There is nothing like a great three minute single. A song that grabs you, thrills you and then is gone. It’s been the staple of rock and pop music for over sixty years and shows no sign of becoming extinct, as we saw recently with the success of the Nuggets fiftieth anniversary box set.
Yet in the early 1970s rock fans were treated to music that explored new terrain, incorporating elements of classical, jazz and even folk music into a broad category that was termed ‘progressive’ simply because it sought to expand the sound of modern electric rock.
One of the earliest progressive bands comprised three musicians who had already paid their dues. Keith Emerson came from The Nice, Greg Lake had recently departed the first incarnation of King Crimson while Carl Palmer had been drumming for Atomic Rooster. Eschewing a regular band name the trio pressed their surnames into service and released their first album in 1970. It was simply called Emerson, Lake & Palmer and showed much promise and lots of instrumental flair.
It was ELP’s second album, however, that really threw down the gauntlet to bands hoping to stand out from the progressive herd. With a side-long centrepiece about a techno-organic armadillo it combined virtuoso playing with some outstanding melodic elements and plenty of strong musical hooks. Tarkus was given lyrical structure by the daft sci-fi story of the afore-mentioned beastie, a tale illustrated in the original gatefold cover by a series of fantasy drawings depicting various battles.
Good though Greg Lake’s singing is, it’s the keyboard wizardry of Emerson that is the centrepiece of Tarkus. He was to ELP what Eric Clapton was to Cream: a brilliant soloist ably supported by a bass-playing vocalist (Lake, filling the Jack Bruce role) and hard-hitting, inventive drummer (Palmer, showing that Ginger Baker wasn’t the only percussion master on the block).
Although the “Tarkus” suite is a twenty minute epic, the well-structured sections mean it never drags. The instrumental sections (often Emerson on organ, piano, and/or synthesisers) burst with grandeur, supported by Lake’s full, dramatic vocals. Palmer is busy in the background, augmenting the mood of what’s going out front. Many would claim that, along with Yes’s “Close To The Edge” and the Genesis triumph “Supper’s Ready”, this is the pinnacle of epic prog.
What then of the second side? Sad to report, it is somewhat patchy and the main reason why Tarkus is not as famous as the centrepiece suggests it should be. There are highlights, however. “Bitches Crystal” is powerful, almost brutal. “A Time and a Place” is excellent too. In “Jeremy Bender” we have an example of a recurring theme on ELP albums; the inclusion of a rollicking music hall song of dubious merit. Was it inspired by a love of Paul McCartney ditties like “Lovely Rita”? Who knows. But neither “Jeremy B” nor closing rocker “Are You Ready Eddy?” hold up well. “The Only Way (Hymn)” has a worthwhile message about thinking for oneself, but sinks under the weight of its own pretension. Fortunately the piano coda (“Infinite Space (Conclusion)” is inventive and entertaining.
Reservations aside, Tarkus the album does stand up over half a century after its release on 14 June 1971. The 50th anniversary picture disc offers the cover art pressed into the vinyl so its comic book grotesquery can be truly appreciated—so bad it’s good!—and reminds us that not all dinosaurs (or armadillos) are museum pieces. Some still rock. Progressively, of course.
vinylconnection.com.au 
Tarkus was my first introduction to the kind of music we now know as ‘prog’, and I still remember those squoinky synth riffs as if it was yesterday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t know about you, PM, but I still have a thing for squelchy synths. 😊
LikeLike
Essentially, the 3-minute single type song was the beginning of my music journey. And while I’ve since listened to many tracks that last longer, I can’t deny once a track exceeds 6 or 7 minutes, and we’re at the third guitar or organ solo, I still tend to get antsy. This has definitely complicated my relationship with much of prog rock. That said, eventually, I warmed to Yes and Gabriel era Genesis.
When it comes to ELP, perhaps, not surprisingly, my favorite is “Lucky Man.” I also dig their live version of “Peter Gunn”. As for the rest, I’d say it’s a work in progress. C’est la Vie! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some are born to prog, Christian, while others have prog shoved upon them. Enjoy the journey!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Inventive? yes, and nicely played.
Yet Tarkus sounded faintly quaint to my ears today. Perhaps it’s my mood, but I wanted a bit more drama, although to be fair it does finish strongly.
Thanks,
DD
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s so interesting, DD. Because of course much prog of the early-mid 70s was slammed for being overly dramatic or even histrionic. Especially ELP!
And thanks, as always, for tuning in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You hit the nail on the ‘point’.
I started my comment with a sentence about my expectation of high drama based on listening to this at Monash Uni record library many years ago. I scrubbed that out as I was getting a bit too waffly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, your waffle is always welcome here, DD! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
ELP were / are one of the few ‘prog’ rock bands I really got into. Trilogy was an early LP purchase for me and still one of my favourite albums in my collection – perhaps as much because it just takes me back to a time and space.
I eventually got around to buying Tarkus on vinyl last year … love it! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, CTJ, Thanks for your comment. I love that you have an historic love for Trilogy, and pivoted that (in a 21st C way) into enjoying Tarkus. Watch out for Brain Salad Surgery!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love Tarkus and enjoy the whole album despite the patchiness. One of those albums that’s more than the sum of its parts maybe?
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a good way of putting it, HMO. If only I could erase ‘Are you ready, Eddie?’ from my memory banks. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
You always nudge (not hard to do) me back. Im never far from this stuff even today. I was listening to a lake solo the other day and liked it more than when I first bought it. Also watched a video with Palmer, Emerson and Oscar Peterson. EPP. My ear just likes this stuff. A lot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We keep the faith, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Had a listen to Tarkus Bruce. It still sounds good. I was an ELP fanatic. Your take does a good job. Why albums like this should be in the hands for a true wordsmith and not a savage like CB. Emerson really was the real deal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He was, CB, he surely was. A loss I still feel, I must say. Hope you are thriving, bud.
LikeLiked by 1 person