WORKS VOL. 2

Just a brief review whilst I'm listening to E.L.P. today... - this album, 'Works Vol II', is a mixed bag of styles, unfortunately we've had their hey-day with mega-complex compositions, now it's their turn (according to company pressure) to write something commercial....I can only allocate 2 stars for this variable set of tunes : this album shows the different directions each member displayed at the time : we have the direction which Emerson favoured with Barrelhouse Shake-Down, Maple-Leaf Rag and Honkey-Tonk Train Blues, all displaying show-offy Piano tendencies, Greg Lake with his choice of direction, showing accessible, catchy, and sometimes jazz-inspired tunes - 'Show Me the way to go Home', 'Watching Over You', and the commercial tune which hits the airwaves during the Festive season... (even in the supermarket where I work.......hmmm ??), 'I Believe in Father Christmas'. Carl Palmer shows off his interest at the time - Jazzy-Rock and Big-Band swing, with 'Bullfrog' and 'Close but not Touching'... the remainder of the tracks showing the trio pulling together for some quite decent tunes such as 'When the Apple Blossoms Bloom....", 'Brain Salad Surgery', 'So Far to Fall', and 'Tiger in a Spotlight'. Not the most consistent listen, but still, one can find something to satisfy.....