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"...Oh What A Lucky Man He Was..."
In many ways Emerson, Lake
& Palmer's November 1970 debut LP (Island Records in the UK and Cotillion
in the USA) was Part 2 of the Prog explosion set off in earnest by another
extraordinary debut - King Crimson's "In The Court Of The Crimson
King" in October 1969.
Dorset Guitarist and Singer
GREG LAKE had been a founder-member of Crimson and featured on that first LP –
Yorkshire keyboard virtuoso KEITH EMERSON had played with Gary Farr, The
V.I.P’s and done his five-album stint with The Nice (even adding keyboard
touches to Rod Stewart's "I Wouldn't Ever Change A Thing" on his
debut album "An Old Raincoat Won't Let You Down" released February
1970 in the UK) - whilst Brummie Drummer CARL PALMER had whacked his sticks for
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and formed Atomic Rooster with Vincent Crane.
When these three huge forces of 60ts Avant Garde came together as a band in
June 1970 - their initial album was always going to be an event.
But before they unleashed
that beast on a fractured counter-culture - a spot of Proggy grandstanding was
in order. On the 29th of August 1970 - they took to the stage at the Isle Of
Wight Festival with suitably bombastic crowd-pleasing results - cannon fire
mixed with neo-classical arrangements and squealing keyboards with more wires
and jump leads than Mission Control at Cape Canaveral. Island Records
immediately thought - that's the band for me. They signed ELP pronto and in
November the record was out - peaking at No.4 in the UK album charts with the
Yanks waiting until February of 1971 to eventually push it up to No. 18 (it
stayed on their charts for an impressive 42 weeks only to be replaced in July
1971 with the similarly challenging "Tarkus"). Which brings us to an
equally tortured history of this first ELP album on CD...
In truth I've lost count at
how reissues/remasters of their catalogue there's been – seven or eight hundred
maybe – but I'm sure that this 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' for 2016 will offer fans
what they've always wanted – the album in its best sound and tastily presented
too. But therein again lies another battle. Some felt that the 2012 remix done
by Reissue Godhead Steve Wilson was clean for sure but also sonically neutered
from the waist down. Others loved it. What you get here is two versions – the
2012 Remaster carried out by an Engineer I hugely favour – ANDY PEARCE (who
works in tandem with MATT WORTHAM) on Disc 1 – with the STEVE WILSON Alternate
Version of Disc 2. Andy has even mastered this release for both discs. If the
Wilson Mix is too clinical for your tastes – the warmer Pearce version is the baby
for you. Pearce and Wortham have twiddled the knobs on CD reissue catalogues
for Rory Gallagher, The Kinks, Frankie Miller, Pentangle, Thin Lizzy, Wishbone
Ash, Budgie and the recent Free reissues (all praised) and are currently
tackling Deep Purple's Seventies output as we speak (a knicker-wettingly
exciting prospect). Wilson has transformed Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Gentle
Giant and Yes catalogues with universally worshipped outcomes. All three Audio
Engineer names are about as respected as it can get these days. So let's
knuckle down to the details at hand...
UK released 29 July 2016 (1
September 2016 in the USA) - "Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Deluxe
Edition'" by EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER on BMG/Manticore BMGCAT2CD1
(Barcode 4050538179897) is a 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' which features the Andy
Pearce Remaster of the album on Disc 1 (2012) and the Steven Wilson 'Alternate
Album Stereo Remix' from 2012 - both mastered in 2016 by Andy Pearce. It plays
out as follows:
Disc 1 - The Original 1970
Album (2012 Remaster) - 41:18 minutes
1. The Barbarian
2. Take A Pebble
3. Knife-Edge
4. The Three Fates [Side 2]
(i) Clotho - Royal Festival
Hall Organ
(ii) Lachesis - Piano Solo
(iii) Atropos - Piano Trio
5. Tank
6. Lucky Man
Tracks 1 to 6 are their
debut album "Emerson, Lake & Palmer" - released November 1970 in
the UK on Island ILPS 9132 (Pink Label Pressing) and February 1971 in the USA
on Cotillion SD-9040. Arranged by ELP and Produced by GREG LAKE (Eddy Offord of
Yes fame was the Engineer) - it peaked at No. 4 in the UK and No. 18 in the
USA. "The Barbarian" is based on "Allegro Barbaro" by Bela
Bartok (arranged by ELP), "Take A Pebble" by Greg Lake (arranged by
Keith Emerson), "Knife-Edge" by Leos Janacek and Johann Bach
(arranged by ELP), "The Three Fates" by Keith Emerson (all
three-parts), "Tank" by Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer with
"Lucky Man" by Greg Lake.
Disc 2 – The Alternate Album
(2012 Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) – 55:41 minutes
1. The Barbarian
2. Take A Pebble
3. Knife-Edge (With Extended
Outro)
4. Promenade
5. The Three Fates: Atropos
6. Rave Up
7. Drum Solo
8. Lucky Man
9. Take A Pebble (Alternate
Take)
10. Knife-Edge (Alternate
Take)
11. Lucky Man (First Greg
Lake Solo Version)
12. Lucky Man (Alternate
Version)
The three-way foldout card
digipak has a series of three black and white photos of the boys larking about
(ELP Archives) – various live shots of all three – a superlative worldwide 7”
singles display on the centre-pages of the album's lone 45 "Lucky
Man" b/w "Knife-Edge" (Holland, Germany and Japan are in there)
– as well as new liner notes from noted writer and music buff CHRIS WELCH. The
reissue is dedicated to Keith Emerson who died 14 March 2016 – and released in
July 2016 – couldn't have known of Greg Lakes' sad passing on 7 December 2016.
There's a full page trade advert for the album on Page 13 – the usual reissue
credits – and interviews with Emerson and Lake regarding the recordings (Keith
was only just learning the Moog when he played his solo on "Lucky
Man" – done in one take – it was owned by Mike Vickers of Manfred Mann).
Downsides - both CD labels are Manticore only - the reissue label from the mid
Seventies - where's the British 'Pink I' Label or the American Cotillion
original? The liner notes are good as I say but there's not a word on Disc 2 –
no insights into the Alternates or Remix process. But that all goes out the
window once you hear the actual audio on 'both' CDs...
ANDY PEARCE did the Remaster
for Disc 1 back in 2012 – while Disc 2 is Porcupine Tree's STEVEN WILSON
version also from 2012 – with both now mastered by ANDY PEARCE is 2016. I take
on board what some have said about the cleanness of Wilson's take in 2012 – but
frankly whatever Andy has done with this slight tweak in 2016 - I think most
will absolutely love it. So if you want more breathing - AP's take is the one
for you – if you want a more humane clean cut – then Disc 2 is your go-to.
Either way – you're quids in. And I'm also shocked at the quality of the
outtakes on Disc 2...superb stuff we'll get into later...
As the heavy-heavy monster
sound of "The Barbarian" comes stomping into your living room (based
on "Allegro Barbaro" by Bela Bartok and arranged by ELP) – in less
than 20-seconds you’re immediately aware of the power of the band and that this
is no-prisoners Progressive Rock. The audio is amazing – full and in your face
– not over-trebled – but thumping you in the chest and making you think – this
is probably what that Isle of Wight audience felt. "...Then watch the
ripples that unfold into me..." – Greg Lake sings on the undeniably pretty
"Take A Pebble" – for me one of their greatest moments on record.
Opening with piano-frame strums that are soon followed by Bass and Drums – the
Audio on this 12-minute album centrepiece is fabulous – Emerson showing
beautiful piano delicacy as he plays – Palmer snaking his percussive way over
those hi-hats. Then you get that distant acoustic guitar section – a very sweet
transfer where Lake’s playing comes sailing out as the hand-claps build –
finally followed by Keith showing his musicality. Before all the pomp took over
– this is surely the ELP many fans want to remember – minus all the flashy
synths – there’s just the three of them and their virtuosity making a sound
that is Emerson, Lake & Palmer. For a band that’s (let’s face it) so often
derided – I often play this track alone to prove the opposite – a piece of
music that warrants respect. Again amazing clarity on the Bass and
treated-vocal of Greg Lake as he sings about spread-eagle claws on "Knife-Edge"
– a very Crimson song and the one chosen to represent ELP on the 2005 Island
Records 3CD Mini Box Set "Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal".
Based on a Greek legend of
three sisters who could control a person’s destiny and fate - Side 2 opens with
the "The Three Fates" Suite by Keith Emerson. The first part is
suitably grandiose utilising the Royal Festival Hall’s Organ for the massive
chords of "Clotho" (special permission sought and given) while Part 2
is pure Emerson – sat at Advision Studios' seven-foot long Yamaha grand piano
giving it some finger-plonking welly. Palmer and Emerson then join forces for
the frenzied Piano/Percussion battle of "Atropos" that again feels
like King Crimson having an epiphany moment. The near seven-minutes of "Tank"
is a big ELP fan fave – a dancing Clavinet perfectly matched by Lake and Palmer
– rounded off by Palmer giving it some Ginger Baker – a drum solo. Quite aside
from the naff nature of Drum Solos in the live environment for the whole of the
Seventies – you have to say that the audio here rocks. "Lucky Man"
was apparently the first-song Greg Lake wrote after his mum bought him an
Acoustic Guitar at the age of 12 (nice one Mrs. L). An obvious single with its
‘ooh what a lucky man he was’ voices and those lovely acoustic guitars – and of
course the rupture-the-sky Moog solo that to this day sends chills up my arms
(he used the Moog Mike Vickers from Manfred Mann had left in the studio).
Disc 2 offers up a lot more
than I’d bargained for. The very hissy “Promenade” features Lake and Emerson
duetting on Vocals and Organ for one and half minutes – while track 5 cleverly
isolates "Atropos" in "The Three Fates" Suite and
accentuates that rattling percussion as Keith hammers those piano keys. Of real
interest is the near five-minute "Rave Up" where Lake flicks about on
an Electric Guitar as Emerson and Palmer keep jabbing with Keyboards and Drums
– like they’re searching for something interesting to happen. It descends into
a go-as-fast-as-you-can-go race to the instrumental finish – but I love it and
the Audio is absolutely blistering. The three minutes of "Drum Solo"
pretty much does what it says on the tin – Carl hitting his kit like he’s doing
Brand’s Hatch in a E-Type Jag and needs to get round in a hurry. If I’m
truthful I prefer Wilson’s version of "Lucky Man" – gorgeous Audio
that seems to get more out of the Vocals. The Alternate "Take A
Pebble" is preceded by some studio banter (let’s do it from the top) but
despite its wickedly good sound quality – it disappointingly only lasts just
under four minutes. But that’s not to say that I don’t think ELP fans will be
chewing this up for breakfast – Keith’s playing – Greg on a clear Bass while
Palmer caresses those cymbals. It ends quickly because someone fluffed their
part and they giggle about it in some more dialogue. It’s fantastic stuff. The
Alternate Take of "Knife-Edge" has huge sound and Keith’s
extraordinary playing. Another prize is surely Greg Lake’s First Acoustic Solo
Version of "Lucky Man" – those voices different yet still beautiful
and no Moog break - while the final Alternate Version of the song has a
thrashing Electric Guitar solo instead of that keyboard moment we all know and
love – interesting
ELP would conquer the Prog
world with "Tarkus" in 1971, "Trilogy" in 1972 and the
delightfully titled "Brain Salad Surgery" in 1973 – before it all
went preposterous and OTT. But there was a reason why they were huge – and
that’s more than evident of this timely 2016 reissue. And with the 2012 version
deleted and now starting at £50+ on the used marketplace – this is a ten-spot
well spent on Amazon (UK)...
PS: This review is
affectionately dedicated to Keith Emerson and Greg Lake who both passed in 2016
- thanks for the pebbles and the ripples...
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