Works, Vol. 1 [Import, Original recording remastered]

Emerson Lake & Palmer | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 18, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Victor
• ASIN: B000AMZ238
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,332,038 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Piano Concerto No. 1, First Movement: Allegro Giojoso

2. Piano Concerto No. 1, 2nd Movement: Andante Molto Cantabile

3. Piano Concerto No. 1, Third Movement: Toccata con Fuoco

4. Lend Your Love to Me Tonight

5. C'est la Vie

6. Hallowed Be Thy Name

Disc: 2

1. The Enemy God Dances with the Black Spirits

2. L.A. Nights

3. New Orleans

4. Two-Part Invention in D Minor

5. Food for Your Soul

6. Tank

7. Fanfare for the Common Man

8. Pirates

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ELP reaches the heights of self-indulgence (and it works), December 22, 2005

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Works, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

"Works, Volume 1" might be one of the most indulgent albums in history, but for my money Emerson, Lake and Palmer carry it off, both individually and collectively. On vinyl when this album came out in 1977 you had each of the progressive (nee classical) rock trio getting one side with the final side being a group effort:

Keith Emerson begins the self-aggrandizement on Disc 1 with his "Piano Concert No. 1," in three movements (I still do not know what Andante Molto Cantabile means, but I suspect I am not along in that regard). Since I have always preferred Emerson on piano rather than synthesizer/organ, I am inclined to like this solo jaunt into the classical realm. The third movement (Toccato con Fuoco) is the best, so there is a strong finish to the entire thing. I should also note that I have been waiting for "Piano Concert No. 2," but to date, no luck in that regard.

Since I have always wanted to have Greg Lake's voice in my rock and roll fantasies, I am gratified that his set of tracks are songs that feature his voice rather than musical pyrotechnics (granted, there are not a lot of opportunities for bass players to display their virtuosity with their instrument, although Chris Squires had some moments with Yes). These are orchestrated songs, rather than the acoustic approach inherent in his two hit singles "Lucky Man" and "Still You Turn Me On," and I think that Lake's vocals on "Lend Me Your Love Tonight," "C'Est Las Vie" and "Closer to Believing" are as fine as anything he has ever recorded, even though the lyrics are pretty inane.

Certainly the Carl Palmer tracks on the first half of Disc 2 feature his drumming skills more so than any previous ELP efforts, ranging from Bach's "Two Part Invention in D Minor" to the driving "The Enemy God Dances with the Black Spirits" to a remake of "Tank" that best represents the strong jazz influence on several of these tracks. Come to think of it, I do not know if I have really heard a drummer being featured like this since the glory days of Buddy Rich.

The two tracks that comprise the ELP section of the collection are a perfect combination of their best effort at presenting their own version of a classical work, in this case Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," and what may well be their best "suite," the 13-minute "Pirates." Of their earlier attempts at such grandeur, "Pirates" is more reminiscent of "Karn Evil 9" than "Tarkus" or "Trilogy," and has what certainly seems to me to be a strong Copeland influence, which extends beyond the use of a symphonic orchestra. I find the track somewhat amazing simply because who else would ever think about writing something like this first person narrative about being a pirate? It is a very unique piece of work from ELP.

"Works, Volume 1" made it to #12 on the Billboard Pop Charts, which is not bad for something that is both indulgent and a double-album. Final note: "Works, Volume 2" is really just a collection of leftovers and not a continuation of the high standards set in Volume 1, although it does contain their classic holiday single, "I Believe in Father Christmas," which is sufficient justification to add it to your collection. The question is whether you need the Japanese import version that comes in the little album sleeve.