Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Toccata

Emerson, Lake and Palmer performing Toccata at Cal Jam in 1974.

[@waddlehead]

I just have to say, Greg Lake is one of the most underrated bass guitarists, and guitarists, in the history of rock music. His bass parts are often incredibly complex, but he seems to play so smoothly and effortlessly. And the guitar part on this piece, starting at about 1:20 (where he doubles what Keith is playing on synth) is amazing. I've just spent the last few days trying to figure it out -- it's some of the most difficult guitar music I've ever tried to learn.

[@PointyTailofSatan]

The composer of this piece, Alberto Ginastera said that he loved this version of his music.

[@rts100x5]

The simple fact that they could bring this inSANE masterpiece from the studio to a live gig is SHEAR FUK BALLS GENIUS !!!!! very few EVER realized how this band was decades ahead of ANYONE is the music industry ..........

[@timrprobocom]

Ginastera said late in his life that ELP's performance was the only interpretation of his work that ever really captured the essence of what he was trying to say.

[@StewartNicolasBILLYCONNOLLY]

The most musically talented of all the progressive rock genre. Keith Emerson was the absolute Number One keyboard maestro. Greg Lake - amazingly precise bass/guitar and beautiful vocals. Carl Palmer - the best drummer I ever heard, until he cut his hair....

[@deeman77dad]

Like so many others...they jive out with age

[@user-hl5mc2vg5t]

Сожалею, но современная молодёжь не поймёт, эти деграданты любят, да простят меня нормальные любители искусства за ругательство, (рэп)

[@nicksm7980]

@@user-hl5mc2vg5t, дед, не перди. Про твоих ровесников тоже можно сказать (если бы я был любителем идиотских обобщений), что они кроме какой-нибудь вонючей пугачёвой ничего и не знают. Много меломанов среди молодёжи, только в отличии от подобных тебе пердунов они не зацикливаются всю жизнь на чём-то одном и куда более эрудированные и разносторонние. Если твои внуки деграданты, то это лично твоя заслуга))

[@Nobody4747]

Pretty much. In the top list of all-time keyboard players, #2 is Rick Wakeman and #1 is Keith Emerson, and nothing anyone can say can push those two from the top spots.

[@StewartNicolasBILLYCONNOLLY]

@@Nobody4747 Vincent Crane, Atomic Rooster, Crazy World of Arthur Brown, etc.

[@harleydd]

whether seeing them in person or just listening to them on old records, they can truly be appreciated, one of the best rock bands of ALL time.

[@rkermentz]

Easy: it's been almost half a century from this performance, and it's still way ahead of our time ...

[@tommylee2117]

An Alberto Ginastera's composition, the greatest classical argentinian composer. What a psichedelic performance haha, cheers from Buenos Aires.

[@normameza5227]

Amazing! EL&P, what a musical legay!

[@dawggonecrazee]

used to love the sound of this in halls at college....floating down the corridor as we were studying,all doors open

[@rivermandan9]

I saw'em play at the 1974 August Jam in Charlotte NC. 200,000 people great music and one big party!

[@BirchwoodBums]

I was there, too. They played in QUAD! Remember the stacks of speakers?

[@vcoaster]

Many may not realize that the electronic sounds that begin at 1:58 are created from Carl Palmer's synthesized drum set. Emerson is not playing anything at this point. Carl's custom made stainless steel drum set weighed over 5000 pounds, and the synthesized components were added to it. They could be switched on or off at will.

[@Cinemagoer_64]

This is some of the most brilliant music in the history of mankind! So let's have some repect!

[@chuckbyf1]

Saw ELP at the Elliot Hall of Music at Purdue. Fantastic performance. Keith Emerson ended up pushing his piano over.

[@Saffy-yr8vo]

They went crazy in the US. I saw them before that and they did not disappoint, Keith climbing up to the organ, Carl with gongs, Greg singing his heart out. I’m so lucky xxx

[@wolfbomber]

One of the best drummers ever...a lot of great memories

[@Cinemagoer_64]

Let's not forget Greg Lake what a great musicician multi talented!

[@jeromejoh12]

I was at California Jam and they were outstanding at the show!

[@jax1moi8]

First time I heard this I didn't know what to think. Then I started to get it. And I listened again and again. That was on the vinyl. In the '70's. Still love it.

[@wentkat]

I wish the entire song was here. Tocatta kicks ass. Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, and Carl Palmer are bloody brilliant musicians!

[@3rdandlong]

I WAS THERE! The California Jam 1974 at Ontario Motor Speedway-before they ripped it down. This is where I became an ELP nut. I'll never forget this event. EVER! The sad part is ABC aired this as their In Concert program and royally F'd it up. I was really disappointed at the end result when it aired. Still, I will always remember ELP for their incredible performance and seeing it in person. It was absolutely worth the price of admission.

[@FtheLeftSF]

I was there too - drove from SF - agreed this filming / editing a disaster

[@joebaxley1503]

What a lucky man you are.

[@ralphsaenz5044]

What a lucky gentleman you are, Sir.

[@3rdandlong]

@@ralphsaenz5044 Thank you. I would rather think about the CA Jam instead constant crap of people getting beat up by cops. I love music. Even occasional classical pieces-thanks to Keith. One other astonishing thing about this is Keith played a concerto. Then the piano was lifted up by a forklift and he spun around while playing. Now find a performer that can top that! I kid you not.

[@ralphsaenz5044]

@@3rdandlong that's for sure! Any time I can have a time to look at good music from the 70's I just love it! And ELP has certainly become one of my favorites. I remember when I first heard about Keith doing all those crazy tricks, that's definitely something you won't see anywhere else. My father was just as lucky as you to see them live in 78'. He even ran into Greg Lake next day and had a chance to ask for his autograph! Still has it.

[@twokabooz]

The Monsters Of Rock ! One and Only !

[@KennethP55]

Way, way ahead of their time. I heard them play all this live in Philadelphia in December 1973, just mind-blowing!

[@FJPeroe]

This song is in me since I was. not without term. It is extraordinary! Their sound is alternative advancement few decades.

[@theresechristiansen9769]

Thx for posting this. What absolute fucking legends. LEGENDS. I never got to one concert but my brother informs me he did! Lucky dude.

[@crazyhorse99999]

These guys WERE the musical geniuses of the day!

[@robertmiddlemiss6807]

My formative years would not have been the same without this lot. I used 2 have Emerson, Lake & Palmer on my English schoolbooks at the time this came out, NME & all that. Bloody Marvelous...

[@odmusicman]

As a gigging keyboard musician I cannot even comprehend what it took just to set this up let alone perform it live. NO ONE came remotely close to this extravaganza. And to think, when they were does this night, they do it all over again 200 more times in one year. Boggles the mind.

[@BalakeHart-nh4xh]

The huge moog alone with the 360 degree swirling piano...was there at 16 and am a gigging keyboardist still now..

[@MikeLarson1975]

Puts a tear in a drummers eye.

[@robdavidson1876]

I don't care what anyone thinks ELP doing Tocatta is Amazing...from.the Brain Salad Surgery album an amazing album...

[@marie-louisefryer4783]

What a brilliant drummer !!

[@swaggs]

He's no doubt one of the greatest of all time. Look up Karn Evil 9 live on here and check out his drumming on the 9 minute version. Down right amazing.

[@majtimoteo2779]

Skaggs I saw. Wonderful. Thank you for suggestion.

[@cocoabeanbrunetti]

I grew up in the 90's and i very well appreciate classic rock and prog.

[@RayGettings]

Truly classic and superior to today's music

[@pkramerable]

I attended one of their performances on the "Brain Salad Surgery" tour. It was intense.

[@thomasjohnson5003]

I was there, in the crowd!!! What a great memory for me.

[@musicman9897]

such brilliantry technical work and ideas for his time, such a brilliant drummer

[@marcuswysocki9733]

{SALUTE} RIP KEITH EMERSON!!!!

[@mynamesfriday]

Cal Jam 1974...I was there. What a great time it was at Ontario Motor Speedway. ELP ROCKED !!!! So did Deep Purple.

[@FunkingDave]

I was "Lucky" enough to see Emerson, Lake & Palmer perform Live in 1975. The wimmin were fine,I was drunk and the weed was great but the band topped even all of that And guess what??? I had only just turned 14.... Life was frikkin GREAT back then. Thanx fer the post... Signed,,, Funk!

[@jimlucia3625]

Amazing piece.

[@ichbinzehn]

fantastic!! I was in Mannheim (Germany) 1973 their! Great!

[@TheWeathereport]

In the 70"s this band was at another level!! I loved this group.We would be smoked up listening to ELP.! man those where the days.

[@anonymusum]

It was pure avantgarde in those days. As a musician you always asked yourself what the hell ELP would do next.

[@edwardreid]

Even then alot of music was dependant on technology. What you do with it is what really matters. These guys went as far as they could with it at the time. like YES, which is My fave, they used every instrument to it's fullest to convay some of the most unusual and complicated musical scores I ever heard at that time.

[@viccrosscountry5745]

This song scared the shit out of me when I was young

[@TeresaGatto]

RIP Keith Noel Emerson, Eterno!

[@HeartElfe]

R.I.P. Keith Emerson

[@danielomni9084]

That was / is pure art!

[@tommysonar]

Saw them doing this live at wembly in 1974!! - yes really! It was my 1st ever gig. Amazing.

[@Ikonoclasto]

Great crew! Nobody can give more in their style!

[@RayMond777]

Its a pleasure to see Greg on electric guitar

[@horstb29]

Absolutely Alberto Ginastera loved it!

[@gwynnielsen5081]

I got stuck listening to Lake's side of "Works" so that I didn't venture beyond it. I shall have to find the time now. It is never too late to uncover genius.

[@kilderok]

I LOVE that freaky sound they got their guitars to make.

[@juulbrie]

Beautifull, powerfull, intelligent. It makes me happy that this kind of music exists. Thxs for posting

[@alanboro]

Yes. And Ginastera said: "This is the best version I`ve ever heard, I can`t believe someone understood my work so well" (or something like that haha) Nice "a show of hands" pic btw

[@Jangocat]

Younger people have no idea how friggin outrageous this was for the early 70's. These guys might as well have been space aliens in this era. Toccata was just the craziest thing I ever heard when it was released. Brain Salad Surgery is an album every music fan should own...

[@Natascha1996]

THIS is real music, talent and art !

[@Nobody4747]

This show really deserves to get the Peter Jackson Get Back treatment. It's so epic and yet there does not seem to be a quality piece of film for it.

[@atesz39]

ELP was well known and loved even here in Hungary. I remember the time when my elder brother was listening to this

[@oregonbobv]

I saw this tour at roosevelt stadium in Jeresey City, New Jersey. amazing!!! They put on a show. Love Brain Salad surgery.

[@Gitarpunk]

This song is awesome

[@jbchinoca]

@edwardreid I was there for the Cal Jam, and ELP was the main reason I weathered it out. They were the last act on the program, and did not disappoint.

[@kz1000ps]

SO. MUCH. BOMBAST!

[@jeffsdolphin]

Nobody but E.L.P.sounds like that.....i f-n love them.....

[@jean-lucguignard2904]

incredible! love from switzerland

[@manguera9]

YES ,, KING KRIMSOM .EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER WERE THE WEATHER REPORT IN ROCK CLASSIC FUSSION BANDS

[@eddyvideostar]

+carl perkins Carl: Weather Report? Emerson, Lake and Palmer were the ELP, and the greatest in all genres of music. Could the Weather Report write and sing lyrics as ELP? NO.

[@manguera9]

OF COURSE NOT WEATHER REPORT WAS AN INSTRUMENTAL JAZZ FUSION BAND

[@PrZemek44]

You;re such a funny idiot... :))

[@rafeevans]

God I loved these guys as a teen. They haven't aged well and look like a Spinal Tap warm up band now.

[@marianastaneva72]

R.I.P. Emerson.

[@georgeabrams7345]

This is the scariest song I ever heard. I love any thing that can be horror movie music.

[@fredmila]

I saw the BBC4 prog rock programme. When he ordered the drum kit it was pure Spinal Tap stuff. -"Do you want the steel 1/4" or 1/2" thick?" -"What's the price difference?" -"No difference" -"Make it 1/2 then"

[@welshd7]

awesome..thanks for posting!!!

[@jbarkerhill92]

man, this is a trippy song. I really can't tell what time signature they're playing in.

[@joaodara17]

simply just funtastic... best drumerr ever for mi :) CARL PALMER and best song toccata ;)

[@2395ish]

MASTERS at work.

[@tdouglaspainting]

@SuninSanDiego Triggers and mics are different things, the mics are pick-ups for the drum sounds, and the triggers are on/off switches for the synth sounds. Still the coolest drum set ever, Ringo owns it now.

[@LeafErikson]

Wow. That was awesome!

[@Georox4]

Most excellent!

[@alanboro]

TOCCATA (this song) performed and arrenged by ELP Is written originaly by Alberto Ginastera, a GREAT muscisian from my beloved country Argentina

[@Sirrom0206]

This is not rock. This is not even Prog rock. This is ART!!!!

[@peachhead3]

Great video of Carl Palmer in action!!

[@Randemonium]

The coolest part about Carl Palmer's drumset is that iPhone cable he has dangling right behind his head. He could easily plug in and charge while playing.

[@walshamite]

This is highly creative stuff; Palmer is great here. I only wish the video clip had gone on for longer, but hey, thanks for posting it.

[@johnolson9333]

I wanted to go to Cal Jam so bad just to see ELP !!😫😫😫😫

[@dreadbet]

what a strange and lovely guitar!

[@MarcoManuelS]

INCOMPLETE!

[@straightarrow372]

Fascinating.

[@UNDERDOG11808]

ELP fan found something special in their body of work Taccata is for a touch music it is modern clasical

[@francoischarpentier6000]

can't beleive he s gone!

[@JamieGoldsman]

Thank you for uploading this amazing and unique video of Greg Lake! He is so talented. Just so other viewers know.... You need to watch for about 2 mins. to get to Greg, but it is worth the wait. Or just scrub the video.

[@JayBird227]

underrated talents .

[@diogenes2550]

Hardly. They’re pretty rated.

[@JayBird227]

@@diogenes2550 haha my comment was from 12 effing years ago….good God. Yeah probably.

[@jerribentley9692]

This is my favorite!

[@Nicar526]

Ringo Starr is now the proud owner of that steel drumkit btw-he bought them from Palmer years ago..

[@JCarlo1981]

Terrific!!!

[@Flatscores]

I second that. Egg was and is after all this time amazing music. Simply amazing. I couldn't decide which I like better ELP or Egg

[@MikeKeller]

OK, quite surprised to learn Greg Lake played what I thought was a keyboard part at about 1:30. Thanks for the post!

[@organpriest]

yes as a matter of fact i did listen to him a bit, yea, and i particullary like "gimme some lovin"

[@sgarboo1]

Fantastic

[@alwaysopen7970]

@AnthonyStJames Minstrel in the Gallery tour - 1975 - great concert. Slade opened for them.

[@robin2012ism]

Stupendous!