AFFAIRS OF THE HEART

Affairs of the Heart was another single released from ELP's ill-fated Black Moon reunion album of 1992. Unlike the title track (the other single released), this song is clearly in Greg Lake's park. It's basically a nicely done ballad, but hardly memorable, sounding very similar to other AOR bands in the early 1990s (Asia or Saga, for example). The B-side Better Days is only slightly better.

Not progressive in any sense of the word. Just an old dinosaur band trying to cash in on their name thinking something like this will get them radio play. Well, it didn't and just adds to ever increasing embarrassment that ELP's 1990s discography has become.

Some fans might cringe at this, some might not. Clearly for completionists or collectors of singles from former prog rock bands taking a stab at being "popular." One star is about all I can give this.

I stated in my album review of "Black Moon" there were 4 reasons to buy the album: Black Moon (6:59); Paper Blood (4:29); Better Days (5:37) AND Romeo And Juliet {Prokofiev, arranged by Emerson} (3:43). I also did mention that Affairs of the Heart was a so-so single with Lake singing differently than his usual style on the obligatory ballad that graced many ELP albums of the 70s. So the reunion of ELP lead to this single release and the consummate album. it is not all that bad really, Better Days being a great rocking song that I heard live before this studio version. Affairs of the Heart is pleasant and has a catchy melody. Altogether this single was supposed to launch the album and get lots of airplay. It nose dived of course like a missile as we all know, but it is worth grabbing this especially for collectors, and especially with the attractive picture sleeve, as one of the last decent singles of the great ELP.