ORIGINAL BOOTLEG SERIES FROM THE MANTICORE VAULTS VOL. 3

As may be guessed from the title, this is the third release in a series of previously unavailable live recordings. This 5 disc boxed collection has parts of shows from 1974 and 1977, plus sets from 1992 and 1993. The sound certainly doesn't belong to a bootleg, the production seems mighty fine to me, and to the fan this set is an embarrassment of riches. Yes, songs are repeated, but the collection goes back to the beginning and all of the way forward to the comeback album and it is hard to see the join. "Touch And Go" has always been one of my favourite ELP numbers (albeit Emerson Lake & Palmer, and they just blast it out). Contrast that to the simplicity and gloriousness of "Still. You Turn Me On", where Greg accompanies himself on acoustic guitar.

How about "Tarkus", or "Pirates", or the majesty and sheer brilliance of "Karn Evil 9" (unfortunately not a complete version, but I can always turn to 'Welcome Back..' for that). What can you say about band that can pit "Pictures At An Exhibition" against "Hoedown"? There are even a couple of takes on their signature tune, but of vastly differing lengths with the 1992 version coming in at nearly fifteen minutes.

Whichever disc I have on the player is the favourite. It may be totally over the top, it may be prog at it's' most self-indulgent, it may be dinosaur rock, but there are times when musicianship of this quality and pieces of this complexity are all that will do. Any fan of the band will want to have this in their collection.

"Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends?.."

Originally appeared in Feedback #69, Aug 02