Emerson Lake & Powell

Emerson Lake & Powell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polydor / Umgd
• ASIN: B000001FJR
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,169 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

No Description Available.
Genre: Popular Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 25-SEP-1990

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Breathtaking..., November 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Emerson Lake & Powell (Audio CD)

In the nearly 10 odd years that I have been an ardent ELP fan, I just cannot forgive myself for the times I passed on this truly magnificent 1986 album by Keith, Greg, and the late Cozy Powell. Now that I have become addicted to this CD, I truly have learned the trite, yet hallowed adage "don't judge a book by its cover" as it pertains to Mr. Powell's name on the front jacket.

From start to finish, this album's repertoire was refreshing ear candy to myself! "Learning to Fly", "Love Blind", and "Lay Down Your Guns" go to the greatest extreme in highlighting Emerson's prolific keyboard/synthesizer genius and Lake's dynamic vocal range, taking them to new ethereal dimensions. Powell does a commendable percussion job that helped fill Carl Palmer's absence due to his working on Asia's "Astra" of the same year. Being ELP's only album for the 1980's, its overall style sounds like a heterogenous blend of their vivacious 70's prog-rock melodies and their more commercialized 90's sound, so you can indulge to the best of both of these eras.

Do pick this CD up for yourself, and to all you ELP fans, don't erect the same brick wall that I did. It really is one of the best musical experiences you could take in!!!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best ELP Album Since Brain Salad Surgery, October 9, 2005

By 

Kirk Lott "a strange and unusual person" (adrift on the seas of life) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Emerson Lake & Powell (Audio CD)

This is a fantastic ELP album, chronically underrated by fans of the band. And while this 1986 release features a streamlined sound characteristic of the 80s, it also boasts a complex and satisfying progressive feel.

First, this is only two-thirds of the original Emerson Lake & Palmer, in that drummer Cozy Powell sits in for Carl Palmer (who was wasting time in Asia). But this effort reunited Keith Emerson and Greg Lake, the musical principals of ELP, and it brings back the sense of melody, group cohesion and sense of purpose that had been missing since 1973's "Brain Salad Surgery."

"The Score" opens the album powerfully, continuing lyrically and musically where Brain Salad Surgery's "Karn Evil 9" left off (Welcome Back My Friends, to the Show That Never Ends...). Next up is "Learning How to Fly," which is pleasant prog-pop, 80s style.

The terrific single "Touch and Go" is both proggy and catchy at the same time, featuring majestic keyboards and intricate bass. "Step Aside" is whimsical and jazzy, and recalls some of the best short pieces from ELP's early albums. "Mars - Bringer of War" is a satisfying reading of one of the coolest classical compositions of all time, from Gustav Holst's "The Planets."

Finally, this is the last album on which Greg Lake had a great voice. Somehow between this album and 1992's "Black Moon,' Lake's voice became deeper, huskier, and unpleasant.

There are only two reason why this album is sometimes bashed. First, it was released in the 80s. Some prog heads just don't believe that any good progressive music was released in the 80s, but the fact is this is probably the most proggy album of the decade from any of the 70s giants like ELP, Genesis or Yes.

Second, Carl Palmer isn't on the album. It's true that Carl's inventiveness and precision are missed, but Cozy Powell brings in power and swing that are nearly as satisfying.

So again, this album is highly recommended.

(I can't comment on the two bonus tracks. Obviously the cover of "Loco-motion" is unlikely to be a great addition to the band's ouevre, and I'm not familiar with the other track.)

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MTV's Stepchild, September 2, 2004

By 

Jeff Hodges (Denton, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Emerson Lake & Powell (Audio CD)

The arguable masterpiece"Owner of a Lonely Heart" was a breakthrough success for Yes, as well as MTV. As the flegling network struggled for an identity (now hopelessly lost), the success of Yes' single forced them to take an interest in helping to reinvent progressive rock groups of the '70's. For example, although I wish that I would have been cognizant anough to see Genesis with Peter Gabriel as its frontman, early memories of Genesis' video to "ABACAB" were my introduction to the group.

ELPo were welcomed into this group of reinvented prog-rockers with open arms. I still have memories of Keith Emerson telling me that he wanted his "MTV".

Regardless of its potential accessibility, the slightly repetitive "Touch and Go" unfortunately ended up being no "Owner of a Lonely Heart". However, those of us that were paying attention (okay, us band geeks) were genuinely moved by its thematic power and intellectual aggression. We got turned on by the fact that people could play their instuments with some degree of virtuosity and still, well, rock.

And herein lies the strength of ELPo. Lake sings with great passsion, Powell tastefully pushes the whole thing forward with his "tree trunk" sticks, but most importantly, Emerson fully embraces the 80' s keyboard soundscape with electrifying effect. "The Score" is, quite possibly, one of the best prog-rock songs that the 80's had to offer (Kayliegh notwithsatnding), especially seguing into "Learning to Fly " and "The Miracle". As with any ELP (no matter what P you might be referencing), there are a few low-energy moments. "Lay Down Your Guns" and " Love Blind" might not be "Karn Evil 9", but the version of "Mars, the Bringer of War" found is the most sucessful transcription ELP in any incarnation ever did. In fact, this version led me to a greater understanding of ithe original.

The Lowdown: According to Quentin Tarantino, one must be an "Elvis Person" or a "Beatles Person". In prog-rock circles, I like to think that this equates to being either a "Wakeman Person" or an "Emerson Person". Generally speaking, I tend to be a Wakeman man. However, to be brutally honest, Emerson's work on ELPo shows Wakeman what he should have been doing during the 80's. I am so thankful for this recording for its role in introdoucing me to ELP's larger repitoire. At the very least, it makes "Love Beach" look like a Frankenstein Pez dispenser: outdated and very silly.