Emerson, Lake and Palmer (Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2) Kel's Reaction 

ELP gained a reputation for pompous,self-indulgent prog rock...and I loved every minute of it!

You have to remember, that's a very big sound coming out of a trio. Three master musicians.

What a talent Greg Lake is. He sings, plays guitar and the bass

I was not a big fan back in the day, but the more I listen to them, the more I appreciate and like what they did. And you can't deny the crazy good musicianship.

I had the pleasure of seeing them live in Houston Texas in the early 70s . It was unbelievable ! I'll never forget it If you never got to see the late Keith Emerson live you really missed a great performer and musician

RIP Keith and Greg

Fun fact: The artist who designed the aesthetics in Ridley Scott's "Alien" (including the aliens) also designed this album cover. H. R. Giger.

Brain Salad Surgery- best album cover ever! From the Beginning is favorite by many ELP fans

Kel needs to hear their version of "Pictures at Exhibition". It is a famous classical piece by Mussorgsky. I'm sure Kel has heard it.

Carl Palmer, the best drummer of the rock era.

I think 'Pirates" is the pinnacle of ELP's recordings, just amazing in both music and lyrics. Definitely give that one a listen.

Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends! 🎸

The shape behind the ELP logo on the album cover was originally a phallus, but was airbrushed out for some countries!

Keith Emerson Fun Fact: For Aaron Copland's 90th Birthday, Keyboard Magazine had their readers send in a Happy Birthday song. Keith Emerson's submission was one of the ones selected to be published. He, somehow, merged Happy Birthday To You with Fanfare For The Common Man. Technically it was extremely hard to play but it was beautifully done.

Amazing band to this day. Awesome 3 piece.. RIP Emerson and Lake..

This video is from 6 years ago, a girl named Rachel Flowers playing all of 'Karn Evil 9 1st Movement' and she happens to be blind. Phenomenal. You get to see it played. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nsjiEKVzkBA.html

Hi my name is James I saw ELP 22 times I am now 66 years old I remember I got the first album in 1970 the debut album then after the Tarkus pictures at an exhibition then I saw them and 1973 and 1974 which was the brain salad surgery tour and they made a live album welcome back my friends to the show that never ends ladies and gentlemen Emerson Lake and Palmer which I believe is one of the greatest life albums ever recorded and especially if you listen to Tarkus and when I saw them at the time at Madison Square, Garden they had a lot of bands what we’re playing in with a clogged system which is now surroundsound and Emerson Lake and Palmer especially Emerson one of the best sound system money could buy and when you listen to the stuff that they do three people it is absolutely mind boggling they are one of the greatest bands that ever played progressive rock but also you have yes Genesis Jethro Tull Pink Floyd all of them at the time they were at the top of the game so thank you very much James

Kel, if you see this...it's hard to appreciate Karn Evil 9 out of the context of the storyline, which is it tells of a future (that is seeming to arrive bit-by-bit these days) of a struggle of man vs. machine (computers). The Part 2 that you listened to is the computers' 'show' to demonstrate that they are able to recreate synthetically anything man has dreamt up in his world of hopes, dreams, fantasies, etc. Part 1 introduces the conflict and explains the context of Part 2, "Cold and misty morning, I heard a warning born in the air, about an age of power where no one had an hour to spare...". The 2nd impression is an instrumental that has the themes build from simple to complex to absurd, perhaps to show the progression of the computer ability. The 3rd impression is the final showdown, "Man alone born of stone will stamp the dust of time, his hands strike the flame of his soul, ties a rope to a tree and hangs the universe, until the wind of laughter blows cold." When this album was first out, I remember sitting with someone after school let out explaining the meaning of the lyrics and how it made sense to have a concern about our future trajectory. All these years later as we watch technocracy on the rise and the unmasking of the great Enemy of our souls, I believe we were given music such as this (and certain books and films) to give us clues as to understand the kind of world we would be living in right now, and to seek and perhaps find our Messiah and Maker, though he is never really far away from us, so that we may understand in the totality. It sounds like you had some type of repressive religious childhood of some sort, I don't really know, but I hope my short attempt at an explanation above of the music's intent, and how it might be relevant then and now, might be of interest to you. I love yours and Rich's channel, hope you keep it going. Oh, yeah, a request would be Jon Anderson and Todmobile doing a Yes song, "Awaken," live, if you want.

Kel n Rich. I think if you were born in the late 50's, like me, you would appreciate ELP more. The late 60's and the decade of the 70's was the best music ever.

Hi Rich and Kel. My name is Carlos I'm 63yrs from Monterrey (with double R) Mexico. I don't know if you all have listened to ELP's "Karn Evil 9 (Carnival 9) Second Impression. I don't play any instrument, but I've heard from a piano teacher that it has a "very complicated technique". It's Jazz basically, but played with an amazing level. Well guys, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy it when you listen to it. Very Truly Yours Carlos Garrido

This is the radio-friendly part of this piece. You and she should hear the whole thing. There are quiet, lovely sections that pull way back on the bombast. And honestly, there is so much more absolutely gorgeous work of theirs to hear. Take a Pebble, Lucky Man, From the Beginning, Still. . . You Turn Me On, and Trilogy. Oh, God. TRILOGY. There are also so many classical adaptations Kel would probably appreciate. Janacek, Bartok, Prokofiev, Copeland. I have to admit, I was stunned when you said "I'm not thrilled with Emerson, Lake and Palmer." Your face showed otherwise. I get what you're saying about the cleverness, but this was 1970. You can't hold it up to your standards 50 years later. At that time, it was blowing minds apart across the world. IMO, there is no more virtuoso trio in rock history. They were all three masters of their art.

On the LP Part 1 and Part 2 were split over sides 1 and 2 - that is why he starts "Welcome back my friends..."

Kel is not sure what to think of ELP. I saw these guys as a young 15 year old as my first ever rock concert ever. We sat in the nosebleed section with a perfect view looking down at Carl Palmer. We could see his every move. They were absolutely awesome and I've been a huge fan ever since.

ELP is the first prog concert I ever saw. Watching Keith Emerson stick a knife into an organ to keep it screaming and then slamming it all over the stage was amazing.

The whole 13-minute 1st Impression would've been cool...that counterpoint intro is just f-ing mindblowing.

Such a tragedy the way Keith left us. Sad beyond belief.

I saw ELP head line The California Jam do this album. Mindblower !

Ho scoperto per caso i vostri video e il modo in cui ascoltate e commentate la musica che proponete. Devo dire che siete una coppia veramente simpatica, dimostrate semplicità e allo stesso tempo profondità di sentimenti. Continuate così: grazie!

Keith Emerson had a close relationship with the pioneering Moog synthesiser company. He was the first artist to tour with one. He had a giant analog synth setup on stage known as his "Monster Moog," which he (or at least their roadies) lugged around on tour, and stood 3 meters/10 feet tall and weighed in at 250 kg/550 lbs! His use of the Moog was so critical to the development of new models that they gave him prototypes to test out.

Rich, I think the word you were trying to think of in relation to ELP is "bombastic". Rock critics from Rolling Stone used to refer to their music as "wretched excess". I would just laugh and play them some more. The live version is much different. Emerson would often up the tempo of the songs live and push Palmer and Lake to keep up. Their adaption of Hoedown by Aaron Copeland is played in double speed live. I forget to mention in my request what Karn Evil 9 means. If you put the two words together you get "carnival"; the no 9 doesn't mean anything.

I think that to really understand Keith Emerson you need to listen to 3 pieces of work, 1 Take a pebble, 2 Tarkus side one ( which has been covered by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra), and Lastly his Piano Concerto # 1. I Highly recommend you listen to those pieces of music. Also Rhondo is a melange of Rhondo a la Turk by Dave Brubeck and Bach.

More info for H R Giger re the cover. ELP were on tour in Switzerland in mid 1973 and Emerson saw his work. He told Greg and Carl we must use this guy for the next album. So you could argue ELP played a big part in bringing Giger to the international eye. This was well before The Alien.

Keith was also in a group called The Nice. Their version of "America" from East Side Story is amazing.

I'd love to get Kel's thoughts on ELP's Pictures at an Exhibition. A solid representation of the classical piece by a 3 piece rock band, with added lyric content penned and sung by Greg Lake which balances the instrumental performance wonderfully.

Thank you guys...😉

I was up near the stage for the Brain Salad Surgery tour date in SF. It was so loud I needed something in my ears, so I chewed up a dollar bill. RIP GL & KE.

I was “smitten” from the get-go! Fantastic band!

I got this record from my parents when I annexed their record collection. The cover art is stunning.

Sensible comments from you both, every body has different musical tastes. I prefer keyboards to guitar, but that's my preference. When I was young living with my parents, grandfather and uncle in one house I was subjected to different music, mum and dad listened to modern jazz, my grandfather classical and my uncle Rock and roll, I was never a big fan of the Beatles or stones and at school we went to see classical concerts. Roll onto 1968 at our local college here in England and I first saw Keith Emerson playing in the nice, I was only 16 then, but this new music the played blew my head off, lots of influences, rock, jazz, classical and some folk all mixed together just done it for me. Then in 1970 I got to see ELP live, again in 72 and 74. ELP were always a live band, very exciting to watch and hear, lots of improvisation from Keith which I loved. I've seen other big bands of that time and they just didn't do it for me like ELP did. So again, it all depends on your musical tastes. I saw yes a few times, good band but to much singing, but that's my musical tastes. If you get a chance watch a live group named snarky puppy and a track called Mingus, its Jazz fusion and theres a guy playing keyboards named Corry Henry and plays a phenomenal solo in synth in it. Anyway. Keep up the good work, I enjoy watching you here. Steve. England.

This is actually just the last part of the First Impression. It actually starts on the A side of the record. This is the continuation on side B.

Love your collar, Kel.

Unlike most progressive rock bands, ELP used European classical music as their influence (as opposed to folk, blues etc.) KarnEvil9 is based (apparently) on Schumann’s Carnaval Opus 9 but with Keith Emerson’s initials in the name (KarnEvil). The 1st Impression part 2 is in sonata format (exposition, development, recapitulation) finishing with a coda. Unusually the development section is on an Ab blues riff. It’s not especially difficult to play I don’t think, the skill is in the interchanges between each band member swapping base lines, timings and melodic motifs like a three-piece orchestra. All very clever but can be guilty of a lack of emotion.

If you would have been able to see them live they would have blown your mind.

The next song is straight jazz, where all 3 members really strut their stuff, well worth a listen as well!

For the upcoming album, Peter Zumsteg, record label manager, introduced Emerson to artist HR Giger. In April 1973, the group played a two-day concert as part of their European tour in Zurich. After the concert, Emerson visited the artist in his house with Zumsteg. Coincidentally, Giger had just created a triptych titled Work 216: Landscape XIX under the influence of the music Emerson, Lake & Palmers. When he revealed the triptych to his guests, Emerson immediately decided to take it for the album cover. Giger painted two new pictures, Work 217: ELP I and Work 218: ELP II, about the actual size of the vinyl record cover. The first picture was chosen by the group as the title picture. It shows a machine-clamped human skull in the Giger-style monochrome biomechanical style over Giger's new ELP logo, which Emerson, Lake and Palmer has led ever since. After the end of an exhibition of Giger's works in Prague, both Original Work 217: ELP I and Work 218: ELP II were lost on 31 August 2005, where they were probably stolen and since then have not reappeared.

Greg Lake, song, bass, guitar left King Crimson ( My favorite band) to play with keyboard god Keith Emerson ( of Nice)! On tour they had three trucks. One letter on top of each One! ELP. Could only be seen from above! Wonderfully cocky!!

I got turned onto HR Giger through the magazine Heavy Metal. He was pretty famous before his work on Aliens. ELP will always be some of the Gods of Rock. "Still You Turn Me On" is my fav. thanks you 2

I suggest Tocatta and/or Hoedown from the triple live album. To think three blokes played the former, live..., in 1973....is mind boggling. And your mind might be a little boggled after exposing it to that tune.

There is "Still You Turn Me On" which is a bit more minimalistic than most of ELP'S other compositions.

Best drummer best pianist, keyboard best voice. Imho saw them do this live and the drum so is insane live. Do Jerusalem and Trilogy. Emerson is a phenomenal just on the piano

This was my first concert I ever went to back in 1974. Emerson Played a full studio Moog symphasizer(sic), an organ, and an upright piano. I loved their musicianship. They were very talented musicians and fun to watch in concert. R.I.P Keith Emerson and Greg Lake. I am the opposite, I prefer older lp's and cd's then newer ones.

a lot of what I think you are talking about with the playing, is that a lot of this was about experimentation, about what the limits where, and you have to remember that the people going to the concerts, wanted the flash and the fast notes and loud.

You need to watch their concert at the Albert Hall in London on the Black Moon Tour. Keith Emerson goes crazy in the finale stabbing his keyboard with knives and he even pulls the whole organ on top of himself and still carries on playing. Awesome stuff.

Would love to hear Kel's reaction to the song TRILOGY on the Trilogy album. ELP is like trying your first cup of coffee. At first your not sure if you like it but the more you have, you can't start your day without it.

1) Lucky Man 2) From the Beginning 3) Karn Evil 9 in THAT order !

"SUPER ALBUM! EL&P SUPER GROUP FOREVER! ONE OF THE BEST PROG BANDS!" - M.S.C.

Karn Evil 9 tells an entire story, and it is hard to understand I1P2 without hearing Part 1, at least once. Combined, all three impressions tell the story of dystopian future, in words and music.

Musical Beauty ... In the Ear of the Beholder 👂👀

In the Beginning because Greg Lake plays bass, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar!

If you listen to the full 13 and 1/2 minute of the Fall first impression that is the best

She should love Impression #2. The piano is fantastic

Listen to the part one too. It's amazing!

That man could play!

Love this Hoping for Kels speedy recovery

The Third Impression is just as good.

La mejor y más compleja composición "prog" de los 70 .

Having been known for most of my life as a music maven, I was once asked to play a song for a wake-up call at a youth camp. I decided ELP's version of Fanfare for the Common Man was appropriate. LOL

So I was never an ELP fan, however this song, Karn Evil 9, is an icon song. It's just a beautiful piece of music that invites you into the world of music. It's a killer. Oh yeah, it's clever. So fucking clever. See the show!!

TOO CLEVER?? Seriously? ELP, the greatest Progressive Group ever. I'm disappointed that Kel didn't get it from the jump.

Glad you like it. Those are your exact words.

What is strange is that Carl Palmer is one of the best unknown drummers of all time

yep Pictures at an Exhibition - Great Gate of Kiev is awesome (at end) -another ELP classic is Ginatera's Tocatta - and don't forget Aqua Tarkus - your show is fun to watch! Thanks for your efforts.

70's ELP on LSD, the only way to fly.

Perhaps you know this, but Rondo is a take on Dave Brubeck's Blue Rondo A La Turk which a jazz piece done in 9/8 time. Keith Emerson does it in a rock 4/4 time signature and intersperses some Bach-like flavor into the piece. The point is, is that Emerson mixes jazz, classical and rock in his compositions, but like jazz and rock improvisation is the way. Strictly classically trained musicians may not understand that improvising means taking risks musically in favor of free artistic expression and exploration. Passing tones, dissonance and expressive playing is more important than proper composition and correct playing technique.

Disney's Magical Light Parade was performed on a Moog. Didn't care for it as a kid, but later fell in love with it. It's no longer there at Disneyland, but when I heard it there later on. I thought of ELP and this song, and it made me smile.

Awww, I remember my dear brother loving this band. He was into them along with Rush, Yes, Opeth, Tool, King Crimson, ELO, Pink Floyd, just to name a few of his favorites. Thank you! :-)

This Album was specifically written to overcome their difficulties with live performances. Other albums contained things live overdubs and orchestras. The entire album was meant to be played live, and, of course, once on stage they went completely nuts.

EPL was one of those bands that played classical rock with the sound of an orchestra behind its rock base. What is important about this band is their use of the synthesizer and the key boards. At the time very few musicians were able to play two key boards at the same time. Listening to the music is fine and dandy; however, to experience the times in which it was created is something entirely different. Sometimes the times and the music go hand in hand. At other times, the music can stand alone as a masterpiece. Then at other times, it will fall flat on its face. Taking snippets of music often fails to full understand the musicians. To truly understand a band you often need to listen to the full album like Soen's Lunacy. There are several tunes that ELP did that you should listen to, Pirates is one of them. The music takes you to the time when pirates were the scourge of the high seas. They were the idea of free loving adventurers that ignited the imagination of freedom to do what you will when you want without consequence. This tune makes you feel as if you are on a ship facing all possibilities as a pirate. You are in line to sign the Ship's Articles of agreement to become apart of the crew. You can smell the sea, feel the ocean as the ship rocks beneath your feet, the pending battle that lays before you, and victory. I hope you will give it a listen. :-)

If this was the first thing by ELP I had heard, I might not have been grabbed by it either. But the first thing i heard by them was Emerson's Piano Concerto. I understood what he was about from that and the rest was easy.

You also have to remember that this was 1970, they really brought classical pieces to the masses with rock wrapped around. No one had really done stuff like this before.

You can just hear the Copeland dripping off this bit!

Just think my first concert was ELP 18 years old floor seats so close. Palmers drum sets and gongs rotating in the air Emerson a god on the keys and Lakes perfect damm voice. Nothing has compared since then.

The line "We'd like it to be known, the exhibits that were shown, were exclusively all our own, all our own" is a dig at critics who said ELP got by too much on rocking up classical pieces and couldn't come up with anything of their own. And I get the "too clever" comment when it comes to ELP (that was certainly the overriding criticism back in the day), but Kieth Emerson's skill as a composer and player is undeniable. He sits at the top of the rock keyboards pantheon for a reason, but I can understand how those of us who grew up in the 70s find it easier to embrace this music. Also, outside of Greg Lake's ballads, ELP (along with King Crimson) is probably among the most "masculine" of prog bands. But I think given time Kel will at least come to respect Keith's talent, and hopefully also find music to enjoy (I'd recommend avoiding potential mine fields like "Toccata" and give a good long listen to the Trilogy album. It's packed with great pieces.)

great choice,love the discussion!

Emerson Lake and Powell (Touch and go)

I believe the song on piano for Kel to listen to would had to be Trilogy. To me this song it's too aggressive if we are talking about piano. I can tell from that ELP last reaction, she wasn't that pleased about it. Karn Evil 9 Impression part 2 it's not the right pick. Please try Trilogy!!

Had to see them live. Some of the best social commentary of the day, but it was often subtle--their take on the Anglican Hymn "Jerusalem" off the album BSS. Strong social commentary in their songs. Emerson influences an entire generation of keyboardists. What do you think of the ballads? (Lucky Man, From the Beginning, Just Take a Pebble). Best rock ballads of the 1970s.Thanks for keeping Prog in the front line :)

I don't think Kel heard the line "...seven virgins and a mule, keep it cool...keep it cool. "

Tell Kell they are a trio.

Rich, what a deep and diverse (dare I say rich?) pool of music you draw from! I've got something like 2,700 LP and CD's sitting here and there around the house. Kel, your love of all music consistently shines through! A dynamic duo indeed!

I saw them perform this live in Houston...the late Keith Emerson was phenomenal! What a talented trio!

For ELP at their best, I would suggest you listen to Tarkus. And as for piano work, I've always liked Keith's work on Karn Evil 9 Impression 2.

I was a disc jockey for a few years at a college radio station. This was one of my two theme songs. (The other was the complete cut of The Road to Hell by Chris Rea.)

Kel has a look of "what the hell is this" on her face. Lol

A carnival barker at a post- Apocalyptic carnival. ELP are my very favorite prog band!

I still have my original vinyl.

Fanfare for the common man theres a video on RU-vid of them playing in a stadium You'll like it Kel

Love you guys.i would be interesting to hear kels opinion on MikeOldfield,s tubular bells .

Three very talented musicians amazing stuff

Speaking of keyboards, Kel NEEDS to listen to Rachel Flowers if she hasn't already...a true prodigy