Greg Lake’s voice...
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Topic: Greg Lake’s voice...
Posted By: Paradox
Subject: Greg Lake’s voice...
Date Posted: July 24 2005 at 11:35
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After listening to Works Vol. 1 (the only ELP album that i've listened to properly as yet - don't worry, i'm not going to write them off - i enjoyed that album), it seems to me that Greg Lake sounds like a 50-50 mixture of Roger Daltry and Ian Anderson. ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: Jeremy Bender
Date Posted: July 24 2005 at 11:42
I can't hear that
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Posted By: robertplantowns
Date Posted: July 24 2005 at 12:44
| Even if Lake's voice was a combination of Anderson and Daltry's (which it isn't) what's the point of this thread. We could make lists of singers and other singer's voices which we think sound alike but what would that accomplish? |
Posted By: Fearless
Date Posted: July 24 2005 at 14:23
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Duh silly, it accomplishes world peace! ------------- If you don't stand up You don't stand a chance! |
robertplantowns wrote:
Posted By: Fearless
Date Posted: July 24 2005 at 14:24
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^No offense to Paradox ------------- If you don't stand up You don't stand a chance! |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: July 24 2005 at 20:13
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hmmm I dont see it. Nice to see some one that enjoyed Works I, I liked it, Its definately not the beast of over indulgence its made out to be. OK, maybe it is......but I still like parts of it. ------------- 
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Posted By: yesman72
Date Posted: July 24 2005 at 20:58
Reminds me of a harsh John Lennon.....just me. Quite a distinctive voice hes got no matter who he sounds like, and I could agree with Paradox. 
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Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: July 25 2005 at 01:47
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We need Threefates here...she's an expert on everything about Greg Lake
------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Grace Flower
Date Posted: July 25 2005 at 11:33
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I think Lake is much better as bass player than vocalist...
------------- don't touch my prog! |
Posted By: Jeremy Bender
Date Posted: July 25 2005 at 11:59
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The 3rd movement of Emerson's Piano Concerto, C'est La Vie, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Closer To Believing, The Enemey God Dances With The Black Spirits, Food For Your Soul, Fanfare(except the middle part with thanks to the bloody Yamaha GX-1) & Pirates are very good I always liked Works vol.1 much more than Tarkus........
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.Posted By: Jeremy Bender
Date Posted: July 25 2005 at 12:00
I think it's the other way round...... |
Posted By: MANTICORE
Date Posted: July 25 2005 at 15:11
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greg lake has good performances in Promenade and the sage, but the one that but I like he is take a pebble, in addition to being a very good bass player
  ELP FOREVER.! -------------  |
Posted By: BiGi
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 03:35
I love him as a vocalist (before the Black Moon tobacco-inducted-growling) As a bass player I think he's average, while the way he plays acoustic guitar impresses me very much! ------------- A flower? 
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Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 05:12
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Sometimes a 'nice' voice, sometimes flat. I think he is at his best when singer heavier material. He's not the worlds greatest singer, and to me he sounds like a poor mans Justin Hayward, certainly nothing like Daltry, or Ian Anderson. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: Starette
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 06:56
He's a very ballad-y-ish singer yet nothing like Ian Anderson but I can see why your'd say he is...it's because of the ballad element to his voice. there's nothing operatic about his voice, or vibrato-ish etc. He's very casual..yet that's what makes him so perfect for the strange sound of ELP. To me anyway..  ------------- 50 tonne angel falls to the earth... |
Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: July 26 2005 at 08:05
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Well I think Greg Lake has the most beautiful voice I've ever heard. Its the only voice that makes me cry, its the only voice that has made me emotional enough to drop to my knees, and its the only voice that tells me what the angels must sound like. And other than that... Greg has a very unique voice, its the first thing I ever noticed about King Crimson... that voice. Even when I had no idea of who Greg Lake was, that voice was the most inspiring thing about ITKOTCK. I was only 12 and yet when I heard Lucky Man on the radio.. I knew exactly who the singer was... no mistaking that voice. He's got this amber tone in his voice that just sways you, and his style is very English... I mean you can tell he's English just from his singing.. unlike Robert Plant or even Roger Daltry who have an American Blues quality to their singing. His bass playing is exceptional, his acoustic even better.... but his voice to me was the major instrument in Emerson Lake & Palmer If you really want to hear Greg sing something exquistie... listen to his part on Pete Sinfield's solo song "Still".... now that makes me collapse... And as far as Works 1, I've always loved most of it, maybe not a couple on Carl's side, don't find it a bit pretentious...and its my 6th favorite album in existence... so think I'll go listen to "Closer to Believing" right now... ------------- THIS IS ELP 
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Posted By: Big Ears
Date Posted: July 28 2005 at 05:43
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Greg Lake has a very good quality voice. I understand he was a choir boy and he managed to mantain this style as an adult rock singer. He is an excellent bass guitarist as evidenced by his ability to complement Keith Emerson's keyboards without being either over-shadowed or too showy. His electric and acoustic guitar playing is good enough for lead guitar and he is underrated in this respect. I feel that, particularly live, Roger Daltrey has transcended many primadonna singers. Listen to anything live by the Who or his voice on Love Reign O'er Me on Quadrophenia. Ian Anderson is a good singer who can sing live, ie. Locomotive Breath on Bursting Out. Comparing Greg to Roger Daltrey and Ian Anderson is not ridiculous, but I would compare him to the David Byron, the first Uriah Heep singer, or Jon Anderson, mainly because of the choral style. Asked to choose my favourite singer, I would say Greg Lake. If I could sing, I would like to sing like Greg Lake.
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Posted By: Swinton MCR
Date Posted: July 28 2005 at 08:30
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I dont really like singing that much, I prefer the music.....But Lake isn't bad if you want a prog/ballad singer - although nowhere as good as Justin Hayward. His bass playing is adequate and his guitar work average - he was and still is out-shone by many, many prog musicians..... ------------- Play me my song, here it comes again |
Posted By: Progger
Date Posted: July 28 2005 at 20:24
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Only one word can describe Lake's voice.............Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: July 28 2005 at 22:23
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Hardly!! ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: July 28 2005 at 22:26
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A bit off topic, but speaking of voice similarities, in the TransAtlantic song "Stranger in your Soul" during Peter Trewavas' (bassist for Marillion, for those who don't know) vocal break, he sounds dead on like Pete Townshend. ------------- 
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Posted By: greenback
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 00:57
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Greg's voice is unique, so that very few singers have the same tone; indeed moody blues singer may have some similitudes with him , plus john wetton. but recently i have discovered a singer REALLY having similitudes with greg! even threefates would agree: i name the singer of shadow gallery on the Tyranny album By the way this album is VERY VERY VERY GOOD! ------------- [HEADPINS - LINE OF FIRE: THE RECORD HAVING THE MOST POWERFUL GUITAR SOUND IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF MUSIC!> |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 01:15
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Greg Lake IMO has one of the best voices in Progressive Rock, much better than Roger Daltrey's and in the same league than Ian Anderson, but the three of them are absolutely different.
Even when Threefates is going to kill me, I believe that the only voice similar to Greg's is John Wetton. Iván ------------- 
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Posted By: floydaholic
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 01:29
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Lake and Gabriel hare the two best voices in prog. ------------- I'll see you on the Darkside of the moon... |
Posted By: Fearless
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 01:49
Agree with everything except that Roger isn't good at softer stuff. He does an excellent job on the first half of "Behind Blue Eyes", and on "Too Much of Anything". Roger's softer voice was underused though, they always had Pete sing the more mellow stuff, it's a shame too, because Roger had an awesome emotional delivery even with the mellow songs. But yes, Lake is better at softer, although they are both great. ------------- If you don't stand up You don't stand a chance! |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 02:02
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Fearless wrote:
Don't misunderstand me Fearless (well maybe it's my fault and didn't explained well) because what I tried to say is that IMO Roger is not so good as in the harder stuff, never said he's not good. But Behind Blue Eyes is not one of my favorite Daltrey performances somehow sounds a bit out of key, but maybe it's only my impression. Iván -------------
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Posted By: Fearless
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 02:08
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His voice probably sounds out of key because he normally sings lower, and it seems somewhat strained, but still very emotional.......the notes he hits along with the lyrics strike a chord with me, so maybe i'm just biased. But anyway, i agree with you; Daltrey never had a lot of range, he sort of sang in the same loud voice all the time, aside from the rare softer songs (but i still like it very much). ------------- If you don't stand up You don't stand a chance! |
Posted By: R o V e R
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 07:04
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lake's voice is like; hearing distant church bell, i find it very soothing, especially songs like 'moonchild' 'from the begining' |
Posted By: philippe
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 07:13
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He has got a very "weak", monotonous voice, sometimes not in tune...far behind emotional "multivoices" singers as Peter Hammill, Arthur Brown... ------------- 
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 07:24
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^ Give me Lake over Hammill any day! ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 08:06
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^ Even if we weren't discussing Greg, I'd have to agree with you on that one Doggy... Greg's voice makes the angels sing, Peter Hammill's makes them run and hide.... ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 08:10
It depends how musically aware the angels are. I've heard Lake hit notes that could curdle milk..
------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 08:12
I haven't... and I've got a feeling I've heard him a little more than you have.... ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: the dragon
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 08:16
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This thread is a stab in my back! Greg Lake has one of the best voices in Progressive Rock. Full stop!
------------- Still alive... |
The Sage Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 08:17
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^ You won't get an arguement on that from me.... ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 08:22
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Has the dawn ever seen your eyes? etc.. He couldn't have sung those lines any flatter if he'd driven a HGV over them..
------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: Swinton MCR
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 14:34
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Yet another subjective post - I do like the small band of embittered ELP fans battling back to back, refusing to allow logic to undermine their religion - like any fundamentalists really ------------- Play me my song, here it comes again |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 14:46
I'm probably going to kill you as well, because I honestly think John Wetton is not a great singer at all. Whenever I listen to the otherwise excellent Larks Tongues in Aspic, I cringe at how flat he sounds and think wistfully of how wonderful Book of Saturdays or Exiles would have sounded had Greg sang them instead. Their voices are vaguely similar, but there's really no contest between the two. As to Roger Daltrey and Ian Anderson, they're both very good singers, even if they have vastly different voices and styles. I must say I prefer Ian to Roger, as he is less of a screamer and much more expressive. |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 15:16
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To be honest with you guys!!
what really happen to Greg Lake’s voice? When you listen to his record with crimson and early ELP you truly believe that is an angel singing!!! It brings tears to my eyes every times l listen to in the court of the crimson king, epitaph and turn me on, but what happen after love beach his truhlly last good singing album (in my opinion) his voice was transformed. It is unrecognizable you might thinks it is a different vocalist singing those beautiful ELP songs I feel terribly sorry for him. I do not enjoy his voice anymore, age did not did any good to his voice the same happen to aim Anderson, David Gilmour, Richard right, Robert watt, singer for Kansas I forgot his name
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Posted By: alan_pfeifer
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 16:35
| Off-topic, but he sang on all the ELP songs right? I thought I read somewhere that Emerson sang on Karnevil PT.1 |
Posted By: Fearless
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 16:38
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It was actually the third part......Emerson did the distorted computer voice, so it isn't actually vocals, but yes, Lake does all of the actual "singing" ------------- If you don't stand up You don't stand a chance! |
Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 22:57
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^ Emerson also does the strange distorted voices during the second impression also.
------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 23:01
You better have your ears checked... those lines are hardly flat... and probably one of the more masterful beginnings of any song written.... Greg's voice did change by the time he got to th ELPowell album. But just because he started to sound deeper and more manly.. in no way took away from the tone or amber in his voice. He just became a more forceful singer... nothing wrong with that... There is a part on the newer recorded PAAE that was on the boxset.. where he was having a bad voice day... but the other newly recorded songs on that boxset more than show that it wasn't permanent... ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: AbsentEnemy
Date Posted: July 29 2005 at 23:08
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Greg Lake really is a good singer. I love his voice. Its just a huge shame that he's always singing crappy lyrics. And as far as Roger Daltry goes..I'd say the scream in Won't Get Fooled Again is one of the greatest vocal moments of all time. ------------- "If the company of tumbleweed is unexpected fun, you're a cactus..." 
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Posted By: Wrath_of_Ninian
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 08:06
I have to agree with Blacksword - I dont think Greg has the best tuning - he slides into notes quite alot, rather than picking them straight off. I'll agree he has a nice tone when he's singing quietly, and its probably why his ballad/pop songs are so popular. When he screetches (a la sections of Jerusalem/Karn Evil 9) it grates a bit. He is distinctive though, unlike (GOOD GRIEF IVAN - I MEAN...) John 'down-the-pub-for-a-pie-and-half-a-bitter' Wetton. Maybe if Greg had 40 Woodbines, a bottle of Southern Comfort, a dose of bronchitis and a maniac trying to strangle him, he could emulate Wetton's "two-for-a-pound" market trader drawl. Finally, Greg sounds double-tracked on most ELP songs (presumably his own choice as producer (??)), and I'm looking forward to seeing him live so I can hear him properly. I dont think this technique did him any favours, as it gives him a 'metallic' sound on some early ELP. Particularly on Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression and the lines "Danger. Stranger. Load your program. I am yourself..." ------------- "Now all the seasons run together, and the middle days are gone..." |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 08:41
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Greg Lake's voice is good for the quiet and melancholy songs, but he can't really sing aggressively. that part is better taken by Peter Hammill, who, according to threefates, makes the angels run and hide -------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: Fearless
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 14:41
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I don't understand why everyone is so hard on John Wetton, his voice is fine, not brilliant, but complements the music of Crimson perfectly. If you have ever heard Schizoid Man live with Wetton singing you know what I mean. John also can do a good job on softer songs, just listen to Night Watch, his voice interacts perfectly with Fripps screaming gutiar and Cross's violin..........but I guess Wetton may be an acquired taste. BTW, Wetton definately had a better voice for harder songs, which is what KC were doing after Greg left, Greg would sound flat and out of place on Red or Larks Tongues, he was much better suited for ELP's 'in your face' pomposity. BTW Wrath of Ninian, that is Emerson that you hear singing (if you want to call it that) "Danger. Stranger. Load your program. I am yourself." And it is supposed to sound metallic, it is intended to be a computer.....it's all part of the concept (which is crap, if I may add ------------- If you don't stand up You don't stand a chance! |
Posted By: Wrath_of_Ninian
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 15:33
Sorry, the cheeky wink was supposed to show that I was subtley joking, but never mind - there's always someone who takes you seriously...I'll try the laughing icon next time! However, I was actually being serious about the use of effects on Greg's singing though, and it is does have a metallic effect in places, particularly on BSS, where it is used to extremes to bolster his voice over the myriad keyboards & drums. As for Wetton - I'm afraid I've never liked his voice (I suppose sometimes you just dont like something - no real explanation), but I agree that Greg would have struggled to sing Red (probably one of my favourite albums of all-time), and probably Larks Tongues too. He was certainly better suited to ELP, although as I have admitted on numerous occasions (and to the disgust of 3Fates) that the star of ELP for me is Emerson, and I only really enjoy his magical compositions and improvs. The Lake stuff is just padding.... Oh God, here we go again.... ------------- "Now all the seasons run together, and the middle days are gone..." |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 15:36
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Greg Lake is my favourite voice in prog. John Wetton my nr. 2 voice. The best voices in prog, as far as I'm concerned.
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Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 16:39
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Duhhh... not only was that Emerson's voice, but Greg has one of his very special vocal highlights in that song.... I get chills every time he sings... "Only blood cancel my pain"... ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 16:41
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Don't agree... ever seen the video for "Touch & Go" or "Black Moon".. those are both sung very agressively. Also you should hear his version of Arthur Brown's "Fire" on the boxset... when he starts with that "I am the God of Hellfire.. and I've come to...", I just want to ROTFLMAO.... ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 16:43
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....he also makes my family run and hide whenever i play VdGG -------------
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Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 16:45
Like I haven't figured that out about you already.... ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: Wormboy
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 17:35
Agreed. I always enjoyed his bass playing, but was never wowed by his singing. And Works vol 1 is IMO among the weakest ELP albums. Go straight to the top young man! "BRain Salad Surgery" awaits you! |
Posted By: Wormboy
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 17:39
Steve Walsh it's not Lake's voice per se that bothers me, but his style. He just seems a little over-dramatic, and in general the lyrics were not that good, which doesn't help his case. There are exceptions, of course. I tend to like a lot of the lyrics on BSS, strange tho they may be. |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 18:28
| Lake has a great voice, but his mind numbing singing on Love Beach was to say the least awful. I love ELP and have all their albums, and without a shadow of doubt they are the greatest prog band ever. But later albums seemed to be aimed at the American audience with Lakes voice deeper than earlier offerings. As for Hamill, brilliant band love their songs...pity he can't really sing , and the guy from Kansas...is this a joke? |
Posted By: Wormboy
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 18:43
Why? Kansas is a pretty good prog band, at least until their 80s flake-out, which was the rule rather than the exception. But IMO Kansas had a problem with sterility in their studio sound. I never liked Kansas until I listened to "Two for the Show," which has some of the best live energy I've ever heard from a prog band. Frankly, I think TFTS beats the live albums of most other bands (exceptions being Genesis' "Seconds Out" and Supertramps' "Paris"). Steve Walsh actually has a better voice (range, accuracy, strength) than most prog singers. Not too tough, since prog is not a genre noted for prima donna singers. But Walsh can sound kind of cheesy, and I think this makes many overlook the quality of his voice. |
Posted By: Wrath_of_Ninian
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 18:52
Please see subsequent post OK, so there's always TWO who will always take you seriously. Does anyone else out there think I was having a go at Greg for apparently 'singing' the part of the computer? Last time I use that wink symbol.... "Only blood can cancel my pain" And the next line is......."Guardians of a new cleAR DAAAWWWWWWNNNNNNN" Yep, not one of his finest!
------------- "Now all the seasons run together, and the middle days are gone..." |
Posted By: Wrath_of_Ninian
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 18:55
I know Threefates, but for the uninitiated....please, a little patience Got my Nottingham tickets by the way - I've been like a little kid all week! Thats 2 Van Der Graaf shows and a Greg show in one year - cant believe it! I NEVER thought I'd see these guys live. Any news on Emo by the way? ------------- "Now all the seasons run together, and the middle days are gone..." |
Posted By: dropForge
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 20:13
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The first five Kansas albums are indispensable, and Walsh's pipes on those recordings sound AMAZING. So, no...there is no joke! |
Posted By: Fearless
Date Posted: July 30 2005 at 20:26
If I would have paid more attention, I wouldn't have taken you seriously.....it's just that some people around here aren't too smart, and believe it or not, there are those who probably think that is Lake singing those lines. BTW, I completely agree with you about his voice sounding "metallic", the best example is on Jerusalem from BSS(omg, i can't stand that album! ------------- If you don't stand up You don't stand a chance! |
).Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: July 31 2005 at 02:41
You should look around. I understand Keith will be touring in the UK during the month of Nov. also... as will Carl. So you can actually see Emerson Lake & Palmer in the UK in Nov... just not together.... BTW.. Keith says he's just fine and will probably get away with meds.. and no surgery. We're all very happy for him. ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: Wrath_of_Ninian
Date Posted: July 31 2005 at 05:27
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Great stuff - I definitely wont miss him live this time. Glad to hear he is on the mend. ------------- "Now all the seasons run together, and the middle days are gone..." |