Best Emerson Lake and Palmer Album
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Polls
Forum Description: Create polls on topics related to progressive music
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=124912
Printed Date: August 03 2025 at 09:55
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Topic: Best Emerson Lake and Palmer Album
Posted By: SiiGull
Subject: Best Emerson Lake and Palmer Album
Date Posted: December 22 2020 at 23:11
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First off, sorry for not having an actual pol set up, I have no idea how to properly do that. Now recently I have gotten an vinyl player, and was wondering wanting to get an Emerson Lake and Palmer album, how ever I can only pick 1 right now cause Vinyl's are quite expensive. I have been having to choose between my top 3 favorite ELP studio albums, Tarkus, Trilogy, and Brain Salad Surgery, but I'm having difficulty choosing. Tarkus and Brain Salad Surgery have my favorite ELP songs, tarkus and karn evil obviosuly. How ever I'm not too fond of the other tracks on the album. Meanwhile Trilogy has a more consistent line up of songs I like. So what do y'all think is the better choice for me? ------------- Epic Prog moment |
Replies:
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 00:03
Get the cheapest one, then buy the rest when find them for reasonable prices.  ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 00:04
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There should be a "create poll" option when starting a thread, OP! Tarkus all the way. sh*t was even ahead of Yes' CTTE, which is my personal magnum opus for classic prog. ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: Mirakaze
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 00:19
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Tarkus the song is amazing, but I almost never feel the need to revisit the second side of the album. I think Brain Salad Surgery is far more consistent as a whole. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 00:38
| Tarkus obviously, assuming you get the double gatefold sleeve with all that beautiful artwork. |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 00:39
------------- 
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Mirakaze wrote:Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 01:32
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For a long time I felt their best was Trilogy, but these days it's the debut I listen to and enjoy the most. Tarkus could have been their best if the whole album was up the standard of the suite. BSS is ok, but the best thing about it is the artwork. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: tempest_77
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 03:52
Forum Newbies can't create polls. ------------- I use they/them pronouns (feel free to ask me about this!) Check out my music on https://tempestsounds.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - my bandcamp ! |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 04:32
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My personal favourite ELP album is Works 1, and these were the collective ProgArchives favourites in a recent poll:- 1. Brain Salad Surgery (201 points)
2. Emerson, Lake & Palmer (162 points) 3. Tarkus (153 points) 3. Trilogy (153 points) 5. Pictures at an Exhibition (72 points) 6. Works Volume 1 (58 points) 7. Emerson, Lake & Powell (30 points) 8. Welcome Back My Friends (29 points) 9. Black Moon (22 points) 10. Works Volume 2 (11 points) 11. Love Beach (2 points) |
Posted By: dwill123
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 05:03
| Tarkus |
Posted By: JD
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 06:37
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1-Trilogy 2-Tarkus 3-BSS This post brought to you by an ELP Fanboy ! ------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 06:41
| Tarkus without a doubt. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 11:43
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The debut...ELP.......,the only one that doesn't have any silly songs on it. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: A Crimson Mellotron
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 11:44
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I would say the debut, but it's usually this one or 'Brain Salad Surgery'. |
Posted By: VianaProghead
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 11:49
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Their debut or 'Brain Salad Surgery'. Sincerely I'm not pretty sure of that.
------------- "PROG IS MY FERRARI". Jem Godfrey (Frost*) |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 12:07
| The first one because there's no goofy cowboy songs on it. After that maybe BSS because I like the jazzy piano parts later in the album. |
Posted By: arturfd
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 13:15
| I vote in Brain Salad. Complete and fantastic album of one of the most original bands of history!!!! |
Posted By: suitkees
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 13:32
This. Because all the albums up till Works I are worthwhile. Then, once you have them all, you can decide for yourself which one you think is the best. ------------- The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
Posted By: Argo2112
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 13:53
| Santa is bringing me Tarkus but it's going to be late. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 14:01
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I'd recommend buying ELP's Love Beach album first of all, then, if you like that album, you're sure to enjoy all of their other albums too.
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 14:04
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Posted By: Argo2112
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 14:07
^ Don't listen to Paul, He has been smoking banana peals & is not in control of his faculties!
 ( seriously, Don't get Love Beach!) |
Posted By: iluvmarillion
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 15:54
| I'd choose Trilogy of these three, but really you can't go wrong with any of these. After that their self titled debut album. Then the live Pictures at an Exhibition. Personally I recommend not buying any studio album after Brain (only the live recordings). |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 19:55
| If you already know and have their music otherwise, then I would easily go for Brain Salad Surgery... not for the music, but because that one has an awsome and creative cover that surely looks wonderful on LP size... specially if it comes with the opening of the skull at the front to reveal the face of the woman inside. |
Posted By: JD
Date Posted: December 23 2020 at 20:38
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^Or...you could be one of those lucky few who have a framed signed Litho, 4x the size of an album, hanging in your office.   ------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: December 24 2020 at 00:47
based on HR Giger's Tragically she later committed suicide and from Giger's resultant nightmares came a creature that was the basis for the classic film Alien. I'm sure you know all this stuff though EDIT - based on the Swiss actress Li Tobler who he had a relationship with but never married
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Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 24 2020 at 01:25
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I find it funny everyone is like "Tarkus is perfect except for the rest of the album"; so turn it off after the title track, it's all you need and is strong enough to make it one of their best pieces regardless of the remaining tracks, lol. There's arguably more music in the title track vs the rest of the album!!! ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: December 24 2020 at 03:00
| Ok, screw the haters. I LIKE THE AMERICANA WESTERN TUNES. Well, I don't hate them. The rag time stuff is a little much on Works Vol 2, I'll admit. But Jeremy Bender and Benny the Bouncer are nice little breathers. The Sheriff, on the other hand, is an awesome track through and through. The progification of this historical music is awesome, and there's a really nice modernist-meets-hoedown organ solo and a very impressive stride piano outro on the honky-tonk! So take off you hosers! |
Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: December 25 2020 at 18:53
The original side two (vinyl) of Tarkus is unjustly neglected round these parts. Sure, Jeremy Bender is fluff and Are You Ready Eddy? is what faders are designed to prevent but the rest: Bitches Crystal, the Only Way, Infinite Space and a Time and a Place are pretty damn nifty to my ears. In fact two of these numbers were introduced by popular demand to their live set during the 90's and also subsequently included on the Encores, Legends & Paradaox tribute album from 1999. ------------- 
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Posted By: Intruder
Date Posted: December 25 2020 at 19:02
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I dug ELP when I was a kid but overplayed everything from the 1st to BSS, but I recently scored the four box CD set from back in the '90s for $5.99 on clearance at my local and it made me dig up my old LPs.....my top three ELP albums: - the first.....by far! - Tarkus, mainly for the title suite. - Works. Vol. 2 - if you're going to have silliness, you may as well go overboard! ------------- I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there..... |
Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: December 26 2020 at 03:35
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I'd always go for the debut album. |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 26 2020 at 04:28
I love Bitches Crystal, personally I always look forward to it. Catchy melody and chorus! The title track is worth the purchase alone, and I'm proud to own a pre-remaster, and remaster copy for personal audiophile reasons  .------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: SouthSideoftheSky
Date Posted: December 26 2020 at 06:03
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Brain Salad Surgey is the best and also the one most worth having on vinyl LP because of the unique die-cut sleeve and amazing cover art. In 2016/2017 all the ELP albums were re-issued on both vinyl LP and CD. This is one of the best re-issue programes ever! I have all the studio albums on CD plus Brain Salad Surgery and Welcome Back My Friends on vinyl (the latter is a triple LP). |
Posted By: SouthSideoftheSky
Date Posted: December 26 2020 at 06:06
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Also, the recently released 4LP Anthlogy set seems very good, I would like to have that. |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: December 28 2020 at 14:32
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Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: December 28 2020 at 14:33
^ Though on the slight downside, it won't open to reveal the full female face 
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Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: December 28 2020 at 14:34
Actually, no, I didn't know so much. Only I think that it was supposed to be based on his wife, which apparently was wrong anyway. |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: December 28 2020 at 14:36
Actually, I do like some of the shorter songs (included Are you Ready Eddy?), and even though I do like Tarkus, perhaps my favourite song from them overall, it does have it's off moments, mostly the carnival sounding part at the middle (the Mass segment, I think). |
Posted By: jamesbaldwin
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 04:53
I agree. My fave are the debut and Beain Salad Surgery. But I am not a fan. ------------- Amos Goldberg (professor of Genocide Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem): Yes, it's genocide. It's so difficult and painful to admit it, but we can no longer avoid this conclusion. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 05:05
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My Top 7 ELP albums:- 1. Works Volume 1 2. Black Moon 3. Emerson, Lake & Palmer 4. Emerson, Lake & Powell 5. Tarkus 6. Pictures at an Exhibition 7. Love Beach |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 05:32
if you read the original post, the OP only wants some advice on which classic ELP album he should buy - Trilogy, Tarkus or BSS.
Tough choice, because any of them would do. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 05:49
^ I'd have to extend my ELP Top 7 to a Top 20 to include Trilogy & Brain Salad Surgery. 
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 06:07
you missed my point and the point of this thread. It's not about you... (or me for that matter).
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 06:15
I've already suggested SiiGull should listen to the Love Beach album in an earlier post.
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 06:22
he mentioned three albums and Love Beach is not one of them.
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 07:04
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^ There's a lot more to Emerson, Lake & Palmer than just those three albums. 1970: Emerson, Lake & Palmer 1970: Live at the Lyceum Theatre 1971: Tarkus 1971: Pictures at an Exhibition 1972: Trilogy 1973: Brain Salad Surgery 1974: Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends 1974: California Jam 1977: Works Volume 1 1977: Works Volume 2 1978: Love Beach  1979: Works Live in Concert 1986: Emerson, Lake & Powell 1988: 3 (Emerson, Berry & Palmer) - To the Power of Three 1992: Black Moon 1993: Live at the Royal Albert Hall 1994: In the Hot Seat 1997: Live at Montreux 2010: 40th Anniversary Reunion Concert
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 07:06
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^ |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 07:37
Let me guess - you're laughing because I placed a heart symbol next to Love Beach.
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 09:34
since you mention it, I did not even notice, yes to that, too. I'm laughing because you missed the point of this thread and still don't make an effort to understand the OP and what he wants from us.
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 10:12
Well, out of the three albums that SiiGull mentioned, I'd suggest listening to Tarkus, seeing as that's the only album out of the three in my Top 7.
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Posted By: nick_h_nz
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 10:23
Not just for ELP. but I always find this attitude funny, too. I read in reviews all the time people saying things along the lines of “the album is worth it for this track alone”, and I wonder if they are sometimes the same people who say “but that’s the only good track”. For something like Tarkus, which I never saw at my local HMV (before it closed) for any more than £4.99 on CD, and which was routinely reduced to £2.99 in every sale and promotion they had, it would be a no brainier to buy it, even if you only ever listen to the title track. Obviously, it’s a little different for the LP, in terms of price - but ultimately the same principle applies. If an epic-length track is that amazing and you love it that much, just buy for that one track and don’t bother playing the rest! ------------- https://tinyurl.com/nickhnz-tpa" rel="nofollow - Reviewer for The Progressive Aspect |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 10:45
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I was lucky enough to pick up ELP's debut album for just £1 at a charity shop recently. At that bargain price, I'd even consider buying the much-derided In the Hot Seat album.
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 11:06
everything is about you
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 11:47
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^ This thread is meant to be about SiiGull, but I haven't seen him around since his original post on December 22nd. Maybe he's flown home to roost or migrated south for the winter.
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Posted By: Machinemessiah
Date Posted: December 30 2020 at 15:56
If it's for the cover art (and overall goodness :P), on vinyl, I'd get  ; since you didn't mentioned it, the next one for me would be:  .But my
is with:  |