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Emerson Lake & Palmer - The Essential Emerson, Lake & Palmer CD (album) cover

THE ESSENTIAL EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER

Emerson Lake & Palmer

 

Symphonic Prog

2.87 | 10 ratings

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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars These budget double essential CDs have been great to play in the car and I've enjoyed all of them as they encompass the best of the artists and well chosen tracks from most of the artists albums. There have not been many prog related releases apart from this so I had to indulge.

It opens with the indulgent and brilliant most well known Fanfare For The Common Man (9:44) that has to be included on every ELP comp. The ballads are here of course with Still... You Turn Me On (2:54) and From the Beginning. I love hearing again Emerson Hammond workouts on Hoedown (3:46) and I dont mind the latter day singles such as Black Moon [Single Edit] (4:49).

Now the best of the best follows with blitzkrieg progalicious Tarkus (20:41) the full version as it must be heard. I never tire of it, after all it's one of the 7 wonders of the prog world and one of the greatest multi movement suites along with Suppers Ready, Plague of Lighthouse Keepers, and 2112.

Always love luxuriating with headphones under Jerusalem (2:44), and Knife Edge (5:05) and praise the prog God's that we have Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression - Part 1 and 2. I Believe In Father Christmas is here and I wish it wasn't but its easily skippable at the end of CD1.

CD 2 is less impressive but I love the live tracks of Nutrocker [Live] (3:59), Peter Gun [Live] (3:37) and The Great Gates of Kiev.

All I Want Is You (2:35) and Brain Salad Surgery (3:08) are fantastic, but none compare to the quintessence of masterpiece Take A Pebble (12:29) and it is my introduction to the band with unforgettable lyrics that resonate in my heart.

Nice to revisit Lucky Man (4:39) and Pirates (13:20) also that I always treasured. Unfortunately the comp features really dire tracks such as Honky Tonk Train Blues (3:11) and The Enemy God Dances With The Black Spirits (3:22) but its rare I listen to the albums they come from so I can forgive.

Overall this is a very nice compilation, though not as awesome as previous double disk comps. Nevertheless it's a cheap way of grabbing hold of some of the greatest ELP in one package.

AtomicCrimsonRush | 3/5 |

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