EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER -- King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents (King Biscuit)

ELP fans are in for a real treat. For years, the King Biscuit Flower Hour has captured live concerts for broadcast on the radio. As the folks at King Biscuit continue to open their vaults to the CD-buying public, the fans are the ones who stand to benefit. The new 2CD package features excerpts from two separate ELP tours--the first from 1974, and the second from 1977. You're probably thinking to yourself--I already have the live albums from those tours, why do I need this one? Well, there are several reasons.

The main reason is the improved sound quality on the '74 material. Welcome Back My Friends . . . always had terrible sound quality, and I'm pleased to report that is not the case here. The other reason is that the '77 material contains a previously unreleased live version of "Pirates" that you won't want to miss. Also, the second disc contains a ton of multimedia stuff--interviews with the band (be sure to check out the interview with Lake in the 'Extras' section for a great story about performing in Italy), exclusive concert footage, and assorted rare photos.

The track list reads like a 'best of' collection. All the hits are here: "Lucky Man" (two versions--audio and video), a killer version of "Fanfare for the Common Man," "From the Beginning" (video only), and an uncut 34-minute version of "Karn Evil 9." The performances are inspired throughout both discs. If you're an ELP fan, you won't be disappointed with this one.

AUDIO TRACK LIST:

Disc One: Peter Gunn Theme * Tiger in a Spotlight * C'est La Vie * Piano Improvisation * Maple Leaf Rag * Maple Leaf Rag * Drum Solo * The Enemy God * Watching Over You * Pirates * Fanfare for the Common Man * Hoe Down * Still, You Turn Me On * Lucky Man * Piano Improvisation

Disc Two: Karn Evil 9

MULTIMEDIA TRACK LIST (all tracks performed live):

From the Beginning * Lucky Man * Paper Blood

© 1997 Steve Marshall