Emerson, Lake & Palmer, the band's 1970 debut album, was nothing short of stunning, with unforgettable songs and a blend of classically inspired complexity, raw power, and superb songwriting.
A must-have album, it opens a series of masterpieces composed between 1970 and 1974. Of all the albums, this one, in my opinion, remains the most important, as it showcases the band's playing ability and is a prelude to what would be released over the next three years: their ambitious progressive rock, which blends complex classical arrangements with powerful rock instrumentation, and reaches peak quality with the masterpiece Brain Salad Surgery, not to mention the immense Tarkus.
Some notes on the tracks:
Tank's drum solo is splendid, a beautiful instrumental piece, with fast bass, unique with its final riff after Palmer's solo. For me, the best track on this album, as impressive as the piano and organ on The Three Fates, is. "Lucky Man" enchants with its simple acoustic guitar, it's a marvel, and "The Barbarian" and "Knife Edge" are songs dominated by the distorted organ.
"Take a Pebble" stands out for the beautiful synergy between the piano and the great lead vocal, the powerful bass, and the delicate drum parts.
It's the best album to get to know this great band, in my opinion.
An essential album for the collection, a historic album.
Tracklist
1. The Barbarian (4:33)
2. Take a Pebble (12:34)
3. Knife-Edge (5:08)
4. The Three Fates (7:45)
- a. Clotho (Royal Festival Hall organ)
- b. Lachesis (piano solo)
- c. Atropos (piano trio)
5. Tank (6:52)
6. Lucky Man (4:36)
Duration 41:28
LineUp
- Greg Lake - vocals, bass, electric and acoustic guitar
- Keith Emerson - Hammond organ, St. Mark's Church organ, piano, celesta, Moog synthesizer
- Carl Palmer - drums, percussion
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page
