Subsets of ELP Trivia Quiz

Answer: Emerson, Lake and Palmer

The following information about the formation of ELP comes from the booklet that comes with the CD boxset "Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal, An Island Anthology 1967 - 1972:"

"The band had come together in 1969 when Greg Lake met with Keith Emerson whilst King Crimson and The Nice had shared a bill at The Fillmore West in San Francisco, where both musicians expressed musical frustration with their respective outfits. Upon returning to Britain the pair shared musical ideas and contacted 20 year old Carl Palmer, currently with Atomic Rooster and previously with The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, inviting him to join their proposed trio. After a great deal of persuasion, Palmer accepted the offer and ELP began rehearsals at Island Recording Studios in Basing Street, London. Signing to the EG group of companies, who had an exclusive licensing deal with Island Records; ELP began work on their eponymous debut album in the late spring of 1970."

Answer: The Score

"The Score" is the longest track on the album at over nine minutes. The song "Touch and Go" from the album was rerecorded by ELP (Palmer this time) in 1993 for inclusion on "The Return of the Manticore" boxset. The CD "Emerson, Lake and Powell" contains their rendition of Holst's "Mars, the Bringer of War" and a remake of "The Locomotion" as a bonus track.

Answer: Eight Miles High

In my opinion, this is the worst cover version of all time (changing the lyrics to a classic sixties song puts it over the top)! To give you some idea what it sounds like, try to imagine the song done in "an eighties pop" style with synthesizers. The album itself consists mostly of "eighties pop" style music, with one notable exception - the progressive track "Desde La Vida," which is a seven minute track in three parts.

Answer: Only Time Will Tell

The lineup for the first Asia album was Geoff Downes on keyboards (from The Buggles), Steve Howe on guitar (from Yes), Carl Palmer on drums, and John Wetton provided vocals and guitar (previously from Family, King Crimson, Uriah Heap, and UK). Steve Howe and Geoff Downes were both on the "Jon Andersonless" Yes album "Drama."

Answer: America

The song "America" can be found on the "Supernatural Fairy Tales" box set. From the booklet with the boxset: "The version of 'America' included here is the original with O'List. It was originally suppressed and rerecorded for American release. It seems Leonard Bernstein pressured the music publishers into preventing its U.S. release because of its anti-American tone and the news about The Nice's flag-burning and Presidential-bust smashing onstage in the U.K." Davy O'List was a guitarist on their first album "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack."

Answer: 21st Century Schizoid Man

In 2004 an HDCD remastered version of "In the Court of the Crimson King" was released using the original master tapes. This album gets my highest recommendation! In 1993, ELP recorded a new version of "21st Century Schizoid Man" for inclusion on "The Return of the Manticore" boxset. For more early recordings of Greg Lake with King Crimson, check out the "Epitaph" boxset, which consists of live performances of King Crimson from 1969.

Answer: Atomic Rooster

From the booklet that comes with the CD boxset "Supernatural Fairy Tales:" "Vincent Rodney Cheeseman (aka Vincent Crane) got his start with The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, cowriting 'Fire.' Upon leaving that band he teamed up with Carl Palmer to form Atomic Rooster. Fronted by his dense, dark Hammond organ, the sound of the Rooster was heavy and full of gothic angst. 'Death Walks Behind You' was the title track of their second album (Palmer had left after the first record) and defines their musical essence with Crane's atmospheric keyboards complementing John Cann's searing guitar to perfection."

Answer: Fire

The song "Fire" was rerecorded in 1993 by ELP for inclusion on "The Return of the Manticore" boxset. "Fire and Water" is a song by Free, "Fire on High" is a song by ELO, and "Water Song" is a song by Hot Tuna.

Answer: The Beatles

The Beatles paved the way for progressive rock. For example, they used feedback in "I Feel Fine" to get the sound at the beginning of the record. The song "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" is one of the first rock songs to contain sitar. But you can also point to their use of mellotron and early experimental music, such as "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Tomorrow Never Knows," "Rain," and "I Am the Walrus."

Answer: Works Volume 1

"Fanfare for the Common Man" was written by Aaron Copland. A "special edit" of the song appears on "Emerson, Lake and Palmer - The Atlantic Years" double CD set. This "special edit" is four minutes shorter than the version on Works Volume 1.

I hope you enjoyed this quiz. It mixed a little bit of math (subsets of the set of members of ELP) with a "progressive rock supergroup." Note that two subsets necessarily had to be counted twice. Thanks for playing!