Brain Salad Surgery was a great album. But as a whole it doesn’t hold together the way Tarkus does. Even the big hit “Karn Evil 9” is really 3 separate, unrelated pieces, not the suite that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Impression track titles would suggest they are. In a way, Brain was the band’s swan song. Then they went full pretentious with Works 1 and 2 and ended on a wimp, I mean whimper with Love Beach - I mean what the hell?
“Then they went full pretentious with Works 1 and 2 and ended on a wimp, I mean whimper with Love Beach - I mean what the hell?”
I saw the Works tour with the Orchestra. I saw ELP again when they played for WNEW’s anniversary concert. For musicianship, this band might be the most talented. The only one who came close to Keith Emerson was Rick Wakeman. Carl Palmer was in his own world.
I’ll take Yes over ELP. Close to the Edge is their masterpiece.