Emerson, Lake & Palmer- Jerusalem (First Listen)
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
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Glorious and epic, in less than 3 minutes the personality that this mega-band transmitted for 1 decade... was summarized.
I learned to sing this song in my primary school way, way back in 1966....!! I can still remember the teacher going over a particular line in it and telling us that we must take a breath after "bring me my spear" and before "oh, clouds unfold".
He made the point that if we didn't, it would sound like we were singing "bring me my spearo....." Goodness, took me all the way back there.
The '70's. There'll never be this level of talent in the quantities found during that era. NEVER!
So glad to have been born early enough to be witness to so many amazing things, music not being the least of them.
This song is criminally underrated. It never seems to get mentioned among ELP’s best, but it shows off the band better than a lot of their hits. Amazing arrangement, flawless playing.
When you first listen to “ Pictures at an Exhibition “ you will be jaw dropping in awe of just how great they were. It was actually their first workmanship. They didn’t put it on album until like 3rd one. However it’s what they played at the Isle of Wight outdoor festival. Like 450,000 people listen to their debut concert there, and that’s what catapulted them into greatness.
Pictures was recorded live in my home town and my brother was there. The opening is played on the organ that was already in place on stage at Newcastle City Hall
Amazing review Justin.Thank you kindly.Your open-mindedness and the speed with which you capture the nuances of musical work is a gift that you have.ELP has been part of my life.It is very appropriate and respectful that you address them as Mr.Emerson,Mr.Lake and Mr.Palmer like you did.Like Pink Floyd,King crimson,Genesis,Gentle Giant ,Yes and many others,they didn’t make music masterpieces,they became music masterpiece.I am asking you a favour Justin.Please ,explore "atom earth mother" the 25 minutes piece of pink Floyd .Thank you once again.
Ty Elaine!
🇬🇧💖BRIT LOVE WEEKEND [May 6-7 2023] I'm totally rocking out Jerusalem, Zadok The Priest, aaaand Memoirs Of An Officer And A Gentleman which really deserves a reassessment.
What ELP did with existing pieces of music was unique in music. This Fanfare and Pictures are just as mindblowing today as they were when I first heard them over forty years ago.
The album cover runs "counter" to the radio-active music! Take a traditional hymn and make it epic,thats Emerson,Lake and Palmer genius!
_Love Beach_ really isn't *that* awful. It has its moments. And I still prefer it overall over their 2 '90s albums.
Fantastic ELP song. Epic, beautiful, powerful. And so significant, but I'm not surprised that the powers that be would not endorse this version. Their loss!
Our gain😃
Well, Jerusalem Justin.
One word MASTERPIECE.
❤️ It's an amazing rendition of a very famous hymn butty. ELP do their version, result.. Perfection butty. 😊
I used to play this song to death when I first bought this album.
I'd blast this out, along with the rest of BBS Justin. 👍 ❤️❤️.
The lifts on this song are just top draw.. Greg Carl and of course the master,
Keith. 😊 😊 😊
Great choice butty, amazing review.. You definitely got it butty 😊.
❤️ Thanks for this awesome choice Justin.
Long, or short compositions.. They will still blow your mind butty. 😊
Ps hope you go back to side two of Tarkus one day my friend. 😊 You won't be disappointed.
❤️ Take care, and have a lush weekend Justin.
Ty Neil! Ill probably get back to Tarkus😃
Good description, very much ELP's anthem to England 🇬🇧 👍
R.I.P. dear Greg
Hej Justin! Fun fact about album cover made by HR Giger:
"The illustration originally had the complete phallus, but when the artwork was presented to the record company, it was rejected and dismissed as pornographic. As Giger refused to take the penis off the painting, the group had another artist airbrush it into a shaft of glowing light.".
you can still make it out below her chin, if you know it's there you can see a faint phallus head
Great reaction J. As Always. As a side note Blake based his poem on the ancient lengend that JESUS as a young boy visited England with his uncle known in the bible as Joseph of Arimathea. According to the lengend Joseph was a tin merchant who was in the south west of England which was known for its huge resources of tin. The ancient Phoenicians traded there it was a well known trade route. There is a famous place there known as Glastonbury .and a ancient Abby where the apostle paul is believed to be buried.
Ty Shane!
Aside from ELP's masterful musicianship perhaps take a look at the meaning in Jerusalem's lyrics:
Jesus the Just, supposedly travelled with his Uncle, Joseph of Arimathea, perhaps a trip overseeing one of his Tin mines in old England.
Perhaps ELP had some truly cool inside knowledge. Laurence Gardner(may he RIP) said that to the high nobility in Europe "it was read" -- meaning that it was understood that Jesus Christ was married to Mary Magdalene and had had two sons and a daughter. ,gives new meaning to "And did those feet..."
I hadn’t heard this In maybe thirty years or more. Wow- I would like to find out how and where this was recorded and mixed.
Hi Justin. I was just listening way back to your video of hearing Genesis' Time Table for the first time. You mentioned something in your review that I thought I'd share with you. You said that you once wanted to write a song about the life cycle of a raindrop as it forms in the clouds right on down to where it falls to the Earth. That immediately reminded me of an album I have called Snowflake. It is a poem written by Paul Gallico that tells the story from the perspective of a raindrop in a cloud and it's adventures in life turning into a snowflake, falling to the ground, melting and eventually evaporating and going back up into the clouds. The poem is read by - and get this - this is quite ironically significant - Peter Gabriel. The story is interlaced with occasional music written and sung by some Japanese artists and much of it is quite beautiful. I do admit, however, that Peter's delivery of the reading is a bit monotonous. He's a better singer than a orator, but the story is still very moving if you can make it to the end. Fortunately the CD has a booklet that tells the story word-for-word in written form, so you can alternatively just read it like a short book, but you don't have that luxury. It obviously is not appropriate for the channel, but I thought I'd turn you onto it for you own personal listening if you choose. I found it on UA-cam and here's a link: ua-cam.com/video/FY3OFjUHywk/v-deo.html. Listen to it if you like. I'd like to know your opinion, as it kind of sounds like a fulfillment of your one-time desire - to see how it could have been done - albeit a bit differently.
You should come back to Zappa and Gentle Giant ;-). I miss them on your channel. But this album is my second favorite from ELP. Now let's go to what follows on that album. And now we are less then 3000 from Tales… I agree with you about cathedrals. I love visiting churches and cathedrals alltough I'm not a believer at all. But there is something in those places, magic, strong and calming.
One of em is coming soon😉
I've never noticed a song writing credit to Phil Keaggy on this song, and I had this album when it came out. But that brings up the matter that you should react to Phil Keaggy sometime. He's a "Christian" artist, but his album The Master and the Musician is a work of genius, and strongly instrumental. It falls right in with progressive rock and some have compared it to another album you should review, The Geese and the Ghost, by Anthony Phillips (an original member of Genesis who quit after the early Trespass album).
Carl Palmer had the fastest hands in rock!
God I can't wait until you get to the Karn Evil suite.
Toccata is the prime piece on that album.
I always thought the lyrics reflected a rally cry for Brits going on the Crusades in medieval times.
Greg Lake's voice is sublime.
You should listen to Pictures at an Exhibition, you can split it in two (side 1 & 2). Essential ELP!
You've got to give Toccata a listen, awesome drumming by Carl Palmer. You're right to avoid Love Beach except for Memoires of an Officer and Gentleman and Canario which are both ok
Best thing they ever did. In my opinion, this is one of the great masterpieces of progressive rock. They may not have written the composition, but they might as well have!
Taking a famous piece like this and then completely changing it so much that your new arrangement of it not only trumps all previous versions to become the new standard,
but also establishes how much can be achieved on a highly artistic level through the fusion of wildly different genres of music, while at the same time bringing newfound popularity
to both of those genres.....if that isn't progressive, I don't know what is!
Nailed it
Great point on progressive music Teppo!
It's a famous poem by William Blake.
An a Hymn that was sung at school.
my Headmaster had a shit-fit when we played this in the 6th form common room.
He called it blasphemy.
@@Jack-D-Ripper It's so majestic.
This is actually ELP's version of a religious hymn that is very popular in England. I think it was even sung at Prince William & Kate Middleton's wedding. The British critics probably didn't like this version because it "rocked up" what is probably a sacred hymn to them.
It was banned by the BBC because they regarded it as 'disrespectful'. Have never been able to see how/why. Being a Brit I grew up with this hymn, and can truthfully say that this version never fails to move me, spiritually, and not just because of my love for ELP.
@@carolwyers2159 I agree on the stirring hymn and ELP's handling of it- very stirring and some think it should be the National Anthem. I'd like that, or I Vow to Thee my Country
@@carolwyers2159 How can Greg Lake's voice not fail to move you? It's a beautiful voice and he captures the spirit of the hymn perfectly. And I'm not British!
@@matthewlloyd5130 absolutely! Perfection all the way around especially Greg's beautiful voice. His voice is very strong here.
I was but a wee lad in the early 70's, so it took a couple years before I realized it was not an ELP composition. I was watching an old Brit B&W movie on TV, and they played an instrumental version as the ending credits rolled. Remember, there was no www back in those days lol
I would also highly recommend Trilogy as it’s definitely their best album. Jerusalem is amazing though.
Ed, could not agree more about Trilogy, brilliant album!
Strangely, and I can't explain why, I never got into Trilogy. I must try to again.
@@Rowenband Must try harder 😏
Trilogy is a bit of a mixed bag and unfortunately, Abadon's Bolero is kind of overwrought and boring. BSS is a much more inspired and cohesive album.
I can go between trilogy, bss, and their debut although I’m not a fan of tarkus
"Upon hearing the orchestral version for the first time, King George V said that he preferred "Jerusalem" over the British national anthem "God Save the King". "Jerusalem" is considered to be England's most popular patriotic song." Wikipedia
It's also used in many public schools in Great Britain.
A few years ago, when there was a vote to decide the anthems to be played for the separate UK countries at medal ceremonies in the Commonwealth Games, Jerusalem won the English vote, and replaced Land of Hope and Glory, which had been used previously 🤔
I hope there isn't a recorded Barmy Army rendition floating around.
The best hymn ever written - even though I identify as British, not English. Between 1964 and 1974 I attended a very 'High Anglican' (church services every day) boarding school in the UK. The school chapel was an enormous high-roofed affair which would hold around 600 boys (13-18yr olds) and staff when fully packed. This hymn was the last one sung at the last service of each term (semester). You can imagine the passion that went into the singing when everyone could go home for holidays immediately afterwards! It sounded like the roof would blow off the building! The fact that my favourite band laid down this track the year before I left school was simply icing on the cake. I have only attended church for weddings/funerals (respect for others) or as a tourist (respect for art and architecture) over the last 50 years. Nevertheless this hymn still has incredible power to move me and I still know the lyrics off by heart! ELP did a marvellous version.
Jp bro you should really check out Bitches Crystal by ELP Don't sleep on this track from Tarkus
Oh i havent forgotten 😆
So glad you liked this Justin, please say you're going to continue through the album !
Ty Robert, i probably will!😃
@@JustJP Excellent 😁🎆🎇
ELP were brilliant at giving a rock upgrade to classical music whether it is the hymn Jerusalem, Pictures at an exhibition ( live album 1971) or Works 1 which includes Keith Emerson’s ’s own Piano concerto and arranges pieces by Bach, Prokofiev and the brilliant ‘Fanfare for the common man’ by Aaron Copeland which became an ELP classic. ELP had always intended that they would interpret classical pieces as part of their repertoire but had a long running battle with the record company who hated the idea.
I recall "Jerusalem" was sung in Monty Python when someone said "mattress' to Mr. Lambert...
Don't forget to stand in the tea chest first. 😉
There's another Flying Circus skit where Eric Idle is with a guitar singing "Jerusalem" while a woman is seducing him.
Great song for when you find a dead bishop on the landing
Which was in fact...sixty feet wide
@@TisTheDamnStickSeason lmao wow flashback
Another prog-rock song that references Blake's "Dark Satanic mills" is "Machine Messiah", from Yes's DRAMA album.
Also “A Stitch in Time” by Tull...actually “Grey Satanic Mills” in the Tull tune.
“Dark Satanic mills” is one of the most evocative phrases in the entire English language, IMO.
Brain Salad Surgery The album with ELPS Magnum Opus Karn Evil 9. The Artwork for this album was made by the same guy who made the Alien Model
:)...That "guy's" name is H.R Giger ... He's very twisted...:)
Please play all of KarnEvil 9 Justin. Live it all flows together as one song. Think Supper’s Ready buddy.
Jerusalem is a kind of sacred tune for all Englishmen! The ‘Establishment’ didn’t take kindly to what they considered ELP’s disrespectful treatment. I remember reading one review back in the day which said something like “To the pits with these heathens for sodding about with Jerusalem, the song that every Englishman sings in the bath!” 😳
I hope you're not skipping the album Trilogy, which came out before BSS. Trilogy is a phenomenal album and the piece 'Trilogy' is my favorite piece by them. Oh, you should check out Rachel Flowers on yt playing pieces by ELP that you've already reacted to. You will really enjoy watching her play. She performs Tarkus on piano. All of Tarkus on the piano. Let me say that one more time. She plays ALL of Tarkus, on a piano.
She is so brilliant...I learned of her about 8 years ago, I've had a couple conversations with her sister...It was moving to see her play at Keith's memorial...God took her sight but gave her superhuman keyboard and OTHER instruments mastery...
@@godbluffvdgg her performance at his memorial made her cry which made me cry.
When Keith had his modular Moog refurbished, when it was done he didnt have it shipped to himself, he had it shipped directly to Rachel Flowers for her to play with first. Theres a great video of his video message to her and then her playing . Absolutely wonderful.
@@Lightmane IKR...I get choked up thinking of it...As a poorly sighted musician myself, I have a special affinity for her...:)
@@quentinmichel7581 I love the relationship they had. Thanks for telling me that. It says a lot about both of them.
Next the mind blowing Toccata!! My first Prog Album purchase was ELP Pictures at an Exhibition. Glad you liked this one. I know this is off the wall but you like deep dives. Give Shouts of Joy by Phil Keaggy it is very prog and great sounding
Exhibition. Brain fart? LOL!
@@Drummingvulture lol I'll fix it. Thx.
This song sounds very pompous but it works great as an album opening. on the other hand I don't like the production with its reverberated sound not well defined (this is the case of the whole album). Overall I prefer the Tarkus album (as much for the sound as for the compositions).
The album was released in both stereo and QUAD, there being a time when they were trying to make QUAD sounds systems a thing. The live arena concerts were also in QUAD, with TOWERING sets of speakers placed at the 4 furthest corners of the arena. One of the 4 bands I've seen more times than I can count. (The others being Tull, Zappa, and Giant.)
Also, there is a Karn Evil 9 movie in the works right now.
If you love ELP you *must* check out Rachel Flowers. ua-cam.com/users/12stringbabe
Blind from (nearly?) birth and I've seen her pull of ELP solo, and Easy Money (KC) on a cruise to the edge.
Rachel is great.
There's also a French geezer who plays Keith stuff brilliantly but he sings as well. Can't remember his name though. Any idea who I'm talking about?
One of my favorite ELP songs. Very majestic and powerful.
Oh how I loved this version of the song. I still do. By the way, the cover on the original LP was a whole killer gatefold thing that opened up from both sides of the circle in the middle. It was so unique in its day. 😎
William Blake’s poem is converted here into a masterpiece of progressive rock by the unique and only ELP. The flawless voice, drums and keyboards make this piece of music something for the annals of rock. By the way, the lyrics mentions “the chariots of fire”. Well, the name of the fantastic British movie “Chariots of fire”, about the accomplishments of a group of Briton olympic athletes, is precisely inspired by this song. In fact, if I remember correctly, the movie opens with some of the characters appearing in a church (one of them was a pastor) singing Jerusalem. As you may know, this song is almost as de facto England’s national anthem (just pay attention to the lyrics). This is perhaps why ELP gives this song such an amazing tribute.
A very enthusiastic review Justin, that's great. I wonder what difference it makes if you've grown up with the tune to Jerusalem in your culture or not. As Scotland and Wales have their own anthems at sporting events there are many who would like Jerusalem as the England song. England uses the boring dirge God Save The Queen which doesn't get the blood flowing. The ELP version would be ideal, maybe preceded by Copland's Fanfare For The Common Man.
It's funny, both America and England have two very boring "national anthems" that they will probably bore us with for all of eternity. I agree that Jerusalem would be a far superior national anthem for England, by far. Don't know about America's...almost anything would be better :)
@@JJ8KK My vote would be for Benny Goodman 'Sing, Sing, Sing' by a latin big band. Encapsulating what's great about America 😊
I got married in England way back when and my British bride told me I could choose a hymn as we were married in a church. Jerusalem was my choice. It was the only one I knew.
This is the song that really turner me on to ELP! The might and majesty of the song is extremely captivating!
Great to see you so blown away! The following track 'Toccata' is based on a piece by Modernist composer Alberto Ginastera who said 'This is exactly how my music should be heard! (I'm sure you would like it too).
This song is one of the highlights of the annual "Last Night Of The Proms" which is a cultural event in the UK. It would have been so easy to have messed this up but this version is just beautiful. I hope it brought this amazing song to the attention of the prog generation. As for the album, it is full of incredible songs like "Still...You Turn Me On" and the magnificent "Karn Evil 9" .
Don’t believe the hype. “Memoirs of an Officer and a Gentleman “ from Love Beach is gorgeous. For a complete prog lesson click my icon and look at the Uncle Larry video.
@@dannyriccardo-kornpet4599 How old are you? I probably saw ELP before you were born. I was a fan of The Nice, King Crimson and Atomic Rooster before ELP existed so I'm hardly likely to be influenced by hype.
@@williamgeorgefraser I’m OG ELP. Returning your willie wave, I saw them with the orchestra.
And ... I’m so old I posted to you instead of Justin. You are free to believe as you wish
Hell yeah, man!
Cool how you mention cathedrals: Every time I listen to this song, I imagine ELP playing it in a Gothic cathedral built with HR Giger's bio-mechanical designs. It's metal AF.
Thatd be pretty sweet
Hang on, you HAVEN'T reacted to Karn Evil 9 yet? Why, why, why??!! Apart from "Benny the Bouncer" (a bit of comedy fluff, like "Are you ready, Eddy?" from Tarkus) the album is a masterpiece, and Karn Evil 9 is their magnus opus.
Haha, I just decided to take the first track on the album😃 ill get to KE though
@@JustJP Righto. Well, you may remember I did hound you a bit about getting round to "The Gates Of Delirium", and wasn't that worth it? Consider this at the same level.
This is possibly ELP's grandest album, and the opener makes no secret of that.
This is my fave ELP album. This track is really a sort of fanfare opening to the much more detailed later tracks.
You are going to love ELP's "Pirates"
"Jerusalem" is one of the two famous poems by painter and writer William Blake (the other is "The Tyger"). Set to music by Hubert Parry it is also one of the unofficial anthems of the UK, besides "Rule Britannia" (a poem by James Thomson set to music by Thomas Arne) and "Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1" by Edward Elgar (also named "Land of Hope and Glory" after the poem by Arthur Christopher Benson which was later added to the composition). Blake's two most famous paintings were used as album covers, "Nebuchadnezzar" for "Death Walks Behind You" by Atomic Rooster and "The Ghost of a Flee" for "Another Fine Tune You've Got Me Into" by Gilgamesh.
A poem I learned as a child. The line 'satanic mills' is rather ambiguous. Many believe Blake was referring to the church, a difficult institution to criticize safely at that time. Or was he referring to the factories that were hated by the artisans and craftsmen of the day. I suspect the former.
@@kevinhodgson2990 Blake was a brilliant poet and a profound mystic. Having read a lot of his writings, I believe that he used the "dark, satanic mills" as a metaphor for the Oxford and Cambridge universities in particular and universities because, as he saw it, the knowledge which they valued most highly was man-made rather than divine in origin.
William strongly believed that the only knowledge worth having is the knowledge of God and he was equally convinced that wisdom comes directly through God's revelation rather than being something that a mere mortal can acquire through studying philosophy at universities.
Jerusalem is the ELP song that I enjoy the most.
This album made ELP my favorite band. It completely blew my mind. There is no bad song on the album. That's a rarity.
Ooooh JP. This album is the pinnacle of their music. I invite you to go on with this album and try Karn Evil #3. There’s supposed to be a movie being made based of the Karn Evil parts. But do #3. It’s the climax of that series. Amazing amazing stuff.
I saw ELP at Seattle Coliseum '75.
They played Jerusalem... and then they played Karn Evil 9. The whole song ! ;-)
Heavens above, not listened to ELP in decades! Just some background, since everyone is mentioning the hymn. These words are the preface to an epic poem called 'Milton' by mystical poet and print maker William Blake during the English Romantic age: he died in 1827. It's not called Jerusalem in that context, it's know by the first line, "And did those feet in ancient time". Hubert Parry set the words to music in 1916, and this is the tune used here by ELP. Most importantly, far from being a patriotic paean to English might and destiny, which it is now seen as; a hymn of the political establishment, of good conservative values from the Women's Institute to great State events, this is not Blake's intention at all. It is a huge kick at the establishment which he despised, a loathing for 'the satanic mills' of the industrial revolution, the callous industrialists and landowners, which he saw as enslaving the people and crushing their spirit and depriving them of their heritage. When Parry turned it into a 'hymn', he excised it from its roots and it's been absorbed by the very establishment it was berating. But ELP put some of the bile back into it! Here endeth the lesson, Amen.
Don't be too afraid of "Love Beach". While not up to the standard of any of the previous albums, there are still some tasty cuts. "Canario" in particular is brilliant, and "Memoirs of an Officer and a Gentleman" is well worth the listen. But indeed, the boys were well along into the break up, and they didn't care nearly as much. The record company was trying to take them into a more FM-friendly area, and the fans weren't ready. The rest of the album isn't really _bad_, but it was not what was expected from ELP. I believe it was the first album that Lake didn't produce himself. And whoever came up with the idea for the album cover should have been shot. Or at least, be forced to hang the album cover in a prominent place in their office.
Delighted to see the level of joy you exuded while listening to Jerusalem! The rest of BSS just gets better and better!
ELP's Jerusalem makes me feel so damned patriotic, and I'm not even British, lol! I love this album and oh, the cover...it opens like a double door from the center of the picture, with even more magnificent artwork inside, as well as on the back of the album. A must see!
You ought to check out Nutrocker, their take on Tchaikovsky, or the whole Pictures at an Exhibition album where they explore Mussorgsky.
I knew this song as played by ELP long before I had the ability to use a computer to find the meaning of the song. I recall seeing Chariots of Fire and wondering why Jerusalem was played on the soundtrack. LOL
I remember when I was in HS and this album came out, we were studying William Blake, the 18th-19th Century English poet who wrote the lyrics for this. Although it is a hymn, there is an irony in the lyrics that runs contrary to history when the British Empire controlled the Holy Land - bringing Jerusalem to England where it's safe and peaceful. I thought it was cool when I first played this and was like, wow, we just studied this in school. ELP liked poking a finger in the face of convention and this is an example. The album title itself was British slang for "Blow Job".
I loved watching you react to this song. You were so enthralled! Now you can hear more readily how the recording quality, style and volume level of Greg Lake’s voice on the first King Crimson and first ELP album didn’t show how powerful his voice really was. He was a vocal powerhouse with many shades of expression. I love his voice so much. Still the best male voice in prog for me.
Thanks for doing this. What a great uplifting video and song for a dreary afternoon! Well done! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Yes he was amazing! Loved hearing his progression
@@JustJP You’ve got lots more Greg Lake/ELP joy to discover and experience. I’ve been playing his songs non-stop on Spotify since I saw this video. Mostly later ones come up when you search his name alone. Younger or older, his voice will always be a great pleasure. I was lucky enough to see him in concert twice. Wish it was more! I recommend at some point you check out the ELP offshoot band from 1986 (without Carl Palmer) called Emerson Lake And Powell with Cozy Powell drumming, for the songs, keyboards and vocals! The whole album is pretty good. It combines the 70s ELP prog spirit with some 80s sounds. “Touch And Go” was the hit from the album. It’s excellent!
it’s a beautiful poem and song at Rugby matches and cricket matches and as an English man i get very uplifted by this
"Chariots of Fire" the movie title is a line from this song. Drumming by Carl Palmer!
ACTUALLY give a listen to "Memoirs Of An Officer And A Gentleman". From a band known for dystopic anthems to cybernetic armadillos, "Memoirs" is an advanced and mature work that ages well. It was unfortunately rushed by Atlantic's contractual greed.
"JERUSALEM" IS AN ANTHEM. Right up there with "Rule Britannia" and "God Save The Queen". They DO sing it in school. My Brit friends weigh in here, OK? And Yanks: Watch some PBS f'gawd-sakes!
It just doesn't get any more wonderful than this! This is definitive. Whenever I hear this, I have to listen to it at least two more times (sometimes more!). By the way, the original painting for the cover art was stolen around two or so years ago, and is still missing.
"Jerusalem" was once considered to be the National Anthem of England.
And what an anthem
I had forgotten about this song. This is the hidden gem on an album with a bombastic epic composition and a single suitable for FM radio play. Great video.
It's the first song on the album, how is that hidden?
I knew you were going to love this song! You are a true anglophile. Greg's voice is perfect on this track. The first time I realized this was not an original ELP song was when I saw David Bowie's The Man Who Fell To Earth. There's a scene where he's in Church, this was the hymn being sung. I thought "How cool, singing ELP at church.", then a friend told me it's a popular church song in England. Some day you need to go to the Lake District and see the dark satanic hills, awesome! Trust me...
Haha ty Phillip!
I used to have this on a used 8-track! I always loved this song. Here is my parody of it, entitled "Jacuzzi Slim":
www.amiright.com/parody/70s/emersonlakeandpalmer9.shtml
This is a great song off of a great album. Of course, the best is yet to come with Karn Evil 9. I'm not a big fan of the next song, Toccata, but you may have a different take and I look forward to what you think. Of course in my opinion, the best way to hear ELP is live, particularly the 'Welcome Back My Friends' triple album. Looking forward to more of Brain Salad Surgery!
For some this might be their Opus Magnum, I would call it Opus Monstrous. For me, it's too chaotic.
Wonder why you skipped Trilogy. I think this one is their best.
No reason, the artwork just got my attention 🙃
The Englanders do love their anthems! So many comments.
JP, you will love Pictures at an Exhibition
ELP!!! Brain Salad Surgery is my favorite of theirs...
Love this, very stirring - especially from this side of the Pond! JP have you heard anything by Warren Zevon (suggest Hostage O, Things to Do In Denver, Trouble Waiting To Happen) or The Rainmakers (Like Dogs, 30 Days, The Rainmaker).
I havent; never heard of him. Ty for the suggestion though!
This version was played at the Opening Ceremonies of the London Olympics.
I was fortunate enough to see them in concert several times. They were easily the best live band out of all the ones I saw. Keith Emerson was an absolute genius, Carl Palmer was a sensational percussionist, and Greg Lakes voice and expert strumming rounded out this phenomenal trio. I still mourn the death of Keith. He was a once in a lifetime, uber gifted talent.
I was a teenager when I found ELP. I know these songs inside out, having listened often throughout the years. It really warms my heart to see your reactions on a first listen to this song. I saw them at the Boston Garden twice, including the tour when this album was brand new. I am still terribly saddened over Keiths passing but thank God for all he created and performed during his life. As a pianist Keith Emerson was my hero of modern times.
You might like Gryphon...”Opening Move” from ‘Red Queen To Gryphon Three’...Hard to describe but basically Fantasy + Medieval/Renaissance music + Prog Rock.
The BBC banned this song.
Hey Justin My Man!! ELP!! WOO HOO!! WHO DOESNT LOVE ELP?!! I DONT KNOW ANYONE!!!! SO SPOT ON AGAIN SIR!!! This does sound like an anthem being played in a cathedral for sure!! I LOVE Greg's vocals!!! His voice is so powerful and clean!! Like no other IMO!! So so love your enthusiasm here!! It's so fun to watch your enjoyment of such GREAT MUSIC!! They bring back such great high Scholl memories of going camping in the mountains of AZ!! Great road trip mudic for sure!! Went to the comments for some more enjoyable reading there!! Came upon someone's remark that said Trilogy was their best album! I TOTALLY AGREE!! Theres NEVER TOO MUCH ELP OUT THERE so please feel free to play some whenever you feel the urge to do so!! I'm sure we would all appreciate it as much as you seem to!!! Great job here again JP!! SEE YOU SOON!! YOUR #1 AZ FAN MICHAEL😽😸😊😊
The BBC was pissed because this song is the Brit version of God Bless America. BBC considered ELPs version as disrespectful
The very first ELP track I heard (bought the album age 14 and knowing nothing about them). I knew the song (hymn) and had heard it sung many times... by 50-strong cathedral choirs. None had the power or presence of these three. Amazing sound.
How about checking out something by a newer band.
Blood and Sand / Milk and Endless Waters, by All Them Witches
ua-cam.com/video/eovMuxGqyGQ/v-deo.html
This is a 19th century English poem by William Blake (in fact the title was "And Did Those Feet In Ancient Time"). The music is not ELP's but it was composed by Hubert Parry. You can find a completely different version of it (with church organs and sung by boy's choir) on Vangelis's album "Chariots of Fire" (itself a soundtrack to a movie by the same title).
I am a Royalist but even I admit that there are 2 songs that should be England's National Anthem.
One is "Land Of Hope And Glory" and the other is " Jerusalem" the original version.
You can see both performed on "Last Night Of The Proms" which is a World famous set of Concerts lasting 4 months every year in London.
" Parry-Jerusalem( Last Night Of The Proms 2012) is 2 minutes of 40 seconds of pure joy. PLEASE tell us what you think, my friend.
Check out the ELP Trilogy album, especially "The Endless Enigma" and "Trilogy." You won't regret it.
Brain Salad Surgery, all of it, is amazing. Pick any song for a first listen, and you're good. (Karn Evil 9 is best as a single listen, IMO)
Yeah, Love Beach was a let down, but the album title and cover made it seem far worse that it is. However, I suggest Memoirs of an Officer and a Gentleman. It's not perfect, but it's the only ELP song where Keith Emerson used a Fender Rhodes. Skip side one, except perhaps Canario. It's okay, but KE chose to stick with that GX1 synth that should've been left in the Works era.
Speaking of Works... Pirates! (Remember how blown away you were at Awaken?)
(Waiting for 13k followers to experience Tales, or 15k for the Lamb is your loss.)
As noted, lyrics by William Blake (c.a 1800) (who also gave us 'The Tyger', used by Alfred Bester in the great SciFi classic 'Tiger! Tiger!' / 'The Stars My Destination'). I have English friends who think this is either the greatest interpretation of the lyrics or the 'God awfullest' sacrilege. You know you've done something right if you can stir up a little love AND controversy at the same time. Greg's voice is strong and near angelic ( for an angelic voice, try 'Coming' from 1992s "Orlando" soundtrack, sung by Jimmy Sommerville). Keyboards / organ; Emerson laying down a wall of sound and of course those drum rolls from Palmer.
The live version on WELCOME BACK MY FRIENDS... is even better than this, with the Hammond just screaming out in a big hall.