THE ATLANTIC YEARS

A good impression

An excellent collection of the highlights from the early ELP albums up to and including "Love beach" (which thankfully contributes only "Canario"). The tracks are arranged pretty much chronologically, and it's hard to fault those which have been selected, or for that matter to criticise the omissions.

Longer tracks such as "Tarkus" and "Karn evil 9" (all three impressions) are included in full. Nothing from the second side of "Tarkus" is present, while "Pictures at an exhibition" is represented in extract format.

Those who love the music of ELP will have long since acquired the original albums. For those who have yet to explore their music, this is a fine place to start.

Recommended.

Perhaps this is the unique collection by ELP which is really worth to be checked out from the beginning to the end!! The selection is good and the remastered tracks earn a lot...I think of "Tarkus", but also "Picture at an exhibition". Certainly the ballad "I believe in Father Christmas" by Lake is not unforgettable, but his contribution within the whole contest works quite well! Besides it's strange that such an aggressive and epic song like "Hoedown" has been not chosen, but of course it's not a major defect, as they have inserted the memorable suite "Karn Evil 9" into this remarkable collection.

Let it play!!

This is a rare compilation, as it includes some full length epics on it ("Tarkus" and "Karn Evil 9"). I would have personally selected "Pictures at An Exhibition" myself instead of the show that never ends, as this is a much better composition from them in my opinion. Maybe many of the tracks from "Works" and "Love Beach" albums could have also been omitted? Anyway, the first essential album is mostly included here, and the double CD gives a good overview of this band for newer listeners. Those who have these classic albums don't need this release, as there's not any previously unreleased material on it, which is fair from the collectors point of view.

WELCOME MY FRIEND TO THE BEST MUSIC OF EMERSON, LAKE AND PALMER.

Very few times a compilation album (prog-oriented) has grouped so many great songs. I really want to congratulate ELP of course because at the end of the day, they were the genious behing their music but also the ones who decided of the track list (maybe themselves, I don't know°.

Lots of times, it sounds as if a compilation is created almost at random. By no means, it is the case here. Can you imagine ?

Four of the best tracks of their debut album are featured, the great "Tarkus" (the track of course) in full, a great condensed version of "Pictures", my preferred song out of "Trilogy" ("The endless Enigma - both parts), all of my fave studio album ("Brain...") except the stupid "Benny the Bouncer" of course. That's it for the great moments which represent seventy-five percent of the whole.

Some average ones with the inclusion of "Pirates" (again, in full) and a good condensed version of "Fanfare For The Common Man" (just over half the original) from Works I. "Canario" was probably the best choice available from "Love Beach" so, in the optic of having each ELP album represented here, I guess that no damage has been done (although the start of this song sounds really horrible).

Some blunders as well, IMO. "The Fugue", "In The Beginning", "I Believe In Father Christmas" (absolutely dreadful), and "Honky Tonk Train Blues" don't belong by any means to the best of ELP. But all these songs together only represent eight percent of this double CD set.

This compilation is a great one. I can only recommend it to someone interested in discovering how great this band was. Five stars even if eight percent of it is extremely poor. But all the great songs that sit here, easily compensate this.

Here's an oddity. An anthology of a progressive rock band on a major label that appears to have been produced by someone who actually likes their music. How refreshing!

It would be impossible to fit all of the great ELP tracks on two compact discs, especially since they have to include the "hits", and include all of the albums included in the so-called "Atlantic years". I won't go into detail, but I do wish they had included more from the Trilogy album.

If you are a follower of my reviews, you will know that I have a fondness for prog that is on the bombastic and overblown side, so therefore, ELP is one of my favorite bands. At least in their prime years, which are all covered here. On these recordings, Keith Emerson proves that he was the king of the keyboards (sorry, Wakeman fans, but during this time, Keith was better). Carl Palmer was the perfect drummer at this time, being able to match Emerson's talents in moving between jazz and classical with frenetic precision. Any discussion of the genre's top drummers must include Palmer. And even Lake, before the Works albums, provides strong bass and guitar, amazingly clear vocals, and ballads that do not bore.

This is a great selection for an introduction to this band, as it does include most of the essential pieces from this band. And extra kudos to the producers for not including the dismal C'est La Vie. But unfortunately, they did include Fanfare For The Common Man, and I Believe In Father Christmas (which is almost saved by the lyrics "And they told me a fairy story till I believed in the israelite".

The remastering on these recordings is great, the clarity of all the instruments is wonderful.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

I only bought this compilation having coveted it for many years just for the nice artwork! The pleasing thing about this selection is that there is nothing post 1980 so there is no crud from Black Moon or ELPowell thankfully just 150 minutes from the glory years of this great progressive rock band. The only quibble I have is the ommision of Hoedown and the title track of Trilogy but otherwise its all there. Great chunks of ELP,Tarkus (the suite) ,Pictures at An Exhibition and Brain Salad Surgery covering mostly the heavier symphonic stuff that defined ELP's style. The quality of the CD are surprisingly good considering they were first masterings. No absent of any detail and plenty of dymanics. I can happily listen to this and ignore most of the remasterings that have added little or nothing. Highly recommended for anyone who just wants a compilation of this important band in this collection.