EMERSON LAKE & PALMER

This is a great debut album by any standard, but these guys were already experienced so its not such a surprise really! The difference that Lake and Palmer make to Emerson makes the sound streets ahead of anything that the Nice did. The opener, Barbarian, starts procedings and is a quasi classical piece with a jazzy interlude. Take a pebble is a beautiful song with an extended piano section. Knife Edge is a good enough tune, but I've tired of it a little now. Side 2 opens with The Three Fates which is basically another Emerson workout, followed by Tank when its Palmers turn. I love Tank, always did, and I love the drum solo, from then on the drums were the instrument for me. Tank fails for me when the music returns after the solo, its a bit weak and weedy! Luck Man brings up the rear and its as fine a Lake song there is, complete with debut Moog solo at the end, which I guess is a spine tingle moment for most ELP fans.