What does it sound like?:
Way back in days of yore, this was the first ELP album I ever bought, attracted by the thought of discovering a new band – and by the fact that the original live album was a budget price release!
It was the band’s second release of 1971, following on from Tarkus, with the featured performance being recorded in Newcastle in March of that year. The piece is, of course, inspired by Mussorgsky’s classical composition, but expanded with the band’s typical improvisations and flourishes.
The remastered original album on disc one is augmented by a performance of the piece recorded at the following year’s Mar Y Sol festival in Puerto Rico of all places.
The second cd contains a show at the Lyceum from late 1970 which concludes with storming takes on The Barbarian, Knife Edge and especially Rondo.
The booklet has new interviews on the album and its recording, conducted with the band earlier this year.
What does it all *mean*?
This is still a really good listen for fans of the band, and it certainly brought back a lot of good memories. If you’re just a fan of prog from that era in general, here’s a great opportunity to get acquainted with this classic piece of music from the band’s repertoire.
Goes well with…
Other albums by the band – more reissues are to follow later this year and in 2017.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
ELP, prog.
Johnny Concheroo says
Nice! As you say the original was a budget release on Island’s HELP series, which was intended for projects that, even for Island, were considered a little left field. It was all high quality previously unreleased music though and the ELP album fits nicely among the folk, rock and electronica which made up the bulk of the HELP releases
retropath2 says
HELP 1 – Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Pictures at an Exhibition, 1971 (originally the catalogue number was assigned as ILPS 9177, the LP number of which was later given to and released as War: All Day Music. But the 8-track of “Pictures/Exhibition” was released as Y8I 9177)
HELP 2 – Robin Williamson: Myrrh, 1972
HELP 3 – Henry Wolff, Nancy Hennings With Drew Gladstone: Tibetan Bells, 1972
HELP 4 – Colosseum: Valentyne Suite (Bronze /UK, Island label /Germany, original on Vertigo)
HELP 5 – Ashley Hutchings: Morris On, 1972
HELP 6 – King Crimson: Earthbound (Live), 1972
HELP 7 – Habibiyya: If Man But Knew, 1972
HELP 8 – National Lampoon: Radio Dinner, 1972 (Label: Blue Thumb)
HELP 9 – V.A.: The Dynamic Sound Of Jamaica, Volume 1, 1973
HELP 10 – John Surman: Westering Home, 1972
HELP 11 – Grimms: Grimms, 1973
HELP 12 – Stomu Yamash’ta & Come To The Edge: Floating Music, 1973
HELP 13 – Sun Treader: Zin-Zin, 1973
HELP 14 – Third World: Aiye-Keta, 1973
HELP 15 – V.A.: Soul Of Jamaica, 1973
HELP 16 – Fripp + Eno: No Pussyfooting, 1973
HELP 17 – Ashley Hutchings: The Compleat Dancing Master, 1973
HELP 18 – Basil Kirchin: Worlds Within Worlds (Parts 3 & 4), 1973
HELP 19 – Quiet Sun: Mainstream, 1975; Collectable Records.ru
HELP 20 – V.A. (Fania All Stars): Salsa!, 1974
HELP 21 – Fania All Stars: Salsa Live, 1976
HELP 22 – Fripp + Eno: Evening Star, 1976
HELP 23 – Jorge Ben: Samba Nova, 1976
HELP 24 – Ashley Hutchings: Rattlebone & Ploughjack, 1976
HELP 25 – The Albion Country Band: Battle of the Field, 1976
HELP 26 – James Booker: Junco Partner, 1976
HELP 27 – Renaissance: Illusion, 1976; (original release: 1970)
HELP 28 – Fairport Convention: Live at the L.A. Troubadour, 1976
HELP 29 – Irma Thomas: Live, 1976
I thought it a fabulous sub-label and still have many of those, principally the Hutchings/Fairport/Albion ones, as well as, natch, Pictures and Valentyne Suite
Vulpes Vulpes says
Tibetan Bells is/was a great album, and also a serious work-out for turntables. Looooooong sustained notes that give away the slightest w-ow a-nd fl-u-u-uttter, and some piercingly clear tones that give the cartridge (and even the best loudspeakers) quite a tough time. Awesome music too, more’s the point.
Jorrox says
Booker and Irma ask ‘what the hell am I doing in this list?’
Johnny Concheroo says
Morris On was a popular one in the circle I moved in.
Contrary to what I said above, there were a couple of previously released titles in the HELP series. Colosseum and Renaissance among them.
Colin H says
And also the John Surman album (recently issued on CD for the first time by Fledg’ling).
Colin H says
Ah sorry, I thought you said previously UNreleased…
Declan says
Always regarded Earthbound as the runt in King Crimson’s excellent catalogue so I suppose inclusion in the HELP series was somewhere between a downgrading and a discount. Recording quality was appalling.
James Blast says
Played twice, remains unloved to this day.
Junior Wells says
As coincidence would have it, prompted by BPs other reviews I gave BSS a spin yesterday ( not having the others). And I’m not one to join a thread just to diss the artist but for this record I will make an exception. It was fucking awful. A complete dog’s dinner. Gave me the jitters and the normally tolerant Mrs Wells pleaded I take it off. I never got through side 2- perhaps that is where the glory is but I neeed time to recover before I go back in.
Johnny Concheroo says
ELP are a strange one. Other than the odd moment, they’ve always left me cold.
I much prefer The Nice to the overblown pomp of ELP