Customer Reviews

To the Power of Three

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Am I the only person who actually liked this album? There certainly aren't a lot of positive reviews here, but that seems to have more to do with people's expectations than anything else. I realize that the band included 2/3 of the celebrated progressive rock act Emerson, Lake and Palmer (Greg Lake is replaced here by former Hush vocalist Robert Berry), but expecting another ELP is just not realistic. I think a lot of that band's success came from the chemistry between the three key players. Removing one changes the whole dynamic. It's also a bit unrealistic to expect a serious progressive rock album in the late 80's. Hell, even Yes was more pop than prog at that point.

I think it helps to look at 3's 1988 debut album To the Power of Three like you would an Asia album. You know the players involved will have the technical chops to pull off progressive rock, but that making a good pop/rock album is the main focus. To that end, I think 3 passed with flying colors. To the Power of Three is a very solid effort, and is the kind of 80's pop-oriented rock album on par with what Asia and GTR were releasing at the time. It should surprise no one that this is a strong album musically. Keith Emerson's keyboard work really carries the album. Robert Berry gives a string vocal performance as well, with a warm and steady voice that is perfectly suited for this kind of music. The album ventures into prog territory at times, such as the three-part "Desde La Vida", and closing track "On My Way Home" sounds a lot like ELP, but for the most part it is a pop-oriented rock/AOR album, and a strong one at that.

Another reviewer recommended that only die-hard ELP fans buy this album. I have to disagree, and in turn recommend this to open-minded ELP fans, not to mention fans of Asia, GTR, and 80's pop/rock/AOR in general. The key is judging the album on its own merits rather than expecting something unrealistic.

Anybody expecting any sort of iteration of ELP from this album should just save their money. There are some glimpses of Emerson's prodigious abilities, but they're glimpses only, and Palmer's work lacks any real distinction here. However, I found most of the tunes quite catchy & memorable. The (brief) Hammond solo in "Lover to Lover" rocks, and some serious power is generated in the first few minutes of "Desde La Vida". But otherwise this is basically throwaway pop music with some occasional nice instrumental flourishes. If you expect anything more, you'll likely be disappointed.

I'll give the CD four stars, because I think the product is essentially what the artists intended it to be, and to that extent it's quite a successful work. And again, some of the songs are catchy, and some of the keyboard work stands out. But the stylistic differences between Berry and Emerson prevent the group from truly jelling. Had the CD been more successful, maybe further efforts would have been more unified. Oh, well.

This album, while not a Keith Emerson masterpiece, stands out as an incredible pop album! It has typical 80's production and sheen on the surface, but the songs cover nice ground compared to most of the "contemporaries" of that time period. In fact, were it not for Brian Wilson's first solo album being released, I would have called it THE best album of 1988.

If you want artistry, go buy Trilogy. If you want progressive, go buy Brain Salad Surgery. If you want to not have to think about it too much, and just enjoy yourself, by all means, buy THIS album.

And Emerson Lake and Powell makes a nice complement to this.

Some folks I think didn't 'get' this CD, because they didn't get that it was never meant as a successor to any ELP records ... and I think that that got it an unfair rating from folks around the web ... Kinda like how Last Action Hero was a decent movie, but because some went to it with the impression it was another flat-out Arnold Schwarzenegger action flick they came out of the theater confused and kind of disappointed. This is (and at the time was promoted as) a POP-ROCK record, with moments of progessive ... I like Greg Lake's voice but words can't define how rangey a voice Robert Berry has next to Greg Lake ~ listen to how he goes up 2 higher keys, with ease, on the final refrain of "Talkin' Bout" ... Berry has a serious range, broader than that of other good singers (like Max Bacon, for instance, who he sang with briefly in GTR before joining 3) .. because he has a deceptively low bottom-end to his voice. "Talkin' Bout" is a great tune ... "Chains" is another good one, "You Will Or You Won't" is a kool mellow song, with unique keyboard patches from master Keith Emerson ..... "Des De La Vida" is the prog epic on the CD, "On My Way Home" is a real nice piano/keyboard song. I just think this CD, in it's later life (on the web) hasn't gotten a fair shake because for the last 12+ years it's mainly hardcore progressive rock fans reviewing it. Anyway fans of this CD would do well to also check out Robert Berry's solo CD, "Pilgrimage To a Point".

varied for some folks. I thought the song writing was decent with some over the top choruses & great keyboard work. You Do or You Don't is my favorite tune on the record. Lover to Lover & Chains are a couple other catchy prog-tunes that could have been spawned from the early Asia fever. Too many people expected it to be something that it wasn't. I noticed that most of the reviews here saw it/heard it for what it was... 3 guys looking to put out a record & make a good, solid, progressive-style sound--with a late 80's flavor.

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's.

It is feasible with the exception of heavy metal any progressive rock album review is most bias (In a negative slant) before a note is ever heard. From the first time Emerson, Lake, Palmer released a record the joke was already in place "How do you spell pretentious? E L P."

Thankfully fans of ELP, Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Nektar, Genesis, Caravan, Moody Blues, etc made their own judgments and were not swayed by those that wouldn't know quality from toxic waste.

The one and only album from Three is not advertised as progressive, although there are certainly moments. It brought together Keith Emerson (Keyboards) and Carl Palmer (Drums) for the first time since 1978 and unfortunately while it did not offer the services of Greg Lake on vocal/bass, Robert Berry represented himself in fine fashion.

As a major collector of ELP music for way over 30 years Robert Berry may have a more powerful vocal style but as a singer Greg Lake is a Rolls Royce. His seamless transfer from the acoustic ballad to the full throttle progressive rocker is flawless.

"To The Power Of Three" blends a myriad of musical styles and the finished product should have found its way into more record collections. "Desde La Vida: (l) La Vista/(ll) Frontera /(lll) Sangre De Toro" would be the one progressive tune of the eight released tracks. The band blends together well as the seven-minute track is not only the longest but the most adventurous on the album.

Robert Berry vocals stand out on an interesting interpretation of the Byrds "Eight Miles High." Emerson's keyboards blend nicely with his lyrical approach.

One of the best tunes written after the end of the 1970's is the final track "On My Way Home." Penned by Emerson, Berry sings it with intense conviction.

Don't feel if your musical tastes are not geared to the progressive side you can't enjoy the product. It mixes pop, rock, and sprinkles some progressive to make it tasty for all.

Although the songs doesn't show the true musical genius of Emerson and Palmer, if you were fortunate enough to see any of the live concerts from the tour, their versions of "Hoedown" and "Fanfare For The Common Man" spelled out the correct words which never resembled PR E T E N T I O U S.

Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

This is Keith Emerson's 1st band after Emerson Lake and Powell. 3 was short lived, only releasing this "To The Power Of Three" #97, in 1988. Along with Emerson on keyboards, he brought along Carl Palmer on drums and American vocalist Robert Berry. The good tunes on this album were, the first single "Talkin' Bout" #9 mainstream rock, the poppy "Lover To Lover", the progressive "Desde La Vida" and their version of The Byrds' "Eight Miles High".
It never went very far, and it slipped into oblivion after a month or so. Carl went back to Asia, Keith has gotten back on track after several hand problems, and released the great album "The Keith Emerson Band" in 2009, and Robert Berry is a jack of all trades in the San Francisco music scene.

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's.

It is feasible with the exception of heavy metal any progressive rock album review is most bias (In a negative slant) before a note is ever heard. From the first time Emerson, Lake, Palmer released a record the joke was already in place "How do you spell pretentious? E L P."

Thankfully fans of ELP, Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Nektar, Genesis, Caravan, Moody Blues, etc made their own judgments and were not swayed by those that wouldn't know quality from toxic waste.

The one and only album from Three is not advertised as progressive, although there are certainly moments. It brought together Keith Emerson (Keyboards) and Carl Palmer (Drums) for the first time since 1978 and unfortunately while it did not offer the services of Greg Lake on vocal/bass, Robert Berry represented himself in fine fashion.

As a major collector of ELP music for way over 30 years Robert Berry may have a more powerful vocal style but as a singer Greg Lake is a Rolls Royce. His seamless transfer from the acoustic ballad to the full throttle progressive rocker is flawless.

"To The Power Of Three" blends a myriad of musical styles and the finished product should have found its way into more record collections. "Desde La Vida: (l) La Vista/(ll) Frontera /(lll) Sangre De Toro" would be the one progressive tune of the eight released tracks. The band blends together well as the seven-minute track is not only the longest but the most adventurous on the album.

Robert Berry vocals stand out on an interesting interpretation of the Byrds "Eight Miles High." Emerson's keyboards blend nicely with his lyrical approach.

One of the best tunes written after the end of the 1970's is the final track "On My Way Home." Penned by Emerson, Berry sings it with intense conviction.

Don't feel if your musical tastes are not geared to the progressive side you can't enjoy the product. It mixes pop, rock, and sprinkles some progressive to make it tasty for all.

Although the songs doesn't show the true musical genius of Emerson and Palmer, if you were fortunate enough to see any of the live concerts from the tour, their versions of "Hoedown" and "Fanfare For The Common Man" spelled out the correct words which never resembled PR E T E N T I O U S.

Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

Having been raised on Top-40 radio & literally dragged to my first ELP concert, I recall thinking how immensely talented they were. Now what would it sound like if they did a Beatles song? I finally got my answer here as Keith Emerson & Carl Palmer teamed with newcomer Robert Berry on a collection that equals the quality & appeal of the first 2 ASIA albums. "Talkin' Bout" and "Lover To Lover" topped my fave list, while "Desde La Vida" comes closest to ELP's fusion-style, having been inspired by an Alberto Ginastera piece (remember "Tocatta" from BSS?). Why the record label didn't push this is beyond me. Sadly, when E, L and P finally did reunite a few years later (after a few "almosts") the results were comparitively disappointing.

Having been raised on Top-40 radio & literally dragged to my first ELP concert, I recall thinking how immensely talented they were. Now what would it sound like if they did a Beatles song? I finally got my answer here as Keith Emerson & Carl Palmer teamed with newcomer Robert Berry on a collection that equals the quality & appeal of the first 2 ASIA albums. "Talkin' Bout" and "Lover To Lover" topped my fave list, while "Desde La Vida" comes closest to ELP's fusion-style, having been inspired by an Alberto Ginastera piece (remember "Tocatta" from BSS?). Why the record label didn't push this is beyond me. Sadly, when E, L and P finally did reunite a few years later (after a few "almosts") the results were comparitively disappointing.