Emerson, Lake & Palmer : Brain Salad Surgery - Hybrid UltraDisc UHR SACD, Mono, Remastered

“Supergroups” existed even before Emerson, Lake & Palmer was formed in 1970. And many came after them. But few, if any, could match the chemistry of the British trio and their unique combination of virtuosity, vision and energy. “Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends.” These famous words, spoken by bassist and guitarist Greg Lake, capture the theatricality, the thrill, the breadth, and the fascination that surround “Brain Salad Surgery” – the fourth studio album by Emerson, Lake & Palmer. “Brain Salad Surgery” built on the commercial success of its predecessors, reaching No. 2 in the UK, No. 11 in the United States, and eventually going gold in both countries. To promote the album, the trio embarked on their largest world tour to date, which included a headlining performance at the California Jam Festival. To this day, the platinum-certified album is considered one of the greatest prog-rock albums in music history: its harmonious blend of musical skill, songwriting, and production set a standard that is still recognized by fans and critics alike decades later.

On the album, released in late 1973 on Manticore Records (the label founded by Emerson, Lake & Palmer), the trio took full control from start to finish and implemented several new production techniques in the studio. The trio was frustrated because they couldn’t reproduce large parts of “Trilogy” – recorded on 24-track consoles and full of overdubs – in a live setting. Therefore, they opted for an approach that allowed “Brain Salad Surgery” to develop organically. This required a space where ELP could play and compose without restrictions and experiment with the material until they were satisfied. The solution: Emerson, Lake & Palmer bought a movie theater, removed the seats, and turned it into a rehearsal space. As for the studio recordings, Emerson, Lake & Palmer began at Olympic Studios and continued later that summer at Advision Studios. At the latter, the group was the first to use the then-state-of-the-art polyphonic synthesizer in a recording. You can hear this in “Jerusalem,” the band’s interpretation of composer Hubert Parry’s choral adaptation of a poem by William Blake. Another notable innovation: Palmer’s proto-electronic drumming in the middle section of “Toccata,” which became a reality after the crew placed a microphone inside each drum to trigger a synthesizer. Everything expressed in “Toccata” – the group’s rousing interpretation of Alberto Ginastera’s First Piano Concerto – symbolizes the cacophony, ambition, and audacity that permeate the album. A truly astonishing show!

Title

1. Jerusalem

2. Toccata

3. Still….You Turn Me On

4. Benny the Bouncer

5. Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression - Part 1

6. Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression - Part 2

7. Karn Evil 9: 2nd Impression

8. Karn Evil 9: 3rd Impression