ELP EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER were Progressive Rock's first Supergroup. Their flamboyance on record and in the studio echoed the best work of the heavy metal acts of the era but took it one GIGANTIC stage further. ELP incorporated elements of Classical music - the very genre which had originally inspired many contemporary hard rock groups - into their sound, all effortlessly achieved with an awesome level of sheer technical excellence. ELP were formed in 1970 by ex - Nice keyboard wizard Keith Emerson (who had already been tagged "the Jimi Hendrix of the Hammond organ"), ex - King Crimson bass player / vocalist / producer Greg Lake, and Carl Palmer, a 20 year old drummer who had worked with Atomic Rooster and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. [Numerous drummers had been considered, most notably Mitch Mitchell from The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and even though Emerson wanted to keep the project a keyboard-bass-drums trio, there was serious talk of adding Jimi Hendrix to the line up, inspiring music press stories that the band would be called "Hendrix, Emerson, Lake & Palmer" or HELP, for short.] ELP, who at a conservative estimate have sold more than 40 million albums since their inception, were the first Progressive Rock Group to pack out stadiums all over the world. ELP's live performance at the Isle Of Wight Festival in August 1970, before hundreds of thousands of fans, catapulted the band into rock's stratosphere even before they had recorded their first album. Their spectacular stage sets, including a revolving drum kit, Quadrophonic sound, a grand piano that rose 30 feet into the air and flipped end over end, and a spectacular lighting system, rapidly became the stuff of legend. Concerts would end with huge, extravagant pyrotechnics, the keyboards screaming feedback through massive PA systems, Emerson having speared the keyboards with 18 inch daggers to keep the keys down. "Part of the nature of ELP was that it was always looking plainly at something different. We were always looking to do something different. It was not excess for its own sake, and the production was never gratuitous. It was always something that we felt would dramatize the effect of the music. All the big stage shows that we did were really there to dramatize the music." (Greg Lake) Now for the first time, a double best of - 'The Ultimate Collection' - CD, featuring the best known tracks from the best known albums of this unparalleled, groundbreaking, spectacular rock act has been compiled. 'The Ultimate Collection' is a fantastic compilation, not only for long term fans, but also young rock aficionados keen to explore the music of one of Britain's biggest rock heritage bands - ever. Welcome
Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends - |
CARL
PALMER
"WORKING LIVE WORLD TOUR" ********************************************* April 27 Rattle & Drum - Derby (Masterclass & Clinic) (01332 360657) April 29 Talkin' Headz Drums - Milton Keynes (Masterclass) (01908 282898) April 30 Masterclass for the students and Drum Circle for the deaf children at St. Bedes Grammar School in Bradford. THE CARL PALMER BAND TOUR DATES May 06
BOURNEMOUTH - MR KYPS ************** June 6 The 3rd Southern Drum Show - Southampton (Masterclass & Clinic) (02380 490834) www.carlpalmer.com |
EMERSON,
LAKE & PALMER
'The Ultimate Collection' Sleeve Notes by Jerry Ewing "To the uninitiated, the very fact that Emerson, Lake & Palmer attained such heady heights, receiving plaudits world wide for their inspired brand of progressive rock music and becoming one of the major players in the rock scene in a mere eight years (as indeed they did in their initial incarnation), might be a little too much to take in. But to those in the know, someone such as your good self who has had the astuteness to pick up this collection of the band's finest and most popular works, it will come as no surprise. By the time Greg Lake finally persuaded a 20-year old Carl Palmer to join this new rock tour de force alongside himself and Keith Emerson, the youthful trio had already been involved with such heady luminaries as The Nice, The Gods (a band featuring Lake alongside future Stones guitarist Mick Taylor and Uriah Heep's Ken Hensley), King Crimson, Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown and Atomic Rooster. It's hardly a surprise such prodigious talent produced a band as enigmatic and successful as ELP! The seeds of ELP were sown when The Nice and King Crimson ended up performing together in San Francisco. Emerson, who had learnt his trade playing jazz, rock or big band music whilst working in a bank and who had already made a name for himself as an extravagant performer in The Nice, felt he could take The Nice's blend of classical themes fused with '60s rock further. Lake was suitably inspired and left King Crimson after their second album 'In The Wake Of Poseidon'. With the youthful Palmer on board, the trio set about their new project with enthusiasm. Initial rehearsals at Island Studios saw the fledgling band tackling The Nice's 'Rondo' as well as King Crimson's '21st Century Schizoid Man'. With Lake having switched from playing guitar to bass during his Crimson days, the band's sound allowed for bass, keyboard and drums to combine to emphatic effect, the lack of a lead guitar lending them a distinct sound. And the evident talent that lay in all three protagonists meant that they were never afraid to strike out on their own chosen path. Fear was something that rarely troubled ELP. Their ever second gig saw them appearing at the Isle Of Wight Festival in August 1970 before their debut album had even been unleashed. Undaunted by the presence further up the bill of well established acts like The Who, The Doors and Jimi Hendrix, they set about their task with panache, climaxing their set with the gunfire of two brass canons. ELP swiftly followed their headline grabbing set with the release of 'Emerson, Lake & Palmer', their debut album on Island Records. It was an immediate success, reaching No. 4 in the UK charts and even breaking into the US Top 20. From the off they dived headfirst into the kind of lengthy epics that would become the band's trademark, 'Knife Edge' being a fine example. And yet there was also a subtle side to the band, often overlooked. Lake's beautiful ballad 'Lucky Man' or the poignant 'Take A Pebble', both of which are shining examples of simple song structure with the added dash of virtuoso performance. Within a year not one but two new ELP albums had hit the streets, proving this was no band to do things by halves. 'Tarkus' was released in June 1971, and plunged unashamedly into the 20-minute plus title. Made up of seven different movements of the title track and based around the mythological half-tank, half-armadillo creature that graced the cover the album clearly appealed to the burgeoning movement of progressive rock fans, who duly sent the album to the top of the charts. Mussorgsky's 'Pictures At An Exhibition', was (and remains) a staple part of the ELP live show. This version, recorded at Newcastle's City Hall in March 1971 and released that November, showed that ELP's lack of fear in tackling complex classical pieces in a rock format continued to set them apart from peers like Yes, Genesis and Pink Floyd who tended to stick with self-penned material. The climactic 'Great Gates Of Kiev' shows all three musicians, allowed off the leash throughout the work, combining to full effect, whilst the ebullient encore of Kim Fowley's 'Nutrocker' was released as a single. Less than eight months later, in July 1972, 'Trilogy' showed the trio's relentless pursuit of perfection and glory was gaining apace. With Emerson increasingly adopting new technology to add to his ever-expanding bank of keyboards, the band also undertook a massive world tour, and new songs such as their version of Aaron Copeland's 'Hoedown' and the jazzy swing of 'From The Beginning' (their highest charting US single) were wowing the crowds. 1973 would prove to be a monumental year for the band. Not only did they venture out on tour as the first band to carry their own stage with them (the now famous Proscenium arch), but they also set up their own label. Manticore, named after a mythical creature that boasted the head of a human, the body of a lion and tail of a scorpion, not only played home to Italian prog rock act PFM and King Crimson lyrical collaborator Pete Sinfield, but would also see the release of the band's next album, 1974's 'Brain Salad Surgery'. Probably the band's best known album (it came housed with striking artwork from Swiss artist H. R. Giger) the bombastic three part centrepiece 'Karn Evil 9' is one of the genre's best known pieces, their take on 'Jerusalem' was coloured with quintessential English flavour and Greg Lake's mastery of balladry was again emphasised with 'Still You Turn Me On'. The ensuing tour was captured for prosperity on the triple live album 'Welcome Back My friends To The Show That Never Ends - Ladies And Gentlemen, Emerson, Lake & Palmer', the whole package echoing the kind of overblown concepts that were creeping into the prog genre and would later undermine it. Shattered from five years relentless touring and recording, ELP took a break to recharge battery banks and re-fill wells of inspiration. When they did re-appear it was in 1977 with the double set 'Works Vol. 1'. It showed that whilst away, the individual members had been busy on solo works that took up a side each. Lake's 'C'est La Vie' features here, whilst Emerson remains rightly proud of his own 'Piano Concerto No. 1' as is Palmer of his version of Prokofiev's 'The Enemy God Dances With The Black Spirits', and the collaborative 'Pirates' (originally meant for the score to Frederick Forsyth's Dogs Of War) is a real stunner. Alas the solo emphasis of 'Works Vol. 1' however, following on from the band's protracted break in schedule hinted that perhaps all was not well within the band. A
second volume, 'Works Vol. II' was also released, but this was not
1971 ñ the last time ELP had issued two albums in one year.
Punk was raging all around them as ELP tried to steady the ship. 'Works
Vol. II' may have tried to put the emphasis back on the group, but
it was still Greg Lake's 'I Believe In Father Christmas' that yielded
a surprise seasonal hit, whilst 'Tiger In A Spotlight' and 'Brain
Salad Surgery, both featured here, dated back to the 'Brain Salad
Surgery' sessions. In an effort to steady the ship, ELP resorted to what they knew best, and fearlessly threw themselves into another massive world tour, this time with an orchestra of 60 plus musicians. Things did not auger well however, and after two concerts at Montreal's Olympic Stadium the spiralling costs forced the band to disband the orchestra and continue simply as a three piece. It was not an enjoyable experience for a band who prided themselves on innovation and exploration. Matters were made worse when Atlantic Records, distributors of Manticore, forced the tired and weary band into a Nassau studio to record a new album to fulfil contractual obligations. The resultant album was 1978's 'Love Beach'. Despite the critical panning it took at the time the single 'All I Want Is You' and the band's stirring version of Rodrigo's 'Canaria' prove there was still some life left in the band. Yet by the time a lone Keith Emerson put the finishing touches to the record, both Lake and Palmer had flown home. ELP were over. A live offering of from the ill-fated Montreal shows, 'In Concert', was released in 1979 boasting a sprightly cover of 'Peter Gunn', and a hastily packaged 'Best Of' was released a year after that. Greg Lake began a solo career, hooking up with ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore for 1981's 'Greg Lake'. 'Manoeuvres' followed in 1983. Palmer formed his own band PM who released one album, '1PM', in 1980, before forming the hugely successful Asia with John Wetton, Geoff Downes and Steve Howe. And Emerson busied himself with a myriad of film scores. Emerson and Lake hooked up with Cozy Powell to form Emerson, Lake & Powell in 1986 and Emerson and Palmer joined forces with American Robert Berry for 1989's 3 project, issuing 'To The Power Of Three'. But until 1991, that was the closest anyone got to a full-blown ELP reunion. And then the news was announced Emerson, Lake & Palmer had reunited to record a new album. 1992's 'Black Moon' showed a band that had matured and adapted with the times, yet still displayed virtuoso performances. The ominous title track is a booming rocker whilst single 'Affairs Of The Heart' displayed a more contemporary edge to the ELP sound. The band celebrated with three sold out shows at the legendary Royal Albert Hall from which came 1993's 'Live At The Royal Albert Hall'. The same year the trio re-recorded some old material for the 'Return Of The Manticore' box set and began work on a new studio album. Sadly an injury to Emerson dulled the effect of 1994's 'In The Hot Seat' and prevented the band from touring for two years. And then, in 1998, Greg Lake once more left ELP. There's been no new ELP album since. Neither has there been any new Greg Lake album. But Emerson penned his autobiography, 'Pictures Of An Exhibitionist' and reformed The Nice, who recently toured the UK. And Palmer, in between the odd appearance on the BBC TV show The Generation Game (hosted by ELP fan Jim Davidson) hooked up with old Asia partner John Wetton in Qango. So will we see ELP again? Keith Emerson recently told Classic Rock magazine "I haven't heard from Greg Lake. And I don't expect to". But rumours persist, and you hold no finer representation of the ELP magic in your hands. Next year will be the band's 35th Anniversary. Who'd bet against it?" Jerry Ewing, Classic Rock Magazine, February 2004. |