Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Pictures At An Exhibition - Deluxe Edition


Artist: Emerson, Lake and Palmer

Label: Sanctuary Records

Release Dates:

Original: November, 1971
CD: October 7, 2008

Discs: 2

Aardvark's Rating:


out of 5



Emerson, Lake and Palmer's take on Ravel's arrangement of Mussorgsky's classical piece "Pictures At An Exhibition" has never been one of my favorites works in their cannon, yet it still stands up as a uniquie glance back at a time in progressive rock's infancy, when anything went.

Originally the band recorded and filmed an entire concert at the Lyceum Ballroom, but an intermitent hum from the vocal mikes negated any kind of release of that material. It was decided to give it one more go and their performance of Mussorgsky's masterpiece was captured to the bands satisfaction at the Newcastle City Hall in England. ELP's encore from that period, B Bumble and the Stingers hit "Nut Rocker", a rock take on the Nutcracker Suite, was included.

At the time Pictures was intended to be included as a bonus disc with their then current release, Tarkus. The idea was scraped and was, instead, released as a budget priced disc on it's own.

The piece, or an abreviated version of the piece, would remain in the bands repetoire throughout the rest of the 70's and for their 90's reunion tours.

With more modern recording and editing techniques, any sonic issues with the original recordings meant to comprise the Pictures LP have been eradicated. Their entire set from that night is included in this deluxe edition on disc two.

If your idea of the quintessential Emerson, Lake and Palmer song is Lucky Man, then run, don't walk, away from this release. If, however, you enjoy some of their more demanding pieces this release is for you.

Disc One (Recorded live Newcastle City Hall, England 26th March 1971): Promenade (Instrumental) The Gnome / Promenade (Vocal) / The Sage / The Old Castle / Blues Variation / Promenade (Instrumental 2) / The Hut Of Baba Yaga / The Curse Of Baba Yaga / The Hut Of Baba Yaga (Part 2) / The Great Gates Of Kiev / Nut Rocker / Pictures At An Exhibition Medley i) Promenade (Instrumental) ii) The Gnome iii) Promenade (Vocal) iv) The Sage v) The Hut Of Baba Yaga / The Great Gates Of Kiev/


Disc Two (Bonus Tracks - Live at the Lyceum Ballroom, December 9, 1970): Promenade (Instrumental) The Gnome / Promenade (Vocal) / The Sage / The Old Castle / Blues Variation / Promenade (Instrumental 2) / The Hut Of Baba Yaga / The Curse Of Baba Yaga / The Hut Of Baba Yaga (Part 2) / The Great Gates Of Kiev / The Barberian / Knife Edge / Rondo / Nut Rocker

Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery - Deluxe Edition


Artist: Emerson, Lake and Palmer

Label: Sanctuary Records

Release Dates:

Original: November 19, 1973
CD: October 7, 2008

Discs: 3 (2 CD / 1 DVD)

Aardvark's Rating:


out of 5



Originally titled "Whip Some Skull On Yer" (Cockney slang for fellatio), "Brain Salad Surgery" (a slightly less obvious euphamism for fellatto) was to became Emerson, Lake and Palmer's masterpiece. Forward thinking and original for it's time Surgery is one of those albums that sounds best when played start to finish without a break.

From the opening strains of the bands take on "Jerusalem" and on to the rather abrupt end of the album, ELP took the themes which had been dabbled with on past releases and brought it into a sharp, cohesive focus.

The electronic cacophony of "Toccata" followed, a song for which Carl Palmer used home made drum triggers for what could well have been the first drum synthesizer ever captured on record.

Following in the footsteps of "Lucy Man" and "From The Beginning" Greg Lake penned and recorded the poignant "Still... You Turn Me On" which led right to "Benny The Bouncer" a fun ragtime, piano driven song.

And then, there is Karn Evil #9: a song which Pete Sinfield, an old friend from Lake's King Crimson days helped with the lyrics and also helped title the song, commenting that it sounded like the music sounded like a carnival. And so, the 30+ minute epic was born.

This deluxe edition sounds fantastic and has two discs of bonus content: a CD of b-sides, and outtake and the original first mix of the album rejected by the band and a DVD of the album mixed in 5.1 surround sound.

If you love Progressive Rock, or are just curious about what all the fuss was about, you owe it to yourself to pick this title up.

Disc One (Original album remixed): Jerusalem / Toccata / Still... You Turn Me On / Benny The Bouncer / Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 1 / Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2 / Karn Evil 9: 2nd Impression / Karn Evil 9: 3rd Impression


Disc Two (Bonus Tracks): When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windmills Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine / Brain Salad Surgery / Karn Evil 9: 3rd Impression - Original Back Track / Jerusalem - First Mix / Still... You Turn Me On - First Mix / Toccata - First Mix / Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 1 - First Mix / Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2 - First Mix / Karn Evil 9: 2nd Impression - First Mix / Karn Evil 9: 3rd Impression - First Mix / Excerpts from Brain Salad Surgery - From the NME Flexidisc


Disc Three (DVD 5.1 Mix): Jerusalem / Toccata / Still... You Turn Me On / Benny The Bouncer / Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 1 / Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2 / Karn Evil 9: 2nd Impression / Karn Evil 9: 3rd Impression