| Author | Message | ||
| tmoney61092
Senior Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 894 Registered: 9-2008 |
So I decided that I wanted to check these guys out because of everything I've read about them and they were amazing! I've listened to Knifes Edge, Karn Evil 9, and Fanfare for the Common Man, what would be a good album to check out??? thanks! ~Taylor | ||
| hifiguy
Advanced Member Username: hifiguy Post Number: 395 Registered: 10-2006 |
IMO their masterpiece is Brain Salad Surgery, in particular Emerson's stunning arrangement of the Anglican hymn "Jerusalem" and the brilliant 30+ minute "Karn Evil 9" suite. That is about as good as 1970s prog ever got unless you were a big fan of the orchestral/Mellotron heavy bands like Genesis and Yes. Tarkus is also quite good but side two is spotty. | ||
| tmoney61092
Senior Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 895 Registered: 9-2008 |
yea after listening to Karn Evil 9 I'm pretty sold on Brain Salad Surgery, I'll definitely check out the rest of the album! ~Taylor | ||
| bluplirst
Intermediate Member Username: bluplirst Post Number: 155 Registered: 12-2004 |
Its all good, my favorite album is probably trilogy! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 2080 Registered: 9-2002 |
I saw ELP live back in the day when they were touring behind the (then) newly released 'Brain Salad Surgery' (one of the coolest album covers ever, man am I dating myself!). Greg was playing the Scorpion 8-string Alembic in spots, Keith had the great gag where the grand piano lifted off the stage and flipped end-over-end-over-end, and Carl's drum kit went round & round during his solo. They were touring with a quadrophonic PA, big stacks of bins opposite the front scrims about 50 rows back, and their front-of-house mixer would go nuts with the pan pot in spots. Keith was touring with that monstrous component Moog rig, and I'm sure his tech is still in recovery from shepherding that monster down the road from show to show. I always dug that he played facing the audience with both arms straight out playing two parts on two rigs without even looking, what a player. I always thought Carl Palmer was very overlooked as an amazing drummer. Rusty, the show I saw was in the old Sam Houston Coliseum, what a barn, long since torn down. Far Out, Man ! ! ! J o e y | ||
| hifiguy
Advanced Member Username: hifiguy Post Number: 396 Registered: 10-2006 |
I think Keith still has that modular Moog -- at least he did a few years back and one of his veteran techs was slowly restoring the beast. I saw that tour too, Joey. Quad sound system, something like 35 tons of gear. They were showmen of the first order and virtuosos to boot. Couldn't agree more with your assessment of CP. He was so technically superb he once got a shout out on the Carson show from his idol, Buddy Rich. | ||
| eligilam
Senior Member Username: eligilam Post Number: 412 Registered: 2-2006 |
Greg Lake is also highly underrated as a bass player. The guy's bass lines and note choices are super tasty: I spent a while transcribing a lot of his songs, and when you really dig into the parts and analyze them, he's doing some pretty interesting things. Personal favorites: Karn Evil 9, Second Impression off of Brain Salad Surgery (piano-bass interplay at it's finest---superb bass atmospherics) The Only Way/Infinite Space off of Tarkus (check out that high-tempo walking bass line---amazing!) | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 1079 Registered: 6-2006 |
Taylor - "Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends" is a 3 disc live album (2 CD) from ELP. I have worn out the vinyl and now have the CD. Brilliant performances from all members start to finish. :-D | ||
| terrace
Member Username: terrace Post Number: 51 Registered: 3-2008 |
I saw them the first time they played Vancouver at the Agrodome touring their first album.When Keith played the Moog solo in "lucky Man" it felt like the building would explode.He also was stabbing the B3 during Knife Edge. | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1922 Registered: 2-2005 |
I saw them in 1977 at Soldier Field. The Climax Blues Band opened, followed by the J.Geils band and Foghat with ELP closing. It was one of the better outdoor concerts I have been to. Keith - NTEO (Not the Emerson One) | ||
| bonesrad
Intermediate Member Username: bonesrad Post Number: 104 Registered: 5-2002 |
They were defintely one of my all time favorite bands. The first album, Tarkus, Trilogy, and Brain Salad Surgery are all great. Bones | ||
| mtjam
Intermediate Member Username: mtjam Post Number: 107 Registered: 11-2011 |
I discovered ELP at a very young age from my cool uncle who turned me on to other bands such as Yes and Pink Floyd. I highly recommend Brain Salad Surgery, too! Great from start to finish. I completely agree that BSS is one of the coolest album covers ever! Maybe I'll listen to it tonight... | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1326 Registered: 1-2005 |
I got into them pretty heavily for a while - I really loved the first album and Tarkus - Pictures at an Exhibition was cool too - my parents turned me on to classical music as a child so I love reimaginations of classical pieces (Tomita and Wendy Carlos come to mind - I guess I grew up with the sound of Moog!) I'm not a fan of Trilogy for some reason, though I know that other people love it. Brain Salad Surgery of course - I would listen to that over and over on my way to and from school. Are you folks aware of the original Giger album cover design that was airbrushed? | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11242 Registered: 5-2002 |
My favorite, by far, is the first side of Tarkus; I think it's an amazing piece. I also liked Pictures at an Exhibition; but the Tarkus medley, for me, was just an amazing work. If you haven't heard it yet, you can listen to it here. | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1925 Registered: 2-2005 |
Tomita! Used to listen to Snowflakes Are Dancing and Pictures At An Exhibition quite frequently while under the influence in high school. Keith | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 1080 Registered: 6-2006 |
Have to admit I have never heard the studio version of Tarkus before. Very cool. I also confess that I really like how Greg slips in a phrase from Epitath on the live version that is on Welcome Back My Friends . . . | ||
| hifiguy
Advanced Member Username: hifiguy Post Number: 397 Registered: 10-2006 |
Back in the day my organ teacher (I studied both classical and theater organ for a few years and didn't listen to much rock) played me Switched On Bach through the giant tube McIntosh/Altec Voice of the Theater stereo system she and her husband owned. Turned me on to both high-end audio and the Moog in one fell swoop. I think I fell for prog because Keith or Rick standing in the middle of a horseshoe of keyboards seemed to me to be the rock equivalent of the Mighty Wurlitzers of the golden age of the theater organ. (Message edited by hifiguy on November 13, 2013) | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 3099 Registered: 5-2009 |
I was a big " Switched On Bach:" fan as well , I still am ! I am a big Bach fan in general ______ I Love that counter point_____ | ||
| jzstephan
Advanced Member Username: jzstephan Post Number: 211 Registered: 1-2012 |
http://www.hrgiger.com/missing.htm | ||
| dfung60
Senior Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 593 Registered: 5-2002 |
Greg Lake was one of my biggest influences on bass. Over the many years, my musical tastes went to a different place than ELP, but I still love Greg's playing and tone. He has quite an amazing explosive pick attack and really defines the "piano" bass tone and the really intense string rolls he throws in tehre. I'll second an earlier post - you hear ELP at the very best on Welcome Back My Friends, a triple live LP, and Pictures At An Exhibition (also live) is great too. I loved Brain Salad Surgery back then, perhaps like Tarkus a bit better now because it isn't so drowned in reverb. By Works I (next to their last official album), it's pretty much nothing but reverb - I've always wondered what Pirates would sound like if you could actually hear it. The problem with the solo albums are that the true combo stuff is pretty sterile from overdubs. The band members are quite famous for not getting along at all, but in a live environment, they really connect and feed off of each other. ELP's last tour was with a orchestra - at least the first half of it was. I happened to be at the last show with the full orchestra in Des Moines Iowa. Quite a day to remember - the ELP concert was at Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, across the street from the best movie theater in the state. My best friend, Dave Rougvie, said "let's go catch that Star Wars movie that just opened a week or two ago". So we had our minds blown there, then walked across the street and saw this amazing show. Greg played his 8-string graphite Alembic for much of the show (I think he had a Pirates one as well as the more famous Manticore bass). I guess I know what I'm listening to the rest of tonight. Check around on YouTube - some very interesting video. I believe there was some soundcheck video from Montreal, which was the last date of the Pirates tour (and where they brought back the full orchestra). If I remember correctly, you'll see Greg with a Zemaitis doubleneck... David Fung | ||
| dfung60
Senior Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 594 Registered: 5-2002 |
<whoops, double post> (Message edited by dfung60 on November 13, 2013) | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1621 Registered: 10-2006 |
In late'71-early '72, my buddy Crazy Mike bought a used 8-track deck for his '64 Mercury; it came with Fever Tree's eponymous debut, Sly and the Family Stone's Greatest Hits, and Tarkus. In a town of 800, cruising backroads all night was the only option, and we about wore all 3 out over the next year or 2. For some reason, I hadn't listened to Tarkus since about '74 - until tonight. I have a strong urge to shoot road signs from a moving car......... Peter | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 2144 Registered: 11-2004 |
At the tender age of 13 years old I am in the crowd when 'Pictures..' was recorded at Newcastle City Hall UK. Saw ELP at Wembley promoting 'Brain Salad Surgery', Palmer with his 5 ton engraved stainless steel and copper drum kit which had to have a reinforced plinth built for it to be placed, chinese gong, church bell above his head and kettle drums.excess or what!. Greg Lake standing on his handmade persian carpet with his Alembic and Keith with his Houston Space Center Moog, Steinway Grand piano, two Hammond organs, one for playing and one for sticking knives in, jumping on and trashing. I think only Pink Floyd came close to gear excess! Albums to recommend, the first for it's virtuosity, the rest for even more prog rock virtuosity! Ah..those were the days!!!! | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1622 Registered: 10-2006 |
"I think only Pink Floyd came close to gear excess!" I'm not sure about that - though, on the other hand, this was all sound, no show, and thus probably not "excess"  Peter | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 3100 Registered: 5-2009 |
I remember on the Genesis tour in 1978 being part of the crew unloading SEVEN , yes 7 , Semi-truck trailers with the logo of the Consolidated Freight Trucking Company. Talk about lots of stuff ! Also including the " awesome & stellar laser light Show " ! Wolf | ||
| s_wood
Advanced Member Username: s_wood Post Number: 374 Registered: 5-2002 |
Good stuff! For bass players, listen to the up-tempo ostinato that Greg Lake plays at the beginning of the live version of Tarkus on "Welcome Back My Friends To the Show That Never Ends." Man, I still can't play that line cleanly! Great tone, but that's a Gibson Ripper you are hearing...the Alembics showed up on Works Vol.I and afterwards. | ||
| hifiguy
Advanced Member Username: hifiguy Post Number: 398 Registered: 10-2006 |
Yep. The dinosaur-eating-cars growl of the 8-string Alembic can't be missed on "Fanfare For the Common Man". I also distinctly remember Greg playing an Alembic when I saw the Works tour with orchestra. | ||
| s_wood
Advanced Member Username: s_wood Post Number: 375 Registered: 5-2002 |
I saw both the Brain Salad Surgery and Works Tour (with the orchestra). Really mind-blowing stuff...those cats could play! | ||
| tmoney61092
Senior Member Username: tmoney61092 Post Number: 896 Registered: 9-2008 |
this has turned into an awesome thread! thanks everyone for your comments! I'm definitely going to check the 3 disc live set they did! ~Taylor | ||
| rjmsteel
Advanced Member Username: rjmsteel Post Number: 211 Registered: 7-2008 |
What about Greg (Lake) in King Crimson.. In The Court of the Crimson King, (Bass and Vocals) and vocals on In The Wake of Poseidon. Court of Crimson King pre-ELP and Poseidon vocals only. Great stuff. Love those albums... have both on vinyl. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11243 Registered: 5-2002 |
I love the Court of the Crimson King album; and the bass playing in the middle section of Schizoid Man is pretty fair. | ||
| s_wood
Advanced Member Username: s_wood Post Number: 376 Registered: 5-2002 |
This thread inspired me to dig into my CDs! I found and listened to a recently-released live recording called "Live at the Nassau Coliseum 1978." It was recorded on the tour they did after Works was released, but after they had to let the orcehstra go for financial reasons. Greg Lake's Alembics are loud and clear - actually, the sound is much cleaner than the reverb-soaked "Welcome Back My Friends..." release. The 8 string sounds great on Tarkus! | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 2146 Registered: 11-2004 |
Another of my favourite bands..the album covers are works of art!! And of course Robert Fripp is a brilliant but somewhat eccentric guitarist!! | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1037 Registered: 2-2011 |
J o e y, I saw many concerts in the Sam Houston Coliseum, unfortunately ELP wasn't one of them! the 1st time I saw Stanley was in 1979 in the Music Hall next door to the Coliseum, then in 1980 my band got to play in the Music Hall & all I could think of was that I was standing on the same stage Stanley stood on! Hallowed ground indeed! | ||
| jzstephan
Advanced Member Username: jzstephan Post Number: 214 Registered: 1-2012 |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimson_Jazz_Trio | ||
| jzstephan
Advanced Member Username: jzstephan Post Number: 215 Registered: 1-2012 |
http://youtu.be/EBAQma1O6EA | ||
| rjmsteel
Advanced Member Username: rjmsteel Post Number: 213 Registered: 7-2008 |
When I saw King Crimson, (at The Park West in Chicago), can`t remember what year maybe 1981-82?, the lineup consisted of: Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin (on Stick and Bass), and Bill Bruford! | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1042 Registered: 2-2011 |
My 1st concert was Ten Years After with King Crimson & Robin Trower. It was incredible! Fripp sat on a stool the entire show! | ||
| rjmsteel
Advanced Member Username: rjmsteel Post Number: 214 Registered: 7-2008 |
You're right Rusty, he DID sit on a stool the entire show! | ||
| dfung60
Senior Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 595 Registered: 5-2002 |
rjmsteel - The Crimson you saw was the Discipline edition, my very favorite of all Crimsons! On YouTube there was a great performance of Elephant Talk from the old late-night TV show Fridays. As with much Crimson from that era, it's hard to tell who was playing what unless you see it - the opening riff is classic Fripp, but it's actually being played on the Stick by Levin... In my mind, this is the best Stick riff ever. Belew looks so very happy, Fripp too (although many of my friends said it was "serial killer happy). David Fung | ||
| dfung60
Senior Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 596 Registered: 5-2002 |
I think Greg Lake's bass on almost all the studio recordings is his black maple-necked Jazz Bass. He was part of the artist advisory for the Ripper and I believe that's the bass that's heard on Welcome Back My Friends. They're very different sounding - the Ripper has sidewinder humbuckers and isn't nearly as bright as the Jazz. David Fung | ||
| lidon2001
Senior Member Username: lidon2001 Post Number: 523 Registered: 4-2005 |
Crimson tour planned for 2015. New lineup minus Belew. | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 1044 Registered: 2-2011 |
David, Elephant Talk is also my favorite Stick riff & favorite KC song! I play that riff on my bass all the time! | ||
| rjmsteel
Advanced Member Username: rjmsteel Post Number: 215 Registered: 7-2008 |
Yep, Adrian (Belew) "says" he is OK with the decision to not have him in the lineup. Odd as Fripp is looking to have two Drummers, (what I read anyway). I wonder how Bruford feels about that! (Edit): I see what you mean (hifiguy) about Bruford, looked up his web page. Actually I "thought" I heard Fripp saying HE was done with the music business about a year or two ago, interesting. David: Tony (Levin`s) Stick playing (at the Park West - Discipline - show) was nothing short of amazing. Not to mention the great acoustics at Park West. Rich (Message edited by rjmsteel on November 20, 2013) | ||
| hifiguy
Senior Member Username: hifiguy Post Number: 403 Registered: 10-2006 |
IIRC, Bill stated on his website that he is now semi-retired and doesn't do big overseas tours anymore. And Robert ALWAYS sits on a stool and has for more than 40 years. I love that Elephant Talk riff, too. You do need a 24-fret bass to play it on, though, and tap the upper parts with the right hand. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 2082 Registered: 9-2002 |
Paul, I don't know about 'Elephant Talk' on a bass: Tony was doing a promotional tour for TraceElliott back when it was bought by Gibson after the split to Ashdown (and since bought by Peavey). You may remember his print ads for that 'BFC' cabinet. So he came to Sam Ash here in Nashville, and did the usual play and talk they do on those sorts of things. Very nice guy, and obviously a terrific player. Brought his 4 and 5-string Music Mans (he'd already lost his 3-string in that barn fire, sure wanted to see it), and he had a Stick with him. He proceeded to hook it up and went straight into the 'Elephant Talk' riff, saying that 'I can only play it, I can't chart it !'. I love thos pics of him with one of Ned's full-length uprights strapped over his shoulder ! J o e y | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 2147 Registered: 11-2004 |
Crimson back on tour..well I hope I can get to see them. My eceletic taste in music stretches from funk/jazz to this sort of stuff but I have always been a lifelong fan of King Crimson. Fripp has always sat down on a stool, he certainly is not your archetypal rock guitarist, not even jazz although I have heard Crimson's music being called 'industrial jazz'..whatever that means. Their back catalogue is the most diverse you will ever hear. From Vaughan Williams pastoral and Holst to avant garde jazz to free jamming to highly complex music. 'Fracktured' from 'The ConstrucKtion of Light' has the most aggressive unison solo ever! It must be noted that Fripp detests photographs being taken at the gigs..so much so he has been known to walk off stage! | ||
| tmimichael
Member Username: tmimichael Post Number: 53 Registered: 3-2010 |
As for ELP...Tarkus was one of those albums that turned me inside out, and of course Pictures at an Exhibition was one I used to practice to a lot. Greg's playing (along with Chris Squire) was such a strong influence on my playing style. I still use a pick about 50% of the time. And if anyone is into DVD Audio, Brain Salad Surgery, and Tarkus are available now, as are several of King Crimsons albums (Close to the Edge from YES just came out too). |
