What I like about ELP

Tethro Juul wrote: I mean still, rug or no rug the music slapped. That was ELP'S schtick. Big songs, big shows. It was all in service to giving the audience a good time, and they did.

I think to appreciate ELP to the max, you had to see them live. The great Keith Emerson doing handstands on his organ, while playing something complicated, was the bomb. They were great showmen as well as great musicians.

Yeah right.

\

ELP didn't need urban legends. The reality was sufficient enough.

Something I noticed about ELP is that people will call them both too inaccessible but then some will also call them too accessible. I think this probably has something to do with Lake and Palmer/Emerson's competing influence; Lake seemed to prefer more radio friendly material like Lucky Man while Emerson/Palmer were keen on complex keyboard material like The Barbarian. I think though that their differences resulted in a band that sounded like no other though.

The best synthesis of their influences and ideas was probably Karn Evil 9 impression 1 part 2, between Lake's vocals and all the instrumental stuff going on.

SteveG wrote: \ This may not be a handstand but I didn't know what else to call it~!

Ahhh, the 'Flying Piano'. Not their best moment admittedly, and it earned Emo a broken nose one night when it stopped too suddenly. If it had been spinning in the opposite direction it probably would have broken his neck. But you can't fault the commitment to entertainment. Jerry Lee Lewis on crack !


Edited by JD - August 19 2021 at 10:38

JD wrote: SteveG wrote: \ This may not be a handstand but I didn't know what else to call it~! Ahhh, the 'Flying Piano'. Not their best moment admittedly, and it earned Emo a broken nose one night when it stopped too suddenly. If it had been spinning in the opposite direction it probably would have broken his neck. But you can't fault the commitment to entertainment. Jerry Lee Lewis on crack !

Good God, man! You forgot about the flying piano?   

JD wrote: How do mean? I didn't forget about it, I just didn't know that was what you were referring to.

I mean you mentioned all the other Emo antics but neglected that one. I only saw him wrestle with and then stab his organ myself. My best friend saw the flying piano somewhere in Europe. I need to ask him about sometime.

verslibre wrote: Tethro Juul wrote: Something I noticed about ELP is that people will call them both too inaccessible but then some will also call them too accessible. I think this probably has something to do with Lake and Palmer/Emerson's competing influence; Lake seemed to prefer more radio friendly material like Lucky Man while Emerson/Palmer were keen on complex keyboard material like The Barbarian. I think though that their differences resulted in a band that sounded like no other though. The best synthesis of their influences and ideas was probably Karn Evil 9 impression 1 part 2, between Lake's vocals and all the instrumental stuff going on. Whatever works. As much the Emerson/Palmer fanboy that I am, the band needed Lake to get big. "Lucky Man," "From the Beginning," "Still...You Turn Me On," "Jerusalem," "C'est La Vie"...can't imagine the band without his songs.

I agree. Like most bands, the sum was greater than the parts.

JD wrote: SteveG wrote: JD wrote: How do mean? I didn't forget about it, I just didn't know that was what you were referring to. I mean you mentioned all the other Emo antics but neglected that one. I only saw him wrestle with and then stab his organ myself. My best friend saw the flying piano somewhere in Europe. I need to ask him about sometime. I don't know how many times or gigs he did that on. I thought it was just a very few before it was abandoned. I guess I think of it more as a one off than part of his 'regular' showmanship. It must have been something to see though, I only ever saw it on TV from Cal Jam I think.

Oh, I'm sure it was rare. They must have used carnival like hydraulics for that stunt!