CLASSIC ROCK FEATURING "LUCKY MAN"

This is a collection of some ELP's highlights, mostly (almost completely) rearrangements of classical music - plus their first hit, "Lucky Man".

I am used to listening to classical music along with progressive rock - and ELP's rearrangements are above my expectations, considering the band's many mistakes found in their discography. I have heard "Pictures at an Exhibition" piano original version, and Ravel's orchestration, and they both sound really good, but are in a way far from ELP's arrangement - something that should be expected. I find a mistake to insert lyrics in Mussorgsky's masterpiece - especially with a not-so-good lyricist as Greg Lake. Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of the trio, I'm just being realistic (if you want my opinion, Lake's lyrics reached its bottom in Tarkus' B-sides, except for "Bitches' Crystal, which is cool). Another low-point in this album is that the pieces have been completely taken out of their context - which is a real sin.

"Fanfare for the Common Man" and "Hoedown" are rearrangements for the classical composer Aaron Copland. I don't really enjoy Aaron Copland's music, and find ELP's arrangement worse than the original versions - the compositions are weak and when imbued in ELP's synth-flavoured popness they become even weaker, losing its (already shallow) academical value and becoming radio instrumentals that don't really go anywhere, these songs have become really famous but I can't see the reason that happened.

"Jerusalem" is simply killer, at this point of the record you can see where your money has really been spent. It sounds really strong and determined - a great opening for a great album - Brain Salad Surgery.

"Tocatta" is perhaps ELP's best rearrangement ever, it is a piece from Alberto Ginastera and, even though taken out of its context even in Brain Salad Surgery, it fits perfectly in the band's format, allowing each member to shine while still maintaning theme cohesion and you can really feel it has a point to be made after all. It is also a great showcase for Emerson's synth vision, allowing him to explore some effects he couldn't do within the band's more rock-oriented composition. This track is worth the album alone, but you might prefer to get "Brain Salad Surgery", that contains also "Jerusalem" and other killer songs (I can't leave "Karn Evil 9" unmentioned).

"Lucky Man" is their first hit, and it doesn't really has a context to be into, as it is a sort of "Black Sheep" in its original album, it is a nice pop-appealing song, though I don't ever take it seriously.

If you are thinking of getting this album, I strongly recommend you to get "Pictures at an Exhibition" or "Brain Salad Surgery" first, as they hold all the relevant content of this album but are more cohesive and historically important - besides having other great music in it.

A gentleman at local CD store asked whether or not to buy this boxset because he wanted to have a collection of rock music when he was teenagers, one of them was ELP. I said NO and took another CD of ELP with Tarkus album. I said to him: You must start ELP with this album. I know that you might notice there is no song that you can recall from your memory that was popular in your teenage era ..but believe me, this is the RIGHT WAY to start with ELP.. He followed my advice and the next day he sent a short message at my cellular saying that Tarkus is a great music.

Why didn't I recommend him with this boxset? Only one reason: this was released only for commercial purpose with no intention to introduce ELP music in its best. Not that the songs contained here are lackluster ... in fact Lucky Man was a major hit in the world. The rest were just a rearrangement of classical music work from various composers. I would never suggest newbie to have this boxset until they purchased individual album of Brain Sallad Surgery, Tarkus, Trilogy.

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW