The year was 1974, and progressive rock supergroup Emerson Lake & Palmer had just finished an unbelievable run of chart topping studio recordings since their inception in 1970, and headed out to a massive stadium world tour dubbed 'Somebody Get Me a Ladder', which was documented in this legendary live album Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends-Ladies and Gentleman. Originally released as the first ever triple-vinyl live rock album, this live set showcased the true musical powers of the band onstage, pulling some of the best songs from their first four studio albums and turning them into musical theater for their fans. Forty plus years later, and it's still considered one of the most spectacular live albums of all time, and now BMG has lavishly remastered and reissued in a lovely two disc set, complete with all the original artwork, enhanced sound, photos, and a full essay with all the details of that 1973/1974 tour.
A band fully capable of not only writing their own fantastic songs, but also taking traditional pieces and recreating them in their own vision, ELP put both on display here alongside daring improvisations for a live prog masterpiece. The late Keith Emerson's uncanny abilities on his array of keyboards (Hammond organ, Moog, and piano) are on full display throughout, highlights being of course the epic "Tarkus", the upbeat romps "Hoedown", "Toccata", and his gorgeous "Piano Improvisations". Greg Lake adds some stellar lead guitar and Carl Palmer drops in an acrobatic drum solo on the classic "Karn Evil 9", while the band deliver powerful melodic prog in the form of "Jerusalem" and the yearning "Take a Pebble", with the lovely Lake ballads "Still...You Turn Me On" and "Lucky Man" housed within for good measure.
Bombastic, virtuosic, and most importantly, melodic, are just a few descriptions of what you are in store for on Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends-Ladies and Gentleman, quite simply a mandatory live album for any fan of '70s rock. Once again, another stellar job by BMG, and a wonderful tribute to this legendary band.
Track Listing
Disc One
1) Hoedown
2) Jerusalem
3) Toccata
4) Tarkus
i. Eruption
ii. Stones of Years
iii. Inconoclast
iv. Mass
v. Manticore
vi. Battlefield
vii. Aquatarkus
5) Take a Pebble
i. Take a Pebble
ii. Still...You Turn Me On
iii. Lucky Man
Disc Two
1) Piano Improvisations
i. Piano Improvisations
ii. Fugue
iii. Little Rock Getaway
2) Take a Pebble (conclusion)
3) Jeremy Bender/The Sheriff
4) Karn Evil 9
i. Ist Impression
ii. 2nd Impression
iii. 3rd Impression
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
