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ELP - Works Volume 1

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Topic: ELP - Works Volume 1

Posted By: Aaron
Subject: ELP - Works Volume 1
Date Posted: March 08 2005 at 11:26

now i dont really like saturating the board with ELP threads or any other popular prog bands, but...

this album is f**king amazing

I used to only listen to Fanfare and Pirates, just because that was the "ELP" side. Finally, I decided to give the whole thing a spin, well four spins actually. The weakest of all the spins is Greg Lakes side. Sure he is my favourite singer, but his solo music sucks super monkey balls. Emerson's is really fantastic, Palmer's is surprisingly great, and the "ELP" side is orgasmic. What a great album, holy crap this is good, if it wasn't for Greg Lakes side, this would be my favourite ELP album.

as this site rates, 4/5 just because of the Lake crapolla

Aaron

Replies:

Posted By: greenback
Date Posted: March 08 2005 at 12:47

yes, it is a good album

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[HEADPINS - LINE OF FIRE: THE RECORD HAVING THE MOST POWERFUL GUITAR SOUND IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF MUSIC!>

Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: March 08 2005 at 12:59

It's a good job Three Fates has (temporarily?) left the forum otherwise you would be in big trouble .My view of it:

Keith Emerson Piano Concerto No1 - I love this to bits although classical music students will tell you it rips off Copeland(and no doubt various others).But I'm not a classical music student so I don't care! 5/5

Greg Lake - I love Closer To Believing with its beautifull romantic imagery ''We want to be together on Sundays in the rain'',...the other songs are ok.3/5

Carl Palmer - On a technical level awesome stuff,especially the version of Tank which is the best fusion of classical,jazz and rock music I've heard.5/5

Fanfare For The Common Man - Absolute Drivel! The single edit is ok but extending the peice to over 9 minutes is just pointless.Apparently though Copeland insisted that they change his music before giving consent for its release.The end result is a mess of keyboard improvs and slack unoriginal drumming (insert ''but isn't all ELP like that?'' type ignorant comments'').1/5

Pirates - By complete contrast to Fanfare this is glorious music IMO and one of Emerson's best compositions.The orchestra and band work together perfectly.5/5

Overall ,but for Fanfare, this would be a safe 4/5 but as it is probably deserves about 3.5.

Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: March 08 2005 at 16:35

Aaron wrote:

now i dont really like saturating the board with ELP threads or any other popular prog bands, but...

this album is f**king amazing

as this site rates, 4/5 just because of the Lake crapolla

Aaron

Aaron you want your lips smacking...Bad side indeed.

Posted By: bluetailfly
Date Posted: March 08 2005 at 17:48

I am a huge fan of ELP and bought this album when it first came out. I remember at first being a little disappointed as I expected something better.

But as I listened to all sides, I began to enjoy most of it. I really got into Keith's concerto for a while, and "Fanfare" really grew on me as I got used to the arrangement and the synth solo.

I was surprised by Palmer's side as the instrumentation was excellent. Even Lake's side wasn't too bad at the time: Cie la Vie, Father Christmas, I don't know, I just liked the melodies and musical arrangements (like Keith on accordian on Cie la vie).

But I just couldn't get into "Pirates." For one thing it seem to go on too long, and secondly, the concept of singing a romantic ode to pirates seems, well, sort of a weak choice for a prog artist. I'm rather surprised that this theme appealed to Sinfield (let alone Lake). Sinfield earlier lyrics with KC was much better stuff (I haven't heard his solo album "Still"). It just seemed like the beginning of the end for ELP to me. And for me, "Love Beach" seems like an extension of this lame romantic poetry turned into music.

They never recovered from this in my eyes, which is too bad. I believe they could have gone on to continue be an important band if they'd had a better vision and sense of musical direction.

But hey I thank them for everything from ELP to Works II. Groundbreaking prog rock!

Posted By: Prog_head
Date Posted: March 08 2005 at 17:55

I really like that album. I find it very relaxing to listen to.

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They called me the Reverend when i entered the Chruch unstained;
My employers have changed but the name has remained.

Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: March 08 2005 at 18:26

I believe it's a good but uneven album.

I'm not a music studen't, but I can listen Copland, Rachmaninoff and even Gershwin ripoffs everywhere, of course it's technically well played, but seems Keith doesn't knows where he wants to go. 3/5

Greg Lake side is the weakest of all the album, absolutely boring, can't stand 20 seconds of tracks like Ces't La Vie, Lendy our Love to me Tonight or Closer to Believing. 1/5

Palmer's side is outstanding, his arrangements are amazing songs like The Enemy God Dances with the Black Spirits are simply amazing. 5/5

The band's side is not near the ELP level, Pirates seems to last forever, would have been better if lasted 50%, even though is a good track 3.5/5 and Fanfare is also too long, repetitive and lack of imagination, for another band would be a great achievement, but for ELP is mediocre, 2/5.

For the whole album 3/5 at the most.

Iván

Hey Bluetailfly: Father Christmas is in Works II.

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Posted By: bluetailfly
Date Posted: March 08 2005 at 18:41

ivan_2068 wrote:

Hey Bluetailfly: Father Christmas is in Works II.

You're right Ivan. <red-faced emoticon> It's been a long while since I pulled that one out!

And now that you remind me of those tunes "Lend me Your Love Tonight" or "Closer to Believing", yes, dreck. God, what happened to Lake! I believe he's an very good vocalist (as the KC albums and early ELP attest), but he often cannot write lyrics to save his life (or career). I think he crafts decent melodies, but he needs to be collaborating with someone to work them into more interesting musical arrangements. ( Example: "Tarkus," Lake's tunes are woven into the Emerson overall structure.)

Maybe they'll get back to that.

Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: March 08 2005 at 20:10

I agree with you, not the best lyricist, but the main problem IMHO is the music, because he's got an extremely powerful voice, great skill as a bass player and I saw worst lyrics from other musicians work (Believe it or not ), but when he get's his acoustic guitar Oh my God!!!! prepare fore some bland love ballads.

And I say bland because other semi acoustic tracks as Lucky Man or Still You Turn Me On worked very well, but the ones on this album....

Iván

BTW: Welcome to the Forum, seems a lot of newbies today, which is good, we always need FRESH BLOOD

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Posted By: Rob The Plant
Date Posted: March 08 2005 at 20:49

Watch out for Ivan, he's a real Jackel.

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Collaborators will take your soul.

Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: March 08 2005 at 20:57

Jackal no Rob:

Iván

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Posted By: Rob The Plant
Date Posted: March 08 2005 at 21:21

It's a conspiracy isn't it? When you reach collaberator status, they take your soul!

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Collaborators will take your soul.

Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: March 08 2005 at 21:28

No, collaborators take your souls

Iván

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Posted By: Rob The Plant
Date Posted: March 08 2005 at 21:37

As the old saying goes- "if you can't beat them join them."

There, now the Newbies will be warned.

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Collaborators will take your soul.