IN CONCERT

"Emerson Lake & Palmer In Concert" is the third live album of Emerson, Lake & Palmer and was recorded at the 26 August 1977 at the Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada, which is featured on the front cover of the album. However, "Emerson Lake & Palmer In Concert" was released in November 1979, following Emerson, Lake & Palmer's break up.

"Emerson Lake & Palmer In Concert" is an album taken from their "Works Vol. 2" live tour, the last live tour released by Emerson Lake & Palmer before the breakup of the band. So, this is a live album that, consequently, features essentially tracks that were released on their two last studio albums, at the time, "Works Vol. 1" and "Works Vol. 2", both of 1977.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer hired a 70 piece orchestra for some concerts of this tour, but eventually they had to dismiss the orchestra due to budget constraints that almost bankrupted the band. On this live release, the orchestra performs on tracks "C'Est La Vie", "Knife Edge", Keith Emerson's "Piano Concerto No. 1" and on "Pictures At An Exhibition".

"Emerson Lake & Palmer In Concert" has eight tracks. The first track "Introductory Fanfare" is a very short track composed by Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer and represents the theme to open the concert and is pleasant enough to introduce the live show to the audience. The second track "Peter Gun (Henry Mancini)" is a version of a classic TV theme song of an American private eye television series which aired from 1958 to 1961. It was never released on any of their studio albums and frequently the band opened with this song on the "Works Vol. 2" live tour. A slightly edited version of this live recording was included on the 1980 "Best Of" compilation and released as a single in some countries. The third track "Tiger In A Spotlight" was originally released on their sixth studio album "Works Vol. 2". The fourth track "C'Est La Vie" was originally released on their fifth studio album "Works Vol. 1". The fifth track "The Enemy God Dances With The Black Spirits (Excerpt From "The Scythian Suite" 2nd Movement - Prokofiev)" was originally released on "Works Vol. 1". The sixth track "Knife Edge (Adapted From Janacek's "Sinfonietta" was originally released on their eponymous debut studio album. The seventh track "Piano Concerto No. 1 (Third Movement: Toccata Con Fuoco)" was originally released on "Works Vol. 1". The eighth track "Pictures At An Exhibition" was originally released on their debut live album with the same name "Pictures At An Exhibition".

We can analyse "Emerson Lake & Palmer In Concert" by two different and distinct perspectives, the choice of the tracks that were taken from their musical repertoire, and the live performance itself. So, in relation to "Introductory Fanfare" I don't have anything special to say about it except that it represents a very nice introduction to the show. About "Peter Gun" I really like it. This is a piece very interesting and pleasant to hear and represents a new and fresh way to represent a song so famous at the time that it was made. "Tiger In A Spotlight", is a live version leftover from the "Brain Salad Surgery" sessions and despite being taken from "Works Vol. 2" is a fun Rock'n'Roll and blues tune, interesting and pleasant to hear. Still, it doesn't bring anything new and exciting to this live show. "C'Est La Vie" is a great track, a very well known track, one of the most known of the band. As we know, this is a Lake's song, one of his best contributions to the band. It represents probably the highest point on the album and this live version is also, in my humble opinion, slightly better than the original studio version. "The Enemy God Dances With The Black Spirits" is, as I mentioned above the band's treatment of a Prokofiev's suite, is also a very nice track. This is a very storming and dramatic interpretation by the band. Although this isn't properly a brilliant piece, we can say that it brought, somehow, a breath of fresh air to the show. "Knife Edge" represents another great choice because finally we have a live version of a song chosen from one of their greatest masterpieces, his debut eponymous studio album. This always was a very exciting track to hear. "Piano Concerto No. 1 (Third Movement: Toccata Con Fuoco)" was also a great choice because it represents, for me, one of the few highest points on "Works Vol. 1". Sincerely, I always loved this piece. "Pictures At An Exhibition" undoubtedly represents another great moment on this live show. "Pictures At An Exhibition" represents one of their finest moments. This is a very interesting version because it's performed with the addition of the orchestra.

Conclusion: "Emerson Lake & Palmer In Concert" isn't really a bad album as some say. But, it has mainly three problems. First, it was released before the breakup of the band. Second, it was an obligated release by their record label. Third, it was taken from a "Works" live tour. And as we know, the "Works" albums aren't properly the best and most representative of their career. Still and despite all this, I really think that we are in the presence of a good live album. The choice of the songs is very good and balanced, since we are in the presence of a live album that represents a "Works" live tour. However, in my humble opinion, the live performance, despite being good and very professional, isn't as brilliant as it should be, lacking some energy and some ability to improvise. Still, I think it deserves 3 stars.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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