Search - Emerson Lake & Palmer :: From The Beginning

For Diehard Fans Only

The Old Rocker | SF Bay Area | 11/08/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Not an essential set but a nice treat for diehard fans. As the previous reviewer noted the track listing here on Amazon is not completely accurate. However, the box itself does not contain these errors. As for the music, well most ELP fans will already have the remastered studio albums so the real treat here is a set of live tracks that are far superior than the offical "Bootleg" series and one truly previously unheard, unreleased track.



The new track "Oh My Father" by Lake is very interesting in that it was recorded during the Tarkus sessions but sounds nothing like that album. I don't know Lake's personal history but it seems to be a tribute to his late father. Did his father pass away at an early age? If so, it is a very personal song, otherwise it's just an ELP oddity. Still, it is a decent ballad with some tasty electric guitar.



The Holy Grail for fans is the complete Mar Y Sol concert recorded in Puerto Rico in 1972. An excerpt of Take A Pebble was the only offically released track from this festival that was included on an Atlantic Records compilation in the early '70's. The whole concert is fantastic with an amazing Tarkus, an exciting, truncated Pictures and a frantic Rondo for an encore. What I love about the Tarkus is the muscular bass by Lake that just propels the music along. Emerson and Palmer are their usual excellent selves.



So, you have remastered tracks, alternate or early mixes of some classic tunes and enough unreleased live tracks from their prime that you could build your own private concert with. For the casual fan? Nope. But for the diehard, it is big time fun."

Not again...

Ignaciocue | Mexico | 12/13/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have bought the elp catalog two times, one Rhino and one Castle version. But Again Castle strikes with a box. The studio material is five stars for newcomers only.



The live material is superb, but not better in execution than Welcome back, listen to tarkus keyboard solo on both and you will see..

Unnecesary extra versions of live hoedown and Rondo made me sick...



So do we have to buy everything again to get the live ones ? No sir, i guess i will search elswhere on the web.

"

YES!!!

George Farris | Houston, Tx | 03/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This box is so cool. Been a fan of ELP's since the mid 70's and I own most of their stuff. For this reviewer this box, "From The Beginnig" far supasses 1993's "The Return Of The Manticore" on several accounts. The live versions of "The Barbarian", "Knife-Edge" and "Rondo" are very exciting. These three selections are from the Lyceum, London, Dec. 1970. Even in these early days, these guys put on one hell of a show. Carl's drumming on "Rondo" is spectacular, spectacular. "Oh, My Father" is a wonderful song, finally getting released on this box. "Hoedown" (live from 1973), "Jerusalem" and "Still...You Turn Me On" (both in the first mix) are virtually indentical to the original release. However "When The Apples Blossoms" the B-Side version, is really nice. "C'est La Vie" and "I Believe In Father Christmas" are both in an early version and are significantly different from the original. The interview segment from Aaron Copeland is interesting as well to start disc 4. "Romeo and Juliet" and "Touch and Go" are live versions.



The only songs that from me are rather suspect are "Mars - The Bringer Of War" from Emerson, Lake & Powell and "DesedeLa Vida/La Vista/Sangre De Toro" from the group 3. Emerson, Palmer and somebody else. They are of minor interest. But it's kinda nice to have a song represented from these almost ELP groups of the mid/late 80's.



Finally, disc 5. Wow. Live at Mar Y Sol Festival, Puerto Rico, January 1972! Very Cool. Yes, "Hoedown", "Tarkus", "Take A Pebble", "Lucky Man" and "Rondo" have been repeated from earlier in the box, but these are different versions. Actually, with the exception of "Lucky Man" the entire concert is previously unreleased.



The DVD is rather disappointing. I had to play it in my computer, as it would not play in my DVD player since it's a European PAL disc. I thought the DVD would show previously unreleased concert footage from 1973. And yes, they do, briefly, in short clips. Not one song is played in it's entirety. The majority of the DVD shows preconcert footage/setting up/rehearsals etc. Clips of archival film footage of interviews, Emerson skeet shooting, Lake fishing, Palmer getting a massage after a show. Some of the clips are from the much better DVD "Beyond The Beginng". But I didn't buy this box set for the DVD alone. I bought it mostly for the excellent music. And excellent it is indeed.



The booklet is large with many outstanding photos throughout their ELP history. Also included is a nice long interview that is quite interesting covering the inception of the band to it's breakup. Although, according to Palmer, they haven't actually broken up.



The design of the box itself is not the best I've seen. The booklet slides out virtually everytime the box is opened up. Ah, C'est la vie. Even though I had the lion's share of this box set, I feel it was positively worth it."