Emerson, Lake & Palmer on Love Beach 

I love Carl Palmer's comment: we looked like the Bee Gees on the cover. He is absolutely right.

I have so much respect for Carl’s honesty. He always had a good business head and mind.

Officer and a Gentleman is an ELP classic, the album was unfairly assessed and now years later it still stands up as a classic from 1978. RIP Keith and Greg ❤

It was a bit more radio friendly in look but still had that ELP sound

The pain in his eyes when he says "radio playable material".

Still a great album in my opinion and enjoy listening to this 41 years later ......RIP Keith and Greg.

Laughed at what Carl, a no bullshit kind of guy, said at 3:59. This album does not define ELP.

This album received low ratings from many of its listeners, but I think it's highly underrated. Critics and fans maybe expected something else - a new Trilogy or a new Brain Salad Surgery. But this album was deliberately a try to be played on the radio. Many other progressive bands had succeeded at that time, e.g. Genesis and Yes. I think the B-side with “Memoirs…” is quite good, both in terms of the lyrics and the music. The A-side is ok if you take it for what it is - an attempt to make hit songs. After all, ELP did some good music, even when they were tired and unmotivated.

Love Beach is a masterpiece from beginning to end.

The best best drummer out there

I forgive you Carl, just because of how wonderful the first half dozen albums are.

All in all, this album is truly underrated. It is a good album with Carl playing some of his best along with Keith and Greg. Officer and a gentleman will bring a year to ones eyes. Thank you for all of the great music you've given us.

I never thought this album was as bad as everybody made it out to be. I didn't love it, but I liked it a lot. IMO, it was impossible for these three to make something awful. Rest In Peace Keith, Miss ya!!!!!

Greg always had an amazing voice. Watching him in Essex at the cliffs pavillion was my 1st Sit down gig & it blew me away. Awesome.

And in spite of it all... Memoirs is one of my favorite ELP songs ever. Rock in heaven Keith and Greg. Love your music. You are now immortal. Fly on, be free

I agree with Carl and I appreciate his honesty. BSS was the pinnacle. It was all downhill from there.

I remember walking into the record store and seeing the new Emerson Lake & Palmer album. With their logo gone and just the album cover as a whole, I thought this is not going to be a good album. But it's my favorite group, I have to buy it. I like all I want is you and canario and by then I thought this album is going to be a smash hit! I should have known better. I agree, Canario would have been great live. and also, side 2 was great but of course, that never got played. And yes they broke up after that but then got it going again with Black Moon which was better than Love Beach. To me, the final insult on this album was when I saw it in a bin of dicounted albums for $4.99.

I got this record when it came out, and i remember really liking the more modern, dare i say digital sound although i think that record was 100% analog instruments and all, but it sounded very new, very 1980s, well ahead of everyone else making the change, Yes, Genesis, King Crimson.... so indeed a very bold move by ELP which sadly, to me was released about 5 years too soon, because if it was an 80s record it would have been a major hit.

Blows in the hot seat out of the water. Even the cover. That’s right I said it!

I am somewhat amused by the scorn heaped upon LB, as it was my entry point and first access to ELP, and I loved it. The song Love Beach has an incredible guitar and drum interplay all the way through. Officer and a Gentleman was training wheels for my untrained ears for the more intricate playing that ELP are known for. Quite frankly, I never could get into what are known as their classic stuff. I quickly made up my mind that no great song was left off of traditional fm radio from those albums, though I love Lucky Man and From the Beginning. But mostly, I love (a good part) of the album Love Beach.

I believe if they had called the album "Memoirs of an Officer and a Gentlemen" it would have been received much better. Plus the album cover should have been something military instead of a beach.

.... these boys .... leaved an inmense legacy ... whatever they tried was worth nowadays respect ... love to see Sir Carl Palmer in such a great shape ....

I don't remember all the tunes on 'Love Beach'; I bought the album in it's 'vinyl' LP format and it is buried in my pile of old LP's at my daughter's house. I do remember being somewhat surprised and initially disappointed at the album..it was such a change for ELP at the time. I do remember though the more I listened to it, it sort of 'grew' on me and I appreciated it for what it was: a change in direction and attempt to be more 'radio friendly'. I agree with other comments that 'Officer and Gentleman' was one of the standout cuts on the album. Be that as it may: ELP was one of the greatest groups ever and RIP Keith and Greg.

I remember I was a 15 years old girl back then, and I only bought the record because I saw three hot guys on the cover, haha!!!! I quite like it, but when I got seriously into music (perhaps ar 17, I guess), I started to look for the previous ELP records, and seriously I had to dismiss Love Beach, because I felt it didn't represented what ELP were really. Not a bad one, but far very far from what they've previously done, which I still listen to this date. Miss you so much Keith & Greg, and a huge thank you to Carl for keeping ELP'S legacy alive ❤.

Carl is right about Canario- brilliant, and one of my favorite ever ELP songs! Granted, Love Beach was not their best album overall, and seeing the boys suntanned and frolicking in the Bahamas on vacation wasn't exactly my favorite ELP pictorial set (kind of like the antithesis to the Trilogy album inside cover artwork), but it's still not as bad an album as some people lament. Carl made me laugh in this video, with his Bee Gees analogy. RIP Keith and Greg

Never would suppose Keith would be first of them to leave... And voluntarely.

This subject will always haunt me as I really tried to discuss this with Greg during the Q&A at shows a few years ago (even Keith). Wanted to talk about Love Beach, without re-hashing the story. The music itself. IMO, every decade that goes by, the music from this record gets better and better. Especially the re-mastered version. The GX-1 sounded amazing, especially on the Gambler. Same with the guitar synth on For You. The song "For You" is one of the best. Even the 1st 3 songs were great. I think everyone agrees that Officer was another fantastic piece. Shame, would have really enjoy Greg's thoughts on each of the songs. RIP Greg, I think about you pretty much everyday. Like losing my older brothers. Will visit you at your resting place, it's on my bucket list.

Band "We need a break we're really not at our best together right now" Record Label "So I see you've chosen death"

This album got me through a six month Navy deployment in a remote island called NSF Diego Garcia which is literally the end of the world.

It's interesting to note that while "Yes", who was the closest in sound to ELP, was able to make a successful transition to shorter, "punk-like" material, ELP was not. In truth, Love Beach was not all that bad, although admittedly it was not at the level of their other material. However, I most definitely agree that Love Beach is still far better than 90% of the crap coming out these days.

New subscriber. And I gladly joined. Mr. Carl Palmer I thank you for almost 50 years of musical entertainment. You are by far my favorite musician to listen to. ELP in my opinion was driven by your energy and excellent musicianship. Thank you. ☮️

Canario, and Love at First Sight, on the suite, are first order masterpieces ...let's talk about music and leave the rest of things apart...

When I was young and hard core ELP fan, this was the only LP which I didn't like too much. It sounded commercial and silly, compared to ELP's masterworks. Listening to it today I must say that the music on Love Beach is still much better than most of the rock+pop music which is played today on the radio.

Honesty is the best policy, as they say. Pictues is a monumental showing.

I liked the album very much.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer on Love Beach

This album is far better than most of the music these last years.

Man , I love this album , sincerily............... The Emerson´s Yamaha GX1 and sundry synths , Roland guitars synthesizers and some radio playable material is very good ! The overall sound , for me , is awesome at that time ! Forget the cover, folks ! It´s timeless............

I like this album. fun to play drums along with it :)

Say what you will about the rest of the album, I still like "Memoirs Of An Officer And A Gentleman".

Love ELP!!!! ^^

There was a 4th member in the band in the 90s but Greg ate him.

Canario is good and in fact I liked a number of the songs including All I Want Is You. Never listened to Memoirs and as a fan it's my job to do just that. Many fans are on board with it.

For an album they didn't want to do, it has its moments. Why they didn't go the 'pop' Tiger in a Spotlight route or acoustic route, Idk. Btw, at about the same time, the male half of Abba were also in the Bahamas, gaining inspiration. They had access to American FM radio, and were always a sponge; not stealing but working from what they liked. They came out with I believe their most commercially successful album, and IMO, their best-- Voulez Vous. And, FYI, Atlantic got three (3) more albums from ELP-- 'LB,' 'in Concert at Montreal', and 'Best Of', with the Geisha's , cowboys, and aliens passing the LP's hand to hand. And in the age of CD's, the In Concert cd was expanded into a double CD. Much like Jimi Hendrix actually recorded what, 4 albums, but all the live material cranked out 27 more recordings the record co. can release to profit from. But ha!, with digital technology, no one was willing to pay $20 for a cd. And it was a whole new ball game...

Miss Keith and Greg

Love "la playa de amor".Great !!!!!

But you attained great heights! Produced amazing music! 3 strong characters usually never get as far as you 3 did. Everything changes, circumstances outside our control. I saw how huge you became in USA and Japan. You didn’t buckle you joined Wetton with Asia! You all individually kept going with different projects, all successful. I think you did OK!

WORKS and WORKS ll were good albums.

Great interview w the band I just recently bought love beach It's a good cd

This album was not bad, it just wasn't what ELP had previously put out. This album was put out because of heavy pressure by the producers to create a Top 40's disc.

Nothing beats Brain Salad

There are none more real life Spinal Tap bands than ELP.

Well, I used to buy a copy now and then and shoot it with my .22 - That's is how much I hated what had happened to the greatest prog rock band in the world. I DO AGREE that Canario was a success although it could have been better...I think played live it could have been a home run. Thanks for this video/interview, it was of great interest to hear the guys cuss and discuss it.

I liked the album except for the cover of course. 105.1 in Orlando used to play All I Want is You which was very odd.

Always thought that album was a lot like Gentle Giants "Missing Piece." A prog group trying to be more commercial. Both albums were not well received at the time, but when you look back on them they weren't that bad at all. If anything, they were more to the side of pretty good.

Brilliant document for the future. ELP forever. Not a huge fan of Love Beach - but at least it can be buried in the sand for the future - it might come around again like a message in a bottle.

Greg Lake looked like Buddy Hackett in this interview.

I thought Love Beach was a relaxed different concept.... I enjoyed the radical change...

I remember when CD's first appeared in the mid 80's, a black artist who I forget, complained about the lack of black artists available on CD. He went on to talk about 'Love Beach' being so available. He was right. I can remember before I read that article, browsing the CD's and coming across numerous copies of 'Love Beach' and asking myself, "Why this album? Why so many copies?"

ELP and PROG forever!

I remember that when I was in college in Atlanta staying in the dorms, my roommate and I were up at like 3AM just knocking around in the room for no real reason and I put LOVE BEACH on. Now, we both knew it was a weird, "out" album for this band but I can remember at one point we looked at each other and one of us said, "You know, this isn't too damn bad." And that's the best I've ever felt about it. :) I agree with Carl that "Canario" is as worthy a classical adaptation as anything they did, and "Memoirs..." is a good piece of work until maybe you get to the last bit that goes crazy with the overdubs and even that's worth hearing. As for the rest of the first side - I don't know; it was a wrong turn. The lyricrs/themes just rub me the wrong way. It was interesting that they used more electric guitar, brought in guitar synthesizer, and did away with the organ entirely - mostly favoring the fantastic Yamaha GX-1, which is my opinion was the best synthesizer anyone ever made - I could deal with that (the album also has Keith's only use of Fender Rhodes with the band). But the overall direction was off-kilter and so, so wrong for the time. It made me so happy that they reappeared in '86 as ELPowell and then as ELPalmer again in '92 with truly great albums; I think those are the most consistent and consistently good releases they ever made. The last outing, IN THE HOT SEAT, was a mixed bag but the good tracks on there are much better than the pop attempts on LOVE BEACH.

I actually liked Love Beach and I still do. The only thing that I didn't like was the sound, to me it lacked depth.

Greg loved his love songs.. Hence Love Beach.. Oh well.

Canarios (not 'Canario') wasn't written by Rodrigo, but by Gaspar Sanz (1640-1710), an important baroque composer and guitarist...

Loved ELP from day one but they had run their course by then, they all knew it, except the record company

I bought this in, what, was it '78? and listened with my head in my hands for several minutes that felt like hours. After Works v.2, I knew they were in a decline along with all my favorite bands, but this... I had never made it all the way to Canario, so I am listening to it now on Carl Palmer's recommendation. Ok, pretty good. If I delete the previous songs, maybe I'll get to it again in 30 years.

Aside from the title track and "Taste of My Love" I don't think this album was that bad. It sort of gives me an empty feeling though, like it could have been much better.

There's some good playing on Love Beach as well as some decent material such as Canario and Memoirs. The album sounds thin and under-produced, and the lyrics to Taste of My Love are on a par with Big Bottom by Spinal Tap. With a different cover its reputation might be better.

A great Bee Gees Album lol

People listen to an album once and judge it bad. Then the record lays on a vinyl shelf for decades until someone sells it for peanuts in a flea market. Love Beach deserves more than one try because it's good, especially side 2. But the cover... Well, it does not help.

Greg's nickname was spud?

Other than 'Taste of My Love,' there's not a bad track on the album. The cover should have just had island scenery instead and a few of the inner photos should have been omitted.

Side 2 is great! Side 1?🗿

I’m not gonna lie I can get down to love beach

they should’ve at least called it Emerson by the Lake & Palms

I absolutely adore ELP, they're one of my all-time favorite bands and when they got it right they were untouchable--but Love Beach is excrement of the highest degree and it should never have happened.

As an ELP album it was pretty shite, but I still love it. Officer and a Gentleman is a little wink to let us the boy can still do it and imo is the only ELP track on the album.. Yeah, the cover is a horror show 😂. Oh and Canario!!

mainly a cover problem !

This album seems to divide opinion. If I was going by the cover I'd pass this one on the other side of the road

If any UK based ELP fan guitarist/vocalists who can play & sing Greg's parts would like to get together and have a go then please message me here via RU-vid. I have a lot of their numbers sorted on keyboards and also have a drummer waiting..! Hope to hear from some of you soon... Raffy.

Well, it's not nearly as bad as In the Hot Seat. The only thing I found redeeming in that is a kind of okay halfhearted and slightly more digital sounding Pictures at an Exhibition.

this radio friendly thing drives me mad.elp genesis pink floyd etc.became great without thinking about the radio.what about the fans who made these bands great.oh well guys lets forget them and think of our bank balancesso sad.

If you listen to the album's after love beach, (in the hot seat,black moon ) you can hear that all 3 of those album's have a similar sound and feel to them, so really it's "elp" part 2 , yes it not the "pictures" or "works" album or feel but very much still great music.. in my opinion the tarkus album is the worst one , musically is sounds like a bunch of good small pieces of different work pushed together to make a song, it doesn't really flow in each recording, but its still great music..

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on what I sadly consider your worst album even though it hit silver in the UK and gold in the US. I wonder what that last album would have sounded like had you done it in a fusion of your progressive rock and punk! I wish I could have made it to your show in Elgin, IL, maybe you could find your way to Chicago, IL and or Milwaukee, WI in 2018.

how doyöö like the sub mr lake xD sisilly ön feyärnöRD pressed Döwn 4 the remainink 8G ^^ nö i didnt spöil my paragräph ^ ^ keep frömm härmöhnyy

I never thought I’d hear such a banal lyric like “I want to make love to you on love beach” on an ELP album 😞

At 4:00 Carl says " It looks like the Bee Gees". I played it over a bunch of times just to have a good laugh. Carl is a straight forward guy ya know. And then Keith says " Well he's write right". I fell out of the chair laughing again because Keith is dead serious. Hey guys, you didnt get caught robbing the collection plate at church, you just followed the advice given. These guys were the top of the top for so long and finally, somehow, they got punked into Love Beach. I'm glad though because this interview is so funny and they're big boys with nothing to prove to anyone. Their worst music smokes any of the "new country" or multi overdub voice correction cookie cutter blond bimbo karaoke band music. Ah, yup, they do look like the Bee Gees. L.O.L.

Sounds to me like they knew the game was up and instead of moping while trying to make Son Of A Tarkus, they'd decided to lay some pipe, phone in the record and live the rock star life on the labels' tab until it was time to go home to the Missus and join the Dad Life. In 1978, Geoff Downes' balls probably hadn't dropped yet, much less anyone anticipate the later success of Asia.

I remember when it was released. I was like: what the heck is this? It sounded like it was recorded in a tin can. Yeah, there are one or two good songs ... and portions of the second side are listenable. But - to state the obvious - it was disappointing.

A progressive rock band of course is entitled to make changes. However, not every change is progress. Some bands make excellent shifts, either commercially or artistically. Love beach was neither, and yes, the album pictures in the Bee Gees style were cheesy and ridiculous. Maybe the band should have brought in new blood. The experiment with Cozy Powell for ex. was quite interesting. (I hope the live recordings with him will one day be reprocessed, because the sound quality generally is rather weak). And the second option - waiting a few years and then try again - was done with some success in the two last albums. Most people seem to prefer Black Moon, to me, Hot seat contains a number of better compositions than Black Moon. But it is clear, ELP never managed to make the right turn like Yes did, or like Genesis.

Still havent bought this one will but not a memorable album guess saw Carl Palmer Ontario new band

It's a varied album with some excellent tracks and some very poor tracks

I was a huge fan from the start, i was so embarrassed by this album.

Ahmet must be rolling over in his grave, being blamed for this. Lol.

Personally I think the album almost worked - but not quite. The long track 'Officer & a Gentleman' should have been great, but much of it sounded like a band that had run out of ideas. They did not get the balance between prog and pop right, so they ultimately threw the baby out with the bath water.

from "Brain Salad Surgery" to "Love Beach"? Brilliance to Shit! in 4? yrs....

NOT A CONCEPT LP NOTHING WRONG WITH THE MUSIC BUT TRACK AFTER TRACK DID NOT RUN FREELY THE ALBUM COVER LIKE CARL SAID BEE GEES IT WAS CRAP - NOT ELP

Their honesty is refreshing. An honest rock star? This album is beyond suck. The funniest part is the Love Beach merch for sale that came inside the original LP.

No matter how "bad" of an album it may be to people who know what REAL MUSIC is (and the band themselves - R.I.P. , Greg & Keith) - it's still 100X better than 98% of the absolute S*H*I*T being churned out today (and the last 15 yrs !!!! ...... hell, who am I kidding .... the last 26 fucking years !!) . Also, out of ALL the music "created" in today's world, - every genre - 95% of it is TOTAL SHIT !!!

Why was commercial success so important to them?? Didn't what their die hard fans wanted matter??