 7 have been audio-restored at DGM to remove hiss & other noise from earlier editions but with original DGM mastering to optimize original sound sources. Discs 4 & 5 present the complete concert on disc in a new transfer & master from the original cassette source - at least one generation better than previously presented. All material on Discs 1- 7 originally taken from audience or band recordings. Discs 12 - 18 are all new to disc & mixed from the original multi-track tapes. Disc 25 is taken from a new transfer & newly mastered from the original tapes. Material on disc 19 is new to disc. Material on discs 20 is new to DVD-A. Material on discs 21, 22 & 24 is new to Blu-ray."

Track Listing

Disc 1: Live at Hyde Park

1 21st Century Schizoid Man
2 The Court of the Crimson King
3 Get Thy Bearings
4 Announcement (Incomplete)
5 Epitaph
6 Mantra
7 Travel Weary Capricorn
8 Mars
9 Band Reunion Meeting

Disc 2: Live at the Marquee

1 21st Century Schizoid Man
2 Drop In
3 Announcement (Incomplete)
4 I Talk To The Wind
5 Epitaph (Incomplete)
6 Travel Weary Capricorn
7 Improv (inc Nola and Etude No. 7)
8 Mars

Disc 3: Live at Plumpton Festival

1 21st Century Schizoid Man
2 Get Thy Bearings
3 Announcement
4 The Court Of The Crimson King
5 Mantra
6 Travel Weary Capricorn
7 Improv
8 Mars

Disc 4: Live at Chesterfield Jazz Club

1 21st Century Schizoid Man
2 Drop In
3 Announcement
4 Epitaph
5 Get Thy Bearings
6 Announcement
7 I Talk To The Wind

Disc 5: Live at Chesterfield Jazz Club

1 Announcement
2 The Court Of The Crimson King
3 Mantra
4 Travel Weary Capricorn
5 Improv
6 Mars

Disc 6: Live at the Fillmore East

1 The Court Of The Crimson King (Incomplete)
2 Announcement
3 A Man, A City
4 Announcement
5 Epitaph
6 Announcement
7 21st Century Schizoid Man
8 The Court Of The Crimson King (Incomplete)
9 Announcement
10 A Man, A City
11 Announcement
12 Epitaph
13 Announcement
14 21st Century Schizoid Man

Disc 7: Live at the Fillmore West

1 Mantra
2 Travel Weary Capricorn
3 Improv Travel Bleary Capricorn
4 Mars
5 The Court of the Crimson King
6 Announcement
7 Drop In
8 A Man, A City
9 Announcement
10 Epitaph
11 Announcement
12 21st Century Schizoid Man
13 Announcement
14 Mars

Disc 8: Album - Original Master Edition - expanded

1 21st Century Schizoid Man
2 I Talk to the Wind
3 Epitaph
4 Moonchild
5 The Court of the Crimson King
6 21st Century Schizoid Man
7 I Talk to the Wind
8 Epitaph
9 The Court of the Crimson King (Single A-Side)
10 The Court of the Crimson King (Single B-Side)

Disc 9: Alternate album - expanded

1 Wind Session
2 21st Century Schizoid Man (Morgan Studio Version with Overdubs)
3 I Talk To The Wind (Alt 2019 Mix)
4 I Talk To The Wind (Duo Version 2019 Mix)
5 Epitaph (Isolated Vocal 2019 Mix)
6 Epitaph (Alt Take 2019 Mix)
7 Moonchild (Take One 2019 Mix)
8 The Court of the Crimson King (Take 3 2019 Mix)
9 21st Century Schizoid Man (Trio Version 2019 Mix)

Disc 10: 2009 Album Mixes - expanded

1 21st Century Schizoid Man
2 I Talk to the Wind
3 Epitaph
4 Moonchild
5 The Court of the Crimson King
6 Moonchild [Full Version]
7 I Talk to the Wind [Duo Version]
8 I Talk to the Wind [Alternate Mix]
9 Epitaph [Backing Track]
10 Wind Session [21st Century Schizoid Man Intro]

Disc 11: 2019 Album Mixes & Instrumental Mixes

1 21st Century Schizoid Man
2 I Talk to the Wind
3 Epitaph
4 Moonchild
5 The Court of the Crimson King
6 21st Century Schizoid Man
7 I Talk to the Wind
8 Epitaph
9 Moonchild (Edit)
10 The Court of the Crimson King

Disc 12: Let's Make a Hit Waxing

1 Let's Make a Hit Waxing

Disc 13: Sessions, Disc 1

1 21st Century Schizoid Man (Morgan Studio Instrumental)
2 Epitaph Takes 1 to 3
3 Epitaph Takes 4 to 8
4 I Talk to the Wind Takes 1 to 4

Disc 14: Sessions Disc 2

1 I Talk to the Wind Takes 5 to 8
2 I Talk to the Wind Takes 9 to 12
3 The Court of the Crimson King Stereo Takes

Disc 15: Sessions Disc 3

1 The Court of the Crimson King Take 6
2 The Court of the Crimson King Take 1 and 2
3 The Court of the Crimson King Takes 3 to 7
4 The Court of the Crimson King Takes 8 to 10
5 The Court of the Crimson King Trailer Take 1

Disc 16: Sessions Disc 4

1 The Court of the Crimson King (Stormy Mix)
2 I Talk to the Wind Takes 3 to 6
3 I Talk to the Wind Takes 7 to 9
4 I Talk to the Wind Early Take
5 Drum Check
6 21st Century Schizoid Man Sax Sound Check
7 Ahh (Stormy Mix)
8 I Talk to the Wind (Stormy Mix)

Disc 17: Sessions Disc 5

1 Epitaph Takes 1 to 3
2 Epitaph Takes 5 to 11
3 Epitaph Take 2 (Stormy Mix)

Disc 18: Sessions Disc 6

1 Moonchild Takes 1 to 8
2 Moonchild Take 9 (complete)
3 Trailer Take and Take Overdubbed
4 Pipe Organ Takes
5 Wind Noise Takes
6 The Court of the Crimson King Takes

Disc 19: DVD
24/48 Complete Studio Sessions
24/48 Let's Make a Hit Waxing
16/48 Stormy Selections

Disc 20: DVD-A
24/48 Original Master Edition
24/48 2019 album mixes in hi-res stereo and 5.1 Surround
Hyde Park Film Snippet

Disc 21: Blu-ray
24/192 Giles, Giles and Fripp - as per CD 25
24/96 Complete Studio Sessions
24/192 Live at Chesterfield Jazz Club

Disc 22: Blu-ray
24/96 2009 Hi-Res Stereo and 5.1 Surround Mixes
24/96 Additional audio and Alternate album from the 2009 mixes
24/48 Original 1969 vinyl needledrops of UK stereo & US Mono Promo LPs
24/48 Original 1969 Mono UK Single A and B Sides and US Promo Single A Side

Disc 23: Blu-ray
24/96 2019 Mixes in Stereo, 5.1 Surround and Instrumental Mixes
24/96 Original Master Edition
24/96 2019 Alternate Album and Additional Material Mixes
Hyde Park Film Snippet (audio mono)

Disc 24: Blu-ray
2020 Dolby Atmos Mix
24/96 I Talk to the Wind (duo version) 5.1 Surround *
(*) audio through four channels only
24/96 Let's Make a Hit Waxing

Disc 25: Selected Recordings 1968

Giles, Giles and Fripp

1 Tremelo Study in A Major (Spanish Suite)
2 Suite No. 1
3 Scrivens
4 Why Don't You Just Drop In (i)
5 I Talk to the Wind (i)
6 Plastic Pennies
7 Passages of Time
8 Under the Sky (ii)
9 I Talk to the Wind (ii)
10 Erudite Eyes
11 Make it Today (ii)
12 Wonderland
13 Why Don't You Just Drop In (ii)
14 She is Loaded

Disc 26: BBC Sessions and Trees

1 21st Century Schizoid Man
2 Epitaph
3 The Court of the Crimson King
4 I Talk to the Wind
5 Get Thy Bearings

Live at Fairfield Hall, Croydon:

6 Trees