Emerson, Lake and Palmer — 鈥楲ive in California 1974鈥�
鈥淲elcome back my friends to the show that never ends,鈥� announces Greg Lake on the stirring 鈥淜arn Evil 9: First Impression, Pt. 2.鈥�
Indeed the legendary show continues for ELP fans this holiday season with the Shout! Factory鈥檚 first-ever official release of the band鈥檚 historic performance at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, Calif., on April 6, 1974. This latest offering features ELP at the height of their popularity and captures a nearly flawless showing by the progressive rock trio. For those fans who savor albums that document monumental periods in music, the archival material from this California music festival is a musical piece of paradise. Highlights of the album include amazing performances of the acoustic ballads 鈥淪till鈥ou Turn Me On鈥� and 鈥淟ucky Man.鈥� I鈥檓 not ashamed to confess that hearing the pair of classic ELP arrangements produced chills as I fondly recalled purchasing the band鈥檚 debut album as a teenager and being mesmerized by Lake鈥檚 majestic vocals, Keith Emerson鈥檚 phenomenal keyboard prowess and Carl Palmer鈥檚 stupendous drumming skills. All of these attributes are on full display as the band shines on dazzling versions of 鈥淭occata鈥� and 鈥淭ake a Pebble,鈥� while closing with the epic interpretation of Modest Mussorgsky鈥檚 work 鈥淧ictures at an Exhibition.鈥� This California music festival which featured Rare Earth, Earth, Wind and Fire, Seals and Crofts, Black Oak Arkansas, the Eagles, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, attracted an estimated 250,000 fans and was broadcast on network television. Talk about a show for the ages. I may have been a touch too young to attend the festival, but after a quick search on the Internet, I discovered a DVD of the show featuring over five hours of performances from all the bands on the festival bill. Looks like my Christmas list now includes a little taste of 1974. Welcome back my friends.