LIVE - ROCKIN' THE RITZ

For a band that had one studio album and one tour, this is their 2nd official live release. Sounding better than the Live in Boston, and different enough in the performance to be unique, this original 1988 radio broadcast cleaned up nicely and show the power that this band had in concert, purposely playing smaller venues. With Emerson at the top of his game, the speed that he and Carl Palmer, along with Robert Berry, present old ELP instrumental classics and new 3 songs, and even a couple covers. To hear Emerson play Dream Runner, Creole Dance and On My Way Home on the piano is spectacular and worth the purchase itself. Love or hate the studio album, the band in a live setting is great, and this release REALLY captures that energy. The liner notes from Palmer and Berry and pictures are also a fitting tribute to the late great Keith Emerson.

In 2017 Rockbeat Records gained permission to release this radio recording of 3 in concert at The Ritz in New York City, NY on April 14th, 1988. It was this recording which caused Keith Emerson to rethink his views on the band, contact Robert Berry, and for them to start collaborating again on songs which would appear on '3.2 ? The Rules Have Changed'. Towards the end of 2023 Rockbeat reissued the album again as a double vinyl set with new artwork, and this is what I am currently listening to. When it came to recording the second 3 album Keith had passed away, and Robert undertook the project on his own, but on that night in 1988 it was the full five-piece live band of Keith Emerson (keyboards), Carl Palmer (drums, percussion), Robert Berry (bass guitar, vocals), Paul Keller (guitar), and Jennifer Steele (backing vocals).

I loved 3 when the debut came out, even though I was a diehard ELP fan and had no idea who this American was they had brought into the ranks, and why had the music changed so much? I am not the only one who was somewhat confused, but whereas I found much there to enjoy there is no doubt it created a split audience for the band as some of the people were there to hear ELP perform their lengthy classics (and go away disappointed for the most part, although they open here with "Fanfare") while others wanted to hear their hit single "Talkin' Bout". Listening to this album some 35 years on from when it was recorded one can hear a band in transition, starting to move in a new direction but wanting to bring old fans with them, so while we do get some ELP numbers they are actually songs recorded by ELP which they didn't write themselves. The music was shorter, in your face, with Robert assisting the band in moving in a more commercial direction.

While I and many others think 'Black Moon' is a thoroughly enjoyable album, and significantly better than 'Love Beach', I don't think 3 were ever really given the chance to really prove themselves and I would have loved to have heard a second 3 album back at the time. However, that was not to be, but instead we now have the opportunity to hear a band which many have overlooked. It was in the live arena where they could really shine, and here we have them at the top of their game. Keith sounds as if he is having a lot of fun, without any of the internal stresses which had been taking place over the previous decade and there is a real freedom to the performance. Having owned the debut 3 album since its release in 1988 it is great to be able to finally hear the band live (although I do remember years ago seeing them perform on TV for the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert), and I am sure any ELP/3/Berry fans will be pleased to add this to their collection, I am.