Customer Reviews

Fanfare for the Common Man: Anthology

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Made in UK in 2001, Serial# CMEDD-110, Playing Time 141:36

This 2-disc compilation lifts studio material in chronological order (except for track 8, which is live from "PAAE" and out of sequence) from ELP's albums up to "Black Moon".

The tracks here are all full-length, and make for an interesting profile of the band. Also included is a 1992 "family tree" by Pete Frame, who's published many of these, charting the various roots and branches of the band members.

As with any compilation, some will critize the choice made: we are "Tank", "Watching Over You", "I Believe In Father Christmas" and "Paper Blood" you ask? Well, then you'll need the 4-disc compilation "The Return Of The Manticore".

There's only so much stuff you can fit on 2 discs, and these are crammed with some of their best.

As the years pass and distance grows between the actual time of recording and release and listening today it would seem that the ELP oeuvre is getting a bit of a reappraisal. Where once it was seen as over-blown indulgence it is now being appreciated for the level of musicianship on display, as well as the technical brilliance of the playing. Though never of the 'less is more' school, ELP had moments of creative restraint and economic composition and a good selection of that is collected here. But don't worry - there is still a great selection of the big tunes that make ELP what they are as well. For someone looking for a good sampler of the band in its prime this would fit the bill more than adequately. There are a number of best-ofs and collections out there for the band but this one has the best sweep and range within a concise format. Purists will argue about omissions etc but for someone new to the band this serves very well.