21st Century Schizoid Man - Commentary

"21st Century Schizoid Man"
The 1969 Morgan Studio recording
Now including Jakko Jakszyk and Mel Collins

As many of you may know
The album "In the Court of the Crimson King"
Was recorded at Wessex Studios
As in fact were the following two King Crimson albums
"In the Wake of Poseidon" and "Lizard"

There was, however, an aborted attempt at recording the album
A month earlier in June 1969 at Morgan studios
In North West London using Moody Blues producer Tony Clarke
This session ended abruptly
When the engineer Andy Johns
Brother of the well known producer Glyn Johns
Suddenly collapsed on the mixing desk
No one of similar stature could be found to continue
So the session was eventually called off

For a long time
We thought that none of those recordings had survived
Until that is, Michael Giles found a tape
Of "21st Century Schizoid Man"
It was unfortunately just the backing track
With no vocals and only guide solos
By Robert Fripp and Ian Macdonald
Which they would have intended to replace later

The backing track, particularly the drumming
Is, however, incredibly strong
So we have completed the recording
We've flown in Greg Lake's voice
And for the solos, we can't now remove what's there
But Jakko Jakszyk has doubled Robert Fripp's original solo
In exactly the same way as the two of them now play it live
Mel Collins has done the same with Ian Macdonald's sax solo
Creating a recording that is both 50 years old and new this year

So here it is
"21st Century Schizoid Man"
The revibrated Morgan Studio's recording
As now included on the 50th anniversary release
Of "In the Court of the Crimson King"