ELP Appreciation thread !!!!

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 AZF wrote:

I appreciate them but know I have not done enough.The only time they've been around for my awareness was in their early 90's stab.
I remember reading the reviews of Black Moon, but bought instead "The Atlantic Years" 2 CD (Originally on tape. Ah, I used to have loads of tapes)
I have gone through all the love/hate and think there are worse bands the media can attack since ELP's prime.
But for some reason, it's just not clicking with the same people who might have heard of Yes or Pink Floyd.
(Casual buyers, I am not referring to anybody on these forums)
How often do they get streamed? Not enough by me.
But I still never got around to buying Black Moon (And was saddened to see how negative the reviews and hate was for "In The Hot Seat" which further made me listen to Soft Machine and King Crimson more instead.

But that's other bands, what is there to appreciate in Emerson, Lake & Palmer?
Greg Lake's singing for a start. Conviction and made it look effortless.
Carl Palmer's drumming and drive. If ELP had never happened, he would probably have never really fitted in any other bands and could of quite possibly quit them to work as a painter and decorator!!
And lastly, the great man, Keith Emerson.

I think he will forever fail to connect positively with the collective non-PA public as apart from the ones who can't be arsed to begin with, all Keith's attempts to make Classical music accessible failed at the time and still seems a bit of a misdirection compared to the technology Keith could have explored instead.

I think if they'd stopped touring in 1974 (Which would have financially crippled them!) and announced a break then (It didn't happen this way, Captain Hindsight!) we could have possibly had their material from Works (Solo album stuff really?) and even Love Beach prepared and a lot more re-energised than they were.

So if I can care enough to wish ELP did this, then I appreciate ELP!

Still heard nothing from Emerson, Lake & Powell though. (I tell a lie, their reading of "Mars, Bringer of War" on a radio station I switched over) 
But I have heard "Five Bridges Suite" and can seriously understand why Keith felt he had to work with a better singer like Greg!  

Some extremely interesting thoughts although I am puzzled by a few of the comments.

ELP did stop touring in 1974 as a matter of fact and only came back in 1977 some 3 years later. Financially the issues were I suspect connected to the label they set up. Manticore had to be cut loose and their hope of helping other artists died along with it. In the intervening time the only thing they did was work on solo material and that was pretty much all they had when they came back in 1977. It was that or nothing. I'll happily take it and Pirates remains as one of my favourite symphonic prog tracks.

Like Rick I am puzzled by the word 'misdirection' but also the idea that Emerson's 'attempt to make classical music failed'. Pictures At An Exhibition was a massive commercial success so I just don't understand the point. Also with ELP , Keith Emerson was able to do a full blown Piano Concerto recorded with a world renowned orchestra and get it released and more importantly heard! I think he was extremely successful in this area both artistically and commercially. 

As regards the technology available well the early seventies and Bob Moog and all that was extremely exciting. I realise a lot of fans were let down when ELP did not pursue this further but you have to remember that ELP was a band and Greg Lake has quite a large say in things. Emerson didn't make all the creative decisions. Works was not a tech based album and for that reason it should actually get more respect. This was just about the music ( yep that old cliché!)