Classic Rock Album of the Day- Emerson Lake and Palmer- Trilogy (1972) **** 1/2
In today's review of ELP's 4th album strangely called Trilogy, which I guess was aligned with the number of band members instead of album enumeration. Well maybe 3 if you consider Pictures at an Exhibition a live album, but since it was all unreleased? Who knows. This particular LP is by prog standards is an absolute masterpiece, and often heralded as groundbreaking and the band at its best. By this time, I think Emerson as a composer had realized that the though they had put together an expansive sound was larger than life, and with dedicated following....... that something a little different was warranated , though slightly less classical in style, it just might expand their fan base.
ELP may have created the term "pretentiousness" in rock. Side one of Tarkus definitely set the bar on that level. As with most ELP works, there is nothing generally hook inducing, and Keith is a master composer and even a greater practitioner on the keyboard. If you look at lists giving accolades of who the greatest keyboard of rock in its entire history, you will find Mr. Emerson generally at the top 95% of the time, and Rick Wakeman the other 5%. But please don't forget that this band is not entirely predicated on Emerson's showmanship. I know a lot of detractors of ELP's work will argue that the wizardry overwhelms the senses, and that most rock fans won't or can't relate. Add Carl Palmer. Palmer is easy at least in my book easy one of the greatest 3rd-6th rock drummers who has ever lived. And Greg Lake's understated but solid vocal and fret work just gives this band a body of work of near perfection. I literally wore this and Brain Salad Surgery out during the 1970's. This was stuff of musician's music. And again, I understand some may not get it, but in my little corner of love of music, it wasn't just rock, it was wonderful introspection of how a group of three. could formulate their craft on this level of complexity and greatness with such a great mix of power and finesse' .
At least in my opinion Trilogy is one of two of the absolute great and "must have" ELP albums. Brain Salad Surgery is stronger in its compositional acumen, while Trilogy is more listenable. Much more crisp, and really the one that propelled them into the supergroup category. No one ever came close to replicating their style, substance, and impact on their field of music.
Fun Fact (s): (1) Trilogy was ELP's highest charting studio LP, hitting No. 5 in the U.S. (2) Incredibly ELP did not have a platinum record. 0-9. 0-45 if you include live and compilation albums (3) This album (Trilogy) contains the only single that broke the U.S. Top 40 . From the Beginning hit 39 that year.
Side 1-
----------
The Endless Enigma (Part 1)- Song has that dystopian like wasteland feel, kind of like a drama -sci fi vibe. I am sure Emerson was partly use the song tone to give credence to that Enigma of the meaning of life's hypocrisy. Oc course plenty of Emerson wizardry (repeat for the rest of the album), and very powerful Lake vocal inflection. Easy to see why Emerson recruited their golden voice from K-Crimson. 4
Fugue- Very correctly named, as Emerson very masterfully conducts two counter melodic lines mid way through the tune. I hope everyone realizes how difficult it is (was) to not only mentally picture this tough composition, but being able to play? Tough. More than tough. I also love the beautiful chimed section that sets the conversion from piano to synth. Wow.... 3
The Endless Enigma (Part 2)- Pretty much the ending chorus of Part 1, Lake hitting those high ones's is quite a feat. . What a magnificent voice!!!! 5
From the Beginning- I generally am not into ballads, but this one is special. Again, their big hit, if big describes it. Lake and Emerson nail it in duo fashion. Great vocals, Spanish guitar, and a memorable synth solo closing this gem. 2
The Sheriff- Kind of like Benny the Bouncer from BSS, Emerson at least from POV, dropped a klunker. I always wondered why he did these kind of ditties, but he just did 'em just because he could. And the only reason why this is not a 5 star LP. - 9
Hoedown- Fantastic rendition of Copeland great work from Rodeo Suite, Emerson must really have had a special affection for the modern composers. Because besides this he did an excellent cover Dorvak's New World Symphony too. I love that not only was Keith Emerson a master composer, he shared and got almost an entire generation into classical music too. 6
Side 2-
---------------
Trilogy- Easily one of my favorite compositions by ELP- Song starts so beautifully and melodically, with absolutely. masterful concert like piano work. Greg Lakes's voice is perfect in accompaniment. This song would be great just from that level alone, but something mind blowing happens along the way. About 3 minutes in all hell breaks loose, into a mass chaotic synth explosion. This is the genius of ELP at its very best. 1
Living Sin- I do have to say that stylistically this is among the strangest tunes ELP every made. There are aspects that are almost traditionally rocking, but Keith ups the "strange" meter to 10, and at the surface that only works marginally for me. I do find that Lake's sinister voicing in it kind of clever angle though. 8
Abbadon's Bolero- From the abyss of a revelation folded into a i sync'ed and syncopated off variation Ravel's structured classical work. Very innovation with many angles of buildup and climax, just like Ravel's. Folks, by this time you have listened to and have witnessed 42 minutes of musical genius (plus BSS) that you have never seen/heard before nor ever will again. 7
In today's review of ELP's 4th album strangely called Trilogy, which I guess was aligned with the number of band members instead of album enumeration. Well maybe 3 if you consider Pictures at an Exhibition a live album, but since it was all unreleased? Who knows. This particular LP is by prog standards is an absolute masterpiece, and often heralded as groundbreaking and the band at its best. By this time, I think Emerson as a composer had realized that the though they had put together an expansive sound was larger than life, and with dedicated following....... that something a little different was warranated , though slightly less classical in style, it just might expand their fan base.
ELP may have created the term "pretentiousness" in rock. Side one of Tarkus definitely set the bar on that level. As with most ELP works, there is nothing generally hook inducing, and Keith is a master composer and even a greater practitioner on the keyboard. If you look at lists giving accolades of who the greatest keyboard of rock in its entire history, you will find Mr. Emerson generally at the top 95% of the time, and Rick Wakeman the other 5%. But please don't forget that this band is not entirely predicated on Emerson's showmanship. I know a lot of detractors of ELP's work will argue that the wizardry overwhelms the senses, and that most rock fans won't or can't relate. Add Carl Palmer. Palmer is easy at least in my book easy one of the greatest 3rd-6th rock drummers who has ever lived. And Greg Lake's understated but solid vocal and fret work just gives this band a body of work of near perfection. I literally wore this and Brain Salad Surgery out during the 1970's. This was stuff of musician's music. And again, I understand some may not get it, but in my little corner of love of music, it wasn't just rock, it was wonderful introspection of how a group of three. could formulate their craft on this level of complexity and greatness with such a great mix of power and finesse' .
At least in my opinion Trilogy is one of two of the absolute great and "must have" ELP albums. Brain Salad Surgery is stronger in its compositional acumen, while Trilogy is more listenable. Much more crisp, and really the one that propelled them into the supergroup category. No one ever came close to replicating their style, substance, and impact on their field of music.
Fun Fact (s): (1) Trilogy was ELP's highest charting studio LP, hitting No. 5 in the U.S. (2) Incredibly ELP did not have a platinum record. 0-9. 0-45 if you include live and compilation albums (3) This album (Trilogy) contains the only single that broke the U.S. Top 40 . From the Beginning hit 39 that year.
Side 1-
----------
The Endless Enigma (Part 1)- Song has that dystopian like wasteland feel, kind of like a drama -sci fi vibe. I am sure Emerson was partly use the song tone to give credence to that Enigma of the meaning of life's hypocrisy. Oc course plenty of Emerson wizardry (repeat for the rest of the album), and very powerful Lake vocal inflection. Easy to see why Emerson recruited their golden voice from K-Crimson. 4
Fugue- Very correctly named, as Emerson very masterfully conducts two counter melodic lines mid way through the tune. I hope everyone realizes how difficult it is (was) to not only mentally picture this tough composition, but being able to play? Tough. More than tough. I also love the beautiful chimed section that sets the conversion from piano to synth. Wow.... 3
The Endless Enigma (Part 2)- Pretty much the ending chorus of Part 1, Lake hitting those high ones's is quite a feat. . What a magnificent voice!!!! 5
From the Beginning- I generally am not into ballads, but this one is special. Again, their big hit, if big describes it. Lake and Emerson nail it in duo fashion. Great vocals, Spanish guitar, and a memorable synth solo closing this gem. 2
The Sheriff- Kind of like Benny the Bouncer from BSS, Emerson at least from POV, dropped a klunker. I always wondered why he did these kind of ditties, but he just did 'em just because he could. And the only reason why this is not a 5 star LP. - 9
Hoedown- Fantastic rendition of Copeland great work from Rodeo Suite, Emerson must really have had a special affection for the modern composers. Because besides this he did an excellent cover Dorvak's New World Symphony too. I love that not only was Keith Emerson a master composer, he shared and got almost an entire generation into classical music too. 6
Side 2-
---------------
Trilogy- Easily one of my favorite compositions by ELP- Song starts so beautifully and melodically, with absolutely. masterful concert like piano work. Greg Lakes's voice is perfect in accompaniment. This song would be great just from that level alone, but something mind blowing happens along the way. About 3 minutes in all hell breaks loose, into a mass chaotic synth explosion. This is the genius of ELP at its very best. 1
Living Sin- I do have to say that stylistically this is among the strangest tunes ELP every made. There are aspects that are almost traditionally rocking, but Keith ups the "strange" meter to 10, and at the surface that only works marginally for me. I do find that Lake's sinister voicing in it kind of clever angle though. 8
Abbadon's Bolero- From the abyss of a revelation folded into a i sync'ed and syncopated off variation Ravel's structured classical work. Very innovation with many angles of buildup and climax, just like Ravel's. Folks, by this time you have listened to and have witnessed 42 minutes of musical genius (plus BSS) that you have never seen/heard before nor ever will again. 7
Last edited:
