Emerson, Lake & Palmer

omphaloskepsis wrote: richardh wrote: Works Volume One is still for me the album I struggle to get my head round in terms of ELP back catalogue. It's easy to have an opinion about the others whether negative or positive but Works really showed what a challenge it was to keep this band from careering off the road ( and they did of course!) . I absolutely love Pirates  and the version of Tank as well as the Buddy Rich inspired Food For Your Soul but there is some 'dodgy' stuff on Lake's side and I've never been quite convinced by the long version of Fanfare For The Common Man. As a 2 minute 'hit' it was fine. Emerson's piano concerto is good but does it really belong on a group album? (but you could say this about a lot of the album of course)  Apparently it was originally intended to be 3 separate solo releases but Atlantic records were not keen. I think they could have called it a day after this album but presumably they were obligated to release further albums even though creatively there was just nothing left. Shame really and this must have been a big regret for them.  ELPowell is another story. Carl not available so Cozy was drafted in although I gather that Simon Phillips was up for it and would have been a better choice imo. It's quite a fragmented album idea wise (but then that's typical ELP I suppose) and some bits work while others don't. Its a pity they didn't stick with this line up for a bit longer as I think it had the potential to grow into something interesting but Palmer was always going to return once his Asia commitment was over.   How strange...I listen to Works Vol 1 more than any ELP album.   The lyrics to Hallowed be Thy Name are genius. Check out the words within words theme.   I purchased Works Vol 1 when it came out... I was 13.  Maybe that has something to do with my love affair with Works 1.   Whatever anyone says...Works Vol 1 is a one of kind album.

My two-bob's worth - Works 1 is mostly a class act. I enjoy the individual facets here that make ELP what they are (were). Lake's singer/songwriter approach is hit and miss - as others have said - Hallowed Be Thy Name is excellent. Carl's side is very interesting. Keith's Piano Concerto is a bit more 'elitist' but a very pretty listen. The group side is classic.
The left-over fragments which make up Volume 2, even if a bit of an afterthought, is also good, Carl's work especially.
And Love Beach. Well, I like the bulk of it. Had it been presented in a better package (I.e. not a 'honky version of Pablo Cruise', as Hugues so aptly described in his review of the album) I'm certain it wouldn't get (as many) bad raps that it does. Sure, still some cheeze to cut through, but still some fine things to be heard.

Edited by Tom Ozric - August 21 2017 at 14:46

^ sorry it's just so dull to me.

The boys were gods, really. And Love Beach wasn't altogether bad. It's Emerson, Lake, & Powell and onward that I could never warm up to. Should have packed it in after 'Beach.

I enjoy Black Moon. I can't get my head around the fact it is dissed by so many.

Tom Ozric wrote: I enjoy Black Moon. I can't get my head around the fact it is dissed by so many.

I find it very good too. Though in a more popish way. Actually, it's a relief it doesn't have the common joke songs that would ruin their 70's masterpieces... unfortunatley it doesn't really have the high points either. And I was under the impression that Black Moon is fairly well regarded among prog/ELP fans... better regarded than Love Beach, that's for sure, though it would be very difficult to find someone who actually might consider it a return to form.

Dellinger wrote: I find it very good too. Though in a more popish way. Actually, it's a relief it doesn't have the common joke songs that would ruin their 70's masterpieces... unfortunatley it doesn't really have the high points either. And I was under the impression that Black Moon is fairly well regarded among prog/ELP fans... better regarded than Love Beach, that's for sure, though it would be very difficult to find someone who actually might consider it a return to form.

I'm guessing you mean stuff like 'Benny the Bouncer', 'Jeremy Bender'.. For me nothing ruins those first 4 studio album masterpieces. Those are certainly far from their best songs but I like them(certainly don't mind them).

Tom Ozric wrote: ^ Yeah - nothing like a bit of 'goofing around' between all the seriousness / complexity. It really breaks the AMAZING material up and shows that they are humans after all !!!

Yeah.. and those albums just wouldn't be quite the same without them. You know what, those 4 albums are perfect the way they are imo.. don't want any changes whatsoever. Change something else, but not those albums.. I'm sorry.

I prefer the version of "Romeo and Juliet" that was retitled "Montagues and Capulets," on Keith's Changing States (the solo CD, not the instrumental on Black Moon).