ELP Digest Thursday, 13 February 2003 Volume 13 : Issue 1 The "Thrills and Shocks" Edition Today's Topics: Breaking News, Rumors, Etc. - Carl Palmer Band Concert Review (December 24, 2002) - Keith Emerson's Minimoog?? (January 15, 2003) - Someone says they're selling one of Emerson's Moogs (maybe) (January 29, 2003) Reader Commentary - elp tribute interview (January 16, 2003) - Re: ELP Digest V. 12 #15 (December 23, 2002) - Memorymoog synthesizers (December 24, 2002) - Memory Moog (December 24, 2002) - ELP in Dutch top-2000 ever (December 28, 2002) - The Triple Remix CD (December 31, 2002) - Greg Lake's Enhanced Website (January 02, 2003) - New CD (January 13, 2003) - Live at the Royal Albert Hall DVD (January 14, 2003) - Annual Golden Tarkus 2002 Review (January 19, 2003) - DVD of Works and Manticore (January 20, 2003) - Flashback - Article from '74 (January 20, 2003) - Open letter to the members of the once ground breaking rock group Emerson Lake & Palmer (January 21, 2003) - Tarkus (Eruption) used in Boston area radio ad... (January 27, 2003) Questions (and Answers!) - Re: "Father Christmas" on CD. (December 23, 2002) - Re: Some Questions Answered (December 24, 2002) - ELP Sheet Music (December 28, 2002) - information on "take a pebble" live lyrics (December 30, 2002) - Re: ELP Sheet Music (January 02, 2003) - "I Believe in Father Christmas" (January 05, 2003) - Five Bridges Lyrics (January 05, 2003) - Greg Lake's Father Christmas (January 09, 2003) - RE: Works Vol. 1 LP (January 12, 2003) - original Love Beach CD (January 14, 2003) - questions (January 21, 2003) ELP-related products, tribute bands, promoters (The ELP Digest does not endorse, etc.) - D'Alegria Bass Guitars (January 15, 2003) =========================== Prelude =========================== Hi. Sorry for the long delay between issues. Right after Christmas, I ended up getting my laptop into an unbootable state and, by the time I got it resurrected (with all data intact), I was backlogged with real work as well as ELP Digest work. But, here it is - the first issue of 'Volume 13'! Lots of stuff to be on the lookout for in this issue: - Review of Carl's Cardiff Bay performance - Lots of Qs and As - Emerson Moog on E-Bay? Is it/was it really? - Greg's new site continues to get high praise from fans - Questions about DVDs on ELP official site - Bjorn-Are's's annual awards - and, my goodness, I heard a snippet of Tarkus on AM radio in Boston Enjoy! - John - ------------------------------ Latest News from the Official ELP sites The Official ELP site has info about a DVD featuring two ELP classics: The Works Tour and The Manticore Special at: http://www.emersonlakepalmer.com/ELPshop/store.html -- Also, look for Digest postings on this DVD under "Reader Commentary" There are lots of new things on Greg's site since the last Digest: Updates were posted February 4 at http://www.greglake.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=15 including Underground Jukebox Bytes! You must be a registered user to access but registration is free. Earlier, a Christmas message was posted December 21 at http://www.greglake.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=149 ... another Christmas message was posted January 3 at http://www.greglake.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=185 ... and a New Year's message was posted January 3, with Greg recounting a story that happened many years ago in London - read it at http://www.greglake.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=186 On Carl's site there's some January news posted at http://www.carlpalmer.com/news.html and there's an update on the March release of "Working Live" in Europe and Japan posted at http://www.carlpalmer.com/WL-album.html Enjoy! =========================== Breaking News, Rumors, Etc. =========================== From: d.williams54 [d.williams54@ntlworld.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2002 3:20 PM To: elp-digest@reluctant.com Subject: Carl Palmer Band Concert Review If anyone is interested in reading a review of The Carl Palmer Band in Concert (at The Point, Cardiff Bay, on 16th November), please follow this link... http://www.geocities.com/evophonic [ Editor's Note: This link also has news and reviews of other prog acts, including last fall's concerts by The Nice - John - ] --------------------------------------------- From: Robert Liberman [rhliberman@yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2003 4:00 PM To: elp-digest@reluctant.com Subject: Keith Emerson's Minimoog?? I sincerely doubt this guy, but someone is selling a Minimoog synthesizer on e-bay and claims that the original owner was Keith Emerson. Anybody want to take a stab at this? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20080&item=2500583779 Thanks, Robert [Editor's Note: the auction above expired before I mailed this Digest. However, it was re-listed at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2505440616 and may be over by now. - John - ] --------------------------------------------- From: Keith Pomfret [keith_pomfret@millennium-mm-collection.fsbusiness.co.uk] Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2003 11:08 AM To: elp-digest@reluctant.com Subject: Someone says they're selling one of Emerson's Moogs (maybe) I was perusing the UK eBay site when I came across the following ad for a Minimoog that may or may not be ex-ELP. The picture shows a hacked in half Minimoog (D) with a multicore cable between the two halves - a model that did appear in the Moog literature but this one looks more 'customised' than the brochure one. The text is as follows: LOWER RESERVE!!! Up for grabs is this unique Minimoog model D serial 6661. I was told that it belonged to Keith Emerson by its last owner but I have not been able to get verification from the man himself, although I have had an email from someone who knows keith and who said that it certainly looks like the one he watched him play in the seventies. This is an awesome sounding minimoog that works fine from both the keyboard and cv/gate. This Minimoog is sold as seen. I cannot verify it's history but maybe one of you can ? it is: Item # 2503314183 on eBay.co.uk and the auction ends at: 02-Feb-03 17:08:21 GMT Cheers Keith P =========================== Reader Commentary =========================== From: Gianluca [mailto:gianlucatagliavini1@tin.it] Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2003 6:14 AM To: elp-digest Subject: elp tribute interview Hi John, ELP tribute interview for ELP digest from Finland's Colossus Magazine [...] [ Editor's Note: FOG is Gianluca's ELP Tribute Band located in Italy. This extensive interview with the members of FOG was too long for inclusion directly in the Digest. However, I've added a link to FOG on the ELP Digest web site's Other Band's page: http://www.brain-salad.com/OtherBands/OtherBands.html and a link to this very interesting interview at: http://www.brain-salad.com/OtherBands/Articles/FOG-interview.txt Check it out! - John - ] Gianluca Tagliavini http://digilander.libero.it/hammondleslie --------------------------------------------- From: Jimcam62@aol.com Sent: Monday, December 23, 2002 4:54 PM To: ELP-digest@reluctant.com Subject: Re: ELP Digest V. 12 #15 I think ELP digest is excellent but,,,,,,, I have seen Carl live in Glasgow, (bloody marvellous) and whilst I would suggest that both "accompanists" were excellent I missed the real thing. Jim P.S. I can't understand why Greg and Keith didn't let you speak on stage, personally I thought you were ball-breakingly funny!!!!!!!!!!! --------------------------------------------- From: Robert Liberman [rhliberman@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2002 9:04 AM To: elp-digest@reluctant.com Subject: Memorymoog synthesizers In the latest issue, Joe Gerardi commented on David Swift's (a previous reader) desire to obtain/play a Moog Memorymoog synthesizer. In his comments, Joe states that "I think that you'd be well advised to stay away from the MemoryMoog. It was released long after Bob was done with Moog Music, and it had a very poor reliability rating. There were numerous problems, all reportedly fixed in the MemoryMoog Plus, but that was plagued with its own set of problems." I've owned a Memorymoog since their first release (I also own a 1972 Minimoog). I, too, have owned many, many various synthesizers over the years. My current setup includes a Yamaha MOTIF 88 (awesome), E-mu E5000 Ultra, Waldorf Q, the Minimoog and Memorymoog, and more soft synths than I know what to do with. While reliability has been somewhat of a minor issue with my Moogs, there really is no substitute for their distincive sound. And while you can purchase modern synths which include very good Moog samples, a true synthesist will want to program their own sounds - to me, that's the real fun - creating original sounds. My Yamaha MOTIF has some great Moog voices - leads, synth bass and various pads which all have their legitimate uses. However, I still get enjoyment out of starting out with a blank slate and trying to come up with a sound I have never heard before. Some folks think of the Moog sound as being dated, but I would disagree. I would argue that it's more of a lack of originality. And again, there is NOTHING out there that sounds quite like the Moog. So, David Swift, let me know if you're ever in the Washington, DC area; you can come over to my studio and play mine! Regards, Robert Liberman --------------------------------------------- From: Jim Sarantides [midijim@flash.net] Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2002 9:32 AM To: elp-digest@reluctant.com Subject: Memory Moog Stay away from the Memory Moog, lots of problems. I too own a Kurzweil K2000 its my favorite all around synth. When we perform Lucky Man I do the solo on a Yamaha AN1x Analog modeling synth. Its very fat but just does analog emulations. Also understand even the memory Moog + lacked todays basics like Kyb velocity. . I used to teach modular synthesis on an Aries Modular synth back in the 70's. There are many other anaolg modeling synths out there that do a tremendous job. Jim --------------------------------------------- From: Nick Welman [dhulqarnain@hotmail.com] Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2002 3:53 PM To: ELP-digest@reluctant.com Subject: ELP in Dutch top-2000 ever Hi John - Just for fun: in between Xmas and New Year Dutch television and radio are broadcasting the best 2000 rock songs ever made - according to a survey in the Netherlands. ELP is there twice in the top-2000 listings: Lucky Man at position 385 (was charted 416 two years ago) and Peter Gunn 1326 (was charted 1438 two years ago). Now I believe the Netherlands is the only country where Peter Gunn was a massive hit - I recall they reached a no. #2 chart position - thanks to the fact that the 1980 single release coincided with the national Mardi Grass (Carnaval - 'Karn Evil'). ELP played a fragment of Peter Gunn during their October 1992 show in The Hague, Holland. Just for fun no. #2: I would like a list of famous ELP fans. I know for sure that David Hyde Pierce (who is Niles Crane in the "Frasier" shows) is an ELP fan. So is Ed DeGoey, goalkeeper of Chelsea soccer team, UK. They say DeGoey's looks are due to the fact he listened to too many ELP recordings. Are there more celebreties celebrating ELP? I would really like to know. Regards - Nick Welman Senior Lecturer & Programme Manager Fontys University, Eindhoven (NL) [ Editor's Note: At one point, there was conjecture that Chris Berman (the ESPN sportscaster here in the USA) was an ELP fan due to reference made in his sportscasts. But I'm not sure he's ever been asked about it directly. Perhaps I should add a page to the web site of notable ELP fans. - John - ] --------------------------------------------- From: Paul Chandler [earthworks@cwcom.net] Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 11:55 AM To: elp-digest-web@reluctant.com Subject: The Triple Remix CD Hi, I was one of those interested in the music being played over the PA before the Nice gig at The Royal Festival Hall. Early efforts to find out more about this recording were fruitless. I stumbled across NMC records and identified the CD. I was surprised to find that it was part of a triple CD package. I rang NMC and they confirmed that they were releasing the CD. Now for the nonsense of the whole thing. The guy I spoke to was very pleased that I was interested in the CD but said that it was not released in the UK. I said, ' but I want to buy one ', he said, 'well it's not available in the UK yet, just the rest of Europe '. So I said, ' but I can buy it online yes ? ' ....... ' Yes sure ' 'but I live in UK '. He said, ' well I suppose that's one way of getting hold of it '. What a load of nonsense. Why can't you just buy things without all the red tape. The UK release due out in the new year is to be called 'Brain Salad Perjury '. I can't see them selling many of these though, because most of us who are really interested will have already found it. Having got all that off my chest, I have come across this before with some Wakeman titles on Voiceprint which are not for UK market. All you have to do is buy it online and they don't seem to mind where they send it. Not all of the remixes on the triple CD are as good as the Fanfare Golden Jubilation mix. I also noticed that the Golden Jubilation mix on the second CD is supposed to be an extended version, but it still ends after 7 min. 29 seconds, just the same as the version on the first CD. Paul Chandler --------------------------------------------- From: Sooner [sooner77@yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2003 2:39 PM To: ELP Digest Subject: Greg Lake's Enhanced Website Those of you that haven't checked out Greg's upgraded website need to get over there pronto. It is the best performer site I have come across up until now. I can see it becoming the ultimate community town hall for all ELP fans because it is so well thought out. I sincerely believe there would be an economically viable market for archival ELP concert releases in the vein of the King Crimson Collector's Club if we could only get a critical mass of fans to show their interest in one officially sanctioned place. Happy New Year! Mike Werkman sooner77@yahoo.com --------------------------------------------- From: Stevenix [stevenix@btinternet.com] Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 10:13 AM To: elp-digest-web@reluctant.com Subject: New CD Dear ELP digest Had the new Best of CD for Christmas, and it was wonderful hearing all the ELP stuff again (Have still got all the vinyl I bought 30 odd years ago) and had forgotten how much I used to enjoy listening to them. One question though. Why did they not put the Fugue and Endless Enigma Part 2 on the end of CD 2 when there was bags of time left. To me, that was all part and parcel of the Endless Enigma? Happy New Year!! Stephen Nix 13.1.2003 --------------------------------------------- From: John Penny [jfpjr99@hotmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2003 2:15 PM To: elp-digest@reluctant.com Subject: Live at the Royal Albert Hall DVD Hello to all ELP fans. I have purchased the Live at the Royal Albert Hall DVD in America. To my dismay, the 5.1 Dolby surround mix has audio problems, ie. dropouts, loss of bass, imaging. I brought back the disc and got another, only to get the same problems. This disc was not that easy to return either. I had to mail it back, since I purchased it through the ELP website. Has anyone else experienced similar problems with their DVD's? I thought it might be that my player just doesn't like this particular disc. I feel this is a very strange problem, seeing that all my other 5.1 Dolby surround concert discs play without a problem. Anyone else have this problem? John Penny, Boston, MA. --------------------------------------------- From: [lastwall@msn.com] Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2003 4:33 AM To: elp-digest@reluctant.com Subject: elp [Editor's Note: I fixed some typing mistakes in this to improve readability. - John - ] 1st you should know I'm really bad at this on a night in early december my cousin called me. it was 1977. An evening with emerson lake and palmer - tickets at madison square garden. 1st time in new york by myself - yellow seats - mezzzanine or loge or 1 half stage right. [...] lights out - ladies and gentlemen - emerson lake palmer - ba baba baba ba ba bawaaaa waaaaa keith is shooting fire over the orchestra seats - finished. Says did you like that ? no did you really like it? did you really really really like it? turn left and says carl thought it was terrible then went into tiger in a spotlight. long live rock! --------------------------------------------- From: bjorn-are.davidsen@telenor.com Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2003 12:43 PM To: ELP-digest@reluctant.com Subject: Annual Golden Tarkus 2002 Review Happy New Year, John! The Jury is again proud to share its sensible and sophisticated celebration of supreme ELP moments, this time for the brave old year 2002. And it must be said at once that though the impressive 2001 record of 35 E, L and P related CDs rather unsurprisingly was not broken, this years output of a bit more than half that number had even more class and quality, not to mention a rather Nice surprise. Lets then hesitate no longer and bravely dare the Categories: Category 1: "ELP related CD's". The nominees are 1: "Iron Man". This cartoon compilation shows beyond doubt that Keith in the mid 90's had as fertile a mind as ever, though the format meant a somewhat chaotic gathering of soundscapes. Hopefully he'll soon have some energy and time to elaborate these short images and impressions into large tone poems, symphonies or even synthphonies, without it sounding too phony. 2: "The Original Bootleg Series Vol 3" The vaults opened again, this time focussing on the period from 1974 to 1993. While most of this material are reruns of already officially released shows, sometimes at inferior sound quality, the 2CD Wiltern Show from 93 is a marvel well worth more than the price of this collection. And finally we get to hear Pictures from the Royal Albert Hall show. 3: "Emerson Plays Emerson" What shall one say? The Jury is for once almost speechless. This CD with solo piano pieces and jazz trio workouts, was announced well in advance, still it was a surprise when released. The quality of the new pieces - about 50 % or so - is amazing. This item is to be bought in scores by the individual fan as mandatory gift to all and any friend, foe or father-in-law, to the amount that these are seperate. 4: "The Nice: Live at the BBC". . Though most material on this release has never been officially available before, the sound is surprisingly poor. Obviously most of the material is based on second or third generation tapes, which does not even seem to have been properly engineered. It speaks volumes for the musical qualities that its still manages to kick ass in the Jury's officially designated car, which hence may be upgraded to another such ELPmobile which was observed travelling from Newcastle to Chiddingly in August 2001. 5: "Ringo Starr And His All Starr-Band" . Though Lucky Man was the only ELP tune which made it to this release, Greg's participation ensures a nomination. If nothing else its good to see the joy and obvious cameraderee which marks this occasion. 6: "Re-works" Once again the Jury is almost speechless. Hence sampling some words and letters, its possible popopossible to indicate that this this that popopopossible release is an interesting release popossible sampling some, still a bit far out possible some for most release ELP fans some popopossible. Still manages to kick ass in the Jury's officially Still manages to designated car, which Still mamamanages to hence may be StiStiStill manages to upgraded to another Still manages to of those ELPmobiles seen Still manages to travelling England in August Still manages to 2001. Release it. This year there was not a single hint of a grain of doubt about the winner. The jury meeting was bloodless and for once almost friendly - pi-pih-pi-pih-ah-no - "Emerson Plays Emerson" gets the first Golden Tarkus of the 2002 Award Show, played on very single Steinway in the Jury's posession. Category 2 - "ELP related DVD's". 1: "Ringo Starr And His All Starr-Band" . Just like with the CD, Lucky Man was the only Greg Lake tune which made it to this otherwise charming release. 2: The Manticore Special/Works Orchestral Tour"/Black Moon"-video A rare multi release on one DVD which contains a slightly improved version - soundwise - of the Montreal concert. And it once again makes me wonder why the CD from this event has so different as well as somewhat more boring set list. There never was the slightest hint of hestitation on the Jury's part as to this years wi wi wi winner (will someone please turn that darned re-works button off!) instantaneously was selected to be (tara-tara-taraaah) "The Manticore Special/Works Orchestral Tour"/ Black Moon" video (now, that was better!). Though again - as customary with ELP DVDs (a preset perhaps?), there was an appalling avoidance of extra material, voiceovers, deleted scenes, and Extended Versions, except for some album covers and the BM video. And even though this DVD does not kick ass in The Jury's car, mainly due to it for some peculiar reason not being installed with a DVD player, it's a Mandatory Manticore Must for - as the phrase say - all and any fan! Category 3: ELP related books of 2001 As neither Ed nor Keith did deliver any manuscript this year, the path was clear for - bah-bah-bah-bah-bah-bah-bah-pa - "Hang on to a Dream: A Story of The Nice" by Martyn Hanson. Though the Jurys grand review for some reason so far has not made it to Amazon.com, a big diamond hard blue apple to Martyn for his work, dedication and new light on a band definitely not in pantomime in Wolverhampton! And of course a glorious Golden Tarkus is thought projected to Martyn! Category 4: ELP Web Sites While the numbers last year increased with one, this time there was a declining tendency in the official ELP Web Ring Counting, from 28 to 24, though at least one new page was not counted. However, the Class and Quality of some of these pages is impressive. Let's turn to the candidates, which as usual are the usual suspects as usual (turn that button off!off!offofofofoff!release it!) and a few new runners: 1: Bobby Simmons (http://www.villagenet.com/~boo) 2: Impressions (http://www.interx.net/~jgreen/impressions.html) 3: ELP Digest (http://www.brain-salad.com/) 4: ELP Official Site (http://www.emersonlakepalmer.com/elp2.html) 5: Greg Lake's Official Site (http://greglake.com/newsite/index.asp) 6: Carl Palmer's Official Site (http://www.carlpalmer.com/palmer.html) 7: Ladies of the Lake (http://valseven.tripod.com/LadiesoftheLake.htm) 8: The ultimate Analysis of Keith Emerson's Piano Concerto No.1 (http://www003.upp.so-net.ne.jp/furunovsky/) 9: Portabello Towne (http://www.vbs.vt.edu/staff/benfield/elp.html) 10: Keith Emerson and related rumours and reports - a highly unofficial news site (http://home.online.no/~b-a-davi/.cfm). This time it was a very easy decision. The jury once again found the winner to be even more than a Lucky Man, namely a HTML-code King. As King Gregory I had it so decreed that a major rejuvenation of his site was performed in 2001, few expected him to decree another in 2002. However, this Autumn it came to pass that he still turned on the most magnificent of all ELP related sites ever. So the tragical lack of bribes to the jury was more than compensated by the class and quality of the winner (oooh-whatta-oooh-whatta-whatta-whatt-a-man): Greg Lake's Official Site! However, next year Greg is not going to live happily ever after if he does not also release a new CD or three, as the Jury the will send him a real and agressively angry Armadillo Tank, and not just an imaginary Golden one. Category 5: ELP Mailing lists This year there was dramatic increase in the # of ELP mailing lists, and the list of nominees are hence larger than life - or almost, depending on whether an ELP fan has any life or not. 1: Portabello Towne-The Emerson Lake and Palmer Discussion List ((http://www.vbs.vt.edu/staff/benfield/elp.html)) 2: ELP-DISC (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ELP-DISC/) 3: ELP Digest (http://www.brain-salad.com/) 4: The Yahoo "ELP The show never ends" (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/elptheshowneverends/) 5: Keith Emerson (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Keith_Emerson/) 6: LadiesoftheLake2 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LadiesoftheLake2/) And - ma-ing-ma-ing-ma-mail-ing - the winner - fourth year in a row - is ELP DISC! Hence we're moving ever closer to the option of making a Mailing List Hall of Fame to place those lists obsternate enough to be best. So again - all hats, whigs and cannons off to ELP DISC, this creative community of hundreds of vigorous, vibrant, valueable and vibefilled members. Category 6: ELP related magazine articles This category has been a bit changed since last year, as despite there for the moment being no tales of any ELP magazine in the known universe, articles abound. Here are the nominees: 1: Monster - Scandinavian Music & Media Magazine - 4/2002, page 17 Unfortunately for the broader world this was in Norwegian, and hence few beside the lingo laden Jury able fully to realise how great a review this was. However take it on faith that editor Geir Larzen managed to write the most positive review of any album by any group ever. "The best rock album ever", "The album, being a kind of a concept, has a rawness and frenzy which no other band touching jazz, heavy metal, expressionism, hymnology, baroque, rock'n roll and boogie has ever come close to". "The band is playing with the dam'n it all of punk, and it's the richness of ideas, the counterpoints, the colours, the dynamics and the emotive which counts and not technical studio perfection". Release it. 2: Classic Rock, May 2002, page 54-69. A truly glorious epic of a virtuosical concept article filled to the brim with images and ideas about what between or above or beyond heaven and earth ELP was all about. "For the first half of the 70's, ELP was the biggest band on the planet, challenged only towards the end by Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Did it go to their heads? You betcha. Dit it harm "the show that never ends"? No way". And the winner is - ma-zine-ma-zine-ma-maga-ziiiiiine - Classic Rock! Did the winner go to the Jury's heads? You betcha. Dit it harm "the annual review that never ends"? No way". A short article on the Golden Tarkus is underway! Category 7: Most Memorable Moment Here the jury just had to fall on its knees and praise all and any available Higher Power - of which at least one proved that the Age of Miracles is not past. The winner - one hand - not to mention knives and whips - behind its back, was - abe-arra-arrra-be-be-be- lllllaaaaaaaa - the reforming of The Nice. For those present at the last concert - at The Royal Festival Hall on October 6th - the dedication of the Karelia Suite to the Norwegian Guests, "Ann and Bjorn" very much felt in the spirit of the heartfelt welcome given and experienced by all of Britain and beyond . And what about Germany? They were welcome too! Category 8: Highest Hopes for 2003 Well, lets once again round off this Review by consulting all tarot cards, tea leaves, runes or palantirs of our preference, before the Burning Eye finds out. Category 8a) The PROMISED Ones (so get them out, lads!): * The Nice Back in Britain * The ELP book by Ed Macan (which is getting better and better) * Keith Autobiography (which is getting better and better) * Greg's album of rerecorded ELP tunes (which we hope is excellent) * Greg's new solo album (which we fear may not be all that) * "Working Live", a live record by the band "Palmer" March 17, 2003, http://www.carlpalmer.com/WL-album.html 8b) The Probable Ones * Offical Live releases from the 1970's, in Dolby Surround, based on Quadrophenic tapes Category 8c) The Possible Infinite (and Unpardonably) Postponed Ones * Keith's Second Piano Concerto (which is getting better and better) * The 2CD with Key King Keith and Wonderwizard Wakeman! * The live CD of Keith with Mark Bonilla, Glen Hughes and some Dragons from the 1990's (a long time ago). * A California Jam DVD In category 8a the winner is - bi-bi-bio-bio-biii-oooo - Keith's Autobiography! In category 8b the winner was easy to find! In category 8c the winner is another of those nobrainers the Jury is so good at - pi-a-pi-a-niss-i-mo-i- Keith's Keith's Second Piano Concerto! Overall winner in category 8 is of course the perennial, proverbial or pompously oriented WHATEVER, as long as it is new or unreleased. Release it! On Behalf of the Annual One Man Jury Bjorn Are c/o bjorn-are.davidsen@telenor.com --------------------------------------------- From: F L Dunkin Wedd [fl] Sent: Monday, January 20, 2003 4:50 AM To: elp-digest@reluctant.com Subject: DVD of Works and Manticore Dear Digest, On the ELP website is an offer of a DVD, viz: >> Order Now! You'll get 2 ELP classics on DVD. The Works Tour >> and The Manticore Special on (1) double sided DVD. I bought the Works VHS and the sound was abysmal, so before I lay my money down this time, has anyone obtained this DVD? What's it like? Is it Region 1 only? Any info gratefully received. Laurie --------------------------------------------- From: Mike Branick [Mike.Branick@noaa.gov] Sent: Monday, January 20, 2003 7:23 AM To: elp-digest-web@reluctant.com Subject: Flashback - Article from '74 In going through my archives of old stuff, I found several ELP articles that I saved from the '70s. Long-time fans of ELP should get a kick out of reading the one below, which appeared verbatim in Circus magazine in late 1974 along with a 3-page wide "centerfold" of Keith Emerson, Hammond on his back - "Ravemate for November 1974." (On the other side of the centerfold - Mick Jagger.) I only wish I could include the photos that accompanied the article! "ELP - ON TOUR WITH THE SHOW THAT NEVER ENDS "Emerson, Lake and Palmer performed an operation on the U.S. this summer! It was heavy Brain Salad Surgery and America responded to the treatment by flocking to gigantic concert arenas from coast to coast to undergo the knives of Emerson, the pulsating percussion of Palmer, and Lake's soothing lyrics. With a road crew of 26, plus the band and friends, synthesizers, Moogs and Persian carpets, the travelling satrapy visited 16 cities and played over 10 outdoor venues. In Charlotte, North Carolina, the feedback fiends caused double-trouble with the hot boogie chefs, The Allman Brothers, in what was billed as an August Jam." The fans were so blitzed by the groups' powerhouse sets they sat dazed in their automobiles after the show and jammed Charlotte traffic for hours. "The cybernetic soul band, heavier than a 747 full of tanked tourists, hopped from one gig to another with 36 tons of equipment, a true quad P.A. system, dozens of lights and an incredible array of oscillators, gongs, alternating current servos, and hydraulic lifts, plus several pairs of tailored silk coveralls for the madman of the keyboards. "ELP celebrated their fourth anniversary as a group in August by releasing their live LP, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, Emerson, Lake and Palmer,' an amazing vinyl capsule of the unparalleled ELP concert experience." Mike Branick Norman, OK, USA --------------------------------------------- From: Andreas Turner [turner@bluewin.ch] Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2003 3:27 PM To: elp-digest@reluctant.com Subject: Open letter to the members of the once ground breaking rock group Emerson Lake & Palmer Hello John These are words of concern and frustration over a 30 years following of a former super group: Keith Emerson today is 58 years old and still a man of superb musical knowledge, great compositional skills and astonishing performing abilities ? theoretically! Because sadly the man seems to be helplessly entrapped in his own past. His creative output in the - let's say - last 10 years can only be described as "poor". One or two remarkable compositions on "In the Hot Seat" (1994), one pale little live number ("Crossing the rubicon", 1998) and a few unimportant new piano snippets on "Emerson plays Emerson" (2002). That?s it. Also on the new 3-CD-set "Emerson Lake & Palmer ? Re-Works" Keith is only supporting an ELP recycling (remixing) act of questionable artistic value. The recently executed resurrection of "The Nice" is another chapter of the same litany: Reuniting with two discarded musicians, whose musical laurels lie back in the Sixties, does NOT initiate a musical revelation as I could personally witness at the "Nice" London concert on October 6th, 2002. Okay, Brian Davison was doing quite well on the drums for an ex-booze tramp, but Lee Jackson's vocals really were a bad joke. He never was a singer deserving this title but his current vocal outings are nothing but disgusting and his bass playing is average to say the best. The man of the evening besides Emerson certainly was supporting musician Dave Kilminster who handled the huge song repertoire with ease and pleased the crowd with some great playing AND singing. For me one positive observation at the London Nice concert was: Despite of all these shortcomings and far from ideal circumstances Keith really seemed to have a good time, being relaxed and good-humoured as hardly ever before. All in all I spent a pleasant evening with at least notable nostalgic values. Seeing Carl Palmer in concert two weeks later was on the contrary a rather sad experience: This man who once had performed with ELP in front of 400'000 people (California Jam 1974) now played with his new group for 40 (!) seemingly not too interested people in a tiny Swiss music club in the middle of nowhere. Not that the Palmer trio played badly - the contrary is true. The spectrum of songs included interesting arrangements of pieces spanning the entire ELP album catalog of the Seventies and the music was exceptionally well performed. It seemed to me that Carl wants to keep himself in the best possible shape for an eventual reunion with Emerson in the future. And he expressed this wish during the concert in front of the audience: "The only regret I have", so he stated, "is that ELP failed to produce the planned real prog rock album in the late Nineties." Carl obviously feels a bit lost nowadays. But nothing speaks against a future collaboration with Keith Emerson. Opposite to Greg Lake - almost everything speaks against a future collaboration of this man with his former ELP band mates. Not only did Lake provoke the ELP split in 1998 for absolutely ridiculous reasons (who was to produce the next album) - no, it goes further than that. The man is artistically dead. For some five or more years Greg keeps on fantasizing about his great new studio solo album. And the output is ZERO so far. Following his opulent website he is currently recycling himself with the forthcoming release of newly recorded boring old fart songs. Frankly: Who needs an orchestrated version of "Watching over you"? Who cares for another schnultzy dolby surround variation on "I believe in Father Christmas"? Who is waiting for a "Lucky Man 2003"? Not to speak of Lake's lamentable contributions to the Ringo Starr old-age asylum band. All in all a Lake of tears. I will never forget how enthusiastically Keith Emerson told me once (during an interview in December 1992) how much he had enjoyed playing with "The Best", a short-lived ad-hoc group consisting of Keith Emerson, bassist John Entwistle (The Who), drummer Simon Philips (Toto), guitarists Joe Walsh (Eagles) and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Steely Dan) plus singer Rick Livingstone. "The Best" performed some memorable live gigs in Japan (September 1990) without triggering big resonance in the rest of the world. Keith's passionate report of this musical adventure more than two years after the events took place proves to me that the man urgently needs inspirational input from musicians outside his daily surroundings. Only when he is free to compete with musicians of adequate abilities in a constellation of unaffected freshness and unconstrained creativity he is in the position to bring the best out of himself. Let's hope that the future will hold such musical power injections for him - even if I honestly fear that this is nothing but wishful thinking. The man is a prisoner of his own glorious past. I would be the happiest Emerson fan in the world if I'm wrong. Welcome back my friends to the LOW that never ends - Ladies and Gentlemen, Emerson, Lake & Palmer! Andreas Turner, Zurich, Switzerland, January 2003 --------------------------------------------- From: John Arnold [arnold@reluctant.com] Sent: Monday, January 27, 2003 4:43 PM To: elp-digest@reluctant.com Subject: Tarkus (Eruption) used in Boston area radio ad... Hi. This morning on my way to work, I was listening to WBZ (AM 1030) and heard a new ad. It was mostly about WBZ being the place to listen for the latest news about the UN weapons inspectors in Iraq, etc. In the background, the gradual fade on of Tarkus followed by the unmistakable riff from Eruption (the first bit of Tarkus)! Now that's something I never thought I'd hear on AM radio! - John - =========================== Questions (and Answers!) =========================== From: Josephine Marie Thane [jmthane@ripco.com] Sent: Monday, December 23, 2002 8:12 PM To: ELP-digest@reluctant.com Subject: Re: "Father Christmas" on CD. >From: Grove Bolles [Groveb@firstcolonymortgage.com] >Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2002 12:51 PM >To: elp-digest@reluctant.com >Subject: greg lake song > >Dear Sirs, I have been trying to locate a version of Greg Lake's >"Father Christmas" for some time and I hope you can help me. From what >I can gather, there are three versions of the song. Two of them I >have, that on Works Volume 1, and that on the Manticore boxed set. >I am looking for the version that is accompanied by a symphony and a >tremendous choir. Would you know where I can get this, or who I can >contact to get it? > >Thank you very much for your time. >Grove Bolles > That version can be found on the 4-CD set "The Atlantic Years", released shortly before "Return of the Manticore". The album number is 7 82403-2, and, of course, was released by Atlantic Records. Josephine Marie Thane Minstrosity --------------------------------------------- From: m pituch [mpituch@hotmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2002 5:42 PM To: digest-mailer@reluctant.com Subject: Re: Some Questions Answered Hi Folks: I don't normally do this, but I'm going to try to answer as many questions as I can. No, I don't work for ELP, but I have enough experience to be of some help. All original posts are quoted, but snipped for brevity. Phil Kelly wrote: >Antonio Abraham was asking in the last issue about synths. i do not >know if you can easily get old of an original mini-moog which are >much sought after or for that matter a modular system. Original Minis are fetching fairly big bucks these days. Simply check E-bay and you'll see they range from about USD$1000 - $1500. Prices are based on condition and age of instruments and they vary considerably. Modular system III's and V's very seldom are listed, but I have seen them...most prices are ridiculously high. However, they *are* vintage, have the magic Moog name and sound like nothing else. A good alternative is try: Synthesizer.com... This is small company in the US that manufacters NEW modular synths and accessories that seem to be as close to the big Moogs as I've ever seen. Prices are 'expensive', but that's relative. A full modular is around 8k US, which is far cheaper than any comparable vintage Moog. They make a sample and hold module, sequencer, fixed filterbank, pretty much anything you could want. I have not purchased anything from this fellow, but he returns e-mails promptly and has sold quite a few instruments. The photos alone are worth a look at his webpage. >i believe moog have just released a new moog synth. < The new Moog is called the Voyager and it seems to be a 'souped-up' Mini with tons of very cool sounding features - Midi, patch saving, 3-D 'touchplate', etc. I believe it sells for around USD$2500. I've not played it, but it's probably a nice machine. Website is bigbriar.com. >I also watched my Works Montreal video which i received recently >and which was great to see. i have to agree with an earlier >comment about the quality but then again it looks like it was >TV recording and not recorded for ELP's use, for future release >as was obviously the Albert hall video. Both were shot on videotape, not film. (There are a few sections of Montreal which were shot on 16mm film, but very little.) But, count your blessings...most of us had to screen these as horrible bootlegs until recently. The video quality of both is quite good..the audio is depressing in both cases in my opinion. Still, let's not quibble both tapes are very nice to have. Next - David Swift wrote: >>For many years I have wanted to get a Memory Moog<< >"Joe" replied: I think that you'd be well advised to stay away from >the MemoryMoog. It was released long after Bob was done with Moog >Music, and it had a very poor reliability rating. >>>There were >numerous problems, all reportedly fixed in the MemoryMoog Plus, but >that >>>was plagued with its own set of problems.< As far as I know, Bob was still with Moog Music when the Memory was introduced. Problems? Yes, that's very true if it was a 'gigged' instrument. However, most non-touring MemoryMoogs had no ongoing problems other than some faulty power supplies and overheating. If it came from Moog, it may have been rushed to the marketplace, but the engineering and construction usually were pretty solid. The MemoryMoog + is a very nice machine provided one can find a well kept example. Nothing sounded like a MemoryMoog....they sound wonderful. (When working right!!) True of most things really. >If you're looking for a synth that can really capture the essence of >the Moog sound, and whole >host of others, I'd strongly recommend >anything in the Kurzweil K2x00 line.< Kurzweil products are generally great sounding but kind of expensive. (Not sure about the K2000 line, but, when my friend's K250 'went south', he had to send the instrument back to the factory for service. Supposedly, Kurzweil does not allow 'field' servicing anymore.) Something to think about. Also, While Kurzweil instruments uniformly sound great, they DO NOT sound exactly like a MemoryMoog, Mini or any other Moog. Close, but what about the real-time controls...that's as important to a Moog as to the actual sound itself. Maybe some hands-on research will help..these are only opinions anyway. I'm not flaming Kurzweil either, they make excellent instruments. Then Grove Bolles wrote: >Sirs, I have been trying to locate a version of Greg Lake's "Father >>Christmas" for some time >>and I hope you can help me. From what I >>can gather, there are three versions of the song. >>Two of them I >>have, that on Works Volume 1, and that on the Manticore boxed set. >>I am looking for the version that is accompanied by a symphony and >>a tremendous choir.< The version of "Father Christmas" you refer to is on a double disc called "ELP-The Atlantic Years". There really is nothing too new on this compilation, but it's a great collection. I believe it's out of print, but not too hard to find. Good luck. I like that version myself. Food for thought, I believe there is a *fourth* version of this track recorded in NY for a benefit of some kind. It was on an EP I saw which I couldn't afford at the time. Daniel asked: >I am curious to know if anyone ever got the ELPowell CD version I >have, with the bonus tracks in the back cover and in the CD seal, >BUT NOT IN THE CD!!!!! A fraud! I bought that CD in 1992, I guess. >Some years after I was in a store and I felt like testing, God >knows why, another CD apparently like mine, and amazingly that one >had the tracks "The Loco-motion" and "Vacant Possession", not only >in the paper, but also in sound:):) Yes Daniel, this happened to me also. The package indicated the 'bonus tracks', yet my copy didn't include them either. I fired a letter to Polydor and they sent me a new disc with the bonus material. (I had to send them my sales receipt) Supposedly, the extra tracks were for an import copy, but the liner cards were placed in US/Can. versions. They also said for me to keep the original as an apology. I was delighted to say the least. Glad you found a copy - those two tracks are very cool. All the best for the holidays. As always, thanks to John for keeping the spirit alive. Mark P. --------------------------------------------- From: David Silver [dsilver@panix.com] Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2002 5:44 AM To: elp-digest@reluctant.com Subject: ELP Sheet Music I have been looking for the ELP songbook titled Anthology. I have the other three books: "Greatest Hits", "Tarkus" and "Emerson, Lake and Palmer". Someone told me that the Fugue from the Trilogy album is contained in the Anthology book. Can anyone confirm this? And if so, would someone be willing to send me a copy of that piece, or trade for something in one of the books I have? Thanks very much! --------------------------------------------- From: Quacky Quibbler [quackyquibbler@hotmail.com] Sent: Monday, December 30, 2002 2:04 PM To: elp-digest@reluctant.com Subject: information on "take a pebble" live lyrics Hi everyone, i'm a 23yr old french fan of ELP ince 5 or 6 years now. As a fan, i got some booteg lives, and i have a question about lyrics. that i cant find anywhere on the internet. Hope i'll get some information from people who know much more than me on ELP ! - Can someone tell me about those funny lyrics that greg sing in the country-section of Take A Pebble? It's from a Live in Dusseldorf and it sounds like "I've got a dog and his name was blue.... bet you five dollars he's a good dog too... cinamon tree... dog looked at me" I can't catch the lyrics !!!!! - On the Official Pictures At An Exhibition, greg sings something in "The Curse Of Baba Yaga". I can't find out the lyrics either, but it sounds kinda hellish "drink the blood from hearts of stone" Help ! Thanx a lot and keep up the good work ! Tim --------------------------------------------- From: L H [lenh_0110@hotmail.com] Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2003 5:36 PM To: elp-digest@reluctant.com Subject: Re: ELP Sheet Music For those of you looking for ELP sheet music and can't find it, I discovered that you can take any MIDI file and run it through a program called MidiNotate(.com), and get your own custom sheet music on the other end. Of course, the quality and accuracy of the notation is only as good as the MIDI. The program is excellent quality, has a vast array of features, and very inexpensive ($35), plus there's a free trial version. I bought a copy just for this reason. (Other than that, I'm not affiliated with them in any way). Hope this works out for anyone looking for nonexistent transcripts. Len [ Editor's Note: There are a number of programs that can create sheet music from MIDI files. A high end version is Finale. So, as always, you might want to check out the possibilities before you invest your money in a particular solution. - John - ] --------------------------------------------- From: Ed Burke [schizoidman21@netzero.net] Sent: Sunday, January 05, 2003 12:11 AM To: elp-digest@reluctant.com Cc: Groveb@firstcolonymortgage.com; Ed Burke Subject: "I Believe in Father Christmas" In response to Grove Bolles in Vol 12 Issue 15: On "The Greg Lake Retrospective: From The Beginning", the original single version of "I Believe in Father Christmas" is included on Disk 1. This version sounds to me as if it has the orchestra and choir you are mentioning. (I am listening to it now!) An alternate version was included on Works Volume 2. Greg's Retrospective is excellent, and I highly recommend it. Ed Burke schizoidman21@netzero.net [ Editor's Note: In case anyone wonders about these 2 versions, the original "I Believe In Father Christmas" was originally released in 1975 as a Greg Lake solo single on Manticore. That's the version with the orchestra/choir/etc. Later on, it was released in an "ELP version" where much of the orchestration was replaced with synths, etc. The first I saw of this version was the Works, Vol. 2 release. - John - ] --------------------------------------------- From: Sean Matthews [seanmatt@enoreo.on.ca] Sent: Sunday, January 05, 2003 7:06 PM To: digest-mailer@reluctant.co Subject: Five Bridges Lyrics Re: Phil Kelly's Five Bridges lyrics: I'm pretty sure the third line is: "There's no good complaining 'bout dirty air 'cause there's nothing much left to breathe" I hope that's right, because that's the way I've always heard it, and I think it's such a cool line! Also, no word from anyone yet with info on the film British Rock '66, which had an interesting 20 minutes or so studio set by the Nice? Sean --------------------------------------------- From: Sean Matthews [seanmatt@enoreo.on.ca] Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2003 8:28 PM To: digest-mailer@reluctant.com Subject: Greg Lake's Father Christmas There were some questions about other recordings of I Believe in Father Christmas. For those of you not familiar with Toronto's classic rock station, Q107, they've been big supporters of ELP over the years. The station runs a great program on Sundays from 9AM to 9PM (Toronto time, of course), called "Psychadelic Sunday", where ELP songs show up regularly (my only criticism, though, is that they stick pretty much to the top singles). There's a weekday version of the program as well, called "Psychadelic Snack", from Noon to 2PM. Anyway, while in an interview at the station, back around the "Black Moon" period, Greg decided to perform "Father Christmas" -- just him and his guitar for the station. It's played regularly around Christmas time. It's possible, though I haven't checked it out, that you might be able to find it on the station's web site. The song closes with something like, "This is Greg Lake wishing everyone at Q107 a very merry Christmas." I'd be curious to know if anyone outside of Q107's radio signal has heard this recording. I'd also be interested in what other radio stations are out there that still play ELP and their contemporaries regularly. --------------------------------------------- From: N2CribeanC@aol.com Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 6:20 PM To: elp-digest-web@reluctant.com Subject: RE: Works Vol. 1 LP John, I have an original ELP Works Vol. 1 vinyl double LP still in its original plastic film. Would you or anyone you know, know what the value would be of the album? I also have a WBMFTTSTNE triple album without the film in mint condition. Thanks, Gregg --------------------------------------------- From: Dave Bryant [davebryant1@attbi.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2003 12:16 AM To: elp-digest@reluctant.com Subject: original Love Beach CD Hello Friends - I'm looking for an original Atlantic issue (catalog #19211-2, I think) Love Beach CD. Please e-mail me if you have one for sale or trade. Thanks - Dave Bryant --------------------------------------------- From: Corrado Sevardi [corradosevardi@yahoo.it] Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2003 9:24 AM To: elp-digest-web@reluctant.com Subject: questions dear ELP Digest, I write from Reggio Emilia - Italy. Is it possible to load original scores of Keith Emerson's sound track for the Dario Argento's film "Inferno? for a public live concert in my town in the summer? We have a project for a celebration of any Italian dark film of the century. I've contacted Bixio Editions in Milan, but in Italy is not possible to find a complete copy of this music, only the LP... Is it this score available in a internet store? Sorry for my little English... Regards Corrado Sevardi Reggio Emilia Italy =========================== ELP-related products, tribute bands, promoters (The ELP Digest does not endorse, etc.) =========================== From: Rodrigo Werneck [rod@uriah-heep.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2003 9:29 PM To: Recipient list suppressed Subject: D'Alegria Bass Guitars Hi there, I am currently working with my partner Daniel Alegria to produce a series a professional quality musical instruments, specifically handmade electric bass guitars with top-rated hardware and the best Brazilian woods, destined to players who search for an exclusive instrument. Our website, in English and in Portuguese, is waiting for your visit: www.dalegria.com There you'll be able to see the models' descriptions, technical specifications, lots of photos of the basses, details about the steps involved in the production, and you'll still be able to listen to them, through exclusive performances of great players who tested our basses. Besides, it's possible to ask for a quotation online. Please visit our website, let your friends and/or known musicians know about it, and send your suggestions/comments/doubts, they'll be welcome! All the best, Rodrigo Werneck [Editor's Note: Please note that I don't think this has any direct ELP connection. Just a posting requested from an ELP Digest reader. - John - ] =========================== Digest subscription, mailing address, and administrative stuff to: elp-digest-request@reluctant.com ELP-related info that you want to put in the digest to: elp-digest@reluctant.com Back issues are available from the ELP Digest web site: URL: http://www.brain-salad.com/ Note: The opinions, information, etc. contained in this digest are those of the original message sender listed in each message. They are not necessarily those of the mailing list/digest administrator or those of any institution through whose computers/networks this mail flows. Unless otherwise noted, the individual authors of each entry in the Digest are the copyright holders of that entry. Please respect that copyright and act accordingly. I especially ask that you not redistribute the ELP Digest in whole or in part without acknowledging the original source of the digest and each author. Thanks! End of ELP Digest [Volume 13, Issue 1] **************************************