King Crimson - The Road to Red [21CD, 2013]

 

Over 21 cds, 1 dvd, 2 blu-ray discs, copious sleeve notes and replica memorabilia, The Road To Red comprehensively captures the essence of King Crimson's US tour of 1974 and the process leading to one of the band's most important albums.

A total of 16 concerts are featured across 20 discs, with a new Steven Wilson and Robert Fripp stereo mix of the studio Red as the 21st CD.
Commenting on the final live date on The Road To Red, Robert Fripp notes that this was the first gig, "Since the 1969 Crimson where the bottom of my spine registered 'out of this world' to the same degree."

20 CDs of live material drawn from:

10 concerts recorded on stereo soundboard cassettes directly from the band's mixing desk - all previously unreleased on CD, audio newly restored at DGM Soundworld in 2013.

5 concerts professionally recorded on multi-track tape. Parts of these shows have been previously included in the USA & The Great Deceiver releases, but they are all included here in full on CD for the first time.
1 CD drawn from an audio restored high quality bootleg of the band's final 1974 New York concert previously available only via mail order and now remastered.

CD 21 features a new stereo mix of Red by Steven Wilson & Robert Fripp
  • Robert Fripp – guitars, mellotron, electric piano (live)
  • John Wetton – bass, lead vocals, acoustic piano
  • Bill Bruford – drums, percussion
  • Richard Palmer-James – lyrics
  • David Cross – violin, mellotron, electric piano
  • Studio guest musicians:
  • Mel Collins – soprano saxophone
  • Ian McDonald – alto saxophone
  • Mark Charig – cornet
  • Robin Miller – oboe
full track listing here [external link]

CD 1: Veteran Memorial Coliseum, Columbus, OH, April 28, 1974
CD 2: Stanley Theatre, Pittsbutgh, PA, April 29, 1974, Disc 1
CD 3: Stanley Theatre, Pittsbutgh, PA, April 29, 1974, Disc 2
CD 4: Hofheinz Pavilion, Houston, TX, June 5, 1974
CD 5: Tarrant County Convention Centre, Fort Worth, TX, June 6, 1974
CD 6: Fairground Arena, Fairground Arena, June 7, 1974
CD 7: Civil Auditorium, El Paso, TX, June 8, 1974
CD 8: Coliseum, Denver, CO, June 16, 1974
CD 9: Performing Arts Centre, Milwaukee, WI, June 22, 1974
CD 10: Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI, June 23, 1974
CD 11: Massey Hall, Toronto, Ontario, June 24, 1974, Disc 1
CD 12: Massey Hall, Toronto, Ontario, June 24, 1974, Disc 2
CD 13: Convention Center, Quebec City, Quebec, June 25, 1974
CD 14: Kennedy Centre, Washington, DC, June 27, 1974
CD 15: Casino Arena, Asbury Park, NJ, June 28, 1974, 2013 Mix
CD 16: Casino Arena, Asbury Park, NJ, June 28, 1974, 2005 Mix
CD 17: Penn State University, University Park, PA, June 29, 1974
CD 18: Palace Theatre, Providence, RI, June 30, 1974, Disc 1
CD 19: Palace Theatre, Providence, RI, June 30, 1974, Disc 2
CD 20: Central Park, New York, NY, July 1, 1974
CD 21: Red 2013 Mix