Greg Lake - self-titled (MVD Audio)
Catalog number: MVD5024
From Aural Innovations May 2009 update
Truly out-standing live concert CD of the frontman and voice of Emerson Lake
& Palmer - Greg Lake during a recent tour of his during the autumn in the
UK. Show took place at the Stevenage Concert Hall on November 11, 2005. Ten
tracks gives the listener(s) eight ELP songs and two King Crimson songs. Have
to say this self-titled CD is way better than his 'King Biscuit Flower Hour'
release that was put out awhile back. While the 'King Biscuit' show was decent
and all, it's overall sound mix appeared a little weak at times. This MVD Audio
title is comparable to an actual Emerson Lake & Palmer performance. Honestly,
it is. Sound quality here is breath-taking. Starts off with the fantastic opener,
King Crimson's ground-breaking 1969 unmatchable (even to this day) the progressive
stoner rock gem - "In The Court Of The Crimson King". Next up are
several tunes that seem to maybe have a bit slower pace than a few of you might
expect - like "Paper Blood", "Touch And Go", "Take
A Pebble" and "Farewell To Arms" but it's all still good. Great
to experience once again was the powerful "Fanfare For The Common Man",
one of rocks' best ballads of all time, the gorgeously played "Lucky Man",
another King Crimson gem - "21st Century Man", the eighteen-minute
classical ELP masterpiece - "Pictures At An Exhibition" and the hair-raising
finale of this memorable event - "Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression - Part 2).
Line-up: Greg Lake - guitar & vocals, Florian Opahle - guitar, Trevor Barry
- bass, David Arch - keyboards and Brett Morgan - drums. All fans - casual and
die hards will get many pleasurable plays from this disc. A great pick.
Check out Greg's web site at: http://www.greglake.com
Check out the record label web site at: http://www.mvdb2b.com
Reviewed by Mike Reed