Tarkus [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Emerson Lake & Palmer

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 21, 1996)
• Original Release Date: June 14, 1971
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B0000033P0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #146,644 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Tarkus Medley: Eruption/Stones of Years/Iconoclast/Mass/Manticore/Batt

2. Jeremy Bender

3. Bitches Crystal

4. Only Way (Hymn)

5. Infinite Space (Conclusion)

6. Time and a Place

7. Are You Ready Eddy?

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Japanese limited reissue of the 1971 album has been fully remastered and features the original 7 tracks packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. Victor. 2005. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive Progressive Rock!, June 7, 2002

By	Samhot (Star Land) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Tarkus (the title suite) is the one of the most complex, inventive and intense pieces of music made. It's written in 7 movements and is mostly jazz influenced. To be quite honest, it surprises me that ELP were a "popular" band because their music is not very accessible (i.e. easy listening) and the title suite is no exception. On here you will find the most unrelenting musical assaults (in every way possible), as the band seems to go all-out. Keith Emerson's maniacal and restless synthesizer work backed by Carl Palmer's frenzied and violent drumming is definitely a rush, if not somewhat draining (in a very good way!). Greg Lake seems to keep up with the insanity of his counterparts on bass, vocals and guitar. (Note: The thing on the cover art is half tank, half armadillo.)

The second half of the disc is heaven or hell, depending on where you stand with the Tarkus suite. If you thought the title suite was excellent (which many fans do), you'll probably find the second half lackadaisical. However, if the title suite seems a bit overwhelming, the second half can be seen as a welcome relief from the previous chaotic madness. Jeremy Bender is a short wild west tune. B**ches Crystal is a jazzy tune. The Only Way/Infinite Space, which is essentially one track separated into two, is more atmospheric. The former is a hymn, featuring dramatic and beautifully somber vocals from Greg Lake set against the backdrop of Keith Emerson's organ, then piano. Infinite Space is a mellow and jazzy piano instrumental. Probably the only subdued moment on the disc. A Time And A Place is mostly a hard rock tune followed by the comical Are You Ready Eddy?

If you want something challenging and edgy, pick this up.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The origin of why ELP angered so many..., September 21, 1999

By A Customer

I admit to being an ELP fan from the actual days that Tarkus was current. Then and now, the album was courageous, and not completely accessable. I give it four stars rather than five because it is somewhat inconsistent in compositional quality. And yes, every now and again on this album Greg Lake's vocals are flat, and it grates my ear to hear it. But the overall virtuosity of the band must be appreciated, as well as the fact that they were stepping into uncharted territory. One can also regard with some melancholy how this period corresponded to a time when ELP could be seen to be maintaining progressive rock "progress," much as King Crimson would do. Sadly, KC continued to grow and evolve (if in fits and starts) while ELP fizzled out.

For me, most of the material from Tarkus still sounds strong today, and why many cannot appreciate the challenging difference this music represents, compared to the overrated, repetitious, and derivative crap that one hears from many artists today, is puzzling. It just seems that many regard adventurism as pomposity, and it ticks them off. Yes, ELP can be pompous, and yes, sometimes breaking off in a non-comformist direction can lead to a dead-end. But I'd rather take the gems with the clinkers, unearthed by a band that tries to find something, than settle for the fool's gold consistently proffered by the mediocre.

ELP will always elicit admiration and scorn (and no ELP album more so than Tarkus). But to the scornful, I would ask the question, "why does everyone insist that ELP was so 'over the top'?" I saw the live stage shows back in the glory days, and for sure, there was a hell of a lot of "show" going on. But of course so did many others (The Who, Jimi Hendrix, etc.) who are not routinely hung with such scornful accusations. And any number of shock-rock, glam-rock, or any other kind of rock you can think of, bands have done much the same, and to a lesser purpose. For instance, what was Kiss all about in their first incarnation anyway, other than their version of an over-the-top show? From an over-the-top ELP, as seen in Tarkus, you could take away the musicianship, compositional talent, and add a large helping of exceptionally bad taste and you have anything Kiss ever did.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tarkus: A True Masterpiece of Prog Rock, March 22, 2001

By	J. Brittman "The Bottom Line" (Long Island, New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Tarkus suite remains one of the most indispensible tracks in progressive rock history. All three musicians are at the top of their game. Palmer never ceases to amaze with his fabulous and inventive rhythms,while Lake is the glue that holds it all together. But, Tarkus above all else is a Keith Emerson record. Tarkus remains Keith Emerson's shining moment as he dominates the suite from the opening notes of Eruption to the end of Aquatarkus. I have never heard such complete mastery of an instrument as Emerson's domination of his keyboards in Tarkus. However, all members shine inevitably at multiple points during the suite. Lake's vocals are stellar as is his bass and guitar work. Palmer simply had mastered all facets of percussion before ELP even started recording Tarkus. ELP could have just released Tarkus as an ep but they chose to include a number of shorter tracks toward the end or second side of the recording. Jeremy Bender remains one of ELP's stronger tracks to date and probably the most radio friendly. Bitches Crystal is an overlooked gem in the ELP catalogue. Overall, you can't go wrong by purchasing this album. Masterful musicianship, excellent lyrics and concept, you need to own this. P.S. What ever happened to the double cd "ELP: The Atlantic Years?" luckily I got a copy back in the early '90's, it remains the most complete look at ELP for both the casual and hardcore ELP fan alike.