Product Overview
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Tarkus / Atlantic Audio CD 1971 / 7567-81520-2
UPC 075678152023
Product Details:
Tarkus is the second studio album by the English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer, released in June 1971 on Island Records. Following their 1970 European tour, the group returned to Advision Studios in London, in January 1971, to prepare material for a new album. Side one has the seven-part "Tarkus", with a collection of shorter tracks on side two.
Tarkus went to number one in the UK Albums Chart, peaked at number 9 in the US, and reached number 12 in Canada on two occasions totalling 4 weeks.
Tracklist:
| Tarkus | ||
| 1 | Eruption | 2:43 |
| 2 | Stones Of Years | 3:43 |
| 3 | Iconoclast | 1:16 |
| 4 | Mass | 3:09 |
| 5 | Manticore | 1:49 |
| 6 | Battlefield | 3:57 |
| 7 | Aquatarkus | 3:54 |
| 8 | Jeremy Bender | 1:41 |
| 9 | Bitches Crystal | 3:54 |
| 10 | The Only Way (Hymn) | 3:50 |
| 11 | Infinite Space (Conclusion) |
3:18 |
| 12 | A Time And A Place | 3:00 |
| 13 |
Are You Ready Eddy? | 2:09 |
Review:
If Emerson Lake and Palmer were considered by some as major architects of progressive rock with the release of their first album, they easily cemented that impression with their second offering, Tarkus. There is little to say that hasn't already been said about this iconic album, but in the unlikely case you're discovering ELP for the first time, consider this a mandatory listen for any self-respecting prog rock fan. That said, there are some noteworthy differences between Tarkus the opus and Tarkus the album. As a composition, and considering that it is the better half of the album in both quality and quantity, Tarkus is grandiose in both its ambition and delivery. Largely Keith Emerson's vision, it is also a complex, sinewy juggernaut that at times seems to challenge Greg Lake and Carl Palmer to keep up the pace. To their credit, no one is left behind and the entire piece would be something significantly less without the contributions of each member and the synergy of these three superb musicians.
Tarkus as an album is another matter. Following the Tarkus suite is a daunting task and the second half of the album illustrates the difficulty as it is noticably weaker than the first half. They introduce what was to become the obligatory honky-tonk piano piece with Jeremy Bender. Pleasant enough, but a bit of a let down after the take no prisoners performance of Tarkus. [...] Crystal makes up for it with high tempo and intensity. The Only Way and Infinite Space are subdued and a little frustrating in their restraint, more so because they are squeezed between [...] Crystal and the other part two highlight (and equally intense) A Time and a Place. Are You Ready Eddy? is a complete throwaway and an almost shameful end to the album considering how it begins. Yet even with its faults, Tarkus holds its place as one of the most influential progressive rock albums ever released. If they never matched Tarkus as a single work, ELP cranked out at least two more albums, Trilogy and Brain Salad Surgery, that were almost as strong and by most accounts more listenable as a whole, but Tarkus binds their undisputed standing as progressive rock's first supergroup and well earned it is.
More Details:
- Arranged By, Directed By – ELP
- Composed By – Palmer (tracks: 11 to 13), Lake (tracks: 2, 6, 8 to 10, 12, 13), Emerson (tracks: 1 to 3, 5, 7 to 13)
- Drums, Percussion [Assorted Percussion] – Carl Palmer
- Electric Organ [Hammond Organ], Organ [St. Marks Church Organ], Piano, Celesta [Celeste], Synthesizer [Moog Synthesizer] – Keith Emerson
- Engineer – Eddy "Are You Ready" Offord
- Mastered By [CD Mastering By] – Zal Schreiber
- Painting [Paintings] – William Neal (2)
- Vocals, Bass, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Producer [Produced By], Lyrics By – Greg Lake
