Listening to Emerson Lake and Palmer: Pictures At An Exhibition, Part 1

[@quentinmichel7581]

The Sage is absolutely my favorite Greg song. It's perfection. My then 16 yr old younger son learned to play it for me...he was mostly a metalhead but liked ELP too and learned it for me.. had it almost 100% when he passed just before his 17th birthday. Every time I hear it I think of him.

[@Tarkus_]

It's ridiculous how good this sounds, for a live recording recorded and released in 1971! An absolute classic, to be sure.

[@richarddobson815]

My 18 year old ears couldn't believe what they were hearing back in 1971. Totally unique, of its time and what variety of sounds and music! Greg's guitar playing and voice are beautiful in amongst the madness and mayhem. I love this album to pieces!

[@marklockey4434]

Keith Emerson played the Newcastle City Hall pipe organ on the first rendition of Promenade… If you listen closely, Carl plays a little drum fill to allow Keith to get back to his main Keyboard set up.

[@RickTBL]

There are a few moments where Carl does a little drum fill to give Greg time to switch from bass to six string electric, or vice versa.

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Greg Lake and Chris Squire were best friends and shared a flat in the 60s. They must of had great parties

[@love_kobaia]

E. L. P. A force not to be reckoned with. Emerson was unstoppable.

[@meistergedanken4790]

Mussorgsky composed this suite of tone poems to commemorate an artist friend of his that died. It was his interpretation of visiting a memorial exhibition of his paintings. The ""promenade" is a musical representation of the composer himself as he strolls from painting to painting. The versions are variations that reflect the composer's changing moods as he looks at the different pieces of art. A touching tribute, I think.

[@davidvasquez8658]

Thanks for the interesting info.

[@PointyTailofSatan]

It's amazing to realize that the original fantastic piano work was composed in only 20 days!

[@yeshayahuhomberger2079]

This is my favorite ELP album.

[@Thievius333]

Mine too. You have excellent taste. 👍

[@manualboyca]

same!

[@davidvasquez8658]

This is any ELP fans favourite. Of course they're all good but Pictures got me hooked forever.

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

A "Great" Classic Prog album from ELP and all done "Live" !!! 👍🎶🎹🥁🎸🎤🎼✌

[@relayer27]

Greg Lake and an acoustic guitar....sheer heaven

[@brucebrown73]

Hard to believe they were 20, 22, and 24 years old when they produced this epic. Actually, their first work performed at Isle of Wight festival. It catapulted them into fame as their second concert ever together.

[@57cire]

Keith Emerson Master of the Moog Synthesizer!

[@lylesmith3506]

These guys were so fun to watch live. The interplay between Carl and Keith were epic battles of speed and chops. Mind melting at times. Miss them so much. Great review Jim.

[@TheReaperMan275]

They have also done a live version in 1977 with a full orchestra, during the _Works, Vol. I_ tour which is excellent.

[@jeffschielka7845]

👍😎

[@WooBino.]

MSG 1977 tour🗽🙂

[@bobcorbin3294]

Keith played a similar version of Blues Variations with The Nice, his previous band on an album called Elegy which was also live.

[@davidmckenzie420]

Had the immense pleasure of seeing them twice in '74. Awesome. But the stuff at 16:30 is...wow. If you haven't see the international collaboration (cover) featuring Rachel Flowers, you absolutely must. She nails it.

[@coachhannah2403]

I saw them in '73 & '74... Mind-blowing for a High Schooler raised on Tom Lehrer and Harry Bellafone!

[@ericanderson8886]

Had this on vinyl back in the day, the talent these three had is off the charts. Pretty faithful to the original but with the ELP prog spin. Gregs voice is so good.

[@davidvasquez8658]

I don't think the Manticore label existed then.I believe my album was on Cotillion.Such great musicians! RIP Keith and Greg. Keiths death was so tragic.

[@wicky4473]

Another album of my formative years. Brilliant

[@zebo-the-fat]

This was my introduction to ELP at the age of 18, I'm 69 now and still love it 🎹

[@evengaarder7766]

Ahh, finally! Thanks Jim. A unique album and probably the first I heard from them. It's mindblowing playing and music. Looking forward to your take on side 2. Cheers!

[@JimNewstead]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jgdmlw]

There was a full length feature film of them playing this back around 1973. I cannot remember the name of that film. This KZbin video gives a pretty good idea of what they look like playing this stuff. Emerson Lake & Palmer Pictures At An Exhibition 1972.

[@mArc01H1]

I have canadian version of this album, sounds huge. Cut was done by legend himself George Peckham, Eddie Offord did engineering on this.

[@paulbrookes413]

A GREAT ALBUM !!

[@reneelyons6836]

Masterful Musicians!!!!

[@flomalheur7467]

I think ELP refer more to Maurice Ravel's orchestral version in their interpretation of "Pictures at an Exhibition". In any case, it can't hurt to listen to the originals. The whole thing is a tour through an exhibition. "Promenade" is always the path between the paintings. Here is a short excerpt from Wikipedia: The individual movements describe paintings and drawings by his friend Viktor Hartmann, who had died the year before, and which Mussorgsky had seen at a memorial exhibition. If you know the original, you will also notice which pictures ELP left out and which ones they added. By the way, there is also an interesting version of this piece of music by Isao Tomita from 1975.

[@evengaarder7766]

The Tomita version is also top shelf material. All played on Moog Synths.

[@michaelcapewell4811]

Just wait till Side 2! Carl Palmer is like the Duracell Bunny on Steroids! 👍

[@edljnehan2811]

My favorite album along with trilogy bought them both on their release date😊 there's no musicians like Emerson Lake and Palmer😮 three technical virtuosos😊

[@LuisGarcia-ee2tr]

A bombastic sound, releasead in 1971! Incredible. The first thing I heard about ELP was Tarkus, and from then on (1973) it captivated me forever!!!!

[@vfrbore1728]

The piece you're thinking of that Greg lake singes may well be a part of In the Court of The Crimson King by King Crimson. Possibly Epitaph I'can't remember; it's been a while.The defining feature of much of ELP's music for me has always been the density of it. Layers and layers of intricate musicianship - and that includes the drums and percussion. There's not really one part of their music that stands out on top of another, be it drums, bass, guitar or keyboards. Everything is of equal quality and value. Just when you think a piece has reached a peak, perhaps with a keyboard solo, then there's a drum break that splits it open. You may then think that was the pinnacle, then Greg Lake sings, then something else happens. It's music that often takes time to really get to know and with each new listen something else takes you by surprise you may not have picked up before. Truly epic band.

[@coachhannah2403]

"Incredible noise" indeed!

[@coachhannah2403]

This (Mussorgsky) started as a piano piece and got decent reception in the day. Ravel orchestrated and it became a popular piece. ELP then updated it for this performance. A cut down version remained a staple in their live performances through to the last.

[@phil4193]

Interestingly, Carl Palmer was originally a jazz drummer. The way he leads with the right hand (ride cymbal / hi hat) instead of his right foot (bass drum) makes a LOT more sense once I heard this.

[@xlerb_again_to_music7908]

Grrreat! :) On to Side 2 pls An aside - on my home system, years ago, I was chasing the HF crackle on the left channel's keyboards, before deciding it was on the LP (and not the speaker tweeter). You've got it too, here! It is on the master. Confirms there is nothing wrong with my tweeter... good!

[@andrewwallace4481]

first heard this around 40 years ago Jim' still moves me in the very same way love it👍

[@PointyTailofSatan]

Emerson's transcriptions are amazing. The transcription here is based on the original piano work BTW, not Ravel's equally awesome orchestral transcription.

[@dhfenske]

I'm amazed by how good your vinyl sounds!

[@JimNewstead]

Thank you!

[@yes_head]

There's some interesting history around this album. Pictures at an Exhibition had been part of ELP's live set from the very beginning (it's on the Isle of Wight film) and ELP had planned to release it in some form for some time. But as they got into developing albums like Tarkus and Trilogy nobody could quite agree on what to do with the recordings they had made earlier at the Lyceum and then at Newcastle Town Hall. It then started to circulate as a bootleg so the label finally just put it out as a sort of budget offering between Tarkus and Trilogy. It did pretty well in the charts, especially in the UK. Musically, I'm always blown away by how furious this can get, especially the second half. It veers into an early form of prog-punk in places, well before Cardiacs and The Mars Volta! Jim, what might be interesting is if you also reviewed the videotaped concert version of this from late in 1970. It's not as polished a performance as this (plus it suffers from some "of its time" video effects), but you can also see how this would have looked to an audience (plus it's a complete performance, as compared to the Isle of Wight footage). And to think this kind of music drew massive audiences in 1971. My how times have changed.

[@kenl2091]

Though it had been done before by Walter/Wendy Carlos (and The Nice, of course) the synthesiser take on classical music was very startling to young ears like mine in 1971. Allied to Palmer's virtuoso rock drumming and Lake's singer/songwriter stuff, it was very successful particularly as it was live and released at a reduced price (in the UK) as a result. It's not their best but a worthwhile part of their catalogue.

[@WooBino.]

Hi Jim, I had this as a 15 year old boy...not realizing alot of the music is from past masters. But that did'nt stop my old Lafayette stereo from being cranked up to 11. You still have Works Vol 1 and Brain Salad to get to. Walt

[@mikewest1542]

Hopefully Brain Salad Surgery , if you do Works Vol 1 that will be good but for the wrong reasons . 😮

[@WooBino.]

@@mikewest1542 Keiths Concerto, Lend Your Love to Me Tonight, Tank (with orchestra) and Pirates. Works Vol 1 is the last great ELP album.

[@betseyr.9081]

Greg did all the vocals for ELP.

[@Lightmane]

I have yet to listen to this album in its entirety.

[@uapuat]

Done live in one take. Breathtaking! Am I right thinking this was one of their very first gigs?

[@evengaarder7766]

It was recorded live in Newcastle City Hall March 26th, 1971. They did som extensive touring between Isle of Wight in August 1970 and up until this gig. They'd played it numerous times, but this particular version is stunningly good. Arguably their best!

[@yes_head]

@@evengaarder7766 Yeah, I think this is a month or two after the Lyceum gig which was videotaped. You can tell they're much more familiar with the whole thing by this point and are firing on all cylinders throughout. Plus that church organ.

[@evengaarder7766]

@@yes_head it was a good 3 months after the Lyceum gig. December 9th, 1970

[@michaellord9745]

Jim, you owe it to yourself to listen to Maurice Ravel's orchestration of Mussorgsky's piano suite. It's a true orchestral masterpiece! There are plenty of great recordings of this warhorse of the concert hall to choose from.

[@Thievius333]

If I had to guess I'd say you were thinking of Pink Floyd's short acoustic piece from The Wall called "Is There Anybody Out There?". (The track that comes right after "Hey You" on side 3.) But this album (Pictures/Exhibition) is one of my favorite albums of all time. Top 5 at least.

[@JimNewstead]

Yes.... and Epitaph by King Crimson

[@jeffschielka7845]

Hey my friend! Hope you are doing well? Sorry i haven't been around much lately. Seems like it has been one thing after another and never-ending. Trying to stay positive and get back on track. ELP!!! Great album Jim. You will like this one. The boys are in fine form throughout! Enjoy!!!🔈🔉🔊😎

[@lesblatnyak5947]

🙏👍

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@lesblatnyak5947 👍😎

[@JimNewstead]

Welcome back Jeff! I was a bit intrigued as to where you had gone, but I saw you popping up on other channels so knew you were ok! Good to see you here again!

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@JimNewstead I am the moderator to Alyona Yarushina's live chat. In hour 6675. Chat started last November. I pretty much live in the chat. Aly is an awesome singer!🎵🎼🎶😎

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@JimNewstead Jim aren't you over due for some YES? Just saying! Lol!🔈🔉🔊😎

[@rudolfbecker4313]

This is a masterpiece, but it's not my ELP masterpiece. I will always love the debut album - fresh, innovative, great compositions and musicians plus the angelic voice of Greg Lake 👍 On the following albums I already thought to hear pieces which were only made to impress the listener 🤔 ... but still on a very high level

[@tonygrinney7115]

My favourite ELP album! The song that reminds you of another song? Are you thinking of Epitaph by the band that can't be mentioned? Greg Lake does a similar thing with them. BTW how were Karnataka last night?

[@JimNewstead]

I am think of Epitaph, and also a quiet, short piece from The Wall. Karnataka were incredible!

[@clansome]

This is the album that started it all for me. I had just become a teenager when this came out and I was completely gobsmacked by it. Real music by real musicians. I remember it was a VERY cheap album too. Very difficult but it's a toss up between this and Brain Salad Surgery as my favouriite ELP album. btw Jim the Wikipedia page is actually quite revealing about this album.

[@stuartwalker2713]

And me! My first ELP album and still my fave. Blues variations shows that they can rock it with the best of them, and the moment when Emerson moves from synth to Hammond still raises the hairs on my neck. I had a mate who I worked with who attended this gig at Newcastle City Hall. He was a big Who fan but always claimed that the City Hall never had a bettwr atmosphere when ELP played. He said the place was dripping! An extraordinary band!!

[@clansome]

@@stuartwalker2713 Latee 70's is when I went to Newcastle Uni. Sadly flunked it as amongst other things spent too much time at the City Hall. Was a brilliant venue then, probably too small for most of the big groups we had back then. Saw Rush twice there, Thin Lizzy, Rainbow, Tubes, Blue Oyster Cult was a great venue.

[@coachhannah2403]

Me, too! This and CSN eponymous albums were my first-ever music purchases in 8th grade.

[@brucefelger4015]

Originally written for piano, so Emerson had a field day

[@palantir135]

Hi Jim, Yes, I know this album for decades. It’s quite a good album although, as usual, a bit bombastic. I prefer the original by Mussorgsky by miles. Tomita, famous Japanese synthesizer player and composer, also made an album of this classical piece

[@mikewest1542]

Ah Jim lad , I was hoping your get back to more ELP. Not there best but during the golden period , Shiver me timbers Maybe this reply should have been for ELPs Pirates 😂

[@basementproductionz]

The acoustic guitar song it sounded like to me was Babe I'm gonna leave you by Led Zeppelin

[@mellotronin54]

Not listened to this for a good while. It was the last album of their golden period I got to and the fact that so much was out of tune really put me off. I know people really diss in the Hot Seat but the bonus track is a cut down version of Pictures which is sonically great and in tune.

[@mikewest1542]

Sometimes Keith could get really carried away with his noodlings and it could go on for ages too , but on the whole it was terrific 😊

[@kratino]

Yes, it's beautifully done with an orchestra. Greg's voice is more mature with some vibrato, and it's still glorious.

[@dhfenske]

@@mikewest1542 I like your point. I don't care for noodling to go on very long. It seems to me that this version maintains a good flow. Just about the time I start thinking that one bit is getting a little too lengthy it changes up and keeps the entertainment going.

[@mikewest1542]

@@dhfenske Yes , this is recording is ok for noodling not a lot of it tbh , but some of the longer pieces like this and Tarkus are sometimes ruined by Emerson

[@edljnehan2811]

​@@kratinohi kitty cat😅 I would say without a doubt that is the best bass playing by Greg Lake or anyone for that matter that I've ever heard by a rock band. All three are Maestro musicians😊❤

[@billnole2188]

This came out between Tarkus and Trilogy (I loved both). This album put me to sleep. Saw Carl Palmer in 2017 and he did 15 minutes of this and I still fell asleep during the middle. In my opinion, this was recorded for hard core classical fans and not teenagers.

[@WooBino.]

I bought this at 15 and ate it up.

[@michaelcapewell4811]

@@WooBino.i bought it at 13 and so did I! 😃