EMERSON LAKE & PALMER

It is certainly no surprise that the debut album by this group is both a landmark and ground-breaking effort. All three musicians had pretty impressive previous group involvements, and the musical chemistry and timing of Emerson, Lake and Palmer were just right.

The ELP debut is a perfectly constructed recording; there isn't a note or beat in this record I would alter in any way, even if I could. The music therein is both technically excellent, and emotive in the same breath. Though ELP from the start were a "People's Band" that really understood who they were playing for in their audiences, the band was also an inspiration to so many professional music groups that came in their wake, from the likes of LE ORME, THE TRIP and TRIADE in Italy, to TRIUMVIRAT in Germany, the list is endless. I've always really enjoyed Greg Lake's feeling he creates in his vocals on this record, but most of all, it is the band's instrumental prowess that impresses me the most, like with The Barbarian on side one, and The Three Fates and Tank on side two. The instrumental technique displayed on all tracks is exemplary, really.

Their debut album is so well done, it is better than anything that these musicians did previously, and though they created some admirable subsequent records, this one hangs together for me the most, and has stood the test of time the most. No rock collection is complete without it. Five deserving stars.