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Length: 4:10
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But don't be unkind
It don't mean I'm blind
Perhaps there's a thing or two
I think of lying in bed
I shouldn't have said
But there it is
You see it's all clear
You were meant to be here
From the beginning
Maybe I might have changed
And not been so cruel
Not been such a fool
Whatever was done is done
I just can't recall
It doesn't matter at all
You see it's all clear
You were meant to be here
From the beginning
Loved this in your comment:
"Vivid memories seems the only strong currrency a man can own these days after all (these years)."
Still love Pictures at an Exhibition.
Fast forward 8 yrs, I was sitting one evening in my rented room while attending high school. Listening on a transistor radio some foreign station on MW band with a lot of noise. Still I recall vividly the first few bars of 'The fanfare for the common man' and the DJ saying it was ELP.
Vivid memories sems the only strong currrency a man can own these days after all (these years).
ELP, Jethro Tull, Moody Blues, Steely Dan, Allman Brothers, Steve Ray Vaughn, Black Oak Arkansas, ZZ Top, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and let's not forget the women of the era, Chrissy Hyde, Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Joan Jett, Patti Smith, the pantheon of rack-n-roll arrogance strutting thru that period of my life, making it the background soundtrack for me. A time when I didn't have much going for myself except trying to pursue an advanced education, and doing so in a rather haphazard fashion I must admit, too.
But for all that it was the freest I have ever been in life with the possible exception of now. So here I am well along and into the other side of that arc of life, still healthy which would shock the shit out of me excepting I've a +90yr old set of parents who're still alive and functional. I guess my biology runs on good coding. The kids that sprung from me are long fledged and flown the nest, the missus gone, too, And here I am right back where I started. Just a bit more bemused by all the in-between from then to now. I find myself asking myself, "Okay....now what?" Don't you? ;-)
While that pantheon has changed since I do like a lot of the stuff now being put out that was the time that defined me, it's the baseline from which I now spring into whatever it is that's setting up to come next. If you bothered to read this far I wish you much luck in doing the same!
Highlow~
I am similarly situated, friend. And I ask myself, in a bemused but pleased echo of David Byrne, "How did I get here?"
Life is good, especially if you're as lucky as I have been.
Thank you William.
Marginal then, marginal now...
LOL
ELP, Jethro Tull, Moody Blues, Steely Dan, Allman Brothers, Steve Ray Vaughn, Black Oak Arkansas, ZZ Top, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and let's not forget the women of the era, Chrissy Hyde, Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Joan Jett, Patti Smith, the pantheon of rack-n-roll arrogance strutting thru that period of my life, making it the background soundtrack for me. A time when I didn't have much going for myself except trying to pursue an advanced education, and doing so in a rather haphazard fashion I must admit, too.
But for all that it was the freest I have ever been in life with the possible exception of now. So here I am well along and into the other side of that arc of life, still healthy which would shock the shit out of me excepting I've a +90yr old set of parents who're still alive and functional. I guess my biology runs on good coding. The kids that sprung from me are long fledged and flown the nest, the missus gone, too, And here I am right back where I started. Just a bit more bemused by all the in-between from then to now. I find myself asking myself, "Okay....now what?" Don't you? ;-)
While that pantheon has changed since I do like a lot of the stuff now being put out that was the time that defined me, it's the baseline from which I now spring into whatever it is that's setting up to come next. If you bothered to read this far I wish you much luck in doing the same!
Highlow~
Very well stated! that is why we listen to RP!
But for all that it was the freest I have ever been in life with the possible exception of now. So here I am well along and into the other side of that arc of life, still healthy which would shock the shit out of me excepting I've a +90yr old set of parents who're still alive and functional. I guess my biology runs on good coding. The kids that sprung from me are long fledged and flown the nest, the missus gone, too, And here I am right back where I started. Just a bit more bemused by all the in-between from then to now. I find myself asking myself, "Okay....now what?" Don't you? ;-)
While that pantheon has changed since I do like a lot of the stuff now being put out that was the time that defined me, it's the baseline from which I now spring into whatever it is that's setting up to come next. If you bothered to read this far I wish you much luck in doing the same!
Highlow~
Two years later I heard them do Brain Salad Surgery at the Olympiahalle in Munich.
Saw them in Jackson, MS, pre-Works and a friend let me into the gen admission portion before anyone else. Like moth to a flame I walked straight up to the railing in front of the keys and stood transfixed. (High point: I yelled "KNIFE EDGE" and Keith looked at me, smiled, nodded - but didn't play it)
Great post, SD. Sounds like you and I are on the same page re ELP (and Steely Dan).
So sad to hear about Keith's passing, especially in light of the way it happened.
R.I.P.
When he killed himself my college buddies called me to see if I was OK. Tells you something about how much I thought of Keith, and how much they think of me.
Saw them in Jackson, MS, pre-Works and a friend let me into the gen admission portion before anyone else. Like moth to a flame I walked straight up to the railing in front of the keys and stood transfixed. (High point: I yelled "KNIFE EDGE" and Keith looked at me, smiled, nodded - but didn't play it)
Beyond Karn Evil 9, I just can't get into Emerson Lake & Palmer. I mean, this is still pretty good, but not like earth-shattering. But Karn Evil 9 does rock.
I liked your comment just because we seem to be polar opposites, if that makes sense! I am all in ELP up to Trilogy, and not so much after that LOL.
Timeless. One of the most beautiful rock songs ever written. Every component merges perfectly.
completely agree! fabulous tune.
It's so good, that it's right up there with: Rikki Don't Lose That Number ....
Horace Silver, "Song for My Father"
I saw them at the Isle of Wight festival l970 so any time I hear them brings back memories.
Beyond the glass ceiling of 10...this is a 12...but there it is.
Very well stated!
Another quip:
This song is kind of an Emerson, Lake, Lake, Lake, Lake and Palmer piece since Greg does vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, and lead guitar.
Yes, your mom and I agree, we had a great night. She's really a tiger! Grrrrrr!
I don't know about that. I am listening to the FLAC stream through a Denafrips Aries II DAC and with a Velodyne subwoofer. Try a better DAC before you give digital the heave ho!
Maybe not so much on this particular album, but on their first there are spots where the bottom end just cuts off, especially apparent when listed to side by side with the vinyl. And for the record, I'm listening on Pro audio gear - Focal CMS 40's paired with a Focal Sub6, through a Dangerous Source DAC.
Equipment only sounds as good as the data it's fed.
not knocking RP, but there are many other superb tracks on this album well worth playing, not just this one which is unfortunately getting played to death
They have an annoying habit of doing that with many artists. My only criticism of R.P.
Thanks for the heads up. I'm off to research Trilogy etc.
I wonder if I would have ever figured out that I really liked classical music if I had never listened to ELP. I have an extensive classical library thanks to listening to toccatas and concertos from ELP.
We sang a song they covered in church today, Jerusalem.
I think Emerson's classical training lead them to do stuff like Pictures at an Exhibition, Fanfare for a common man and other classical stuff.
But Trilogy was probably there best overall album.
It is hard to believe both Emerson and Lake are gone.
Maybe part of what now makes it (seem like) a magic time was that we were all 45 years younger.
I think you mean Rick Wakeman's baroque noodling - it's Rick who can't play a melody without mordents, trills, appoggiaturas and acciaccaturas.
Yeah, the digital, CD versions lose SO much! Especially the low end.
I don't know about that. I am listening to the FLAC stream through a Denafrips Aries II DAC and with a Velodyne subwoofer. Try a better DAC before you give digital the heave ho!
Yes but his golf career really took off after he did...
I wonder if I would have ever figured out that I really liked classical music if I had never listened to ELP. I have an extensive classical library thanks to listening to toccatas and concertos from ELP.
We sang a song they covered in church today, Jerusalem.
I think Emerson's classical training lead them to do stuff like Pictures at an Exhibition, Fanfare for a common man and other classical stuff.
But Trilogy was probably there best overall album.
It is hard to believe both Emerson and Lake are gone.
At the rate most rock stars expire, it's actually harder to believe they lived as long as they did. Still, I can lay my love for classical music at the feet of ELP as well. Fanfare for the Common Man blew me away.
It hasn't dated at all. It's as brilliant, fresh and ground-breaking as when it was released. I think you might be thinking of Duran Duran.
STFU troll
I wonder if I would have ever figured out that I really liked classical music if I had never listened to ELP. I have an extensive classical library thanks to listening to toccatas and concertos from ELP.
We sang a song they covered in church today, Jerusalem.
I think Emerson's classical training lead them to do stuff like Pictures at an Exhibition, Fanfare for a common man and other classical stuff.
But Trilogy was probably there best overall album.
It is hard to believe both Emerson and Lake are gone.
I agree. The interpretation of Aaron Copeland's hoedown was also amazing.
Yep, I'll second that. I also worshipped ELP and Keith Emerson, and the group was the only musical taste of mine to which my Dad approved as Emerson was a classically-trained pianist. I read that Emerson offed himself out of perfectionism, that he feared that his fingers could no longer do his bidding in his old age and that his performances would be poor. I don't know how true or not that is, but it is a sad loss to music.
ELP's stuff has, of course, dated very badly, but this and other songs of Greg Lake have greater longevity, I think, mainly due to their simplicity and lack of Emerson's trademark baroque noodling.
Fredriley, that is a very astute observation. However, I would slightly disagree when you mention that ELP's music has not withstood the test of time. Tarkus was a fine piece of music and since you're obviously a fellow-ELP fan, I would encourage you to give it another listen.
Yeah, the digital, CD versions lose SO much! Especially the low end.
Your mind would be blown if you heard it in 5.1 surround.
Also sounds insane at high dB's on original vinyl thru a great HiFi system, 500 WPC and big JBL's
Yeah, the digital, CD versions lose SO much! Especially the low end.
Complete truth there, unclehud….I've FINALLY obtained a pretty good audio-first cell phone, paired with relatively good pair of headphones and streaming the FLAC....sounds freaking great....though I can't re-rate my 10 any higher....LLRP!!
Also sounds insane at high dB's on original vinyl thru a great HiFi system, 500 WPC and big JBL's
Complete truth there, unclehud….I've FINALLY obtained a pretty good audio-first cell phone, paired with relatively good pair of headphones and streaming the FLAC....sounds freaking great....though I can't re-rate my 10 any higher....LLRP!!
Very few folks have ever commented on maybe one of the best bass lines ever written.
It's so good, that it's right up there with: Rikki Don't Lose That Number, My Cheri Amour, What's Goin' On, Little Help From My Friends, Signed, Sealed, Delivered...(hell then, everything that ever came out of Motown for that matter)...I could go on.
In short, if there is a tune you really like, go back and pick out the bass line. I would bet that bass chart is chunky, moving sweet tones, of pure dynamics and emotion.
Greg had that in spades.
Lastly....long live the P-Bass. If you are truly a player, you own at least one. You know what mean!
Thanks for that. I will listen to it differently now. Great song.
Maybe part of what now makes it (seem like) a magic time was that we were all 45 years younger.
Exactly! When I was minus 3, I loved this music! I do have this etched in my earliest memories from my dad playing it, and boy I'm glad he turned me onto the great music from the 60s/70s. Long Live RP and RIP to my gone-4-years-now-dad!!
Very few folks have ever commented on maybe one of the best bass lines ever written.
It's so good, that it's right up there with: Rikki Don't Lose That Number, My Cheri Amour, What's Goin' On, Little Help From My Friends, Signed, Sealed, Delivered...(hell then, everything that ever came out of Motown for that matter)...I could go on.
In short, if there is a tune you really like, go back and pick out the bass line. I would bet that bass chart is chunky, moving sweet tones, of pure dynamics and emotion.
Greg had that in spades.
Lastly....long live the P-Bass. If you are truly a player, you own at least one. You know what mean!
Funny that you're mentioning that because I've always believed the bass is actually the most important instrument in a band. Take any planetary hit in history, it's always seated on a great bass line. The bassist is often the only discrete guy who's clean and able to hold the band together. The responsibility is huge; one single wrong note and the whole song is wasted.
. Listen to their rendition of Copeland's 'Hoedown'
Very few folks have ever commented on maybe one of the best bass lines ever written.
It's so good, that it's right up there with: Rikki Don't Lose That Number, My Cheri Amour, What's Goin' On, Little Help From My Friends, Signed, Sealed, Delivered...(hell then, everything that ever came out of Motown for that matter)...I could go on.
In short, if there is a tune you really like, go back and pick out the bass line. I would bet that bass chart is chunky, moving sweet tones, of pure dynamics and emotion.
Greg had that in spades.
Lastly....long live the P-Bass. If you are truly a player, you own at least one. You know what mean!
Stephen_Phillips wrote:
Maybe part of what now makes it (seem like) a magic time was that we were all 45 years younger.
Top, pour bosser calmement...
I'm right there with y'all...hell I'm gonna go 9→10 finally! Hope you've tipped your maids with all the partying in that damned room of yours PEACE and Long Live RP!!
*I don't remember the Siamese triplets album cover though...how could that be? Kinda freaky....*
One of the guys picks up his guitar and plays this perfectly as we stare at the stars overhead. It was so sad as the moment ended. Moments like that are what makes life special.
Cool post, S_D.
I too had the Trilogy t-shirt!
Yes we can say that now but I think you may agree that we did not realise it at the time. For my part I thought it would always be like that and now looking back over the years it makes me a bit sad that it is a time past and a door closed. Maybe future generations will have something like it again.
It's 1977 or so, and me and a few college buddies are lying on our back on the top of the LSU Indian Mounds on a warm Louisiana evening. I might have been wearing my T-shirt with the Trilogy album cover.
One of the guys picks up his guitar and plays this perfectly as we stare at the stars overhead. It was so sad as the moment ended. Moments like that are what makes life special.
True that! This is FLACing awesome! This is one of the first tunes I remember hearing as a kid, thanks to my dad, that sounded great to my young ears, and then eventually the meaning of the lyrics became clear to me. I'm at a 9 and so close to going full 10 on it. Such a great, clear sound that seems to match the lyrical content perfectly. LONG LIVE RP!!
I think of lying in bed
I shouldn't have said
. . . But there it is
Always loved those simple but poignant lyrics.
Yes we can say that now but I think you may agree that we did not realise it at the time. For my part I thought it would always be like that and now looking back over the years it makes me a bit sad that it is a time past and a door closed. Maybe future generations will have something like it again.
I agree, but I see it as a window not a door. A window into what can be. It is still there, we have just lost our way.
Yes we can say that now but I think you may agree that we did not realise it at the time. For my part I thought it would always be like that and now looking back over the years it makes me a bit sad that it is a time past and a door closed. Maybe future generations will have something like it again.
That's a pertinent observation, Stephen. I'd agree. I don't know but I get the feeling that it's almost all been done now.
Yes we can say that now but I think you may agree that we did not realise it at the time. For my part I thought it would always be like that and now looking back over the years it makes me a bit sad that it is a time past and a door closed. Maybe future generations will have something like it again.
Then somebody else wrote:
" Really sucks to get older or "too old" to do certain things. But it doesn't happen overnight. We get time to see it coming and to at least somewhat adjust. That's what retirement is - not doing the same job you did when younger, or any job, right? I don't know, maybe some can't deal with it."
I have had a couple friend parents end themselves in the last 5 years. Just didn't want to deal with the final stages of old age. One guy was a pilot. Wife died, got to old to fly, perfectly good health otherwise. Just got to old to do what he wanted to do and his life long buddy was gone.
I'm not getting older. It's the people around me that are getting younger.
I wonder if I would have ever figured out that I really liked classical music if I had never listened to ELP. I have an extensive classical library thanks to listening to toccatas and concertos from ELP.
We sang a song they covered in church today, Jerusalem.
I think Emerson's classical training lead them to do stuff like Pictures at an Exhibition, Fanfare for a common man and other classical stuff.
But Trilogy was probably there best overall album.
It is hard to believe both Emerson and Lake are gone.
I read that Emerson offed himself out of perfectionism, that he feared that his fingers could no longer do his bidding in his old age and that his performances would be poor. I don't know how true or not that is, but it is a sad loss to music.
Then somebody else wrote:
" Really sucks to get older or "too old" to do certain things. But it doesn't happen overnight. We get time to see it coming and to at least somewhat adjust. That's what retirement is - not doing the same job you did when younger, or any job, right? I don't know, maybe some can't deal with it."
I have had a couple friend parents end themselves in the last 5 years. Just didn't want to deal with the final stages of old age. One guy was a pilot. Wife died, got to old to fly, perfectly good health otherwise. Just got to old to do what he wanted to do and his life long buddy was gone.
R.I.P.
I read that Emerson offed himself out of perfectionism, that he feared that his fingers could no longer do his bidding in his old age and that his performances would be poor. I don't know how true or not that is, but it is a sad loss to music.
Really sucks to get older or "too old" to do certain things. But it doesn't happen overnight. We get time to see it coming and to at least somewhat adjust. That's what retirement is - not doing the same job you did when younger, or any job, right?
I don't know, maybe some can't deal with it.
Hahahaha! That sounds very similar to something that happened to me. Teenage angst. Same as it ever was... yes.
Sorry, I'm new on here... above comment was meant for colorado john.
Fall of 1979, I recall driving far to drop in and pay a visit to a gal from school I had a crush on who worked at a place called Tiger Records, and just after I had gotten my hopes raised when she praised and raved about my latest concert photos of Rush, The Who and Kansas, my heart was cracked wide open when this song came over the store sound system, because she sighed and rolled her eyes, "Greg Lake...oh, God...what a dream he is..." I saw it in her eyes, heard it in her voice, saw it in her posture — and gave up and left. Was I jealous of his infinite star power, beyond all reason or logic? I was a teenager — of course I was. I got into my '70 Cutlass, cranked up April Wine's I Like to Rock, and hauled ass to buy beer and round up some drinking buddies...alas, Same As It Ever Was, From the Beginning!
Hahahaha! That sounds very similar to something that happened to me. Teenage angst. Same as it ever was... yes.
what a great story!
Hahahaha! That sounds very similar to something that happened to me. Teenage angst. Same as it ever was... yes.
Fall of 1979, I recall driving far to drop in and pay a visit to a gal from school I had a crush on who worked at a place called Tiger Records, and just after I had gotten my hopes raised when she praised and raved about my latest concert photos of Rush, The Who and Kansas, my heart was cracked wide open when this song came over the store sound system, because she sighed and rolled her eyes, "Greg Lake...oh, God...what a dream he is..." I saw it in her eyes, heard it in her voice, saw it in her posture — and gave up and left. Was I jealous of his infinite star power, beyond all reason or logic? I was a teenager — of course I was. I got into my '70 Cutlass, cranked up April Wine's I Like to Rock, and hauled ass to buy beer and round up some drinking buddies...alas, Same As It Ever Was, From the Beginning!
what a great story!
Yep, I'll second that. I also worshipped ELP and Keith Emerson, and the group was the only musical taste of mine to which my Dad approved as Emerson was a classically-trained pianist. I read that Emerson offed himself out of perfectionism, that he feared that his fingers could no longer do his bidding in his old age and that his performances would be poor. I don't know how true or not that is, but it is a sad loss to music.
ELP's stuff has, of course, dated very badly, but this and other songs of Greg Lake have greater longevity, I think, mainly due to their simplicity and lack of Emerson's trademark baroque noodling.
Beautiful but sad song. Even more after reading your comment.I was once a big ELP-fan too.
So sad to hear about Keith's passing, especially in light of the way it happened.
R.I.P.
Yep, I'll second that. I also worshipped ELP and Keith Emerson, and the group was the only musical taste of mine to which my Dad approved as Emerson was a classically-trained pianist. I read that Emerson offed himself out of perfectionism, that he feared that his fingers could no longer do his bidding in his old age and that his performances would be poor. I don't know how true or not that is, but it is a sad loss to music.
ELP's stuff has, of course, dated very badly, but this and other songs of Greg Lake have greater longevity, I think, mainly due to their simplicity and lack of Emerson's trademark baroque noodling.
So sad to hear about Keith's passing, especially in light of the way it happened.
R.I.P.
Highlow
American Net'Zen
Love this song, but, is it just me, or does the balance between the vocal and instrumentation seem just a little off? I find myself wishing the vocal volume was just a wee bit louder in proportion.
The first note of the guitar has always sounded just a tad flat to me