Product: Masters from the Vaults - Emerson, Lake & Palmer (2004)
Rating: 5.0
Progressive Rock's Finest Hour
During the early seventies, groups formed out of members of other rock bands that explored avenues of music that combined rock and classical elements. This was progressive rock, best represented by bands such as Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Triumvirat and this trio of Englishmen who go by their last names. Keith Emerson (The Nice), Greg Lake (King Crimson) and Carl Palmer (The Crazy World of Arthur Brown) were lean and hungry in their early years, willing to go off the deep end in their passion for music. This DVD of an old Belgian TV show is a prime example of the group's early work. It is fresh and powerful, without the trappings that later accompanied ELP's success. Brief interviews with the trio show that they had a sense of humor about themselves but not their music: Carl Palmer freely admits he's never held a job apart from drumming and Greg Lake says he'd probably kill himself if he was unable to be a musician. Their performances are powerful and riveting, from Emerson stabbing his synthesizer and riding it like a bucking bronco, to Lake pouring out emotions in his amazing voice, and to Palmer playing so hard that he has to strip off his sweat-soaked shirt. The trio come across like brothers, emotionally interacting onstage and off. The songs are Barbarian, Rondo/Bach Improvisation, Drum Solo, Nut Rocker, Take A Pebble and Knife Edge. Each is performed with a rare blend of power and polish that is enjoyable to watch. Though only about an hour long, the show is a valuable glimpse into a musical genre that unfortunately peaked in the late 70s and faded. There is little in the current music scene to compare with groups like ELP and their ilk. Purchasing this DVD has only whetted our appetite for more, so we will be on the search for similar material. We enjoyed this show and recommend it to anyone who enjoys excellent music, whether ELP fans or not.