Search - Emerson Lake & Palmer :: Gold Collection

Not what I expected

Jennifer Waller | 04/23/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I saw this at the local electronics store and couldn't resist. Reading the content, it looked like a good selection of ELP's works. Unfortunately, the sound quality of the live performances is so poor that it's painful to listen to these classics. It sounds as if someone took a cheap cassette recorder to a show and that tape was later laid on a CD. Don't waste your money if you searching for a compilation that delivers the true sound of ELP's music."

Despite some issues with audio quality, an enjoyable album

Danny T | Allendale, Michigan United States | 05/15/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This live preformance has a pretty excellent scope of songs, unfortunately, the first CD in the selection has some poor quality. Too much emphasis is placed on Lake's voice and a lot is taken away form Emerson's magnificent keyboarding and Palmer's drums are a perpetual background murmur. I was very disappointed in it for the first forty-five minutes until it hit "Time and a Place." While an excellent song of their "Tarkus" album, it hits a new dimension here where Lake, rather than the frantic wailing of the original takes on a more solemn bellow--the range of his voice really blows you away. From that point on I was sold on the album.It's real peak, however, comes on Disc II, when we have some pieces where the audio quality picks up some on songs like "Touch and Go." The last two pieces made the entire purchase worthwhile though--a huge medly of "Fanfare for the Common Man" "Blue Turk a la Rondo" "Flight of the Bumblebee" "America" (not the Paul Simon song, the Roger's and Hammerstein's, I think) "21st Century Schizoid Man" "Toccata and Fugue" and, if I'm not mistaken, even a little of "Carmina Burana." Despite the fact that about 10 minutes in the Moog seems to experience some of the power supply problems that caused it to hit wrong notes on "Pictures at an Exhibition" thirty years ago, it is still an excellent two songs. I sat there stunned after listening to them and knew the purchase was a good one. If you're a big fan of Emerson's grandiose, magnificent keyboarding and hearing Lake take his voice to range not heard on most of the old albums and even who wants to hear how amazing Palmer is a drumming live, then I'd recommend the CD."

How many?

Jennifer Waller | 07/06/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"How many reissues can they put out? This must be some kind of a record? This is getting ridiculous!! I used to have a lot of respect for this group but putting out all these reissues and repackages is crazy, and is obviously to squeeze the maximum money out of the fans (if there are any left)! I can't recommend this CD. It's just another rehash of the same old stuff!"