PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION - 35TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTORS EDITION

The vinyl album was the first recording I haVe purchased from the band back in 1973. It is with a lot of emotion that I was looking at these images. They brought me back to my very youth since I went to see ELP on stage for their "Welcome Back My friends To The Show That Never Ends" tour in 1974. I was fifteen years old and ELP was one of my preferred band at that time.

Seeing these young lads is quitte impressive. It is a pity that it took so long to get images from this concert, but what a great moment to see Lake on the vocals in subtle a track as "Promenade". Also pleasant is to see how much fun Carl is getting out of this. Looking most of the time at the master (Keith, is it necessary to mention ?) to know how to drum ?

These might be called excesses but that's what the fan was expecting at the time. You need to be pretty old (as I unfortunately am) to have experienced those prog times live. "Pictures" was one of the encores of the concert I have seen in 74. Would you believe ?

There is nothing such band today. Of course, several Japaneese bands will try and recreate the ELP sound, but none will have the creativity of their early days (even if some of them are very interesting, but that's another story which I will cover later on in my reviewing duties). Some takes will have a psychedelic flavour (but this was shot in 1970, remember) and the whole attraction is of course Keith.

I have mentioned this story already in my review of the album but when you learn that : "The label told the band it was a piece of s h i t and would damage their careers," But ELP "Felt otherwise, and had released it in Europe, where it was a huge hit. The British import started to filter to US shops and eventually sold 50,000 copies. The next thing I know (said their manager Steward Young) the label is on the phone telling me they'd like to put the album out. I told them to go to hell. Three days later the President of the label flew to London to try to get us to change our mind. Eventually, we put the deal together and the album came out. Ultimately, it was a multi-platinum hit."

I can only recommend you to get this DVD version. You'll get the whole music as well as some scenes featuring one of the greatest prog act in the world. Keith' s acting only reminds me the concert I have seen some thirty-three years ago. So, yes : I am filled with emotion and completely biased. But at least (as usual in this case), I mention it in my review. Can you expect more ?

THIS IS HISTORY. FEW PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THIS LIVE, SO GET OUT AND GRAB IT ! Four stars.