ELP’s Greatest (E)LP
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Topic: ELP’s Greatest (E)LP
Posted By: Rob The Good
Subject: ELP’s Greatest (E)LP
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 01:32
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Hi all. Now I'm sure this has probably been done before, but I'd like to start a discussion about ELP. In particular, what is your favourite album (from the 70s, ahem) that they produced, and what makes it stand out from the others?
Strangely, I only own their first three, but I shall no doubt get them all up to Love Beach (brrr). Many have told me that they think Side 1 of Tarkus is perfect, but the album is let down by Side 2. Personally I don't really know. But out of the three I have, their debut is probably my favourite, but this is likely to change once I pick up Trilogy or Brain Salad Surgery.  ------------- And Jesus said unto John, "come forth and receive eternal life..." Unfortunately, John came fifth and was stuck with a toaster. |
Replies:
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 01:34
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I like Trilogy a bit more (Mostly for the title song that is almost perfect), but I believe this album and Brain Salad Surgery mark the peak of ELP's career. Iván |
Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 01:50
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My favorite is BSS.. I think its just perfect.. and a true masterpiece. Its hard, its soft, its chaotic, its melodious, its serious, its comedic, and it covers the gamut on technical ingenuity and musical composition. Its got everything, including the voice. But the last week or so I've been listening entirely to the first album also. As you can probably guess, I'm a huge fan of "The Three Fates", mostly the second fate... but this week I've been craving the third. I'm also totally into "The Barbarian" right now... Greg's guitar on this takes me back... ------------- THIS IS ELP 
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Posted By: BebieM
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 02:14
Trilogy is the best IMO, i like the endless enigma  btw, listening to King Crimson's Wake of Poseidon at the moment, I really forgot how good it was! King Crimson are just the best, no need to discuss that (a bit offtopic maybe, but i wanted to share my feelings, haha) |
Posted By: starofsirius
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 02:34
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Tarkus, just can't beat the title track. I like the second side too, except for "Are you ready Eddie?" really. ------------- "I'm in a freefall like a snowflake falling down down down down down." |
Posted By: Emperor
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 02:38
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I like PICTURES and SALAD, but voted for PICTURES, because nobody still voted for... ------------- I Prophesy Disaster... |
Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 02:46
Brain Salad Surgery best album, Tarkus best suite.
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 02:56
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1. Brain Salad Surgery (5/5) 2. Pictures At An Exhibition (5/5) 3. Trilogy (4.5/5) 4. Tarkus (4/5) 5. Works Vol One (4/5) 6. Emerson,Lake and Palmer (3.5/5) 7. Welcome Back My Friends.. (3.5/5) 8. Works Vol Two (2/5) BSS and Pictures.. are masterpeices IMO (Trilogy isn't quite as 'crucial' as BSS or Pictures).Tarkus has a great side one but is let down by side 2 as you say.Works One has some great music and is basically an extended version (conceptual wise) of the debut album featuring solo and group music.The live triple is let down by poor sound mixing in my opinion but has great performances of KE9 and Tarkus.Works Two (along with Love Beach) was a 'contractural obligation album' but still has some interesting stuff.BTW Love beach is not nearly as bad as people make out ,featuring the excellent suite 'Memoirs Of An Officer And A Gentleman'.
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Posted By: Emperor
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 03:03
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OK, OK, let's put on ratings for ELP's studio albums: ELP (3,5/5) Tarkus (4/5) Pictures At An Exhibition (4,5/5) Trilogy (3.5/5) Brain Salad Surgery (4,5/5) Works Vol One (3,5/5) Works Vol Two (2,5/5) Love Beach (3/5) Emerson, Lake & Powell (4/5) Black Moon (1,5/5) After the release of Black Moon I still don't want to listen ELP's albums... ------------- I Prophesy Disaster... |
Posted By: dropForge
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 03:17
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Good thing you never heard In The Hot Seat ...you'd melt into a pile of pink goo!
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 03:36
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Tarkus is the one for me - "Stones of Years" - check the trebly, clunky bass tone - its great! I know this is an unpopular/ popular opinion but i really think they went down-hill after the live LP. But the first five are great, stuff as prog as prog gets. Tarkus 5/5 Brain Salad 4/5 Trilogy 4/5 ELP 4/5 how could i forget pictures!! 4/5!!! |
Posted By: nacho
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 03:37
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It has to be Tarkus for me, even with the Eddie thing on it... But I won't be dissapointed if BSS wins the poll |
Posted By: Rob The Good
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 03:38
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At the moment I'm actually listening to a bonus track from Pictures, which is a medley. It must've been done recently, because Greg Lake's voice is stronger and a bit more gutsy. Or is it Greg Lake?
Yeah threefates! Go the debut! Take a Pebble is probably my favourite song because it has Greg Lake's voice AND some jazzy keyboards from Keith Emerson. Fantastic! ------------- And Jesus said unto John, "come forth and receive eternal life..." Unfortunately, John came fifth and was stuck with a toaster. |
Posted By: 70sSoundquality
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 05:21
| Man why does this always piss me off? Why do people have to sh*t on Love beach? I say put your compositional money where your mouth is. I thought that was one of the more interesting of the ELP releases. damn... |
Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 06:00
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Tough call, this - I chose BSS, but I think that Trilogy is probably their most consistent album. It never quite equals the best parts of BSS, though.
------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: bobthesalesman
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 07:59
| Tarkus is what got me into ELP. Definitly my favorite from em. |
Posted By: mirco
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 08:10
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A little disgression, but at least is about ELP: I have Welcome back, my friends... in a "nacional" (made in Venezuela) version. Its sound quality is, to be absolutely impartial, horrible. Seems that it was recorded trough a pipe, a hundred Km away from the band. I havn't the chance to hear the real stuff, how it is? ------------- Please forgive me for my crappy english! |
Posted By: Tarkustra
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 09:51
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I agree with you on this. Maybe its the older guys who actually heard it in the 70s and couldn't take the difference from their earlier stuff, but I liked this album too. Even some of the cheesy Greg Lake stuff sort of grows on you. Like 'All I Want is You' and 'For You', and like 3fates I get a laugh when I listen to 'Taste of my Love'. Canario is a great piece and the entire side of 'Memoirs' is just beautiful. And I like a few pieces off IN THE HOT SEAT, though I think most ELP fans don't even like that one. But 'Hand of Truth' is great, 'One by One' and I even like the remake of the Dylan song 'Man in the Long Black Coat'. It sounds cool with Keith on it. I voted for BSS though. Can't beat that cd. Toccata is mind blowing! ------------- When you speak, is it you that hears? Are your ears full? You can't hear anything at all. |
70sSoundquality wrote:Posted By: Radioactive Toy
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 10:12
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elp gives me an headace!.. does anybody want elp - elp on lp?? -------------  
Reed's failed joke counter: ||||| R.I.P. You could have reached infinity.... |
Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 10:48
No thanks! Got all of them already... but thanks for asking!! ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: sigod
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 11:00
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I must buy some ELP real soon. For me, they are the last major prog land mass to explore. I sense an obsession forming... ------------- I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision. - Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 11:19
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1. Trilogy (5/5) 2. BSS (5/5) 3. ELP (4./5) 4.- Pictures 3.5/5) 5. Tarkus (3.5/5) 5. Works Vol One (3/5) 9. Works Vol Two (2/5) 10.- Love Beach (1/5) (For Canario) 11.- In the Hot Seat (1.5/5) (My CD has a Pictures version) 12.- Black Moon (2.5/5) 13.- Re-Works (0/5) (Lower is posible) Iván
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Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 11:28
So Ivan, do you not like the "Memoirs of an Officer & a Gentleman" side?? I received the Re-Works as a Christmas present a few years ago from someone who thought I'd just love it.. I've never opened it or even removed the shrink wrapped packaging. I kept thinking I'd pass it on as a Christmas present, but I keep forgetting to. But perhaps, I'll keep it now just for the collection angle.. I understand this was the brainchild of Keith's son, Aaron. What we won't do for our kids!! ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: Dan Bobrowski
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 11:33
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I don't think there is a single ELP album that I liked through and through. I enjoy certain tunes off each album, but they always had a "stinker" on each one or some bizarre tweak that altered what could have been a good track. What the hells all the "pop whzzzzzz blip" stuff? Was that really neccessary? Take a Pebble, my fav ELP track, was ruined with that totally unneeded acoustic piece slapped in the middle for no bloomin' reason. I used to cut it out on cassette, and you know what, it's way better without it. Overall, Trilogy is my favorite. From the Beginning, Living Sin, Endless Enigma.... near perfection.
IMHO |
Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 11:37
Oh God, I love that acoustic piece in the middle of Pebble.... I liked it even better live when Greg would sing a little ditty about a dog named Blue.... ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: Guillermo
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 11:52
| "Brain Salad Surgery". |
Posted By: Fitzcarraldo
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 13:44
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I voted for "Tarkus". In 1971 it was like nothing that had come before. It reached No. 1 in the UK album charts and No. 9 in the US. The album may not sound so unusual now, but it certainly was then. Early ELP were real innovators, actually. To be fully appreciated their music needs to be judged taking into consideration the era in which it was produced. Mind you, I suppose that could be said about many bands.
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Posted By: arcer
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 13:48
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do they even have a good one, never mind a 'great' one? |
Posted By: Fitzcarraldo
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 13:55
One man's meat... 
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Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 14:43
So right Arcer... afterall they were all outstanding, with many masterpieces... so a mere good doesn't even come near them.... and that includes Love Beach and ITHS... ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 14:57
| Trilogy gets my vote. As Syzygy said earlier, it's their most complete album. I think it's the only one where I really enjoy every track. |
Posted By: frosty
Date Posted: January 18 2005 at 16:07
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All have great individual tracks on them, but BSS is the most consistant overall. 'Welcome back..' despite the dodgy sound quality still has a stunning version of Tarkus to enjoy on it. |
Posted By: Rob The Good
Date Posted: January 19 2005 at 01:15
I'm a little bemused as to what Tarkus is all about. Something to do with war right? Does anyone have an in depth analysis or opinion?  ------------- And Jesus said unto John, "come forth and receive eternal life..." Unfortunately, John came fifth and was stuck with a toaster. |
Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: January 19 2005 at 01:48
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I always thought the main theme was a bully gettin his. Although the lryics in the sections might mean something different. ------------- 
"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: January 19 2005 at 03:13
| Tarkus is a half organic half mechanical 'beast'.A sort of Frankenstien monster created through man's indescretions and 'mistreatment' of nature. It's defeated by the only 100% organic creature (Manticore).It helps if you have the original LP sleeve with the wonderful artwork. |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: January 19 2005 at 12:01
| I'll go with Tarkus since I spent 50$ on a repressed vinyl edition last year. |
Posted By: zappa123
Date Posted: January 19 2005 at 12:02
| I like them all. |
Posted By: daz2112
Date Posted: January 22 2006 at 10:43
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Brain Salad Surgery ------------- In the constellation of cygnus,There lurks a mysterious force...The black hole |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: January 22 2006 at 10:45
LP,CD,DVD...PIcture is za best and my favourite...
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Posted By: Bj-1
Date Posted: January 22 2006 at 10:58
Haven't heard the "Works" albums yet.
------------- RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on! |
Brain Salad Surgery (1973)
Trilogy (1972) (really 4.25/5)
Pictures At An Exhibition (1971) (really 3.75/5)Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 22 2006 at 12:37
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the debut album would be my favorite..... great album all the way
through. Though Tank wears a bit thin at times (like the Works vol. 1
version better). The Barbarian.... awesome! ELP - (4.5/5) Tarkus - (4/5) PaaE- (5/5) Trilogy (5/5) BSS (4/5) Works Vol. 1 (3/5) Works Vol 2. (3/5) Love Beach (2/5) ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: King of Loss
Date Posted: January 22 2006 at 12:40
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Brain Salad Surgery for me, closely behind are Trilogy and Tarkus
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Posted By: soundspectrum
Date Posted: January 22 2006 at 12:56
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pictures at an exhibition is perfect |
Posted By: moodyxadi
Date Posted: January 22 2006 at 14:12
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TOTALLY AGREE!!! |
Posted By: daz2112
Date Posted: January 22 2006 at 16:11
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Mind you i do like Works vol 1, in fact i Love it! ------------- In the constellation of cygnus,There lurks a mysterious force...The black hole |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: January 22 2006 at 16:26
| The first album is still the best, I think, but BSS comes close. |