Favorite ELP Song

[Ted]

Okay - I have been asked to start this thread - I think I am being used - - but that is okay - I get to discuss my fav. group, ELP

Now I would like to know your Favorite ELP song - but not just which one - but WHY you like it. As I mentioned in the other thread, my reason for hesitating there was because I needed to think about this.

My favorite ELP song - I think is: Pirates. Now I understand that some don't like it - some do but the reason I like it is the BROAD range of emotion, music and style it has. The music is at times BOMBASTIC , and at other times, soft and quiet. It tells a story, it is sweeping, it is PROG ROCK and ORCHESTRA combined - working together - as never was possible with The NICE, not one then the other, but together - serving as a whole. I like it!

So what is your fav ELP song?

Wonderingly yours,
Ted

[PeterG]

I'm going to cover this in mulple posts... i think because it is so hard to pick one fav. So here are a few in no particular order.

Trilogy.

• Great intro soft synth leadin... to lure in the unsuspecting.
• Lake's voice is in its prime. Good lyrics. a breakup song... honest feelings.
• Emerson's Grand piano is wonderful i love when he is on Piano (see another, future post) at about 2 minutes in he slides into one, repeating note. This is bracketed by A full and pleasent lead in... and on the other side there are a couple of (purposely placed) discordant intervals... much like "the guys" relationship... great... but then... Good Bye, Good Bye.
• Piano gets more active (as Carl Palmer comes in, sits down and picks up his sticks)
• Synth 'grove' starts and feels choppy and very unlike the first half of the song.
• Lead Strings synth come in and repeat the theme of the song.... and away we go!... one of my favorite melodic leads from all ELP.
• Lakes lyrics come back and are less lamenting and more "we'll talk again, you'll be OK, I'll be Ok too.."
• finally the song closes with the classic 'blues' ending... way to go to slow things down and close the song.

That is for the first of my ELP faves....

PeterG

[VAXman(Admin)]

This is tough... it's like chosing which leg you want to have severed!

Karn Evil #9 and The Endless Enigma just for the lyrics.

I'll chime in later if I can come up with any other absolute fave.

[jtmckinley]

Tarkus. I love the organ parts. Well, I love the rest of the tune too, but especially the percussive organ.

[mailotron]

Hard to say ... I never was a pure ELP s fan , love a lot of their tracks ( TARKUS , KARN EVEIL, ..JERUSALEM , .. but ..)
ok so JERUSALEM ... not fully 100% ELP

All the best
Mailo

Fave ELP song? Tricky, but I would go for "Take a Pebble". The feel of that song is just so good. The guitar playing is beautiful the piano excellent. It speaks to me in a way that no other ELP song does.

"Disturbing the waters, of our lives......".

[VERNIXX]

Tarkus. The first album I bought with my own money...as an 8 year old!!!
I got Christmas money and bought it immediately. It was still a new album, too. My parent's thought it was like classical music present in a rock format, so they were cool with my purchase (unlike the Hawkwind album I bought afew weeks later with my allowance).

I still whip out that original vinyl now and play it loud.

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Hoo boy. This is a good one.

I've got a rotation of perhaps three or four ELP songs that I would call my favorites, based on such things as mood, time of day, and the level of blood in my caffeine stream.

They are, in no particular order:

1. Karn Evil #9, First Impression
2. Piano Improvisations (because, DAMN, can Keith Emerson play)
3. The Only Way (Hymn)

As for WHY?

Karn Evil #9 because it's musically and stylistically a well designed and engineered song. Every member adds a great deal to the piece -- it's not All Keith or All Greg or All Carl. It's All ELP.

Piano Improvisations? Because, well, Damn.

The Only Way (Hymn)? Because I like it. It's nice pseudo-classical organ work coupled with a profound message. It just gets me right *here*.

[Rick and Roll]

No not being used

Two reasons I asked...one is that I thought it would get a great response, and so far it has. Second, it would be good to get the feeling of why some do not like Pirates, in one place. There are certain polarizing songs (Echoes, Pirates, Supper's Ready) that always pop up in other threads. So we're quarantining Pirates so to speak, and also discussing a great band!

(at least up to Love beach )

That being said....

I don't think I could say it any better than Ted about Pirates. It's very exhilirating to me. Well done!

Tarkus is a close second. It's a perfect piece, and it's got everything.

Agreed % with Dot about the lyrical message in "The Only Way".

Some other ones I dig are Hallowed Be thy Name and Knife Edge.

Everyone has said some great ones!

[Ted]

Originally Posted by Rick and Roll

No not being used

Two reasons I asked...one is that I thought it would get a great response, and so far it has. Second, it would be good to get the feeling of why some do not like Pirates, in one place. There are certain polarizing songs (Echoes, Pirates, Supper's Ready) that always pop up in other threads. So we're quarantining Pirates so to speak, and also discussing a great band!

(at least up to Love beach )

That being said....

I don't think I could say it any better than Ted about Pirates. It's very exhilirating to me. Well done!

Tarkus is a close second. It's a perfect piece, and it's got everything.

Agreed % with Dot about the lyrical message in "The Only Way".

Some other ones I dig are Hallowed Be thy Name and Knife Edge.

Everyone has said some great ones!

Rick - you are right! I wasn't being used But I was curious.

Along with enjoying Pirates.... I also like "Memoirs of An Officer and A Gentleman." It tells a good story. The music again has lots of variety in it, and as Dot said, they play together well. This on an album that most everyone hates. This one song is worth getting the album for.

I appreciate everyone participating in the discussion. It has been very 'educational' seeing everyone's response. From Dot - saying "he is feeling it in his gut along with Peter - breaking down the song the way that is analyzing it

Continue to tell us why you like your fav ELP song. Help us to better understand YOU!!

Welcome Back My Friends.....

Ted

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by Ted

I also like "Memoirs of An Officer and A Gentleman." It tells a good story. The music again has lots of variety in it, and as Dot said, they play together well. This on an album that most everyone hates. This one song is worth getting the album for.
Ted

I'll have to give it a listen...somewhere. Is In the Hot Seat mediocre also?

[Ted]

Originally Posted by Rick and Roll

I'll have to give it a listen...somewhere. Is In the Hot Seat mediocre also?

Rick,

I have always heard that 'In the Hot Seat' was mediocre
But there are 4 tracks on the Moon, and I have listened/requested them and I like them, but I like 'Black Moon' also. It is a different direction - more "commerical" - but repeating myself - I like it They are DIFFERENT than typical ELP fair, but variety is the spice of life!

I have 'Memoirs' as an MP3.

Ciao,
Ted

[MrMagoo]

Tarkus, for all the same reasons stated in Ted's first post, complex with many changes, big theme, etc...

[Ted]

Originally Posted by MrMagoo

Tarkus, for all the same reasons stated in Ted's first post, complex with many changes, big theme, etc...

Mr. Magoo,

Thanks for the contrib. I too like Tarkus!! It is all there!!

Big Music. Bombastic - Percussive Keyboard.

Regards,
Ted

[ivan_2068]

I feel something special for Trilogy, a song that has everything I like about Prog, solid melody, dramatic changes, lush keyboards, etc.

Iván

[sharcnorris]

Barbarian !! Its the Power Hammond and Striking Piano. I love the airiness as it gets quite...then all Hell breaks Loose. A sound that they have chased ever since.

[PeterG]

Hodown

(And for the purpose of this review, the version on "Welcom back my friends...")

First i have to comment that , in a general way, I really like to hear people take a song and re interpret it and to "make it their own". Which is why I like many of the 'Tribute' type albums. It is also one factor in going to see Jethro Tull... Ian always seems to 'shine a new light' on his own tunes and that is great (and a different thread, i suppose)

Where was I? Oh Yeah...

Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends.... Ladies and Gentleman.... Emerson, Lake and Palmer!

Emerson's rendition of Aaron Copland's Hoedown has energy, style and substance. He takes a 'classical' composition and ... as as we used to say to describe Emersons compositional style.... he "Tears it's limbs off to create a new monster" Great composition and a great opening song for a concert. Palmers drumming is high evergy and gets the concert started.

THAT is why Hoedown is in my Top10 (or 30) ELP Favs.

[Ted]

Originally Posted by PeterG

Hodown

(And for the purpose of this review, the version on "Welcom back my friends...")

First i have to comment that , in a general way, I really like to hear people take a song and re interpret it and to "make it their own".

Emerson's rendition of Aaron Copland's Hoedown has energy, style and substance. He takes a 'classical' composition and ... as as we used to say to describe Emersons compositional style.... he "Tears it's limbs off to create a new monster" Great composition and a great opening song for a concert. Palmers drumming is high evergy and gets the concert started.

THAT is why Hoedown is in my Top10 (or 30) ELP Favs.

Peter - Thanks for your comments. You make a GREAT point - "re-interpretation" - having watched Emerson do it with "Fanfare" and "Tocatta", "Dances Creole", even stuff like "Maple Leaf Rag" and "Honky Tonk Train Blues". Again - the whole group contributes to the overall interpretation and sound.

One thing I seem to have noticed is that Emerson's left hand often plays the same part that Lake's Bass is playing - offering a more "layered" bass sound.

Peter - do most of your re-interpretation comments also apply to "Fanfare" also by Copeland?

BTW - I love the DVD version of Hoedown from "Live at Montreaux" - KE uses his ribbon controller to "rub his backside"! - He does the same thing in another song on the "Live at Royal Albert Hall" DVD. Always the "showman"

So, Peter, Have you enjoyed reading this thread as much as I have? What about you ELPBSS?

Thanks again to ALL the contributors to this thread!!

Typingly yours,
Ted

[Rick and Roll]

Speaking of interpretations, Mike Visaggio (whose CD may be on the Moon soon) has one titled "Blues variations", which is the cover of the Emerson cover. I played it a few weeks back on the show. be sure to check it out!

Oh yeah, please chime in on the ELP tribute record thread. A lot of dispararte views, fun reading....

[Ted]

Originally Posted by Rick and Roll

Speaking of interpretations, Mike Visaggio (whose CD may be on the Moon soon) has one titled "Blues variations", which is the cover of the Emerson cover. I played it a few weeks back on the show. be sure to check it out!

Oh yeah, please chime in on the ELP tribute record thread. A lot of dispararte views, fun reading....

Rick & Roll,

Thanks for including more ELP - even as tributes!! I will check out the ELP tribute record thread.

ALso - has anyone on hear heard of the "remix" cd's from ELP and some famous remix artist? I have the 3CD set - and I go back and forth. I love hearing the samples, but I am not sure that I like the "drum track" - palmer is much, much better!!

Ciao,
Ted