ELP gives the classic Yes trilogy a run for its money on this progressive masterpiece.
Kronomoyth 4.0: Hooked up with coca-cola cunning.
The fourth album from Emerson, Lake & Palmer feels like a culmination of everything that came before: the regal rock & roll, classical pomp and youthful bravado now perfectly intertwined on songs like The Endless Enigma and Trilogy. The album cover, well, that’s a hunk of cheese, isn’t it? But musically this is the very picture of prog perfection.
The album opens with a playful bit of cat-and-mouse between Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer before revealing “The Endless Enigma (Part 1),” essentially a reconstruction of “The Great Gates of Kiev.” Emerson tosses off a smart, proggy Fugue and the Enigma returns. Classic stuff. Greg Lake follows with one of his best ballads, From the Beginning. As a songwriter, singer and musician, Lake was the whole package. The next song, The Sheriff, is probably my favorite from ELP. Absolutely perfect in every way, it could be heard as an improvement on “Jeremy Bender” from Tarkus. The first side of Trilogy closes with the musical fireworks of Aaron Copland’s Hoedown, essentially a showpiece for Emerson.
The second side starts with “Trilogy,” a multi-part suite that manages a striking balance between heart and mind, reminding me of Jethro Tull in more than a few spots. The sinister-sounding Living Sin is the darkest thing they’ve done to date. The album closes with another cat-and-mouse chase, this time between Emerson and Lake, on the improvised Abaddon’s Bolero. I got bored with the idea after a few minutes, although it is fun to hear Lake try to keep up with Emerson’s bizarre key changes.
As much as I enjoyed the “story” of Tarkus, Trilogy is the better album in my opinion. The trio’s strengths blend in exciting ways on this record, particularly between Emerson and Palmer. If there were a list of Top 500 rock drummer’s albums (and I’m sure someone has created that list somewhere, heaven help them), Trilogy would be near the top of it. The black grooves ooze confidence from the opening challenge to the intentional unraveling of everything at the end. The gates had been stormed, and the three usurpers held court in the throne room. What was left but another shock attack of surgical precision?
Original elpee version
A1. The Endless Enigma (Part 1) (Keith Emerson/Greg Lake) (6:37)
A2. Fugue (Keith Emerson) (1:57)
A3. The Endless Enigma (Part 2) (Keith Emerson/Greg Lake) (2:00)
A4. From the Beginning (Greg Lake) (4:14)
A5. The Sheriff (Keith Emerson/Greg Lake) (3:22)
A6. Hoedown (Aaron Copland) (3:48)
B1. Trilogy (Keith Emerson/Greg Lake) (8:54)
B2. Living Sin (Keith Emerson/Greg Lake/Carl Palmer) (3:11)
B3. Abaddon’s Bolero (Keith Emerson) (8:13)
Arranged by Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
CD reissue bonus track
10. Hoedown (live)
The Players
Keith Emerson (Hammond organ C3, Steinway piano, zoukra, Moog synthesizer III C, Mini Moog model D), Greg Lake (vocals, bass, acoustic & electric guitars, lyrics), Carl Palmer (percussion). Produced by Greg Lake; production engineered by Eddie Offord.
The Pictures
Cover design & photography by Hipgnosis. Tinting by Phil Crennell.
The Plastic
Released on elpee on July 6, 1972 in the UK (Island, ILPS 9168) and the US (Cotillion, SD 9903) with gatefold cover. Reached #2 on the UK charts and #5 on the US charts (RIAA-certified gold record).
- Re-issued on elpee in 1974 in the UK (Manticore, K43505) with gatefold cover.
- Re-issued on elpee in the US (Atlantic, SD 19123) with gatefold cover.
- Re-issued on elpee in 1979 in Brazil (Atco, 6047 006).
- Re-issued on compact disc in 1993 in the US (Victory, 80019).
- Re-released on remastered compact disc in 1996 in the UK (Essential, ESMCD 343) and on May 21, 1996 in the US (Rhino, 72226).
- Re-released on expanded, remastered compact disc in 2001 in the UK (Sanctuary, CMRCD 200) with one bonus track.
- Re-issued on K2 remastered compact disc in 2002 in Japan (Victor, VICP-62117).
