ELP Digest Friday, 14 Feb 1997 Volume 7 : Issue 3 The "When the Apple Blossoms Bloom In the Windmills Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine" Edition Today's Topics: "live at the royal albert hall video" "Live at the RAH" video Re: Royal Albert Hall video Live at the Royal Albert Hall Video - Update ELP Live at the RAH Laser Disc RAH video/Jap interview Re: ELP on Jeopardy.... ELP on Never Mind The Bollocks! U.K. Digest readers please take note Little Arabella Re: ELP Digest V6 #30 Nice Questions & Quatro Re: ELP Digest V6 #30 My first post :-) Re: Opinions Keith's Autobiography Re: Source for 1974 "Welcome Back" album idea for the list Rhino Release of B.S.S. ELP in February MOJO Magazine Re: Zoukra? Zoukra What's wrong with ELP Prelude ======= I received a copy of Greg Lake's "On the Lakefront" newsletter last weekend and have seen some press releases from Greg's manager about the new limited edition, autographed, numbered, CD of his "King Biscuit" album that's available on his official web site (http://www.dynrec.com/lake). There's also an updated equipment section and lyrics page (with lyrics to Tarkus added). So that's worth a visit. Also, there's some new stuff on Keith Emerson's Close To Home page (http://www.interstellar9.com/emerson) including a new section of Keith's autobiography about meeting Leonard Bernstein. And, I've been way too busy at work and home to get as many Digests out as I have incoming mail. But I'm in the process of moving my ELP Digest stuff from my work computer to my home computer which should give me more time to work on it. So, stay tuned... and Happy Valentine's Day! - John - ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 19:07:06 +0000 From: "Joseph H.Maycock" To: arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com Subject: "live at the royal albert hall video" I would like to know if you have any info on where I can get the "albert hall " video.Also do you have any info such as running times and songs included. Thanks,Ed sonny@dmv.com I would be looking for a US version. [ Editor's Note: See below. Also, I'll be trying to get more info about a US version once the final tape is available. - John - ] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1997 12:55:38 +0100 From: akiko To: arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com Subject: "Live at the RAH" video Dear John, I'm also waiting for my copy of the "Live at the RAH" video which I ordered from Beckmann Video in December. However, I have heard from friends in Japan, where the video has been in the shops since December 1, that the video is not that great - it has sections where the sound and the image are obviously out of sync, etc. - and that the group aren't (or at least Carl Palmer isn't) particularly happy with the product. Well, I'll see for myself when my copy finally arrives... Best Regards, Akiko Hada ------------------------------ From: estazz99@intonet.co.uk Date: Sun, 02 Feb 1997 16:11:58 -0800 To: John Arnold Subject: Re: Royal Albert Hall video Dear John, Sorry for not getting back to you earlier. About a week ago, the following letter was sent from Beckmann to all ELP fans who have ordered the RAH video from them: "We regret to inform you that there will be a delay in the availability of 'ELP - Live at the Royal Albert Hall'. It will not be available for distribution in the UK until the third week of February 1997. Due to technical difficulties in synchronising the live pictures at the Royal Albert Hall with the audio sound feed, the Master tape will have to be re-edited which is scheduled for the second week of February 1997. We apologise for the delay but we want to ensure that we have the best possible picture and sound quality that modern technology can provide. For ELP fans this is a historic record of an ELP Concert and we thank you for your patience in waiting for this to be produced. Michael J. Souter Director" I am actually very glad that they are addressing the problem which is so apparent on the Japanese release. It is definitely well worth waiting, to ensure that the picture and sound quality is good. Liv ------------------------------ From: Peter2001@aol.com Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1997 21:15:31 -0500 (EST) To: arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com Subject: Live at the Royal Albert Hall Video - Update Dear John, Thanks for your reply to the Albert Hall Live video query which I posted to the Digest 7.02 Today, I received a letter from Beckmann Communications (the producers of the video), the contents of which I will quote. You may want to put this into the Digest or maybe just summarize it, to keep everyone informed about this MUCH awaited Video!! Beckmann Communications - Head Office : Meadow Court, West Street, Ramsey, Isle of Man IM8 1AE, British Isles Tel +44 1624 816585 Fax +44 1624 816589 Dated: 23rd January 1997 "We regret to inform you that there will be a delay in the availability of 'ELP - Live At The Royal Albert Hall'. It will not be available for distribution in the United Kingdom until the third week of February 1997. Due to Technical Difficulties in synchronising the live pictures at the Royal Albert Hall with the audio sound feed, the Master tape will have to be re-edited which is scheduled for the second week of February 1997. We apologise for the delay but we want to ensure that we have the best possible picture and sound quality that modern technology can provide. For 'ELP' Fans this is a historic record of an 'ELP Concert' and we thank you for your patience in waiting for this to be produced. Michael J. Souter DIRECTOR " So, maybe not too long to wait! Remember, this video was originally due for release back in June 1996! Hopefully the release for America will be at the same time or shortly afterwards - the original flyer I received from Beckmann did state"also available in NTSC".... Kind regards, ~~~ Peter2001@aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 08 Feb 1997 00:10:29 +0800 From: HASNAIN CHIBA To: arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com Subject: ELP Live at the RAH Laser Disc I got quite excited when my copy of ELP live at the RAH laser disc finally arrived from Japan,but only to find the production of the video extremely dissapointing.First of all,normally you'd expect high quality finishing to the filming,directing,sound,editing etc.but there's none of that here. Here are a few examples :- When it starts off,the sound is okay,but right after Tarkus,the quality takes a huge nosedive,suddenly it all becomes muffled,listenable but still quite bad when you at least expect better quality as that of the live CD. As for the directing ,also quite awful,in fact during the whole concert not once could you ever get a clear view of Keith playing his Hammond organ.The quality of the film was hazy and smudgy especially in the dark bits.The editing between songs was also quite abrubt.As for the biggest dissapointment was the showstopper "Fanfare".I could not believe it when watching one minute into the number,that the video & sound were OUT OF SYNC,in fact the music soundtrack was running faster than the video by nearly of a whole second (Imagine,when Keith hits a key & that he is late or Carl hitting the cymbal after the music).Never in my life have I ever seen a music concert video ever like that,it seems the sound & video were put in seperately.My friend also confirmed this as he got the laser disc the same time as I did.I cannot imagine how ELP could allow the release of such bad quality especially in this day and age we expect better quality.I sent my copy back to Japan and got my refund and also mentioned the faults that accompanied it.I hope they somehow will manage to remaster it in some way better especially the fiasco that appeared in the last track "Fanfare". I truly wish to own a copy of the video as part of my complete collection,but not like this. I guess I'll wait for the VHS copy and see how it turns up,but my guess it will be the same.In fact my friend managed to get a copy of the Japan 1996 concerts,he bought it from somwehere in the Shinjuku district,the concert was hand filmed by video camera and the quality was rather good compared to the RAH video,at least whoever was shooting it did a much better job. I was there to see the Japanese concerts and I hope that there would be an official video release of the concerts as they were really great.Bye for now. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 08 Feb 1997 15:33:34 +0100 From: akiko To: John Arnold Subject: RAH video/Jap interview Dear John, It's strange, I'm sure I've mailed you last week about the Live at the RAH video (saying that I'd heard from people in Japan that the sound is out of sync in places) but can't find any record of sending the mail to you... Well, I (like everyone else) have just received a letter from the manufacturers saying they're re-syncing the sound, hence the delay. So that's why. The Japanese, as usual, have obviously rushed the release, like they did with the RAH live CD (the recording on the Japanese CD is from a different night than the rest of the world.) I must also re-translate back into English a section of the Keith Emerson interview in the Ho-no-o Magazine, Japan (December 96 issue), about his playing Bach's "Toccata & Fugue in D-Minor" upside down while he's underneath the Hammond: "I used to do that gimmick since the seventies but it was only a few years ago that I started playing a proper piece of music. I practiced quite a lot, with a portable keyboard on my lap. Once I was practicing this at home, while watching TV with my mother, when Robert Berry happened to come by. He said "have you gone mad?", he was also shocked to see my mother as if nothing unusual was going on. My mother said "I'm Keith Emerson's mother, nothing surprises me any more" (laughs)." Great quote, isn't it? All the Best, Akiko Hada. "... ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 04 Feb 1997 20:40:17 +0000 From: laura To: arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com Subject: Re: ELP on Jeopardy.... ELP on Never Mind The Bollocks! 'Never Mind The Bollocks' is a British music/comedy quiz show with two teams of three music/comedy celebs playing against each other. One of their tasks is that two out of the three team members have to articulate the intro to various songs and hope that the third member knows what it is. One of members started off with a very ropey impression of a trumpet figure then the second member kicked off a 'da doing da doing da doing da doing.....' bass impression. The third team member got it though...Fanfare For The Common Man! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 03 Feb 1997 16:42:35 +0000 From: anthony.brown@virgin.net (anthony.brown@virgin.net) To: arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com Subject: U.K. Digest readers please take note John Could you please fit this in to a digest edition. I received my latest edition of the "GFT" (0181 3399965) catalogue which has the following information that I thought may be of interest to UK readers of the Digest IN SOON, LIMITED AMMOUNTS OF AMERICAN DELETIONS UK - "DANGER MONEY"/"NIGHT AFTER NIGHT" £13.50p EMERSON LAKE & POWELL - "EMERSON LAKE & POWELL" £13.50 KING CRIMSON - "ISLANDS" £13.50 The postage and packaging from this company is £1 for the first CD and 50P for subsequent CD's Disclaimer time !!!. I am no way connected with this company other than that I read about them in a previous edition of the Digest and I have purchased several CD's from them T O N Y ------------------------------ From: "Bernard Delmage" To: arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1997 09:03:50 GMT Subject: Little Arabella Hi John, Someone wanted to know where they could find Little Arabella by The Nice and I can confirm that it is on Ars Longa Vita Brevis. I played it at the weekend and it still sounds great! Regards, Bernard ------------------------------ From: "Tom Myler" To: "John Arnold" Subject: Re: ELP Digest V6 #30 Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 17:33:53 -0800 >>Date: Thu, 21 Nov 1996 13:13:12 -0500 (EST) >>From: "Dan Conrad, Elizabeth Library" >>To: ARNOLD@DARTMOUTH.COORDINATE.COM >>Subject: Opinions >> >> John, please consider this post for installment in >> the E.L.P. Digest. The following does not represent >> griping, but just some thoughts I have. I am inter- >> ested in what other fans have to say about these >> topics, as I have seen them mentioned, but not dis- >> cussed... >> >> (SNIP) >> >> .....Well, i will finish up now. John, i want to thank you for >> making this fantastic web site available and doing such >> a good job with it. (a garland of martian fireflowers to you) >> >> you may use my name if you wish. >> >> Sincerely, >> Dan Conrad<< I agree with Dan 100%. Tom Myler ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 14 Dec 1996 10:32:07 -0500 To: John Arnold From: Chamber of Commerce Subject: Nice Questions & Quatro Hi John: I have had a great time these past 18 months, catching up on all the back issues of the ELP Digest. Now, after subscribing since the late spring, I think I have some material that may be of interest to fellow ELPers. I have been a fan since hearing the opening notes of "The Barbarian" in the winter of '70/'71 at the age of 18. I still have Kodak "Instamatic" shots from the first time I saw them on Aug. 24, 1971 at an old big band dance hall known as "Wonderland Gardens" in London, Ontario. There have been four other occasions; in 1977, 1992, 1993 and most recently, this past September at Pine Knob, Michigan. I came across an interesting item while pawing through a discount CD bin at a Sears Outlet store. "Intermezzo - the Nice", a steal at 4.99. The label was "Soundwings", it was made in "Czech" and distributed by "Selected Sound Carrier AG" from Switzerland. Front cover is of original 4 members- and all songs are studio cuts: "Hang on to a Dream"(4:48), Tantalizin' Maggie"(4:21), "Rondo" (8:22), "Cry of Eugene"(4:30), "Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack"(2:47), "Intermezzo from Karelia Suite"(9:10), Diamond Hard Apples..."(2:47), "Little Arabella"(4:17) and "America - 1A and 1B Second Amendment"(6:19). Can anyone tell me if this grouping is the same as "Ars Longa Vita Brevis" or another earlier release? I have vinyls "Elegy", "Everything as Nice as Mother..", "Autumn to Spring" and "Five Bridges". I think most of the studio cuts from these albums match the ones on this CD, but I'm not sure. One exception is the vinyl version of "The Thoughts of Emerlilist/Davjack" at 4:12, it is considerably longer than the version on this CD. I am especially curious about the "Rondo" cut. I believe it has a different quote from Bach's "Toccata & Fugue in D Minor" than the one listed (Royal Albert Hall) in the Musical Quote List. It is a 15 sec. quote that occurs from 4:40 to 4:55. Is this version different than other original studio versions? The limited labeling is spiced with spelling errors...(Tim Harding?) Funniest of all are the composing credits for all original songs and arrangements. They are shown as "Emerlist/Davjack". Obviously the characters that put this together weren't too familiar with the band or knew anyone that was. One final note. I recall upon hearing "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" for the first time (in 1973) running to an encyclopedia to find out who this "Emerlist Davjack" was. I guessed him to be some obscure Scandinavian philosopher. Of course, I found no one with that name. I had forgotten all about it until I found these errors on the "Intermezzo" CD. It was then that I figured out Emerlist Davjack is not a person at all. I suppose most ELPers already know that the name comes from a combination of Emerson & O'List, plus Davison & Jackson. Also, to Joseph Paslawski item of Oct. 20 in Digest V6 #29 regarding - Mike Quatro: I have a vinyl copy of "In Collaboration with the Gods". He is indeed a talented multi-keyboardist. He is also classically influenced, but in a style distinctly different from Emerson's. Side 1 is a concept piece based on the album title, with 13 cuts including songs like: "Loki's Gloria", "Amusement of Bacchus", "Waltz of the Gods", "Diety's Ditty" and more. The sense of humor continues on Side 2 with "Prelude in A Crazy II", "Rockmanninoff's Prelude in C Blunt Funk" and "Ave Rock Maria". It was released in 1975. Guest artists include Rick Derringer and Flo & Eddie. John... thanks so much for all your work on the Digest. Al Bod 47 Locke Ave, St..Thomas, Ontario E-Mail: chamber@ccia.st-thomas.on.ca ------------------------------ From: Klemmre@aol.com Date: Fri, 20 Dec 1996 01:04:35 -0500 To: arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com Subject: Re: ELP Digest V6 #30 There were some interesting postings last time around. I enjoyed reading some things that were actually critical of the band for a change. I'd like to comment on these, if I may. FIRST THOUGH, TO MIKE BRANICK, WHO ASKS IF ANYONE ELSE REMEMBERS WHEN THEY WERE ON CALIFORNIA JAM.... That sparked memories. I once wondered if I was the only one who remembered that too. I've always wished that concert would be released on video. It was so long ago, but if memory serves... Highlights from California Jam were telecast over 3 or 4 nights. There was an "overview" night and a night that featured ELP. But I think that show featured ELP and Black Oak Arkansas. I don't remember the Stones being in the Jam. But i DO remember suffering from some awful Black Oak Arkansas music inbetween the ELP bits. Let's see... I remember "Pictures at an Exhibition" being done. It was "The Hut on Fowl's Legs" and "The Great Gate of Kiev" part with Emerson flipping around upside down on the piano. I can't remember how much of the piece was shown, if it was ALL of "Hut" and "Kiev" or not or if they emphasized the flying piano bit. I think they showed it all. At the time I was a recent convert to ELP and I hadn't heard "Pictures" yet. The other night they showed part 2 of "Karn Evil 9" first impression complete with the drum solo. And I remember vividly the third impression being done and I also remember liking the performance better than the one on "Welcome Back My Friends" especially at the end when the sequencer went nuts. I had tape recorded the show on this little "piece-of-junk" portable cassette player, the kind we all had when we kids in the 70s before things got high-tech. Prop up a microphone in front of the TV speaker, that type of thing. Who knows where this tape is today, but the hiss is probably louder than the music. If this was on TV today we could VIDEOtape the thing in stereo! I also remember that they spotlighted the individual members. Carl's drum solo in "Toccata" (and that great drum-bass duet that I always thought was one of ELP's finest moments) was shown on TV. And it went to a commercial when the synthesized drum solo ended and the rest of the band came in. I remember Emerson's piano improvisations in the middle of "Take a Pebble" being shown and Greg Lake doing his acoustic "Still... You Turn Me On" and "Lucky Man." A friend and fellow ELP nut (who I haven't seen in years) had the bits from that show on a bootleg record. (Minus "Pictures".) I had taped his record on 8-Track. (Oh, one of the mistakes of my youth in the 70s!) Of course, I no longer own an 8-track player and I finally threw out my old 8-track tapes the last time I moved. I would LOVE to get this concert on videotape. I was disappointed that there were no clips from that show on the "Welcome Back My Friends" video that was released last year. I was actually disappointed in that tape PERIOD. I would have preferred to see more concert footage, or even an ENTIRE concert (even the Albert Hall concert) rather than all the junk that was on that too-short tape. As usual, they emphasize on the glitz and the theatrical. I would have appreciated a full live performance of "Pirates" from Montreal instead of footage of Keith rolling around with the Hammond organ and spraypainting graffiti on a brick wall at the Albert Hall. The same was true for the YESSHOWS video that came out around the same time. I would have rather seen an entire concert tape of the UNION tour (and get "Awaken" performed live in its entirety) instead of having to watch clips from a Trevor Rabin video. Everytime I see a badly put together documentary of a rock group, the movie "This is Spinal Tap" gets funnier and funnier. Your posting about California Jam brought back some memories. Any other nostalgic tidbits? NOW, TO THE CRITICAL STUFF. THE FIRST WAS FROM DAN CONRAD, ELIZABETH LIBRARY: I agree with him that ELP's new material is not exactly up to snuff with their best. "In The Hot Seat" was banal at best. The first song wasn't too bad, the rest of the disc bored me silly. Come on, our boys are capable of writing FAR better stuff than that. "Black Moon" had its moments though. Especially their version of Prokofiev's "Romeo & Juliet." (We might as well be honest, some of their BEST work has been revamped classics.) I also liked the title track and Emerson's two instrumentals. But Greg's ballads... ("Affairs of the Heart" and "Footprints in the Snow"... YAWN.) His "ballads" were much better on the Emerson, Lake & Powell album. In fact, I like that album a LOT. Even though Palmer was wasting his time with Asia at the time (as was Steve Howe), The ELPowell album is a great album I think. "Touch and Go" is a terrific song, especially the synthesizer bits between verses... that was pure Emerson. (I HATE the redone version on the boxed set. It lacks the fire of the original.) I wasn't sure what album he was referring too as "poo-poo redux" however. LATRAH? Whatever initials these are escape me. He is also right on the bootleg issue. If they don't want people buying bootlegs, then make the stuff available!!! It has always been my opinion that ELP was better live than in the studio. The live versions of many of their songs are more exciting than the studio cuts. "Hoedown" is a good example. So is "Tarkus." And I always thought the production on "Brain Salad Surgery" was too cold, I think the live versions sound so much warmer. Back in the 70s I had a tape (gain on 8-track, alas!) from the King Biscuit Flower Hour and the live versions of "Fanfare for the Common Man" and "Pirates" kicked ass on the originals. I had always thought that "Pirates" was poorly recorded until I heard the new remixed version on the boxed set. MUCH better. On to the videos... I saw the "Pictures" video in a theatre back in the late 70s. It's called ELP "Rock and Roll Your Eyes" or something like that. It has to be one of the WORST concert movies ever filmed. I'm not referring to the performance but to the actual filming and editing of it. Boring. And so dated too, all those bits where they zoom into the comic book panels. POINTLESS! I would much rather see the band play. (The same can be said for the "Yessongs" film too, which I also saw in a theatre when it first came out. Why can't we just watch the band play, WHY do we have to see microscopic photography of amoebas during the slow movement of "Close to the Edge?") Dan also said: "THEY ARE GREAT PLAYERS, SO HOW ABOUT DOING SOME PLAYING? MAKE AN ALBUM OF "JAMMING", DARE I SAY "FUSION" TYPE MATERIAL...THEY ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE!" I agree. I'll take a jam like "Fanfare" over a piece of drek like "Street War" anyday. They are capable of SO much more. Let's have an extended piece again! Emerson has to be one of (if not THE) most innovative keyboard players ever. Come on, ELP, let's give the fans what they want. I grew disenchanted with ELP around the time of "Works" back in the 70s. I liked much of the first Works, but the solo sides definitely pointed us towards their end... working separately instead of together. Most of Lake's songs on side two were dull. But "Works II" pissed me off. A bunch of mostly bad outtakes. And then "Tiger in a Spotlight", one of the worst songs they ever recorded, was released as a single???? Then came "Love Beach". At the time I thought that most of side one sounded like Beach Boys rejects. I had the feeling at the time that Lake wanted to be a teen idol. (I thought the same thing of John Wetton in Asia.) My friend in the 70s who turned me on to ELP (and had all those bootlegs that I taped on 8-track ARGGGGHHH!) told me that he read that the reason the "Works" tour film was never released was because Lake didn't like his haircut at the time. I don't know if this was true or not, but it's amusing if it is. And also symptomatic of the trouble with ELP at that time. Emerson was moving more towards the classics and Lake was moving more towards weepy ballads. They had reached their peak with "Trilogy" and "Brain Salad Surgery" and they never recorded anything remotely as strong since. They've recorded some of the best music I have ever heard and also some of the worst. But as Dennis Miller says, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THE POSTING FROM ARNOLD KALNITSKY: First, he mentions having concert videos from all phases of their career, including ELPowell. WHERE DID YOU FIND THESE??????? He is also right. With age, they should be maturing as musicians, not rehashing greatest hits. They aren't maturing as musicians. They reached their peak a long time ago and they haven't recorded anything interesting in over ten years. I would say that their last great piece was "Pirates" but I liked a lot of the ELPowell album from the 80s. There was a lot of life on that album and some great playing and that great bombastic SOUND that only Emerson can get out of a synthesizer. Their version of "Romeo & Juliet" on "Black Moon" was the only thing they recorded in the 90s that even remotely reminded me of the excitement of their heydey. But all quibbling aside, I still love the band. And loved seeing them in concert this summer. Even though it was kind of a "greatest hits" tour, they played tight, Lake's voice was back and they had a few cool surprises in the show (namely "Bitch's Crystal" and "Touch and Go.") So let's get down to basics and jam out some innovative stuff like you used to. The recent release by the classic members of Yes has two new extended pieces that reawakened my excitement for that band. "That, That Is" showed a LOT of musical growth and renewed my confidence in them. (I had found much of the music on the "Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe" album very exciting but, not counting THAT album, their peak had been "Awaken" on "Going For The One" in 1977 and it was good to see them back in rare form in 1996 again. "That, That Is" showed maturity and songwriting growth. I would like to see the same thing happen on the next ELP album. But in the meanwhile, I can still relive the glory on albums like "Trilogy." I will always consider them to be one of THE bands of all time. And, just curious if anyone shares this choice with me, but MY choice for their best song ever is "Karn Evil 9 SECOND Impression." I love the jazz piano and I LOVE that mysterious piano-bass duet in the middle. Now THAT'S innovative and inventive music! Mike Klemm Editor/Art Director of Metro Weekend an entertainment newspaper in Buffalo, NY ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Dec 96 22:24:50 CET (2224Z) From: "BN S2, SGT TAYLOR" Subject: My first post :-) Greetings. First off, I would like to set the record straight. I am what you might consider a Johnny-come-lately. Although I had heard "Lucky Man" and "Karn Evil 9" on the classic rock station, I didn't REALY get into ELP until I saw ASIA on their second tour in Buffalo NY. It was Carl's drumming that made me seek out prior works and helped me discover ELP. I still remember buying my first ELP album "Pictures". I put it on, it was nothing like I was expecting (having listened to heavy metal and hard rock all for a majority of my youth). I was extremely surprised and pleased to hear "Promenade", recognizing it from JR high band. Most of my friends thought I was nuts listening to this stuff, but it was like an awakening to me. I went out the next week and bought "Tarkus" and I was definitely hooked. One of my greatest thrills was when ELP got back together and I was able to see them at "The Gorge in George" WA. I am NOT a musician, I just LOVE music...any music. I also am not the type of person that can pull musical degrees and technical info out of my posterior. I am someone that LOVES ELP. I tend to agree that the "older" music is better, I sure would love another album like "Pictures", but I am not disappointed with the newer stuff. From: "Dan Conrad, Elizabeth Library" First, the material. Let's face it, the product is not nearly as good as it used to be. ITHS is their weakest to date. BM was O.K., but that is all..... LATRAH is nothing more than poopoo redux.......... "Hotseat" weak? Sure it isnt the huge opus of "Tarkus" or "Pictures" but weak? I love the Dillon cover of "The man in the long black coat" and "Daddy", I practically cry every time I hear it. No, its not "KE9", but its not supposed to be. If everything were "The Endless Enigma" then that song wouldn't be so special. In my opinion, the boys should realize that whatever they put out, true fans will buy. But are the fans happy? I doubt it. Maybe I blindly buy every ELP album that comes down the pike, but I wouldn't listen to it continually if I didn't like it. They are great players, so how about doing some playing? make an album of "jamming", dare I say "fusion" type material...they are more than capable! I would more than love to hear this, but if the boys felt it appropriate I am sure they would. This statement also seems to contradict the poopoo redux comment. Part of the beauty of live albums is the jamming that goes on in live performances. Granted the "Albert Hall" album may not contain allot of this, I'm sure that it has some. (Sadly I have yet to add it to my collection, I'm overseas and cant seem to find it anywhere.) Next,...I bought the video of both "Pictures" & "Welcome Back...". "Pictures was great except for all that cartoon crap and nausea inspiring gloop,gloop stuff. I was disappointed with "Welcome", too much new stuff... Gives the fans what they want. ie footage (that we know is available) of the historic group we once knew..... I would shell out mucho dinero for a full length docu ment of the 73-74 tour. Or how about the 77 tour? The video I have of the Montreal show stinks... (not the performance though). How about a live box set from 70-77 like Crimson did.(rather well I might add) There are new "FANS" that appreciate the "Welcome Back" video. I think it had a nice balance of new and old. You must remember, allot of us are new and appreciate any info on the band we can get. This leads me to bootlegs; if the boys don't like people buying, selling or trading boots, then make the stuff available so that they as well as us the fans can benefit. Ditto with the scores, if the music was published, people would buy and the artist will receive the royalties...... I concur that bands that are against bootlegs should release more material BUT! I think that they want to make the music perfect before release and most bootlegs are notoriously sloppy and that could tend to embarrass an artist. As far as the playing goes, they should have only gotten better. But do we hear it? I don't...People may say I am living in the past, but hey they can't argue that the past was great. E.L.P.'s greatest stuff was 77 and before, I dont think anyone can argue that. By the way LB was a pretty good album for what it was. And the playing was still great dispite some of the material. Actually I think it is a good prog-pop record and really led the way for Asia and a few others to follow. The past WAS great, I happen to love the present, and have great hope for the future. I think that ELP set the standard for progressive music and although they may have left allot of that behind, I think that they ARE growing. Growing means change, and change will always disappoint or disturb some people. Now what I would like to see in the future... MORE songs like "Farewell to Arms", "Affairs of the Heart", "Daddy" and others. I would also kill for another album of their own arrangements of some other classical composer in the feel of "Pictures" and MORE concerts (I was so depressed that I couldnt see the last tour). Who knows...maybe even a "Works vol. III" as long as it is in the style of "vol. I" Please don't consider this an attack on you in particular, I have seen these points brought several times and just finally got off my butt to reply. Jay Taylor ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Dec 1996 12:25:35 +0000 To: "Dan Conrad, Elizabeth Library" Cc: ARNOLD@dartmouth.coordinate.com From: Peter Wilton Subject: Re: Opinions "Dan Conrad, Elizabeth Library" writes > First, the material. Let's face it, the product is > not nearly as good as it used to be. ITHS is their > weakest to date. I'm not sure it's as bad a people make out. Some of the accompaniments still manage to produce quite a bit of Emo's unusual harmonic interest - mind you, that tends to be the only musical criterion I'm really bothered about, so I'm biassed. I'm coming to realise that most fans of various types of pop music identify a style by its timbre, and therefore make distinctions between styles that seem similar in my terms, whereas styles that are similar to me fall into completely different categories for others! >BM was o.k., but that is all..... > LATRAH is nothing more than poopoo redux Really? Better than any other live album, I should have thought, in terms of sound quality. Nice (best?) version of Stones of Years. Nice bit of Ginastera-inspired Emo. > In my opinion, the boys should realize that whatever > they put out, true fans will buy. But are the fans > happy? I doubt it. They are great players, so how > about doing some playing? make an album of "jamming", > dare I say "fusion" type material...they are more than > capable! Next,...I bought the video of both "Pictues" My criticism of the _Pictures_ video would be that, having seen most of the rest of the film recently, I had rather they had put out the rest of the concert, rather than _Pictures_! > & "Welcome Back...". "Pictues was great except for all > that cartoon crap and nausea inspiring gloop,gloop stuff. > I was disappointed with "Welcome", too much new stuff... > Gives the fans what they want. ie footage (that we know > is available) of the historic group we once knew..... > I would shell out mucho dinero for a full length docu > ment of the 73-74 tour. Or how about the 77 tour? > The video I have of the Montreal show stinks... > (not the performance though). How about a live box set > from 70-77 like Crimson did.(rather well I might add) They don't have copyright on the Montreal film. > This leads me to bootlegs; if the boys dont like people > buying, selling or trading boots, then make the stuff > available so that they as well as us the fans can benfit. > Ditto with the scores, if the music was published, people > would buy and the artist will receive the royalties...... > As far as the playing goes, they should have only gotten > better. But do we hear it? I don't...People may say I am > living in the past, but hey they can't argue that the past > was great. E.L.P.'s greatest stuff was 77 and before, I dont > think anyone can argue that. It depends what you value. If you think a composer "matures", then you might think the opposite. In classical terms, he develops his own style, is less derivative, constructs things with greater cogency of form and organisation and so on. It's often said that Emo was more original in his earlier output. But in fact, quite a lot of it was jazz of well established, traditional types, and classical borrowings. It may have seemed new to fans who had grown up with only pop music, and who did not have a grounding in jazz or the classics. And to some extent, arranging "alien" material in an original way by using the timbres of another genre of music is creative. But nonetheless he was very derivative. Emo seems to me to be developing a more personal style in the period immediately at the end of ELP in the film scores, and in songs like "The Score" with ELPowell. It's a more astringent harmonic style than The Nice blues stuff. He is also organising his material better, so that the pieces hang together well. Examples of early disorganised pieces would be the orchestral movement from Five Bridges, and Trilogy, both of which have brilliant material stuck together willy-nilly in an excruciating mix. In conclusion then, I think there are things which prog fans look for which early ELP did, but I don't think that what they are looking for necessarily constitute the only criteria by which the music can be judged as good or bad. There exist other criteria, and according to some of them, some of Emo's later stuff might be considered "better", even if not as satisfying to a prog audience's expectations! -- Peter Wilton The Gregorian Association Web Page: http://www.beaufort.demon.co.uk/chant.htm ------------------------------ From: Steve Hoole To: "'arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com'" Subject: Keith's Autobiography Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1997 09:31:54 -0000 There's been talk of Keith's Autobiography for a long time now but is it ever actually going to be published in book form? Does that fact that it looks like it's going to be serialised on the web site mean there problems finding a publisher? Hopefully the excerpt on Close To Home isn't from the finished manuscript as - IMHO - it doesn't read very well and looks like it needs a bit of work from an experienced editor. Anybody "in the know"? Steve --- Steve Hoole - mailto:sh@datcon.co.uk ------------------------------ From: Brian Dudley To: "'Arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com'" Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 17:01:08 -0500 Subject: Olympic Stadium Concert Hi John, Please add me to the ELP Digest mailing list. I've been reading it for over two years now on printoutsa from my nephews, but now that I'm online, I can get it directly and fresh! I've been a fan for over twenty years and I would be interested in hearing from other subscibers who were at the Olympic Stadium concert what their impressions were. I'd also be interested in trying to reconstruct the set list. I remember that they started with Abbaddon's Bolero (ELP came in halfway through, if you listen to the Works Live cut, you can hear the crowd roar when they made their appearance). I believe they then segued into KE9 Part 2, and an orchestrated version of Tarkus. They also did (in no particular order) Closer to Believing, Pictures, Knife Edge, Pirates, Fanfare, Enemy God, Tank and others that I'm sure I'm forgetting. One of my most vivid memories is that the night before the show, my friends and I were walking around the Olympic Stadium and heard Emo doing a sound check. His limo driver was parked outside and I will forever kick myself for not hanging around until the sound check was done. I guess I blew a big chance to meet him. The show itself was phenomenal. Greg was particularly cool during the encore when he donned a Montreal Canadiens sweater. (you can see it in the Welcome Back video. The crowd loved that. All in all a great show. [ Editor's Note: I was fortunate to have been at the show, too. Being a fastidious (maybe even compulsive) note-taker, I may have jotted down the set list at that show. I'll try to find it and see whether I can verify that set ordering. - John - ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 12:14:56 -0500 To: John Arnold From: reason29@nfi.com (Brian P. Reasoner) Subject: Re: Source for 1974 "Welcome Back" album >Maier Bruno 2507 wrote: > >2. during the epic show of the 31st march 1973 in duesseldorf, germany >they performed the sheriff instead of benny the bouncer. this might >answer the question with respect to the welcome back album. the whole >recording sounds like the 1974 germany tour, but the sheriff was >obviously recorded during a 73 show. you can clearly hear the sound >quality difference on the record. there were the same sound quality >differences with the 73 and 74 germany tours. I assume they exchanged >most of the PA equipment for the 74 tour. In 1974 they had installed a >quadrophonic pa instead of the standard pa of 1973 As far as I have read, the whole album "Welcom Back" was recorded at a single concert in Anaheim, California in February 1974. Anyone else know for sure? Brian Reasoner ------------------------------ From: jjwarren@tce.net Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 12:06:26 -0500 Subject: idea for the list To: arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com Hello fellow ELP fans I've been happy recently to see all the reissues of progressive rock music. And when RHINO took over the ELP backcatalogue, this was a good sign imho. Since then they have put out a great Progressive Rock Box Set and seem genuinely interested in this type of music, along with all their other stuff. Well, how 'bout this for an idea for a 'new' reissue album by ELP? ELP LIVE AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL! A similiar (and GREAT) double album was just put out for the WHO at the Isle of WIght Festival (can't remember the label offhand, but will check), and it is being praised and well received. This, as we all know, was a great and legendary performance by ELP as well! As far as I know, their full performance from this concert has not been released before on cd. Supposedly, there have been some recent Woodstock like releases of the ISLE OF WIGHT festival with some tracks from all bands (though I haven't been able to find them, and don't know if and how ELP are represented on them) So, my idea is to drum up record company interest to release this for ELP. The record companies who could do it would include (but NOT be limited to) RHINO and the company that just put out the Who one. What do ya'll think? Any idea who and how to contact about this in the biz to get this idea considered? JJW jjwarren@tce.net ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1997 23:12:42 +0000 From: anthony.brown@virgin.net (anthony.brown@virgin.net) To: arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com Subject: Rhino Release of B.S.S. Greetings pop pickers! In Volume 6 issue 30 Mike Branick wrote >I. BSS - the hologram version (Rhino) >I just picked it up (found one for $12.99 at Hastings, if anyone's >interested), and have determined that it is a MUST for any responsible ELP >fan, even if you already have another version. The interview and the >booklet notes are worth it. It settles the issues of the "organ" (the one on >the cover, not the keyboard instrument), the naming of Karn Evil 9 (no >mention of any relation to KE, but it does tell where the "Karn Evil" and >the "9" came from), and several interesting and amusing anecdotes about the >album and the artwork. (If you ever visit H. R. Giger, be careful of the >toilet with hands coming out of it.) Does anyone know if the above mentionted album has been released here is the U.K. and if so where can I get a copy from. Thanks T O N Y ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1997 20:11:19 -0500 To: John Arnold From: Karen Elizabeth Stober Subject: ELP in February MOJO Magazine Hi all, Page 54, February 1997 issue of MOJO Magazine.... "Welcome Back, My Friends, The Songs That Never End" Prog rock underground today. "ELP:their spectre looms large." reads the caption of 1972 vintage ELP photo. ELP, Yes, King Crimson, Genesis are among the bands worshipped by the bands highlighted in the article. However, on page 79, is a review of "Return Of The Manticore", titled "Popes On A Rope". "Dreary", "no focus", and some things best not repeated are how the author, a 29 year old Cliff Jones, describes the box set in his review. There's a two page spread on Yes, from Paris, 1996, on pages 60 & 61. Looking good, boys. Happy Groundhog and Valentines Day, y'all, Karen E. Stober karen1@mail.idt.net ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1997 22:29:45 -0500 To: John Arnold From: "Brian O'Sullivan" Subject: Re: Zoukra? >[...] any idea what a zoukra is? it was a trivia question in the fan club. >It was an instrument which Keith played on Trilogy. I have gone into the >top music stores in Manhattan and no one has a clue. if you can help, it >would be key! The following quote is from an interview with Keith in the Oct 77 "Contemporary Keyboard" magazine: "...You may have noticed something called a Zoukra on Trilogy. It's a double reed instrument. It's very hard to play. I used it on the beginning of "The Endless Enigma." It sounds like bagpipes. I almost blew my brains out trying to get that note. It was mad. I came back from Tunisia having bought it from an Arab..." ---------------------------------------------------- Brian O'Sullivan brianos@ziplink.net Columbia, MD http://www.ziplink.net/~brianos ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 03 Feb 1997 18:32:03 -0800 From: kljmd@delphi.com (Kirk L. Jacobson) Subject: Zoukra To: luvly_linda@msn.com Cc: arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com Linda, In regard to your question posted in ELP Digest V.7 #2, a Zoukra (or Zukra as it is spelled in Microsoft's "Musical Instruments" CD) is a North African bagpipe used in folk music in Tunisia and Algeria. The MS CD has a nice sampling of what it sounds like. Leave it to ELP to include it in Rock 'n Roll. Enjoy! Kirk Jacobson ------------------------------ From: "Mike Florio" To: arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1997 17:19:36 -0500 Subject: What's wrong with ELP Arnold, here's something for the ELP digest: 1. Greg Lake is a lazy musician. He has loads of talent, but he doesn't push himself. This is clearly evident in the way he has let his voice deteriorate over the years. He can't sing anything higher than G above middle C anymore. The vocal melodies he has come up with (to Keith's music) since ELPowell are boring and uninspired. He can't finish a vocal phrase without a glissando. He sounds raspy. I have no respect for musicians who let their technique go to hell. How can someone with the good fortune of a great career NOT be ashamed to go onstage and give poor performances to thousands of people who pay to listen ? It's a rip-off and totally irresponsible ! I do want to say that Greg sounded absolutely wonderful in the 70's. There was passion and energy in his voice and he wrote some very brilliant vocal melodies (not to mention lyrics). And he was always a great bassist and guitarist - though I suspect he's probably taken the same lazy approach to these as well. It's just not as evident as it is in his singing. 2. Keith Emerson still does the 'organ bit'. At a concert I was at during the 'Black Moon' tour - people around me were actually laughing ! It made me realize how stupid this is to look at for someone almost 50 years old ! Keith : Drop this crutch ! You don't need it anymore ! I want to hear/see you PLAY - try to take yourself more seriously ! This isn't 1971 anymore - it doesn't have the same visual impact. In the 70's, the bit matched the music - unbridled energy and explosiveness (which the 90's music lacks). 3. Solo spots during concerts. I HATE when bands do this. Do a damn solo tour or something if your ego is that big. A band plays together. I have never been to a concert, ELP or otherwise, where there wasn't a lull in crowd enthusiasm during a solo spot. If playing Karn Evil 9 isn't enough of an individual showcase, nothing is ! And why don't they play KE9 in its entirety anymore ? Probably because Greg can't sing it - sorry folks ! 4. The 90's music. I guess this happens to all bands. I truly believe that Keith, Greg and Carl DON'T WANT to write any new music that resembles the 70's stuff. My question to the band is this: why bother trying to get new fans ? You have plenty of old ones. If you're going to come out with new music catering to a specific audience, why not the old audience ? Anyway, something that resembles "The Endless Enigma" would surely get you more new/young fans than "Paper Blood" ! ELP has always been a band made-for-musicans. Great new music would get them musician fans. They won't find these people with the kind of stuff they're putting out ! Do something more interesting please ! Or, do a tour only playing old stuff (no medleys please - I hate these too !) and forget making studio albums (they put you in debt anyway) altogether. I do want to say that ELP have always been my favorite band ever since I was 12 (19 years ago) and heard "Pictures" for the first time. It inspired me to become a keyboard player, and later a singer myself. My criticism only comes from heartfelt sympathy. And by the way, 'Love Beach' is a GREAT album. Now, only a true ELP fan could say that ! Mike Florio ------------------------------ Digest, mailing address, and administrative stuff to: arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com | +=> The same for now... ELP-related info that you | want to put in the digest to: arnold@dartmouth.coordinate.com Back issues are available from the World Wide Web ELP Home Page: URL: http://bliss.berkeley.edu/elp/ Note: The opinions, information, etc. contained in this digest are those of the original message sender listed in each message. They are not necessarily those of the mailing list/digest administrator or those of any institution through whose computers/networks this mail flows. Unless otherwise noted, the individual authors of each entry in the Digest are the copyright holders of that entry. Please respect that copyright and act accordingly. I especially ask that you not redistribute the ELP Digest in whole or in part without acknowledging the original source of the digest and each author. Thanks! ------------------------------ End of ELP Digest [Volume 7 Issue 3] *************************************