Keith Emerson, "America," on Letterman, September 18, 1986 (full video; partial stereo)

Here's Keith's full performance of "America" with The World's Most Dangerous Band, presented in better video and audio quality than previously uploaded by others.
My source is in mono, but I edited in the stereo audio from BetaGems Lost Media's partial performance that's uploaded here: • Keith Emerson 9-18-86 ... .
The stereo kicks in at 2:00; the mono returns after the performance.

[@thefool2007]

Wow. Emerson was so amazing. That aggressive style was impressive. Early synth pioneer and other-worldly musician. RIP.

[@Magnetron33]

Saw ELP in 91. Great show!

[@sillyoldbastard3280]

Most this was played on a old school Hammond B3

[@molotulo8808]

Really?

[@kwinsc9273]

Aggressive is the right word. If you ever saw him attack his little Hammond with knives and play it on top of him from the back.

[@howardhughes7596]

First saw him perform in ‘71. Two more times afterwards. Always fantastic. Once he was strapped to a wizbang that spun him upside down as I recall. Big fun!

[@DufDavis]

Great how the band played it so tightly after learning it presumably very recently.

[@kdkseven]

Those guys are pros!

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Yes indeed. This was a brilliant performance of a complex arrangement.

[@garyfoster3854]

They’re all reading music so that helps.

[@David-iv6je]

The only hard part of this is where the breaks come and their sheet music tells them that. Otherwise it is very simple stuff in 4. Trivial for professionals.

[@ESmithStringSlinger]

I watched this the night it aired. Keith was truly amazing. Best ever classical keyboardist and a top rate showmanship. The most dangerous band was very tight here.

[@jasonmeadors3524]

Listened to Tarkus in college, a novice to album music, and the first side blew me away. It actually forever changed the way I appreciated music. Then circa 1973 or '74, went to see them in Champaign, Illinois, on the Brain Salad Surgery tour. The band was amazing, and Keith Emerson was other-worldly. A true savant. Just kept elevating his game, to throwing a little Beatles into "Hoedown" to playing the Hammond upside down/backwards. I feel fortunate to have seen them in concert. Just a class of their own back then.

[@UncleSerenity]

Tarkus is my favorite ELP album of all time.

[@stephenlennartz3466]

Feeling fortunate and grateful I got to see the full ELP lineup on their final tour. A friend invited me at the last minute. We rolled the dice on tickets and went to the venue's box office. The clerk said something like, "Oh... you're in luck! These people just canceled their tix as they can't attend this evening." It was 5th row center. Now a cherished rock & roll moment. Of course... they were amazing. 🎹 🥁 🎸 🎤

[@indioloco6600]

A dream!

[@tommyd1871]

Greatest keyboard player of all time!!!!!!!!!!

[@morbidmanmusic]

I'll be generous.. he's not on the list. Fans don't play.

[@jamessmith4582]

@@morbidmanmusic What "list"?

[@zappafrank1]

hands down

[@jefffoster3557]

Sorry, that honor belongs to Wakeman.

[@jamessmith4582]

@@jefffoster3557 Wakeman is not NEARLY as talented as Emerson was.

[@leezee2894]

I could listen to him play 24 / 7

[@agc812]

That was very Nice.

[@JamesFolkers]

I see what you did there…

[@williambird9256]

😂

[@indioloco6600]

"I git it!"

[@michaelward3421]

Keith was such an amazing talent. He was my biggest early musical influence (I'm 62 now, and have been playing keyboards since I was 12, mostly because I wanted to sound like Keith, back in 1971). Thanks for this awesome upload, Don!

[@Ofinfinitejest]

Has any drummer in history played with more great musicians than Anton Fig? Great video; Keith brought out the best in all those musicians.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Anton is terrific! Let’s add Steve Jordan, his predecessor in The World’s Most Dangerous Band to your list though.

[@johnrives8277]

They’ve both had the luxury of playing with the world’s top notch musicians - definitely including Paul Shaffer.

[@smc9108]

Love how the piece is led in and out with Swan Lake.. ELP was always throwing in obscure snippets of this and that in their live shows just to keep spry listeners on their toes, such a fun thing to take in. Paul and the band are such professionals, they just effortlessly rip through this cut with Keith, so awesome to see. Great upload Don!!

[@ontologicallysteve7765]

I loved the score that Keith did for film director Dario Argento ('Inferno' 1980). It's possibly my favorite score of all of Argento's films. It's bonkers (in the best possible way).

[@robertglisson6319]

Swan Lake? Dvorak wrote Swan Lake? I think it was 9th Synphony (The New World)...

[@smc9108]

@@robertglisson6319 Crap you're right!🤦‍♂️ How embarrassing.. thank you for pointing that out without being rude about it, as so many people are these days. I'd buy you a drink if I could, cheers friend!

[@jackinthewoodsii8653]

@@ontologicallysteve7765 He also penned the music for 1981's "Nighthawk" great soundtrack.

[@Sheffield6688]

@@jackinthewoodsii8653 And "Godzilla: Final Wars". Not sure if it sold well but who care because ..... Godzilla and Keith. 😁😁

[@johnnyquest6115]

I love it how Paul Shaffer and his band try so hard to keep up with Emerson! Thank you, Mr. Letterman, you had the best late-night show ever.

[@morbidmanmusic]

Try so hard... not technically .. that was no harder than playing with James Brown, or anyone else. Not how it works. They were just having fun. No keeping up involved. For the first time it was Kieth who had to keep up with a drummer who doesn't suck at keeping time, like Carl.

[@peterklutinoty244]

First.....! A great keyboard driven song 🎵 👌 I liked how Keith E. kept looking toward Paul S. at certain parts. Paul was spot on! The beginning and its first few bars werre the best, I feel. I was a *"lucky man"* to catch them (ELP) in concert in the '70s.

[@youtuuba]

Nothing surprising here actually. Paul S had a gig as bandleader and keyboard player on a major show, all all he had to do on this piece was to play some simple chord accompaniment to Keith's solo. Sure he was "spot on".....ANY proficient keyboardist would have been. And nothing Keith played here was particularly difficult or spectacular. TONS of keyboardists could do what he did here. But fans will insist that these two guys were something special, or spectacularly talented or skilled. Mostly, they were just famous.

[@hammill444]

@@youtuuba You are utterly ignorant. Emerson was a pioneer. But you’d know that if you knew the first thing about him and his contributions historically.

[@jerrysparks2308]

Me too!!

[@renhoek3851]

what a fantastic group of musicians that house band was

[@billc6087]

Yes! They could play anything with anybody and sound as good as the original, if not better!

[@frankhoulihanfh4972]

Yep.

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

Such incredible, alive music! Keith was the GOAT!

[@michaelgalligan7089]

Only Keith could pull off being the lead in a rock and roll band ! Unbelievable!

[@martinamanecke3622]

It ist so great to see, how the house band is enjoying this, and how they are fascinated by Keith's play 🎶 What a high speed, just wonderful

[@morbidmanmusic]

They aren't fascinated. They've played with much bigger and better talents. It's the job. Stop romanticizing it .. not how it works.

[@martinamanecke3622]

@morbidmanmusic You shouldn't believe that good musicians are as arrogant as you are. If they were playing without feeling they weren't that good. Who are you anyway to think you have the right to mansplain the world to me?

[@martinamanecke3622]

@@morbidmanmusic It's amazing how you can even think to be the owner of the only truth ... And what gives you the right to mansplain the world to me?

[@fingersfan1843]

@@morbidmanmusic "Much bigger and better talents" ??? Emerson was the "G.O.A.T" !!!!!!

[@mariocostanza9576]

Saw Emerson Lake and Powell at MSG.(1986) The sound was incredible.

[@bradcrosier1332]

I saw them on the same tour in Indianapolis at Market Square Arena - hardly a perfect sonic venue. Nonetheless, all these years (and many concerts later) it was one of the most amazing sonic experiences I've ever had. One of, if not the best sound I've ever heard at a live concert. To this day I remember walking out feeling like the sound had picked me up and held me to a wall for the entire concert with its intensity and clarity. Not the most exciting stage or light show, but who cared - it was all about the music, and the music was incredible!

[@ShakenStirred]

Saw them in Hampton VA in September 1986!!!

[@chrishuerta5668]

They'll never be no better, Keith will always be the best ever in the universe

[@CWoodyButler]

This just makes me sad that he was so depressed he killed himself. I like how Keith is conducting the band and the band all have music they're following, even the drummer.

[@damnyankeefl]

he lost his ability to play like that. imagine the sadness

[@mfranzusan3014]

​@@damnyankeeflhe developed arthritis in his hands. It became too painful to play and it literally defeated him.

[@mackdaddyg321]

Thanks for posting this, as always. I saw this performance when it aired, but until tonight couldn't remember who it was. All I could recall was Paul really watching and digging a keyboard solo. The fact that it was Keith Emerson seems so obvious now.

[@paulkevinkoehler9490]

Paul and the band go prog... nice 😎

[@tamra8485]

So amazingly brilliant, even the mullets look cool.

[@margereed9059]

Holy cow dude is off the chain on those keys!!! 🎼🎹

[@kdkseven]

That was TIGHT!

[@skipdee]

This has to rate as one of the band's favourite guests. What an awesome opportunity to have as a working musician.

[@georgewaters456]

man that was great!! even more astonishing was the show that was mentioned at msg, I went to thar show, and thought it was really really good. Bravo Kieth !!

[@michaelgalligan7089]

I was there to!

[@hubbsllc]

I remember waiting up for this performance so I could catch it on the VCR. ELP almost never appeared on American television so this was a rare opportunity to see Emerson in action in those days.

[@robertfourt5581]

I have seen the late show band play with many great artists, but I have never seen them play with the charts at all, much less charts as lengthy as what Keith brought. Excellent work on everyone’s part. I miss you Keith.

[@FukiMakai]

The Keith Emerson solo with the band silent until they follows back again during the middle to end of it, is a great touch.

[@FukiMakai]

@Miracle Tire I just listened a few ELPowell shows a month or two ago and they did a similar thing but without the silence and with the polysynth instead of an organ. There is also a studio version recorded somewhere in the 80s included into a compilation, with another band, where the riff is the same but over recorded with the poly synth while organ soloing with a guitar solo too

[@markfaris4735]

Paul Schaffer's eyes are so happy and large playing next to Keith Emerson. Anyone would too playing next to a virtuoso wizard. Outstanding jewel from television courtesy of Letterman!!

[@dongiller]

Shaffer; Paul Shaffer.

[@user-pu2cj3no5f]

You could tell he was thrilled.

[@Bookmarkerer]

Phenomenally perfect; thanks for sharing.

[@Dolores5000]

Saw this as it originally aired so fantastic

[@deanevangelista6359]

He used to perform this in the late 1960s with his band “The Nice.”

[@michaelgalligan7089]

I loved the Nice ! But I actually got into ELP first . Because of my age . Than checked out the Nice .

[@TriRabbi]

I love Keith's solo part.

[@k.q.594]

I'm only 21 and never heard of this guy but that performance was amazing. That's for the upload, Donz.

[@dongiller]

All hyperbole aside, I think it’s great that you’ve discovered this great talent.

[@halfabeet]

@@tommyd1871 eh? the moog was being used in the early 1960s - he was a great keyboardist but to call him the greatest that ever lived is ridiculous and offensive to him and every great musician.

[@hammill444]

@@halfabeet You literally have no idea what you’re talking about

[@smc9108]

Check out Emerson Lake and Palmer's discography, the first song on their self titled debut will set your speakers on fire. My uncle bought me that CD for my 13th birthday back in the 90's and I was hooked, had never heard of them before then

[@michaelward3421]

K. Q., I'm going to second S Mc's suggestion. Now go back and listen to the entire ELP discography. Also, if you enjoyed this, you'll want to search KZbin here for their performance at the California Jam in 1974. Trust me, you have many fine hours of jaw dropping amazement ahead of you.

[@michaelgalligan7089]

I watched that live the nite it was on with my Dad ! The catch is my Dad was in the music 🎶 business in the 50s , 60 and early 70s . He finished as GM of Canadian American records . But it was me who wanted to watch my favorite musician with my Dad who knew his music 🎶 ! When they were done my father was amazed! I always liked watching bands on T V with Dad . And he would give me his professional opinion and explain things to me technically! He knew Keith was the best ever . And I watched Greg one time with him . I told him he was the best singer before we watched . After he said he still thinks Elvis was the best . But Greg might be second ! And that was good enough for me ! Carl was the first guy we watched together actually. It was on Johnny Carson when Carl and his giant drum set had a drum off with The master Buddy Rich on his 3 piece drum set 1 symbol and a high hat ! My father said after wow ! 😮

[@Indi-hl9ts]

BRAVO MAESTRO !

[@kengruz669]

I've watched Keith's performance of "America" on a German TV broadcast (found here on youtube), but never knew he performed it or anything on Letterman. My heart is soaring for this entire performance. So great. And co-keyboarding with Keith Emerson? This has to be a top memory of Paul Shaffer's entire musical career.

[@lanegibson7841]

He had the same number of notes to use as the rest of us, but the way he put them together, sounded like he had twice as many as anyone else!

[@morbidmanmusic]

Not always a good thing, and that was basically a cover of someone else's chords structure, other than the solos.

[@carlosalbertoteixeira375]

Thanks a 1,000, @dongiller. Greetings feom Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 👍🏻✨🖖🏼

[@billkazen4683]

The Nice(Emerson's previous band) recorded "America" on their '68 LP...very artistic...

[@77news97]

I wish Keith had just announced his retirement due to his arthritis and grown old gracefully, enjoying his family and friends. So sad.

[@morbidmanmusic]

It shows an ego side to it. .. also, fans push him to it.

[@davidthomas3725]

GOAT!

[@eliwhitley1878]

Thanks

[@brian_nirvana]

:) luv the phantom of the organ!! Kieih Emerson. Check out Tarkus .

[@AlfUckhamHall]

One word, "Awesome"!

[@p38cobra]

Friggin Awesome!!

[@fortuner123]

What's not to like. Brilliant.

[@TM-jo4wz]

Seen ELP 4 times. What a group. What arrangements!

[@biondipepe]

majestic

[@spuzzlightyeartoo]

WOW! This was great! Another one to add to the pile of great musical performances w/ Shaffer and company. And LOL to that very very very awkward sponsor plug at the end.

[@johnbishop5316]

I learnt to play this in the 70s. I had no video like this to go on. I set both mauals to the same tone and alterated left hand and right hand. After a while it felt natural. Never at quite this speed but certainly with the single.I imagined that this is how Emerson did it. But no, here we are with him really playing it that fast with one hand. No wonder he needed surgery! I recomo=mond my method.

[@mikedye98]

Incredible.

[@r.h.0101]

Awesome!

[@gillelmore2440]

The best!

[@MW_Builds]

Inspiring art. Seemingly from a toaster and a q-tip, Emerson was the early pioneer of rave and dance music.

[@superorangeish]

His organ sounds the same as on Tarkus!!

[@hubbsllc]

Not bad, huh? It, the Leslie it's running through, and the Kurzweil on top are all probably just rentals.

[@twomeelkeel43]

AWESOME

[@frereanaktom99]

for those who don't know mr emerson took his own life when he could no longer play. i alway disrespected suicides but in his case i can understand and sympathise. well, he left us witth The Nice and some superb live performances [thanks you tube - i saw him in concert more than once but it''s nice to have the videos.]

[@aarfeld]

That's quite alright, Dave, I think that Keith just 'cleared the air' with that rousing rendition of Bernstein's America.

[@massapower]

And that folks is whats missing in today's music. ORIGINALITY & CREATIVITY..... Man the creative brain of EMERSON is mind boggling, well next to Frank Zappa of course 😎✌

[@TriRabbi]

Love the drawbar adjustment at 3:36.

[@MikeFloutier]

I loved Yeses version so I was looking forward to seeing this. Well done, and especially to the band for keeping up! 🎹🎸🥁🍾❤️

[@thesteve7397]

You're confusing two different songs. This video is Emerson's version of "America" from West Side Story (Bernstein) mixed with some Dvorak; Yes did a version of "America" by Paul Simon.

[@richardwatson5437]

Man, how bad do you think Dave felt having to pitch air freshener after that obviously amazing musical event...☠

[@mattwuxx3888]

Ha. That's a Kurzweil K250 Keith's playing. I've actually got one of those in my home studio. Paul has another one in his own setup that was his go-to in the 80's. Amazing device and one of the most ahead of its time boards/samplers/Apple-linkable analog/digital instruments ever. But you had better have a sturdy dolly with a strong dude to get it onstage, lol.

[@awaken77]

The first thing I heard of ELP was Tarkus, and it completely blew me off. Still turns me on.

[@michaelgalligan7089]

My first album was the live album! I listened to it and looked at the picture on the back of the band on stage ! I was 15 and just imagine watching the show that never ends !

[@superfuzzymomma]

Hammond 101, Kids

[@misfit2022]

Interesting to see legendary rock drummer Anton Fig, Ace Frehley 79-80 Kiss etc reading a chart here. Keith Emerson used to play this in The Nice which is why he plays it so effortlessly.

[@dongiller]

Anton graduated at the New England Conservatory of Music in 1975.

[@misfit2022]

@Don And straight into rock star status in September 1978, not a bad progression. More importantly I wonder who wrote that chart as the chart was nothing like the Brian Davison version so I wonder if Anton cribbed it himself from rehearsals.

[@dongiller]

Don’t know, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Anton did it himself. Each band member was given music cassettes at least the night before, if not earlier, of the song they were to cover, so it’s probable Anton had written it out before the day’s rehearsal with the performer.

[@misfit2022]

@Don That procedure makes sense

[@bobf9749]

Kudos to the Late Night band for a great backing performance.

[@RjBenjamin353]

It starts off good and then it goes into The Facts of Life theme song lol!!!

[@TheFlyingHeart]

When mullets ruled!

[@baselinesweb]

I wonder how long they had to rehearse that one.

[@michaelgalligan7089]

They didn't! But the 🥁 did that was Cozy Powell

[@barrylyndongurley]

My God, this band could do anything with any kind of performer! It's sad to see this now after knowing of Emerson's later suicide. This would seem like self-parody if we weren't able to go back and listen to say, " The Three Fates " or " Tarkus " to remind ourselves of the scope of Emerson's idiosyncratic genius.

[@markwroblewski6500]

The genius,just listen to the Pictures at an Exhibition ,live at Newcastle City Hall.

[@williamsnyder1315]

Noticed the band’s look of total concentration and slight nervousness trying to play this … with sheet music no less. Just gives you an idea what kind of a musician he was.

[@howardhughes7596]

Wow. I’m not worthy. Did they get to rehearse for that? They all appeared to be sight reading their parts. Drumming was fantastic!

[@michaelgalligan7089]

That was Cozy Powell ! Best replacement for Carl ! Carl was touring with Asia!

[@aMulliganStew]

one year. 193K views. and only 404 likes. I didn't add to the count. yet I consider myself a fan.

[@paulboyle6857]

Mental!!

[@John-pc3cx]

Anton got a workout on this one.

[@ZENmud]

Denver 1974 & 1977; Ft Collins 1978... Then came "Love Beach" 😂 to my dismay: they'd been "popped" by management.

[@doranselwyn8608]

I can't help but think of Love Beach as contractually obligated sarcasm.

[@michaelgalligan7089]

There's a couple good songs on that actually. The Album cover and name is the worst . Instead of ratting this album with their classics . Rate it with the other albums of that year .

[@molotulo8808]

I can't believe Keith did this..

[@Scalihoo]

He was in NYC playing MSG

[@bwolfe8516]

was that air freshener ad for real?

[@michaelgalligan7089]

Letterman at his worst ! Never liked him because of that !

[@SJtoobsox]

Powell is fantastic too

[@irish66]

Anton Fig on drums I believe. According to Wikipedia, he only Joined the Letterman House band that year. Before him it was Steve Jordan, currently drumming wth The Stones.

[@leslietravis3079]

He's got spring loaded shoes on😊

[@mccolleydw]

The bulk of the song was from a work called rodeo by Aaron Copeland

[@doranselwyn8608]

You might be thinking of another ELP song called "Rodeo"

[@gillesmorin9439]

Paul is really empress

[@normangray3438]

Letterman said that Emerson, Lake & Palmer are now called Emerson, Lake & 'Powell... did Carl change his name?🤔😊😊

[@hubbsllc]

At the time Carl Palmer was tied up with Asia and they pulled in Cozy Powell instead. Wound up making one of the group's most consistent - and consistently *good* - albums. Cozy was excellent and the new music suited him perfectly.

[@troymaxwell2490]

Greg lake died the same Year has Keith Emerson

[@MigHound]

Man, back in the days when Paul had that K-250.

[@davidvawter4859]

Man was he good. And Anton Zip can read music!

[@dongiller]

Anton graduated from New England Conservatory of Music in 1975. Of course he can read music.

[@bamfylde]

Spinal Tap vibe

[@pjlederer5139]

One of the finest. RIP Keith

[@michaelgalligan7089]

The finest ! # 1

[@JordanHowellMusic]

Weird song to be on letterman….. Love these guys though !😊

[@ronnyvonallmen6892]

Looks like Paul is “Keeping Up” with Keith…

[@doranselwyn8608]

It's impressive given Keith's tendency to rush.

[@michaelgalligan7089]

Not when Keith started playing something else . He should have just played rhythm instead of walking over to Keith to see what he was playing !

[@aneveningwithebola2727]

Good lord that Kurzweil is huge...

[@steveowens2505]

Should have seen the GX1

[@pauld205]

Mad skills across the board. I really appreciated how anton restarted the song after Emerson's ever so slightly meandering solo.

[@cpcattin]

Sounds like a mullet !

[@stmserio]

Great rock player, but not the same level of the great Jazz and Classical players…

[@DavidLazarus]

The one and only keyboard god of my lifetime. The only person who comes close to his level of talent is Rachel Flowers. However, I'm not sure that even she could compose the masterful songs that Keith did. Yes, I am well aware of the master class musician named Rick Wakeman. He too is an excellent keyboard player. However, IMO, he's a notch or two below Keith. Wonderful sense of humor though!

[@michaelgalligan7089]

I actually like Patrick Mores better than Rick Wakeman . But Rick was better composser than Patrick ! I give complet respect to Rick Wakeman for saying Keith was by far the best keyboard 🎹 player ever !

[@melvinjames1077]

Yea its all amazing keys BUT you can’t shake your ass to it ! Thats what kills it ! Unlike Deep Purple that will rock your world