WORKS VOL. 1

After a string of nothing but great to magnificent releases from this trio comes this, the first disappointing album in their career. The album is mostly solo material from each of the members, with an album side from the the band playin together. So let me review them individually.

Keith Emerson's side is his Piano Concerto No. 1. As a piano concerto it's not bad. The third movement is actually quite good, good enough for Emerson to arrange it for his latest band. If I was rating it as a classical piece, I'd give it three stars. But since this is a prog site, only 2.

Greg Lake album side is the worst of the lot. The once great singer, while still in good voice, give us a batch of completely forgettable pop ballads. The only good point is the nice string arrangement in the otherwise bad Hallowed Be Thy Name. One star.

Carl Palmer gives us the best side of the album. And the most ELP-like. His drumming is great. He reworks some classical pieces into great rock songs. has some big band moments. And even rearranges Tank into a nice fusion song. If the entire album was like this, I'd love it. 4 stars.

The ELP side, while not the worst music of their career, was was worst at that point. The first of the two songs is Aaron Copland's Fanfare For The Common Man, reworked into a mostly boring one chord jam. Pirates is at least prog. And a prog epic. But compared to just about anything ELP had recorded previously, it's light. But it's not too bad. And subsequent non-orchestral recordings show that it's not really a bad prog song. Three stars.

So, all-in-all, this album gets 2.5 stars, which I'll round up, because I'm feeling generous, and the Red Sox are winning today.