ELP: Jerusalem, Toccata, Still You Turn Me On, & Benny the Bouncer REACTION/ANALYSIS | Episode 410

#ELP #BrainSaladSurgery #ELPReaction
In this episode of #thedailydoug, I'm checking a few boxes. First, I'm closing the loop on Brain Salad Surgery by ELP. Last November, I listened to Karn Evil 9 from this album. Now, I'm listening to the rest of the album (the first four tracks). Secondly, this is timely for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, as the first song on the album is an adaptation of Jerusalem by Parry (a beloved patriotic hymn/song in Britain). In fact, I got so excited during the reaction that I forgot to mention the Queen's Jubilee! I hope you enjoy this #MasterPieceFriday edition of the show!
Reference Video: • Jerusalem (2014 - Rema...
Reference Video: • Carl Palmer Showing Of...
Reference Video: • Toccata (2014 - Remaster)
Reference Video: • Still... You Turn Me O...
Reference Video: • Benny the Bouncer (201...
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[@johnnybarracho]

I interviewed Carl Palmer backstage in Albuquerque in 74 for the Welcome Back tour. He is a fascinating person, quite soft spoken, massive talent. He was quite proud of his stainless steel drum set, etched with forest scenes and animals, and his gongs, tympani and especially his drum synthesizers. Definitely a highlight in my life.

[@johndoh5182]

Yeah except it was a very non-functional kit that caused them not to be able to go to various venues because of how much they weighed. They looked neat, but frankly I liked the sound of the kit he had before that one better. The album Trilogy has the best sounding kit.

[@dannylgriffin]

And Carl was so happy to get rid of them!

[@MrMjp58]

Brilliant review. The last quarter of the Ginestera always sounded like the incidental music to Dr Who c.'74. Maybe the beeb had an ELP fan in its midst.

[@irenaumek3992]

Why do they say Bonzo is the best drummer ever? It's Carl Palmer!!!!!!

[@Relayerman]

I saw them perform this album on the Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends tour in early 1974. I was a roadie for a day for ELP as they hired college students to help at whatever venue they played. It took 5 of us to lift that bell over Carl Palmer's head to get it in place and secured. It was soooooo heavy. The drum kit in the video here is what was on stage for the tour.

[@islandpalm148]

Wow. Glad Carl wasn't killed in mid-solo.

[@donkensler]

I also saw that tour in Philadelphia in the summer of '74 with some friends all smoking copious amounts of weed, and wow that was an experience! Completely immersive. Palmer's drum kit was impressive, and the occasion of his rotating was cause for a huge cheer from the crowd. The experience was so overwhelming we had to lay off of playing any ELP for a few nights in one friend's basement, because, to quote another friend, "we're ELP'd out."

[@OldDavo1950]

That album was my first ELP and was quite an eye opener, It was listening to John Peel radio program that made me think thats worth a listen. 40yrs or so later its becoming a classic.

[@alldayadventures5418]

Mid-70's... Channel 56 in Boston used many parts of Toccata for a show they called "Creature Double Feature" where they would play Godzilla and King Kong movies... Played it before commercial breaks. Obviously an ELP fan worked at the station....

[@davidmckenzie420]

I saw that concert in Anaheim (yeah, the one made into the album) and then San Bernardino the following night. Fabulous.

[@Codex7777]

This was one of my favourite albums, back in the 70s. Albums were prized possessions and the main soutce of our music. A person's record collection was carefully built up and became an emblematic expression of that person's very character, in a way that can't be replicated today. Each new album would be carefully unpackaged and we'd actually sit and listen to it, intently and the repeat the process over and over again, whilst absorbing the sleeve art and all the sleeve notes, lyrics and credits. This album was definitely on heavy rotation for quite some time and it's sleeve art was amazing too! :)

[@lemming9984]

Absolutely. I replaced all my vinyl with CD throughout the 90s, still very much 'albums' - but not the same as having the 12" sleeve to pore over. With some CD booklets, I have to wear two pairs of reading glasses to read!

[@pauldavies6037]

I second all that great times

[@PhilipCullenMBA]

Yep! Remember it well.

[@alyneorleans5018]

Remember the poster that came with it? Someone gave me a second copy of BSS and I put the poster that came with it on my bedroom wall. Still have the original unused poster right in the album where it belongs. 1973 was an incredible year for music. When “Brain Salad Surgery” wasn’t on the turntable it was “Houses of the Holy” or “Dark Side of the Moon” ... great memories!

[@jeffking887]

Would make time to listen to the entire album too. Black light candles and maybe a joint if the folks weren’t home.

[@enricopaoli1183]

E.L.& P. were aliens, too good to be human. "Trilogy" is my fave, as it was their first album I listened too in 1977, but I love almost everything the trio did. Excellent music indeed.

[@johndoh5182]

Me too, I love that album. Far and away their best album from beginning to end. For Brain Salad, Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression bores me, and in spite of it being "cool" that synthesized drums became a thing with that kit, the sound effects they used with it, like at the end of Tocatta, I just don't like it. I LOVE Carl's drumming on Brain Salad, but the songs aren't as good, and I have to skip 3rd Impression. Trilogy has a wonderful feel from beginning to end.

[@Steve-hf6ox]

Personally, it's "Pictures....", "Works 1", "Trilogy", and "B.S.S.".

[@wendyt7958]

i Love Greg Lakes voice also. He could sing the directions of to a piece of IKEA furniture and make it enjoyable! lol Just an amazing trio

[@wings4victory]

Someone fetch me a ladder

[@neile2001]

@@wings4victory Yeah that line...

[@iadorenewyork1]

Greg Lake -- one of the best singers of the 60s and 70s (oh ... of all time)!

[@skybluemarshall]

"Do ya need a Phillips? Do ya need a metric driver? What the hell is the hex size? Someone fetch me a fiver".

[@ghanus2009]

@@wings4victory Haha!!! Touché!

[@roccodifranco7866]

Saw ELP live in the 1970s 7 times what talent, we might not ever see such talent again

[@alastairmcintyre4752]

Probably one of the most iconic album covers of the 70s

[@andy70d35]

Agree its up there with Pink Floyd dark side of the moon cover.

[@dlenajohnson9015]

And can you imagine, with the talent and innovation displayed here, ELP have not been inducted into the rock & roll hall of fame.

[@kathyratino962]

It's disgraceful.

[@AlbertoMartinez-ps9bv]

Jann Werner head of rolling stone magazine and Rock and roll Hof never liked prog bands. Elp and Moody blues were never on the cover of his magazine

[@gerarddion4859]

The R&R HoF has become more and more a sad joke for this reason alone!

[@brucebrown73]

Talk about stupid, people in RR HOF voting members must be pissed about something they did once. I challenge anyone to listen to their first 5 albums of original stuff and not be awestruck. 1. Debut 2. Tarkus 3. Pictures at an Exhibition 3 Trilogy 5 Brain Salad Surgery

[@dlenajohnson9015]

… and feeling the same way about Jethro Tull. What an amazing and innovative band! Yet, they put hip hop, rap, country, and selected world music in the R&R(?) HoF.

[@wardka]

I've seen a number of concerts back in the day, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Yes, The Who, Mountain, but believe it or not ELP were BY FAR the loudest. This Brain Salad Surgery show in particular was quadraphonic with four huge stacks of amps set around the auditorium. They were so large they had to have cooling radiator fins. I was hearing impaired for several days after that show -- and it was worth every ear cilia scorching second.

[@michaeltaylors2456]

Keith’s analog synths were slightly dirty, and live, were like tuned locomotive horns. The Hammond organ sounds were fantastic too, you could clearly hear the clicks. Carl was a spectacular technical animal to watch, while Greg, played the straight man to the coordinated madness to his right.

[@recordmanjohn]

I was lucky enough to experience the quad synth setup when Keith and Carl toured in '88 supporting the Three album. I spun my head around when it happened, very cool.

[@jimfski164]

I have to agree to a point, I went to see Led Zeppelin and the first two songs were so loud we couldn't understand what they were playing. It happened to be black dog and rock and roll. The who were pretty loud as well.

[@lisamoroney3036]

Nice !

[@oldmanghost219]

I saw ELP in 1978 in San Bernardino. it was the tour the had the orchestra but by the time I saw them they had let the orchestra go. The loudest band that i heard was ZZ Top in the same venue. (Swing Auditorium) It was earsplitting and also at the time you could smoke inside. With my ears hurting and my eyes stinging I went down and around to go behind the stands.(Seating). Then i realized that my eyes were not stinging from the smoke. I saw a line of police in riot gear headed for the doors.

[@Andy-Capp]

Also there’s a version of Greg singing I Believe in Father Christmas sung in a church with Ian Anderson playing the flute. Also incredible.

[@astrano80001]

Jeff, check out Pete Sinfield’s “Still” video with Greg on guest vocals. It’s magnificent!

[@chrisg6086]

And here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2eQgXSBhNlqqa8

[@peternielsen8362]

Was then added to the "Works" album. My favorite Christmas song.

[@Dee-77777]

My Favourite Christmas song too.

[@TripleBerg]

That’s a great video.

[@dandundon9503]

On the 1977 tour, Greg was in the the only spotlight singing 'Still You Turn Me On'. When the song ended, the lights came up and there was a grand piano in the middle of the stage. Everyone just was amazed.

[@skybluemarshall]

"The end of a Ted" implies that Benny was a Teddy Boy. They were part of the London subculture of the 1950s. They wore 1940s style Zoot suits, like the American Chicanos in the 40s. Some Teddy Boys formed violent gangs and they clashed with immigrants and other groups like the Greasers (later known as Rockers). Greasers were leather clad bikers. Rather than riding Harley choppers with leaned back seats, Ape Hanger handlebars and extended front forks like American bikers, they instead rode English Cafe racers with forward leaning seating positions and dropped handle bars. Like the Teddy Boys, some Greasers were violent and formed gangs, which explains why these two characters clashed. Sydney the Greaser would not appreciate Benny the Teddy Boy telling him how to behave in the pub.

[@kathyratino962]

The Teds wore blue suede shoes, so Benny would have been particularly offended by that pint of Guinness being poured on his boots. Ironically, guys like Benny were hired as bouncers to handle just this kind of provocation.

[@skybluemarshall]

@@kathyratino962 Yeah, you wouldn't want to let their snappy dressing fool you. Some Teds were very violent and were known to carry knives and stick razor blades in their shoes.

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

Iirc, the Who's Quadrophenia was about Teddy Boys or Greasers?

[@Hasbaya1960]

A friend who grew up in England once explained to me that the reason "Benny got a cold meat pie" was because bouncers were sometimes paid with food rather than money by the proprietors of pubs. That's all poor Benny could come up with on short notice, I guess....

[@skybluemarshall]

@@hurdygurdyguy1 Quadrophenia (1973) takes place 1965. The groups were called Mods and Rockers. They were similar to Teddy Boys and Greasers of the 50s. Mods wore suits and Rockers wore leather. Mods were more fashion conscious in their dress. They rode mopeds and scooters and listened to Jazz, Soul, Motown, Blues and Ska. Rockers dressed like bikers. They rode motorcycles and listened to 50s Rock 'n' Roll and Rockabilly. I guess you could say that Rockers were closest to their 50s Greaser roots in both fashion and musical tastes. The Mods were more like an updated version of their Teddy Boy roots. They wore the most current fashions and listened to modern, more present day music.

[@andremaccarini1656]

Jerusalem is absolutely freaking beautiful.

[@cletusbeauregard1972]

dude, Carl had EVERYTHING in that drum kit of his.

[@texasrose455km]

I love the way Keith told about his meeting with Ginastera. The composer didn't speak English, so his wife translated for them. After Keith played the tape, Ginastera yelled, "DIABOLIQUE." Keith thought Ginastera didn't like it and he was just heartsick until his wife told him what you said abolut the composer feeling like Keith was the first person who truly "got it."

[@jimfski164]

Oh to be 17 years old again watching this live at the Boston garden. I had seen ELP probably 7 or 8 times and it always amazed me how 3 people could make such phenomenal music. Carl has never gotten his due, his drum kit was stainless steel and engraved and weighed over a ton. Picture this, not only did Carl's drum kit revolve, Keith's piano was lifted into the air and he played while spinning, scary stuff. They were one of the only bands that I've seen where the concert was quadraphonic. Amazing concerts.

[@lylesmith3506]

Carl is the reason I started drumming.

[@Tonyblack261]

I knew Toccata by ELP a long time before I heard the Ginastera original version and being amazed at how close the ELP version got to it.

[@katiescarlett1955]

I saw ELP in concert in 1974 and I still listen to this album today. In my opinion one of the greatest albums ever made.

[@julioguardado]

Doug - you would probably enjoy Rachel Flowers playing ELP on Keith Emerson's Moog. She is brilliant.

[@clansome]

Have to second that 200%. She also plays Greg's guitar parts in Karn Evil 9. Even better played a mean guitar solo with Dweezil Zappa in Zappa plays Zappa back in 2015. Oh and she's blind by the way.

[@andreatutrani]

Rachel is BRILLIANT indeed

[@pauldavies6037]

yes Rachel is amazing God given talent

[@mlinderict]

I loved the interactions she had with Keith. I'm so thrilled they got to meet each other, even if it was mostly virtual (don't know if they met IRL).

[@gerarddion4859]

She certainly is! She,approximates Emerson’s playing better than anyone that I’ve ever seen or heard! I wish she would tour with Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy band!

[@chrisrickert8638]

Bob Moog had to keep repairing and reinforcing Carls synthetic perc; “Carl hits these things SO hard!” Bob Moog explained. It was Moog’s very first instrumental use of the synth drum triggers.

[@kentclark6420]

Those guys were wizards!

[@bojiden]

@@kentclark6420 ELP or Bob Moog? Both, I suppose.

[@kentclark6420]

@@bojiden I think I was referring primarily to ELP.

[@215Gallagher]

It was a different musical world being a teenager in the 70s. I was just 15 when I first heard this but it was what serious young music lovers wanted back then. We had King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Yes, ELP...Led Zeppelin and the other OWOBM bands while at the same time Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan et al were at their peak. That's all folks, it ain't gonna happen again, even contemporary jazz is just Miles and Monk homage. Great video though.

[@lindazee]

So true. We were in the midst of a musical rennaissance. I'm a couple of years older than you and what a wonderful time it was to be young, even with all the social issues of the era, many of which sadly still persist.

[@gerarddion4859]

It was definitely a golden era of music that, IMO, we won’t see again, at least in our lifetime.

[@lauradoxtater1301]

I was 18 yrs old in 73 & this was by far my fav album, played it to death! Thank you for reviewing this 👍🏻

[@chriscrawford1958]

Seeing them live in Denver in 1979, simply amazed me that so MUCH sound could be produced by these three guys on stage. The drum “kit” was quite similar as the video from six years earlier.

[@Liz.Green789]

Brain Salad Surgery was my favorite album for many years. So broad in style and substance. It is still among my favorites of all time. (Novella by Rensissance is the favorite with Yes' Fragile sitting slightly below Brain as second favorite.) Such rich music from my early teenage years. I am so thankful for these musicians and their wonderful gifts to us.

[@markmaioli4]

It's just a simply amazing and masterful album. The variety of songs on side one with the transition from Benny The Bouncer directly into Karn Evil 9 is nuts and THEN you flip the album for Karn Evil 9 1st Impression, Part 2 and get "Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends ..." I never get tired of that

[@richardgivens2422]

I love it when you review ELP!!!!!

[@lisamoroney3036]

Same !!!

[@darrellminx5459]

I was very lucky to see the tour. Quadriphonic sound and they could pull it all off live just like the record. Changed my life! Good choice Doug!

[@glennturnbull8568]

Greg Lake, had the most magical voice, deeper and more melodious with age. He was a master on the J200, and a pretty good bass player too!!

[@kathyratino962]

Check this out. Very slow burn leading to a frenzy. Greg and Michael Giles shared a brain on this one, I swear. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5CadZVjhpyLpbc

[@Liz.Green789]

Best voice ever.

[@DavidLazarus]

I've always described Greg's vocals as regal sounding. And, yes, his vocals aged quite well.

[@ScienceTalkwithJimMassa]

Greg's bass playing is criminally underrated. He is excellent. I place him in my top 3. His playing is precise, matches what Keith plays (Living Sin, Fugue, KE9, Tarkus) Superb bassist. And of course there is 21st Century Schizoid Man. Wow, what a bass line.

[@gerarddion4859]

He also produced ELP’s albums! He was a supremely talented individual and I miss him dearly. RIP Greg.

[@Narpets2112]

“Jerusalem” has a great story attached to it. It was recorded here in the U.K., and we had to present it to the BBC. The BBC had a panel at the time, and they would veto what would be played on the radio and what could be shown on television, so for us to get the single released, it would have to go in front of this BBC panel, which was about four or five people. So “Jerusalem” was recorded by us, and it was banned immediately by the BBC. We thought it was an unbelievable piece of music. It actually summed up prog rock, British prog rock, in that moment in time. It had everything. It was so grand, it was so English, and it was absolutely perfect for the voice." Carl Palmer Incidentally, the drum shells were made out of 1/2" steel and the kit weight 2-1/2 tons. I've always thought this album represented the absolute pinnacle of progressive rock.

[@jpirard]

ELP always had a song that was tongue in cheek, Bennie The Bouncer. The Sherrif, Jeremy Bender, Are You Ready Eddy?, Tiger In The Spotlight

[@kathyratino962]

I love Tiger in the Spotlight. Have you seen it live with a live tiger on the stage, inching closer and closer to Greg's foot? LOL

[@VideoMask93]

Always love how you can hear Palmer mutter "shit" during the opening drum solo of The Sheriff.

[@gerarddion4859]

Yes! They definitely had a sense of humor about their music as well!

[@gregorybooker4913]

As an advid fan and aficionado of ELP, the best part of this was YOU!!! I laughed and Laughed at your surprised expressions. YOU are me every time I put needle to plater 40 years ago. I have a twin brother, who we would endlessly critique every nuance of every song, for YEARS. The baffling points were the drum synths, the Bow on a cymbal in KE9 2nd imp. and the Honky tonk piano. The later there was achieved by thumb tacks in the hammers, and detuning the middle string a semi-tone on each note cupeling. I would be remiss if I didn't point out the obvious, that would be dynamics!!! PPP to FFF they had it all, sorely missing with todays music. Also weirdness abounds with ELP Non diatomic chordal avarice abounds, and if you haven't had your daily dose of 4th's be prepared fora TON of it. Made me a guitarist no one wants to play with,... but thats a different story. Greg played with Robert Fripp the most weirdest guitarist I know of, and they had the same teacher, Makes you think Hummmmmmmm. Why do I have such opinions, I play Bass, Tuba, Bass Arco and electric, Classically trained Vox, Guitar and i'm the ELP American Administrator For the appreciation site. Please join, I'm in love with your insights. I spent a life time playing music and recording and the one thing I learned is the most talented musicians embraced Classical music before going on to rock. Nuff said, Your friend Greg

[@gerarddion4859]

Same here as well!

[@sallocurto1571]

Another extremely enjoyable show Doug. You can’t go wrong with ELP in the early 70’s. This stuff is brilliant. Looking forward to more ELP. Cheers!!!

[@lindazee]

OMG even after all these years, I'm still blown away. How dearly missed are Keith and Greg. Carl Palmer left it all on stage...saw them perform this several times. In person it was unforgettable, spectacular. What a show! Oh, and that album cover is still in my opinion in the top 10. Opens in the middle to even more dramatic artwork.

[@godzillahaiku6036]

Carl actually plays with a 'classical grip' where the left hand stick (the non-dominant hand) lays across the hand. This grip evolved from the early days of marching drums. A 'matched grip' is where both hands hold the sticks the same way (stick held between the index finger and thumb). Palmer will occasionally switch to a matched grip when playing the toms, as it makes it easier to access the toms for doing fills, but he plays the snare and regular beats with a classical grip. Oh, and the dragons are painted on the backs of the gongs, and they're just being lit up with strobes. The drum kit features stainless steel shells (made for him by the British Steel association), and the whole thing weighed over two tons. In some venues, the stage had to be reinforced to support the weight of the kit.

[@bmac1205]

ELP's one of the most varied prog bands of the 70's. They got me into Classical, Jazz, folk, big band, synthesizer rock...just so much. Critics hated them and fans loved them. They were incredible in concert.

[@alldayadventures5418]

Channel 56 in Boston used many parts of Toccata for a show they called "Creature Double Feature" where they would play Godzilla and King Kong movies... Played it before commercial breaks.

[@triumphrider9796]

I had the good fortune to see ELP twice on the Brain Salad Surgery tour, two of the best concerts I've ever experienced. "Toccata" is even more amazing live, with the quad system they had for those shows. And several years back I was finally able to see the original "Asia" in a rather small hall, Steve Howe really looked his age, but Carl Palmer sure didn't, and he looked to be faster with his feet than some guys are with their hands!

[@debbiegoss4475]

Welcome Back My Friends...1974 Rich stadium,Buffalo NY. What can i say... Left me speechless.

[@chopdog6563]

Quick note: Bruce Dickinson, on one of his solo albums (Chemical Wedding) also did an expanded version of Jerusalem. There's a live performance that Dickinson did with Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull at a Christmas performance of Jerusalem (along with Revelations).

[@_andy_gibb_]

I really like Bruce's version of Jerusalem - arguably more stirring than ELP's version

[@keanumunteanu]

Dickinson version is better. More together than this

[@magmasunburst9331]

He was a part of the dumbing down of America that has led to the current state a lot of people are in now.

[@kathyratino962]

@@_andy_gibb_ It's a totally different song. Same words, but entirely different. And I totally disagree. ELP's version is epic.

[@kathyratino962]

@@keanumunteanu LOL. More together?

[@neilgoldsmith5482]

Karn Evil 9 is a masterpiece

[@janekkraska1955]

Finally my favourite band again! :D

[@onerays]

That is a stainless steel drum kit custom made for Carl Palmer by British Steel in 1973. An 11 piece kit that weights about 2.5 tons. Many years later, in 2002, Paiste Cymbals made a custom cast bronze drum kit for him and Dany Carey of Tool, out of failed cymbals.

[@johncase2408]

There's so much depth in ELP. Great review 👏 👌 👍

[@steverushmore5185]

one of the best albums of all time i have been listening to this since its release i never tire of it. All three of them magicians.

[@fsinjin60]

3:09 Jerusalem (Descant, Doug, not just a counter melody) 7:45 Toccata introduction 9:30 Palmer’s drum ‘kit’ 13:18 Toccata 21:30 Still you turn me on 25:20 Benny the Bouncer

[@electricwizard3000]

It's great to witness someone first-react who can really appreciate this album. A frequent listen from an older brother's stack of LPs. He got it new, so that's when I started throwing it on the turntable too [with headphones, checking out the album art]. Most anybody who likes heavier prog loves this album. I sure do. Over time, there have been styles and artists that have drifted in and out of personal preference, but I can still listen to this album front to back and really enjoy it. I think it would be cool to play at my memorial; whole album.

[@bobby666666]

I saw Carl Palmer perform in April. He's still a brilliant drummer. He didn't have the electric drums, but he had the two gongs.

[@JohnLRice]

😎👍 Although the two gongs he currently tours with are much small than what he used back in the ELP glory days which were 36" and 50" I believe. I'm not positive but I think current sizes he has used were only 28" to 32"?

[@umbertoyltp]

And he put together a great band with - would you belive it - a guitarist playing a midi synthsized guitar and a 5 string bass player who also masters a Chapman stick!

[@bobby666666]

@@umbertoyltp Yea, they were good. It was a good night.

[@fenderchamp8241]

Walked right up to their show in late 70's. Sat in 10th row center. Was fabulous.

[@stoppropaganda2573]

Well you can't say they weren't innovators ... I love them to bits. RIP you geniuses and Carl, hang in there mate!! Thanks Doug! PS I hope that the autographed print I sent from Greg Lake has found a home at your home. ;--)

[@damnyankeefl]

4:51 I love how carl hits that semi-open hi hat alternating with the crash. music . ah.

[@drmorqWarrenProject]

I saw them in November of 1974 in Wichita, Kansas and as I type it, it sounds crazy... like why in the hell would they find themselves in Wichita.... but I was born and raised there and they played there a couple of times and I saw them.... It was amazing and like you said.. Carl could have done a concert all by himself... but so could either of the others... and perhaps that is what made them so special... It was magical and we will never see anything like it again...

[@estefaniasucre6966]

You made my day, Doug!!! I think this is my ELP favorite record. It was so fun to watch you react to it!!! A thing about ELP is that they had a very dark sense of humor sometimes :)

[@tazyou11]

I saw them in concert as ELP, Emerson Lake and Powell. Cozy Powell on drums for the 1986 album he did with Emerson and Lake. That was a good album I thought with a song that was popular called Touch and Go. They played the epic songs, Pirates and Knife Edge.

[@kathyratino962]

Touch and Go is based on a traditional English song called Lovely Joan. Worth checking out.

[@freak49]

Emerson Lake and Powell is a good album although the drumming is more straight forward that Carl Palmer's

[@kathyratino962]

What an ending to a Friday! Thanks, Doug for reacting to this freaking phenomenal band. Is this the first time you've seen what any of the three looks like? Carl Palmer was 23 when he recorded this album. Most of what I could add has already been said, except that these guys invested a ton of their money on equipment. You mentioned all of Keith's toys and Carl monstrous toys, and Greg always had a slew of guitars and basses in addition to his famous expensive oriental rug. He used it to cover a rubber mat that prevented electrocution. Please do the epic, gorgeous Pirates soon. It's from Works I with the orchestra. I think it's by far their most cohesive piece in terms of the narrative (brilliant lyrics by Greg and Pete) and the music. I'd also love to see you tackle Greg's side of Works I sometime.

[@mk1317]

I second this - Pirates is GREAT!

[@philsmith2444]

“Hallowed Be Thy Name” is a very witty song, that I can’t help thinking influenced Brad Roberts’ (Crash Test Dummies) writing style years later. “C’est La Vie” is just beautiful, and there’s a live version with Greg & Keith performing that’s a must-see/hear. Greg Lake, second only to Jon Anderson in the prog voice category.

[@kathyratino962]

@@philsmith2444 I think Greg’s voice is far superior to Jon Anderson’s. In fact, Anderson’s always gives me a headache. It’s very good, but I just don’t enjoy the quality of his voice as I do Greg’s.

[@neilgoldsmith5482]

I saw them with a 60 piece o orchestra in 77 at Madison Square Garden with a 6 million dollar light show. They did only 6 performances due to costs. They are fantastic

[@jeffpose2135]

My wife and I saw the one in Des Moines, Ia fantastic show

[@Liz.Green789]

I saw them with that orchestra in Indianapolis. It was one of my favirite concerts ever. What a wonderful experience.

[@ScienceTalkwithJimMassa]

I also saw them at MSG with the orchestra. What a concert. Hearing the piano concerto was magical. I saw ELP back in 74 also at MSG for the Brain Salad Surgery tour. WOW!!! Fantastic concert.

[@neilgoldsmith5482]

ELP Was Classic Prog RiOck like King Crimdon, Genesis (With Peter Gabriel), YES, & I guess you can add Pink Floyd.

[@Tonyblack261]

The song "Jerusalem" is based on the idea that Jesus visited England with his uncle to buy tin. It's pretty much an anthem of the Church of England.

[@richardgivens2422]

Lyrics from William Blake's poem.

[@kathyratino962]

They sing it in Chariots of Fire. It's what the name of the film came from.

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

It's also subtly anti-church. Blake was very much of the opinion that churches were distorting God's will and that it was better to find God in the "green and pleasant lands" of nature rather than in the "satanic mills" of organised religion.

[@arti2909]

@@jamesdignanmusic2765 Interesting piece of information, thank you! Although comparing organized religion to satanic mills is more than subtly :)

[@paulbangash4317]

@@jamesdignanmusic2765 yes. Interesting the irony in the use of the words and the actual meaning of them.

[@xaros738]

Fun fact, these two tubular bells notes he hits Carl Palmer at the solo video is the door bell at my parents home. The door bell is tubular bells.... 😁

[@alyneorleans5018]

😂

[@jaybrown3953]

I keep watching the ELP segments that you do just to see and hear your responses.. Beautiful man...

[@magirusdeutzjupiter2234]

An astonishing album to say the least, and the album cover alone was a master piece, my favorite album of all time. Thank you Doug.

[@carlbrown8830]

Had the pleasure of watching ELP perform Brain Salad Surgery live in Spokane in 1974, so not only were the performance and visual effects stunning, the sound system was a massive quadraphonic array which gave the Colusium 360 degrees of sound. Never seen anything like it before and never will again!

[@sandraandmichaelfield1602]

Saw the same BSS show that year ('74) in San Francisco. The quad sound system was sooo enhanced by the hallucinogens we took...I still recall the sounds swirling over my head, around and around the hall, faster and faster, as though I was standing under rotating helicopter blades. Outstanding!! Peace and Love to all!

[@joepalmer3795]

Still You Turn Me On isn't really a romantic song. It's about fame, suddenly being in this place where everyone thinks they want to be, but maybe they really don't. "Do you want to be an angel, do you want to be a star, do you want to play some magic on my guitar?" But this price of fame, the loss of privacy, some version of you everywhere, even the shirt you wear can be assigned meaning. "Do you wanna be the cover of a magazine, create a scene, every day a little sadder?" But in the end he does so love going on stage and performing. Still, we turn him on.

[@theflyingscotsman9902]

ELP's music is the most exciting agressive and complex prog rock I can never get tired of and I do love all music . Their music brings me to such a euphoric level ! Bless You Keith, Greg , and Carl for weaving together the music that thrills me everytime I Thankyou So Much ! and God bless you Gentlemen ! 🙏🙏🙏

[@MariaHalfevil333]

Yes...... had read the lyrics almost all my life....I LOVE this music - They have to play it to my funeral! ALL of it ;-)

[@GreatScott203]

My very first concert was ELP's World Tour in '74/'75, I saw them at Yale Bowl in New Haven CT in '74 (I was 14). I managed to scrape together enough bucks from my newspaper route profits to get a ticket, and my sister's boyfriend took me to the place where I could buy a ticket (they already had theirs). They had Emerson playing the grand piano as it flipped end over end in mid air, as well. (The concert LP Welcome Back... was recorded during this tour somewhere...)

[@commanderk3829]

Saw that Yale Bowl show with the spinning piano. The English are such great showman. As well Emerson pushing the Hammond B3 right off the stage. Great stuff back then.

[@gerarddion4859]

I envy you! LOL!

[@alanh7247]

greg lake had such a beautiful voice.

[@kenquinn7755]

The tour that accompanied this masterpiece was completely over the top, complete with a state of the art quadraphonic sound system and a rotating end over end grand piano at specific locations, such as the California Jam.

[@DarkStar-os9pv]

Don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but Carl Palmers drum kit at the time (his "synth drums" that you show in the clip) were made from stainless steel. The set-up weighed around 2 tons! During the tours ELP used that kit, many venues had to have their stages reinforced to accommodate it.

[@LuisGarcia-ee2tr]

Alberto Ginastera (as your Doug points out in the comment) is the author of the concerto that Emerson adapts and makes "Toccata". He was Argentine, just like me. From Buenos Aires city, I am a big fan of your shows - reactions. Greetings. Luis

[@Andy-Capp]

There’s a version of Still You Turn Me On with Greg Lake singing and playing a 12 string guitar while chewing gum on KZbin. It’s outstanding highly recommend it.

[@mardin56]

And he nails all the arpeggios on a 12 string, a ridiculous display of mastery.

[@iadorenewyork1]

Yes! He's on a high stool, wearing a white suit. He also does "Lucky Man". I've seen that concert excerpt many times now.

[@kw9172]

Yep. And chewing totally out of sync with the tempo, Lennon style:)

[@caroljordan6130]

Greg is SO SEXY while singing and masticating that gum, and STILL HE TuRNS ME ON !! 🤪💜☮️🎶

[@geoffreydowen5793]

saw this live in London in 70'saged 11now 65 this should be English National anthem great post Doug, welcome to ELP.xx respect from Suffolk, England.

[@Keleigh3000]

Musicians play it so safe these days. ELP played what they wanted to. Brain Salad Surgery is an amazing album.

[@JoseSantos-eg2oz]

Excellent selection. Saw them live years ago. Check out "Pirates" from their later years.

[@boba5984]

Spot on !! an incredible piece of music. It captures both musically and lyrically a time gone past. Glad you enjoy it as much as I do.

[@jonathanroberts8981]

An ocean-going yacht leaving New York for Europe once requested “Pirates” from WNEW back in the day.

[@gerarddion4859]

Pirates is another ELP masterpiece!

[@relayer27]

Great review and reaction Doug, could you please give ELP's first album a listen, 3Fates, Take a Pebble and the Barbarian are all outstanding

[@socalltd]

The Moog constellation did not get put together as a set. The Apollo and the Lyra were given to Keith in 73 and the Taurus foot pedals came out in 75 a year before the PolyMoog. Carl's kit had 8 modules for the electronic sounds in the toms and the main unit with 2 preset sequences. The world tour went from Nov 73 to Aug 74 caring a large quad sound system.

[@kenttm42]

I always imagined a really fun video for Benny The Bouncer. And the short coda was the perfect scene to show Benny tossing Savage Sid out of heaven and finally getting his revenge.

[@mickday8101]

Try pictures at an exhibition ELP masterpiece

[@GodmanchesterGoblin]

Doug has done the full album - Episode 16 of the Extended Play Lounge, available to Patreon supporters.

[@rodneygriffin7666]

Fantastic Band!

[@davidmccar]

My first and still all time favorite ELP album. Been patiently waiting for this and enjoyed it very much!

[@quentinmichel7581]

ELP appeared on an episode of IN CONCERT I think it was @ 1972 or 74 ..and there was a segment of Carl studying tympani with someone they said was the world tympani Master. Carl was/is an incredible percussionist.

[@antoniocarlin5026]

I got this cd with the cover on 3D!! the painting changing....its moves!! the final track is a interview with the band and H.R. Giger :D

[@unfrostedpoptart]

Yeah - I have that version with the lenticular fake-3d cover (kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2eyiaagZdSgqaM). Cool but nowhere near the full, 12”, fold-open vinyl version! FYI, the original painting of this by Giger was stolen years ago and is still missing.

[@antoniocarlin5026]

@@unfrostedpoptart Yes...I got the same!

[@MetalGeek464]

I was 11 when I first heard this in 1971. Epic AF. I love Toccata, Benny and Karn Evil 9.

[@czgibson3086]

This album was released in late 1973.

[@MetalGeek464]

@@czgibson3086 correct, I typo'd the year. in 1971 I was 7.

[@rickmcconnell5380]

I just relived a good chunk of my teenage years. Bravo, sir!

[@adamlaceky8127]

1982, University of Montana, I listened to this album over and over in the dorms of Aber Hall. Good times.

[@Frank-oz1gm]

Everything about those four songs serves as a precursor to what is to come, the magnificent Karn Evil 9.

[@Arrow2theACL]

You may know this already, but Doug has done KE9 already Episode 273.

[@pentagrammaton6793]

Karn Evil 9 is an uptight mess of notes and wankery.

[@snuppssynthchannel]

@@pentagrammaton6793 Bullshit, its a highly innovative and adventurous masterpiece with three movements, fantastic keyboard parts, drumming and vocals and really fun and creative lyrics/story by Greg Lake and peter Sinfield to go alongside it, remains as one of the ambitious and complex prog "epics" to this day. Its a classic and a piece of music that was greatly influential on composers like Noebu Uematsu and Koji Kondo and there is even currently being made a bloody movie based on it! It may be a bit much to take in for some, and not everyone does enjoy a keyboard based format like theirs, but its a real original!

[@Arrow2theACL]

@@pentagrammaton6793 Do you even Prog, Bro?

[@JohnLRice]

@@pentagrammaton6793 I thought maybe you were just an anonymous troll but I checked out your channel and you are a real person and a good musician too, I liked your tracks! Everything doesn't have to be for everyone I guess? If I had to pick my top 5 prog rock epics they would likely be Karn Evil 9 by ELP, Eruption by Focus, Close To The Edge by Yes, Supper's Ready by Genesis, A Passion Play by Jethro Tull?

[@neiladam2832]

Doug, I can heartily recommend Emerson’s Piano Concerto No.1 to add to your list.

[@kathyratino962]

Doug reacted to it on Patreon.

[@WooBino.]

@@kathyratino962 I hate that. Channel should be for everyone.

[@JohnLRice]

@@WooBino. Well, how else is Doug going to make doing this worth his time and effort?

[@WooBino.]

@@JohnLRice Worth his time? I hope he is enjoying doing it, that's the reason I watch. Some channels survive just fine w/o Patreon.

[@JohnLRice]

@@WooBino. A lot of people supplement their income or even make a full time living on KZbin. He could make it all free and ask for donations but very few people ever would. Most people will only give you money if that's the only way they can get something they want.

[@thomascox5808]

I recently purchased an original pressing of Brain Salad Surgery as a fan of HR Giger's artwork and a born again ELP fan. I'm 24

[@stevenbuck07]

Wild, Majestic, oddly bold and wicked. I listened to this album in high school when it came out, so many times the phonograph needle must have worn through this LP to where I could hear the other side without even flipping the album. I'm barely exaggerating, Doug. haha

[@PopShoppekid]

Doug, please listen to the really cool song "The Barbarian" off their 1st album, great dissonant chords by Keith on the Hammond, cool piano parts great drumming with brushes and sticks by Carl. Greg on the bass solid as usual.

[@JohnLRice]

The 1st album is rich with great tracks, they are all great actually! And The Barbarian is one of my personal favorites! 👍

[@Frank-oz1gm]

Yes, Doug would enjoy The Barbarian since it's actually an uncredited classical piece written by Béla Bartók called Allegro Barbaro.

[@kathyratino962]

@@Frank-oz1gm This was an unfortunate habit of Emerson's. Bartok's widow contacted them and they paid her for use of his song. Touch and Go (recorded by Emerson, Lake, and Powell) is based on a traditional English song called Lovely Joan, which should have been credited, as well.

[@jamesmcmanus8787]

You were spot on with the "out of tune" comment. Keith recorded the piano part twice. Once on a correctly tuned piano, and then again on a piano that was slightly out of tune.

[@ScienceTalkwithJimMassa]

Another thing that Keith did to get a more honky tonk sound was to place thumbtacks into the felt hammers, so when the hammers struck the strings, it was metal on metal, not felt on metal.

[@markmiwurdz202]

Have you heard Keith Emerson's "Honky Tonk Train Blues"? Mr. Emerson could really tinkle those ivories. May he Rest In Peace.

[@jamesmcmanus8787]

@@markmiwurdz202 I was first introduced to Keith Emerson's work when I bought "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack " by the Nice in 1968. I have purchased everything I could get my hands on ever since. Here is a geart link in case you haven't seen it. Clint Eastwood Keith Emerson and Dave Brubeck- Blue Rondo à la Turk :kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5PGiZWcbLZ8mLs

[@gerarddion4859]

@@ScienceTalkwithJimMassa he was truly a musical genius in so many ways!

[@soggytom]

Keep in mind that Yes, ELP, PFM, Led Zeppelin, etc., etc. were all on Atlantic Records where Ahmet Ertegun usually gave these bands free reign to do what they wanted. ELP even had their own sub-label, Manticore Records (named after the beast in Tarkus). So yeah, on Brain Salad Surgery, they did what they wanted. And it went gold in both the UK and US.

[@francoisathome5979]

Hail to Ahmet Ertegun for enabeling so much excellent music.

[@gerarddion4859]

He was a music business genius!

[@stevensprouse2449]

I've seen this live several times and played Toccata several thousand times. Better than coffee in the morning. Thx

[@davexvs]

syd was a greaser aka leather clad biker benny was a well dressed teddy boy greasers rode motor bike usually cafe racers able to do a ton aka 100 miles an hour teddy boys rode motor scooters some adorned with hundreds of rear view mirrors there were well documented fights between the two factions in the mid 60s early 70s just to give a quick inside info on the background of the song {:-) PAV uk greaser

[@donaldanderson6604]

Carl Palmer's current band, ELP Legacy, includes a version of Benny the Bouncer with Carl singing. Magnificent! At this time , Carl continued to study percussion with the legendary James Blades at the Royal College in London. Blades could play anything and really pushed him. He even came into my school to give us a talk about music. Carl Palmer's drum tutor right in front of me! It doesn't get much cooler than that.

[@scifimonkey3]

All thats missing at the end of the Benny the bouncer song is the the ’ that’s all folks” sign from the cartoons.

[@andreatutrani]

😂👌🏽

[@johndrx165]

Tocatta! One of my favorites by them! My first concert in 1974 and one of the best I ever saw if not the best.

[@mattphillips538]

Tocatta is the only Rock cover of a piece of orchestral atonal music I can think of. Fun fact: this was the theme song of WLVI (UHF) 56's Creature Double Feature in the 1970's; every GenXer from Boston grew up with this 😁

[@philsmith2444]

I grew up in Maine in the mid-70s to mid-80s and remember it well. In a comment near the top of the page I have a link 😃

[@bretwalker2295]

Would love to see a reaction to Emerson Lake & Powell's "Mars the Bringer of War" from Holst's Planets suite.

[@VoIcanoman]

"Every day a little sadder A little madder Someone get me a ladder" Is that not the best poetry you've ever heard?

[@kw9172]

Performed this for some time with my singer as a duet, it´s even on yt. The line cracked us up every time. Love the record, love the band was a huge fan a kid when erverybody was listening to nirvana. No regrets!

[@VoIcanoman]

@@kw9172 Yeah, I was a fan back in the '90s as well. Still am (RIP Keith Emerson though...that man was a genius). I do remember my high school English teacher specifically highlighting that line as an example of what NOT to do when writing poetry.

[@lizschneider3195]

And...it rotates. Carl's drum kit had everything!

[@my2sons8791]

Couldn't wait for your reaction at the end of Benny the Bouncer! I recently found your channel and have had a great time listening to all of the prog rock selections you have been reviewing. This is the music I grew up with being the youngest of five brothers. Really enjoying your channel and comments on such great music. Thanks!