PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION - 35TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTORS EDITION

The album has always been one of my favorite ELP records, it has so much power and excitement. As an 'vintage-keyboard-addict' this is cloud number nine, what a spectacular play on those knobs and wires of the Moog synthesizers and the impressive Hammond organs! Unfortunately some artists were allowed to spoil a part of the footage by integrating coloured images and cartoons. Eventually ELP was not very happy with the result but it didn't stop the record company to release it. Anno 2005 you would think that the DVD technology is able to restore it but men can go to the moon or hack the Pentagon but not bring back the original footage, what a pity! And I'm disappointed that this anniversary DVD release doesn't contain the entire 90 minute concert (including songs like "The barbarian", "Knife edge" and "Rondo" with the Keith Emerson stage antics) that is on the Japanese laser-disc. A special feature is a performance by the National Symphony Of Ukraine from Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an exhibition" but that is not really a thing I'm waiting for. Nonetheless, enjoy the pivotal and breathtaking self-endulging progrock that ELP made in 1970 delivering magnificent images from Keith Emerson (the Jimi Hendrix on the keyboards) so this dvd deserves five stars, despite my critical remarks.

WOW! What a great show man ...!!! I fully agree with what colleague collaborator, Erik, has just put it in this site. Yes, I also watched the laser disc version dated back years ago through my friend's collection. But, when I purchased this DVD in Singapore during YES second leg tour in September 25, 2003, I did feel the same way in terms of critics about this DVD. It's probably by the time I purchased from one of the stores around Peninsula Plaza, I was fully aware that I would not get the quality sound as good as, say DTS version or any later digital technology concert. I expected not a good quality one because it was recorded in the seventies. But, the picture quality is excellent.

I was so amazed with this live performance in many ways. The members were still really young and handsome. They played their respective instruments skillfully and attractively. I could see how Keith Emerson stage acts have colored the show in an energetic way. Carl Plamer demonstrated his powerful drumming. Greg Lake performance reminds me to those days when he was with King Crimson. I could bear my emotions anymore when the band performed "The Sage" with Keith at stage left (audience's view), Carl at back center and Greg Lake with his acoustic guitar at stage right. He palyed his acoustic guitar wonderfully while he was singing. The melody is so nice man ...!!! I have always loved this track - be it on CD or on this DVD set.

The reason of not giving this DVD a full five star is I think because of too long solo on organ / moog by Keith that when it reaches qute sometime it becomes so boring and even annying. Overall, it's an excellent live set. Keep on proggin' ..!!!

Yours progressively,

GW

Musicianship : 4/5

DVD : -543535345/5

Lenght : painfully short

I tell you, get the CD instead, this live DVD while it shows young ELP, and shows good musicianship and Lake's best vocals... it is ruined by visual effects that are so awful that I curse at whoever decided to put that in the DVD ... maybe for someone one LCD, but not for me ... the visual effects are terrible, can even hurt my eyes, blocks seeing the band in action, and are very out of place (comic book pictures??)

Oh, and where's Nutrocker?

My Grade : FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFreaking terrible!

Basically you get a great performance of ELP in their formative years.However the DVD is marred by some terrible visual affects that pop up whenever you least want them totally obscuring the band in the process.On top of that don't have the entire Lyceum concert which is extremely annoying.One for the bargain buckets and die hard fans only.

When ELP released their vinyl in the early' stages of their career, this modern, bold and daring version of Moussorgsky's best-known oeuvre was certainly impressive, but one of the main gripes of this album is that it has not aged well. And what is true for the vinyl is certainly even more so for the live performance now available on Cd. Actually I had never seen this video or film before renting out the DVD.

Taped/filmed on the first (or original) concert of their famed rendition, I must say that the pictures do not always help out their cause because the extra dimension also shows (confirms) the pretentiousness of it all. Let me explain, before I get death squad sent out searching out for me at my hideout in the white house (hint, hint;-). Clearly, seeing Emerson's antics on this tour (I had seen all of their other 70's film footage all released on DVD and then some) was not exactly refreshing, and in the early part, his Moog is barely heard. As a matter of fact, only Keith's Hammond and Carl's drums as well as Greg's singing are on proper level. One has to strain too often to hear also Greg's bass in the early stage of the concert. But my main gripe is that the film shows the vacuity (and vanity) of doing this live. The concert in itself was not really fascinating to say the least, but the psychedelic effects added on the tape does intrigue for a few minutes,before ultimately leave you cold.

As bonus material, we get from comparison a Ravel Orchestra full symphonic version of Pictures, with some rather doubtful animation all framed as the cover would have it. Not indispensible as a bonus, but I rather prefer this version to ELP's.

Of course, the DVD is a pure archives document that should be seen as such, as ELP were groundbreaking back then, and therefore it must seen in the right frame of mind. I must say that since reading Emo's book (baring a spoof name of this oeuvre), I have had more problems being as receptive to the trio than prior to reading it. Nevertheless, this DVD is a must for fans (unconditional and more or less confirmed ones), but maybe not for more casual fans, and certainly not (IMHO) as an introduction to the band.

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.