Emerson Lake & Palmer

DiamondDog wrote: I don't disagree with any of that. What I meant by "at the expense of the music" was the ethos was principally about the playing rather than the composition, personal execution was way ahead of the queue. Sometimes, especially early on, that wasn't a great problem, there was a hub of creativity that stood up to the challenge. Later though, the creativity tended to run of space. I still would defend them as a musical unit, and somewhat resent the volume of unfair criticism they attract.

I think it was true of the Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Track which does seem to have one solo after another. Trouble is with ELP its very hard to seperate playing from composition. Some even believe that solos don't really exist as they are just part of the music. So its gets very subjective and depends on what you really want to listen to. Its healthy (imo) to listen to a variety of different things. ELP were just a different thing amongst many different things at the time. I suspect more the issue was that the band was not always pulling in one direction. There does seem to me a lot of musical 'fighting' going on as they push each other but it can be a lot of fun to watch on the DVD's if not so much so on a live CD.

richardh wrote: DiamondDog wrote: I don't disagree with any of that. What I meant by "at the expense of the music" was the ethos was principally about the playing rather than the composition, personal execution was way ahead of the queue. Sometimes, especially early on, that wasn't a great problem, there was a hub of creativity that stood up to the challenge. Later though, the creativity tended to run of space. I still would defend them as a musical unit, and somewhat resent the volume of unfair criticism they attract. I think it was true of the Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Track which does seem to have one solo after another. Trouble is with ELP its very hard to seperate playing from composition. Some even believe that solos don't really exist as they are just part of the music. So its gets very subjective and depends on what you really want to listen to. Its healthy (imo) to listen to a variety of different things. ELP were just a different thing amongst many different things at the time. I suspect more the issue was that the band was not always pulling in one direction. There does seem to me a lot of musical 'fighting' going on as they push each other but it can be a lot of fun to watch on the DVD's if not so much so on a live CD.

Yeah, they are something to watch on DVD, i have many with ELP, and never loose interest in them for a second!

I would recommend Pictures At An Exhibition-Special Edition and Emerson, Lake and Palmer Live at Montreux 1997. The Pictures DVD, has some annoying animated parts in the PAAE performance, but some of it is clear of that, and quite endearing-also included in the PAAE Special Edition is some great footage from Belgium in 1971. The 1997 performance is a lot of fun, and they are in great form.
              Quite a few of my other ELP DVDs are of bootleg quality, though. Though, even in boot quality, i can still appreciate things.

Hey Kids! 

Guess what just arrived today???

ELP - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
ELP - Tarkus

5.1 DVD-Audio, Steven Wilson remix.

richardh wrote: ^ they are lovely aren't they

Yes indeed my friend. And I simply can not believe the value at around 10 English pounds or 15 US dollars.

The Aqualung 5.1 remix is 120 something dollars and so was the "partial" Quadrophenia mix.

What a steal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     Can't wait for Trilogy and Welcome Back & Pictures.

Life is good.    Hmm, maybe the world did end, and this is how we know we wound up on the good side?

Just sayin....


Edited by dennismoore - September 22 2012 at 11:53

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: Dellinger wrote: presdoug wrote: I would recommend Pictures At An Exhibition-Special Edition and Emerson, Lake and Palmer Live at Montreux 1997. The Pictures DVD, has some annoying animated parts in the PAAE performance, but some of it is clear of that, and quite endearing-also included in the PAAE Special Edition is some great footage from Belgium in 1971. The 1997 performance is a lot of fun, and they are in great form.              Quite a few of my other ELP DVDs are of bootleg quality, though. Though, even in boot quality, i can still appreciate things. Yeah, I have that Pictures DVD... and it would be great if it weren't for those animated parts... I just don't understand what they were thinking about. Indeed the animated parts come only in some parts of the video... but mostly on those parts in which I want to see the band playing the most. It was in the early 70's, people was thinking in Psychedelia still. I got this Genesis video some time ago The stars are really annoying

Perhaps... but it doesn't make it any less annoying now... for me. So, I don't enjoy it as much as I could. Should give it a new listen though, it was still a great DVD.

giselle wrote: Outstanding musicians who were encouraged to take things too far.

I wonder who encouraged them though , the fans? , the record company? They were formed with a purpose and got tagged a 'supergroup' which I suppose left them with something to live up to. It could only go one way really.

I personally love ELP and don't care what critics say, music is a purely personal thing, and you have to accept that other people will often hate what you like and vice versa. It doesn't mean their opinion is any more valid than your own.

I love them still. My favorite albums are Trilogy and Brain Salad Surgery. I also have a soft spot for Works 2 and side B of Love Beach.

Edited by Grigory - October 24 2012 at 16:09

^Multi layered synths and vocals I believe. Eddie Offord was the real producer imo (although Lake took the credit). Emerson had a well know dislike of the Mellotron so I doubt that was used (although Greg Lake may well have owned one)