Evoking Aquatarkus

The live version begins well, energetic, with a delightful ascending run on the moog until it changes into something different. From min. 2:32 to 6:00  vcf drones dominate the low end, drum plays not regular Palmer but a sort of south American rhythm, until a thin moog latin-style solo emerges. That part is no Emerson composition, but Dick Hyman's: The Minotaur. 

Dick Hyman is an old influence o K.E. Anyway,

neither The Minotaur is acknowledged as part of that Aquatarkus version which is not nice to say the least,

neither it fitted that well - its entrance in the song is preceded by metallurgic - type sound moves, rather clumsy - guitar noise blast was needed because some modular jacks had to be pulled in order to obtain the fixed pitched drone.

Although the sum of the parts is always fun to play along, I consider the original the real masterpiece.

pretty horrible version

the album is genius because of all the layers. Palmers drums cross the stereo marching drum style and get bigger and bigger. I listened to that album so much when I was 14 I must of worn out the cassette, always on headphones.

The live version of Tarkus as a whole is one of the great prog performances. Extraordinary tight interplay. Emerson on Stones of Years evokes his hero Jimmy Smith impressively. Palmer is ultra smooth all the way. Lake is matching them on bass and his ever maturing vocal is stately and commanding. Great version of Battlefield, 'axe hero' Lake takes over and Emerson plays bass on keyboard. I still love the album version with Offord's standard setting engineering production work but I play the live version a lot more.

Now we're talking