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Goodbye Greg Lake

#121
Lucky Man and Still You Turn Me On move me every time I listen to them. Such an awesome voice. Thanks Greg for all the wonderful hours you gave us.
A few years ago, I was extremely saddened when Clarence Clemons passed away. It was another dark, retrospective day when Chris passed. Then Bowie. Now Lake. Four of my favorites. Fortuneately, Paul is still vibrant and Neil keeps on following his muse. Let's pray that we get a reprieve for awhile.
 
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#122
My older brothers did their little bro a solid in 1971, when they had an extra ticket and took me to my first of many rock concerts at Madison Square Garden, where I had the privilege of seeing ELP for their Tarkus tour with J. Geils Band warming them up! I was just starting to play bass and was amazed at the amazing musicianship of all, but especially was impressed that the bass player also played all the guitar parts and was responsible for writing ALL the lyrics and singing ALL the songs. Greg Lake was a great musician and singer and I salute his excellent work.
 
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#126
I really liked the trickling water effect her coaxed out of an electric guitar ( with delay? ) on the choruses of Still You Turn Me On.

Aside from Emerson on harpsichord and accordion I'm pretty sure Lake does all the other tracks on that song. At least three different guitars ( 12 string, 6 string acoustic and electric ) and vocals.
 
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#128
Damn it - ---I just got done listening to ELP in honor of GL - ---I know this is a bass site, but all I can say is...what a singer!!!! One of the most underappreciated vocalists of all time in popular music. He could take music that would otherwise be for many a "difficult listen" and make it completely emotional and accessible. What a brilliant, natural, epic voice.
 
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#129
I have a 4 day long playlist that I'm currently sleeping to ( what real musician doesn't sleep with music constantly playing! :laugh: ) titled Scramble which is mostly 'obscure' ( not played on the radio ) classic progressive rock and fusion and one of the songs which came on last night before I nodded off was Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression.

I recall trying to wrap my mind around the concept of tying a rope to a tree and "hanging the universe". Last thought before I conked out last night.

Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression

Man alone, born of stone,
Will stamp the dust of time
His hands strike the flame of his soul;
Ties a rope to a tree and hangs the Universe
Until the winds of laughter blows cold.

Fear that rattles in men's ears
And rears its hideous head
Dread... Death... in the wind...

Man of steel pray and kneel
With fever's blazing torch
Thrust in the face of the night;
Draws a blade of compassion
Kissed by countless Kings
Whose jewelled trumpet words blind his sight.

Walls that no man thought would fall
The altars of the just
Crushed... Dust... in the wind...

No man yields who flies in my ship
Danger!
Let the bridge computer speak
Stranger!
Load your program. I am yourself.

No computer stands in my way
Only blood can cancel my pain
Guardians of a nuclear dawn
Let the maps of war be drawn.

Rejoice! Glory is ours!
Our young men have not died in vain,
Their graves need no flowers
The tapes have recorded their names.

I am all there is
Negative! Primitive! Limited! I let you live!
But I gave you life
What else could you do?
To do what was right
I'm perfect! Are you?​
 
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#130
AztecViking said:
I have a 4 day long playlist that I'm currently sleeping to ( what real musician doesn't sleep with music constantly playing! :laugh: ) titled Scramble which is mostly 'obscure' ( not played on the radio ) classic progressive rock and fusion and one of the songs which came on last night before I nodded off was Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression.

I recall trying to wrap my mind around the concept of tying a rope to a tree and "hanging the universe". Last thought before I conked out last night.

Karn Evil 9 3rd Impression

Man alone, born of stone,
Will stamp the dust of time
His hands strike the flame of his soul;
Ties a rope to a tree and hangs the Universe
Until the winds of laughter blows cold.

Fear that rattles in men's ears
And rears its hideous head
Dread... Death... in the wind...

Man of steel pray and kneel
With fever's blazing torch
Thrust in the face of the night;
Draws a blade of compassion
Kissed by countless Kings
Whose jewelled trumpet words blind his sight.

Walls that no man thought would fall
The altars of the just
Crushed... Dust... in the wind...

No man yields who flies in my ship
Danger!
Let the bridge computer speak
Stranger!
Load your program. I am yourself.

No computer stands in my way
Only blood can cancel my pain
Guardians of a nuclear dawn
Let the maps of war be drawn.

Rejoice! Glory is ours!
Our young men have not died in vain,
Their graves need no flowers
The tapes have recorded their names.

I am all there is
Negative! Primitive! Limited! I let you live!
But I gave you life
What else could you do?
To do what was right
I'm perfect! Are you?​
Click to expand...
Love that song! Guess I'm going to have to listen to it off the live album when I get home from work this morning.
 
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#132
Dr. Cheese said:
Hey, I'm bummed. Greg Lake was only thirteen years older than me.:eek:
Click to expand...

I don't won't real to put any fuel on it, but even if it was cancer that got him, Greg wasn't exactly the leanest bloke around, in his later years. I don't want to go into debate here, but compared to his 2 other bandmates... here to the right...Keith at left...who's in the middle I don't know. Some Robin Slick it seems...

emersonlakeslick.jpg
 
#134
pbass2 said:
Damn it - ---I just got done listening to ELP in honor of GL - ---I know this is a bass site, but all I can say is...what a singer!!!! One of the most underappreciated vocalists of all time in popular music. He could take music that would otherwise be for many a "difficult listen" and make it completely emotional and accessible. What a brilliant, natural, epic voice.
Click to expand...
They didn't call Greg Lake The Voice for nothing.
 
#135
I can remember in the early 80's being in high school and listening to ELP and Yes for the first time with my friend Bill at the time. He played bass and ELP was his favorite band. His nickname was "Big Bad Bonafied Bass Bill". Bill and Greg Lake helped me move from the Beatles and Kiss to Prog. I think Asia was the gateway. I remember being a freshman in college and playing Take a Pebble all the time. Thank you Greg.
 
#137
Dr. Cheese said:
RIP, if you grew listening to ELP, you are old. Of course, not just Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, but if you grew up listening to Seventies bands, you are old now.
Click to expand...
Yea, but it beats the alternative.

Love to know how the heck GL played the beginning ostinato of Tarkus. I've watched all the videos I can and still don't get how he keeps going.
 
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#140
Had a bit of a drive between my day job and gig tonight. Plenty of time to listen to "Tarkus" twice. I always loved the side 1 suite but tended to see side 2 is comparatively light. I think maybe it was because of the bookend tracks of 'Jeremy Bender" and "Are You Ready Eddy." Boy was I wrong. I found myself hearing "The Only Way" with fresh ears. Greg's vocal during the church organ section is wonderful, as it is throughout the track. But I had never noticed the way his bass playing shines so brightly in the piano jazz/minuet section that follows.

I also had time during my drive to revisit "Trilogy." It was "Endless Enigma" that originally sold me on ELP. It still amazes me. I love the way the piano and bass work together in "Fugue." An underrated player to say the least. He'll be missed.
 
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