LUCKY MAN (LIVE) (RE-RELEASED AS " FANFARE: THE 1997 WORLD TOUR")

What was all the fuss about it?! Don't get me wrong, the ELP World Tour - dated 1997 - brought about a certain excitement for their reunion, among their several old fans all over the world; but in the same time there was a sense of tiredness, regarding of their obliged passage in the market and considering the good feeback from the media concerning a couple of tracks -"Changing States" and "Close to Home". Such soundtracks being already used in a movie, were also acclaimed by their fans, as for the good harmony and feeling showed inside the re-joined band, when They played these latter instrumental songs. Unlike during the issue of the disappointing album entitled "Love BEACH", or regarding their last live album of the seventies - entitled "Emerson Lake and Palmer in concert" - their new approach of the early nineties wasn't a flop for the whole world market; even though in the following years the expectations of the fans were quite disappointed !! In fact sometimes their magical harmony seemed to be a little bit interrupted, as for the weak vocalism of a tired Greg Lake and some difficult passages at the keyboards as well, especially when Keith used to force his weak left hand (naturally if you regard of the surgery for his damaged ligament...). So all these features are showed even within the present "Fanfare: The 1997 World Tour" (Live, 2003)", showing all the good and the best concerning their live performances all over the world. That's their uneven execution on stage, sometimes becoming more evident as for a bad mixing and an uneven quality audio too, which could hide their technical gap... however never mind, cause their career as soloists went on and in a good manner too (think of the recent issue by Emerson, the fertile activity carried on by Greg as a producer, as well as the enthusiastic performance by Carl inside the new TRIO called BPS - Braido, Palmer and Stevens!!..). Perhaps their new different career has encouraged them during all these years, passing through some good issues and a bunch of interesting international live gigs...so at the end it's worth checking out at least, but the present CD is not essential at all!!

I was surprised by this CD, because it is not bad. Originally this performance was on Then and now compilation (I think). So, it's a part of Now. What to say? It is not essential, but that doesn't mean it's bad. In fact I like this performance quite well. Surprisingly, 21st Century schiyoid man from King Crimson is included and I like it. It is strange to hear this song live playing by Emerson. Not bad.

If you are fan of ELP this live compilation is necessary. For all others - try it, maybe it will catch your attention.

Time to repackage the tracks we've already repackaged again

This album, released in identical form but with different sleeve illustrations as "Lucky man (live)" and "Fanfare, the 1997 tour", is quite simply the second disc of the 1998 album "Then and now". These tracks were referred to on that collection as "Now", the then tracks being from 1974. Unfortunately, three of the "Now" tracks were included on the first disc of "Now and then", and those are simply omitted here (the three, "A Time And A Place", "Piano Concerto No. 1 (Third Movement)", and "From The Beginning" can be found on the 2001 re-packaging called "The show that never ends").

The recording quality is excellent, and the song selection by the band diverse. They range from never before performed live songs from "Tarkus", to a 22 minute extravaganza based around "Fanfare for the common man" and Dave Brubeck's "Blue rondo a la Turk". After the stunning initial fanfare, we settle down into a lengthy workout by Emerson on synth and organ. Hidden away in the rendition is an unannounced divergence into "Abaddon's Bolero" and a number of other familiar modern and classical themes. Carl Palmer also slips in one of his astonishingly energetic, but for me futile, drum solos.

We close with a quick verse of King Crimson's (Lake) "21st Century schizoid man" which leads into Emerson's controversial interpretation of Berstein/Sondheim's "America".

In all, a fine but poorly packaged document of the reformed band's gigs in the late 1990's but don't expect to find anything here which is not already available. The rating reflects this.

Not bad at all. Is a budget compilation but is more good that many full price compilation. In truth is a strange compilation because is a good extract of "Then And Now" but in this version the tracks are more good. Is this a die hard fans compilation? Is this a new ELP fans? Well... I think that all two question deserving one answer: is a compilation for all who love the Prog. Well... the songs are good but the years are passed and the position of the ELP is in the dinosaurs/ Classic Prog Era. Vice versa is a surpassed band. But in my opinion the good figure is a really true because the technique of this three men is too high and the songs are aged extremely well. In conclusion... rather that to spend money for a full money compilation... Spend your money for this compilation. I think that is better and your money will thank!!! (and you ears, heart and soul will thank, too!!!)