Author Topic: Emerson, Lake, & Palmer (Read 962 times)

tmoney61092 · « **on:** November 12, 2013, 07:58:57 PM »

So I decided that I wanted to check these guys out because of everything I've read about them and they were amazing! I've listened to Knifes Edge, Karn Evil 9, and Fanfare for the Common Man, what would be a good album to check out??? thanks!

~Taylor

hifiguy · « **Reply #1 on:** November 12, 2013, 08:28:38 PM »

IMO their masterpiece is Brain Salad Surgery, in particular Emerson's stunning arrangement of the Anglican hymn Jerusalem and the brilliant 30+ minute Karn Evil 9 suite. That is about as good as 1970s prog ever got unless you were a big fan of the orchestral/Mellotron heavy bands like Genesis and Yes.

Tarkus is also quite good but side two is spotty.

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 12, 2013, 08:36:45 PM »

yea after listening to Karn Evil 9 I'm pretty sold on Brain Salad Surgery, I'll definitely check out the rest of the album!

~Taylor

bluplirst · « **Reply #3 on:** November 12, 2013, 08:40:51 PM »

Its all good, my favorite album is probably trilogy!

bigredbass · « **Reply #4 on:** November 12, 2013, 09:30:48 PM »

I saw ELP live back in the day when they were touring behind the (then) newly released 'Brain Salad Surgery' (one of the coolest album covers ever, man am I dating myself!). Greg was playing the Scorpion 8-string Alembic in spots, Keith had the great gag where the grand piano lifted off the stage and flipped end-over-end-over-end, and Carl's drum kit went round & round during his solo. They were touring with a quadrophonic PA, big stacks of bins opposite the front scrims about 50 rows back, and their front-of-house mixer would go nuts with the pan pot in spots.

Keith was touring with that monstrous component Moog rig, and I'm sure his tech is still in recovery from shepherding that monster down the road from show to show. I always dug that he played facing the audience with both arms straight out playing two parts on two rigs without even looking, what a player. I always thought Carl Palmer was very overlooked as an amazing drummer.

Rusty, the show I saw was in the old Sam Houston Coliseum, what a barn, long since torn down.

Far Out, Man ! ! !

J o e y

hifiguy · « **Reply #5 on:** November 12, 2013, 10:52:15 PM »

I think Keith still has that modular Moog -- at least he did a few years back and one of his veteran techs was slowly restoring the beast.

I saw that tour too, Joey. Quad sound system, something like 35 tons of gear. They were showmen of the first order and virtuosos to boot. Couldn't agree more with your assessment of CP. He was so technically superb he once got a shout out on the Carson show from his idol, Buddy Rich.

eligilam · « **Reply #6 on:** November 13, 2013, 07:16:40 AM »

Greg Lake is also highly underrated as a bass player. The guy's bass lines and note choices are super tasty: I spent a while transcribing a lot of his songs, and when you really dig into the parts and analyze them, he's doing some pretty interesting things.

Personal favorites:

Karn Evil 9, Second Impression off of Brain Salad Surgery (piano-bass interplay at it's finest---superb bass atmospherics)

The Only Way/Infinite Space off of Tarkus (check out that high-tempo walking bass line---amazing!)

pauldo · « **Reply #7 on:** November 13, 2013, 09:09:05 AM »

Taylor -
Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends is a 3 disc live album (2 CD) from ELP.

I have worn out the vinyl and now have the CD. Brilliant performances from all members start to finish.

:-D

terrace · « **Reply #8 on:** November 13, 2013, 11:12:37 AM »

I saw them the first time they played Vancouver at the Agrodome touring their first album.When Keith played the Moog solo in lucky Man it felt like the building would explode.He also was stabbing the B3 during Knife Edge.

keith_h · « **Reply #9 on:** November 13, 2013, 11:47:37 AM »

I saw them in 1977 at Soldier Field. The Climax Blues Band opened, followed by the J.Geils band and Foghat with ELP closing. It was one of the better outdoor concerts I have been to.

Keith - NTEO (Not the Emerson One)

bonesrad · « **Reply #10 on:** November 13, 2013, 02:21:41 PM »

They were defintely one of my all time favorite bands. The first album, Tarkus, Trilogy, and Brain Salad Surgery are all great.

Bones

mtjam · « **Reply #11 on:** November 13, 2013, 02:29:50 PM »

I discovered ELP at a very young age from my cool uncle who turned me on to other bands such as Yes and Pink Floyd. I highly recommend Brain Salad Surgery, too! Great from start to finish. I completely agree that BSS is one of the coolest album covers ever! Maybe I'll listen to it tonight...

hieronymous · « **Reply #12 on:** November 13, 2013, 02:44:43 PM »

I got into them pretty heavily for a while - I really loved the first album and Tarkus - Pictures at an Exhibition was cool too - my parents turned me on to classical music as a child so I love reimaginations of classical pieces (Tomita and Wendy Carlos come to mind - I guess I grew up with the sound of Moog!)

I'm not a fan of Trilogy for some reason, though I know that other people love it. Brain Salad Surgery of course - I would listen to that over and over on my way to and from school. Are you folks aware of the original Giger album cover design that was airbrushed?

David Houck · « **Reply #13 on:** November 13, 2013, 03:29:23 PM »

My favorite, by far, is the first side of Tarkus; I think it's an amazing piece. I also liked Pictures at an Exhibition; but the Tarkus medley, for me, was just an amazing work. If you haven't heard it yet, you can listen to it here.

keith_h · « **Reply #14 on:** November 13, 2013, 03:51:25 PM »

Tomita! Used to listen to Snowflakes Are Dancing and Pictures At An Exhibition quite frequently while under the influence in high school.

Keith