The complete recording sessions of Lizard on 1 CD/1Blu-ray
Blu-ray features all new mixes of the album in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 DTS-HD MA 24/96 Surround & 24/96 Hi-Res Stereo by Steven Wilson
All new Elemental Mixes of the whole album in 24/192 Hi-Res Stereo by David Singleton
Blu-ray also features the 30th anniversary remaster in 24/96
Plus the complete recording sessions from September 1970 in 24/48
Presented in a replica mini-vinyl style packaging with booklet including photos and sleevenotes from King Crimson biographer Sid Smith
CD includes the 2025 Steven Wilson album mixes and a selection of Elemental Mixes
Robert Fripp:¬ Guitar, Mellotron, Electric Keyboards & Devices
Mel Collins: Flute & Saxes
Godon Haskell: Bass Guitar & Vocals
Andy McCulloch: Drums
Peter Sinfield Words & Pictures
With: Robin Miller, Mark Charig, Nick Evans, Keith Tippet and Jon Anderson
When Steven Wilson first mixed Lizard in stereo and 5.1 with Robert Fripp in 2009, he commented: “For me Lizard has always been an album that was too big for stereo to contain. I’ve always felt that if presented in the right way, I could make a case for this being the most experimental rock record ever made. It’s extraordinary what they’re doing on this album. In terms of fusing free-jazz with progressive rock for me there’s almost no parallel.”
Now, in 2025, Steven has returned to that album and the new mixes merely serve to confirm that analysis.
The 2009 mixes – released at the same time as the much better known Red and In The Court of the Crimson King, did much to focus fan attention on an album which was sometimes overlooked in the Crimson catalogue; Red, Court, Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Discipline – the various KC incarnations all seemed to have definitive albums which represented certain periods in the band’s ever-changing development but Lizard - a single album group with an expanded line-up which was never played live, a healthy infusion of jazz players and influences, a radical departure from the two previous Crim album releases and more musical ambition than many band’s entire careers - seemed almost forgotten.
But if any album was going to benefit from the more detailed audio that Hi-Resolution and 5.1 Surround created, it was Lizard, and fans old and new eagerly embraced it.
By 2016, the latest touring incarnation of the band began to play pieces from the music on stage for the first time with original members from the original recording - Robert Fripp and Mel Collins visibly enjoying playing Cirkus and parts of Lizard. By 2018 Almost all of Lizard was being played as a complete suite, frequently to the sort of reception normally reserved for the likes of Epitaph or the best known of the Crimson songs.
Now, in 2025, Lizard appears in its most complete form yet.
Steven Wilson’s new stereo and 5.1 mixes reveal fresh details in the original recordings, the Atmos mix is one of his most ambitious yet working with a recording that always has more to give to en expanded soundstage.
If Steven’s mixes detail the best that can possibly be had from the album as presented, then David Singleton’s Elemental mixes probe the nuances of the original recordings and sessions, bringing (previously) background performances to the fore, adding alternate takes of individual performances and exploring different angles for mixing each piece.
Working separately and with different remits, the producers bring fresh perspectives to this most intriguing of recordings.
Complementing all of this material, the Blu-ray disc also features Alex R. Mundy’s mixes of every single session from the original 1970 recording sessions along with the original 30th anniversary stereo master.
A CD is also included featuring Steven Wilson’s 2025 stereo mixes of the album and a selection of the Elemental mixes – including the title track.
Tracklisting
Disc 1
2025 mixes - Produced and Mixed by Steven Wilson
1. Cirkus
2. Indoor Games
3. Happy Family
4. Lady of the Dancing Water
5. Lizard
2025 Elemental Mix - Produced and Mixed by David Singleton
6. Cirkus
7. Indoor Games
8. Lizard - Prince Rupert Awakes
9. Bolero – The Peacock’s Tale
10. Dawn Song
11. Last Skirmish
12. Prince Rupert’s Lament
13. Big Top Pass II
Disc 2 Blu-Ray
I 2025 Dolby Atmos, DTS HD-MA 5.1 Surround
1. Cirkus
2. Indoor Games
3. Happy Family
4. Lady of the Dancing Water
5. Lizard
24/96 Stereo and Instrumental includes above 5 tracks PLUS
6. Lady of the Dancing Water (alt take)
Produced and Mixed by Steven Wilson
II 2025 Elemental Mix (24/192 Stereo)
1. Cirkus
2. Indoor Games
3. Happy Family
4. Lady of the Dancing Water
5. Lizard
Produced and Mixed by David Singleton
III Original Masters - 30th Anniversary Master (24/96 Stereo)
1. Cirkus
2. Indoor Games
3. Happy Family
4. Lady of the Dancing Water
5. Lizard
Produced & Mixed by Robert Fripp & Peter Sinfield
IV Complete Sessions (24/48 Stereo)
Sept 8th 1970
1. Cirkus Backing Track
2. Cirkus Overdubs 1
3. Cirkus Overdubs 2
4. Cirkus Overdubs 3
5. Cirkus Early Vocal/Rough Mix
Sept 9th 1970
1. Lady of the Dancing Water Flute Pass 1
2. Lady of the Dancing Water Flute Pass 2
3. Lady of the Dancing Water Flute Pass 3
4. Lady of the Dancing Water Piano & Mellotron Pass 1
5. Lady of the Dancing Water Piano & Mellotron Pass 2
6. Lady of the Dancing Water Guitar Overdub
7. Lady of the Dancing Water Vocal & Trombone Overdub
Sept 13th 1970
1. Prince Rupert Awakes Backing Track with Guitar & Vocal Overdubs
2. Prince Rupert Awakes Piano & Mellotron Overdubs
3. Dawn Song Cor Anglais Pass 1
4. Dawn Song Cor Anglais Pass 2
5. Dawn Song Vocal Take 1
6. Dawn Song Vocal Take 2
7. Dawn Song Vocal Take 3
Sept 14th 1970
1. Last Skirmish, including Prince Rupert's Lament Backing Track
2. Prince Rupert's Lament Backing Track - Segment
3. Last Skirmish, including Prince Rupert's Lament Overdubs 1
4. Last Skirmish Overdubs 2
5. Prince Rupert's Lament Solo 1
6. Prince Rupert's Lament Solo 2
7. Prince Rupert's Lament Solo 3
8. Prince Rupert's Lament Solo 4
Sept 20th 1970
1. Bolero Backing Track with Piano
2. Bolero Overdubs
3. Big Top Bass, Drums, Mellotron
4. Big Top Overdubs 1
5. Big Top Overdubs 2
6. Big Top Piano Overdub
Sept 29th/30th 1970
1. Indoor Games Backing Track - Segment
2. Indoor Games Backing Track
3. Indoor Games Vocals & Overdubs
4. Happy Family Bass, Drums & Guide Piano
5. Happy Family Guitar, Flute & Sax Overdubs
6. Happy Family Vocals & Overdubs
Mixed & Mastered by Alex R. Mundy
