ELP Underrated?

^ And I prefer the term underrated to proctalgia fugax.  To each his or her own.

^ I'm sure many do underappreciate ELP, but I have known various individuals at PA who recognise the contributions and significance to rock generally and to Prog specifically, as well as the talent on display, but just don't enjoy qualities of the music much or how that talent is used.  The debut is most liked by me.  I think it's the lack of subtlety in part from ELP in certain music, the show-off-ness, that puts many off.  There is a  bandwagon effect that more now might well focus on certain qualities that are seen as negative now due to common criticisms.  And it's not as known now as it is not now trendy.  That said, while one might argue that it is underappreciated by the majority into progressive music now, one might also say that it was over-appreciated at the time by the masses.   An issue I have had with various posters at PA has been that they feel that ELP is entitled to be in the top 100 albums chart and that it is wrong and an injustice for ELP not to get better representation in the chart.  That ELP deserves to higher rated in the chart. The chart is a popularity list based on an amalgamation of the ratings of what individuals have rated and how they rated those albums.  I do not believe that people are underrating it who opt not to rate the albums or rate them highly.  That one would like to see the band more popular again, fine, but it is the sense of entitlement of some ELP fans, the ignorance of how the charts operate and what they represent, and scorn for those who think less of ELP that has been an issue from my perspective.  My perspective mostly comes from PA forum interactions and is less "global" than many.

While I would still say that its underrated by some and overrated by others, having seen claims that it's underrated many times gives me the impression that it's terribly overrated (at least by those who would insist that it's terribly underrated).

^ originally the mid section had it's own song 'A dog named blue' off the top of my head which was a clap along audience thing. You can find it on some early ELP live stuff.

Edited by richardh - May 01 2024 at 21:37

Floydoid wrote: I'm not saying they never used a lead guitar, but it was not the norm for them.

They are not underrated with me or my other prog friends....and the first 4 studio lps are all 4 star and the debut is the best......imho.

Greg Lake playing lead guitar in ELP:

[QUOTE=Floydoid]IMO all their album releases up to BSS (and possibly Works vol.1) are masterpieces of prog rock, and essential to the collection of any serious prog fan.

Concur 100%...a tremendous 5-album run up to BSS...

SteveG wrote: richardh wrote: The reliance on keyboards is both their strength and weakness. Probably why Yes became bigger and more recognised over time after they added a keyboardist that matched Emerson. However in 1970 the world needed a band to get the most out of the prodigiously talented Keith Emerson and ELP was it. Could it have been better if a guitarist had joined? Without doubt but unfortunately that guitarist died the same year of a drugs overdose (after ELP had formed but I believe it could still have happened) Excellent opinion and background on the band, Richard. And maybe one more reason. The money earned could go just as easily into 3 as would into 4.

The reliance on keyboards is both their strength and weakness. Probably why Yes became bigger and more recognised over time after they added a keyboardist that matched Emerson. However in 1970 the world needed a band to get the most out of the prodigiously talented Keith Emerson and ELP was it. Could it have been better if a guitarist had joined? Without doubt but unfortunately that guitarist died the same year of a drugs overdose (after ELP had formed but I believe it could still have happened)