The ELP sound is dominated by the Hammond organ and Moog synthesizer of the flamboyant Emerson. The band's compositions are heavily influenced by classical music in addition to jazz and β at least in their early years β hard rock. Many of their pieces are arrangements of, or contain quotations from, classical music, and they can be said to fit into the sub-genre of symphonic rock. However, Lake ensured that their albums contained a regular stream of simple, accessible acoustic ballads, many of which received heavy radio airplay. Lake, besides providing vocals, bass guitar, electric guitar and lyrics, also produced the band's first five albums.
On two occasions in 1969, The Nice (with Keith Emerson on keyboards) and King Crimson (with Greg Lake on vocals and bass) shared the same venue, first on 10th August 1969 at the 9th Jazz and Blues Pop Festival in Plumpton, England, and on 17th October 1969 at Fairfield Hall in Croydon, England. After playing at a few of the same concerts, Emerson and Lake tried working together and found their styles to be not only compatible but complementary. Emerson wanted to make the "best damned three-piece band in the world", and thought the line-up of The Nice (keyboard, bass, drums) was the way to go.
Before settling on drummer Carl Palmer (formerly Atomic Rooster, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown), they approached Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience; Mitchell was uninterested but passed the idea to Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix, tired of his band and wanting to try something different, expressed an interest in playing with the group; the British press, after hearing about this, speculated that such a supergroup would have been called "Hendrix, Emerson, Lake & Palmer", or HELP. Due to scheduling conflicts such plans were not immediately realised, but the initial three planned on a jam session with Hendrix after their dΓ©but at the Isle of Wight Festival, with the possibility of him joining. Hendrix died shortly thereafter, so the three pressed on as Emerson, Lake and Palmer.
Their first four years were a creatively fertile period. Lake produced their first six albums, starting with Emerson, Lake and Palmer (1970), which contained the hit "Lucky Man" featuring Emerson's first experiments with Moog. Tarkus (1971) was their first successful concept album, described as a story about "reverse evolution". The March 1971 live recording (Newcastle, U.K.) of the band's interpretation of Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition was issued as a low-priced record, the success of which contributed to the band's overall popularity. The 1972 album Trilogy contained ELP's best-selling single to date, the understated "From the Beginning".
In late 1973 Brain Salad Surgery, with an eye-catching sleeve designed by H.R. Giger, was released and became the band's best-known studio album. The lyrics were partly written by Peter Sinfield, who was the creator of the King Crimson concept and lyricist for their first four albums. The subsequent world tours were documented with a massive three-LP live recording, "Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends".
Their best known early performance had been a relatively modest show at the August 1970 Isle of Wight Festival, one of the last of the great Woodstock-era festivals. At the end of their set, Emerson and Lake lit two cannons either side of the stage. By April 1974, ELP were joint headliners of the California Jam Festival, and completed the concert when co-stars Deep Purple elected to go on stage first. ELP's California Jam performance was broadcast nationwide in the US and is often seen as the summit of the band's career.
After taking a break, the band began working with an orchestra and released Works Volume 1 in 1977 to mixed reviews. The album contained the band's signature tune, "Fanfare for the Common Man", reaching number two in the British charts. However, punk rock had began influencing the music scene, and the progressive rock giants of the time were suffering as a result. Rifts within the band were beginning to show, and the following albums, Works Volume 2 and Love Beach (one released in 1977,the other in 1978) were mainly made to finish their record contract. They released Works Live in 1979 with the orchestra, but touring was overly expensive and so the orchestra were dropped half way through the tour.
The band split in 1979, with each member doing his own thing. Carl Palmer joined Asia and had commercial success. In 1985 Emerson and Lake wanted to reform, but with Palmer in Asia, they tried out other drummers such as Simon Phillips, but settled on Cozy Powell. Emerson, Lake & Powell released one self-titled album in 1986.
Since then the original ELP have reformed in 1991 and released two studio albums: Black Moon (1992) and In the Hot Seat (1994). Neither albums were critically acclaimed, but the band still managed to sell out venues as they toured the world. The band split again in 1998.
On 25 July 2010, ELP reunited for a single show to commemorate their 40th anniversary. But this reunion was only to celebrate their anniversary and after that show they split again in 2010.
Emerson died on 11 March 2016 in Santa Monica, California, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His body was found at his Santa Monica home. Following an autopsy, the medical examiner ruled Emerson's death a suicide, and concluded that he had also suffered from heart disease and from depression associated with alcohol. According to Emerson's girlfriend Mari Kawaguchi, Emerson had become "depressed, nervous and anxious" because nerve damage had hampered his playing, and he was worried that he would perform poorly at upcoming concerts and disappoint his fans.
Lake died in London on 7 December 2016, at the age of 69, after suffering from cancer. His manager announced the news on Twitter, describing Lake's battle with the illness as "long and stubborn". Numerous fellow musicians paid tribute, including Rick Wakeman, Steve Hackett, Ringo Starr, John Wetton, and ELP drummer Carl Palmer. With Lake's death and that of Keith Emerson earlier in 2016, Palmer is the last surviving member of the group.
Hoedown
Emerson Lake & Palmer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the sunset covered sky
A lynching mob had strung his friend up
Right before his eyes
He didn't know what they'd both done
He sure as hell would end up one
Or else a notch on the sheriff's gun
If he didn't move on
The sheriff followed Josie's journey
From Kansas City west
He said he'd put a bullet right
Through poor old Josie's chest
But Josie wasn't like the rest
He don't like bullet holes in his vest
In fact he'd do his very best
Don't want any arrest
Don't want to be the guest
Of the sheriff
The nights got so damned cold
He couldn't stand the pace
He looked again for sheriff's men
But couldn't see a trace
Josie found a nice warm place
But then the sheriff solved the case
Pushed a gun in Josie's face
And said look here
Sheriff rode him into town
With Josie looking sad
He didn't know about the six-gun
Wicked Josie had
Then Josie drew his gun real fast
Gave the sheriff one big blast
And Josie was a song at last
A legend from the past
Nobody ever messed with the sheriff
The lyrics of the song βHoedownβ by Emerson Lake & Palmer tell the story of Wicked Josie, who rode away in the sunset covered sky after witnessing a lynching mob string up his friend right before his eyes. Wicked Josie wasnβt sure why they had done that, but he knew if he stayed, he would end up like his friend or as a notch on the sheriffβs gun. The sheriff followed Josieβs journey from Kansas City west and threatened to put a bullet right through Josieβs chest. But Josie wasnβt like the rest, he didnβt want any arrests or to be the guest of the sheriff. As the nights got colder, Josie looked for the sheriffβs men but couldnβt find any, and he found a warm place to stay. But then the sheriff found him and pushed a gun in his face.
The story takes an unexpected turn when Wicked Josie drew his gun and gave the sheriff one big blast, making him a legend from the past. The lyrics are metaphorical, as Wicked Josie represents the struggles of people who are pushed to the corners of society, and the sheriff represents the oppressive forces imposing their will on them. The song is an ode to standing up to bullies and overcoming oppression. The music of Hoedown is upbeat and energizing, capturing the spirit of the American West.
Line by Line Meaning
Wicked Josie rode away
Josie, who has committed some kind of wrongdoing, flees the area
In the sunset covered sky
It was late in the day when Josie was making his escape
A lynching mob had strung his friend up
Josie's friend was already hanged by a mob
Right before his eyes
Josie witnessed his friend being hanged
He didn't know what they'd both done
Josie is not aware of the actual crime they both had committed
He sure as hell would end up one
Josie is certain that he would be punished just like his friend
Or else a notch on the sheriff's gun
Josie could also end up as a tally on the sheriff's gun handle
If he didn't move on
Running away was the only option for Josie
Get out of here
Josie's final thought is to escape as quickly as possible
The sheriff followed Josie's journey
The law enforcer was in pursuit of Josie
From Kansas City west
The chase was happening in the western region of the United States
He said he'd put a bullet right
The sheriff threatened to shoot Josie on sight
Through poor old Josie's chest
The intended shot was aimed at Josie's torso
But Josie wasn't like the rest
Josie wasn't a pushover like the others the sheriff dealt with
He don't like bullet holes in his vest
Josie didn't want to be shot and he liked his clothes intact
In fact he'd do his very best
Josie intended to avoid getting caught by any means necessary
Don't want any arrest
Josie preferred not to be arrested, which is the reason for his escape
Don't want to be the guest
Josie didn't desire to be a visitor to the local jail or prison
Of the sheriff
Josie's jailer would undoubtedly have been the sheriff
The nights got so damned cold
Josie faced cold weather during his journey, increasing his discomfort
He couldn't stand the pace
The difficult travel conditions took a toll on Josie's energy level
He looked again for sheriff's men
Josie scanned his surroundings for the sheriff and his deputies
But couldn't see a trace
Josie was unable to spot any of the lawmen
Josie found a nice warm place
Josie managed to find a comfortable place to rest
But then the sheriff solved the case
The sheriff was finally able to capture Josie, ending his escape
Pushed a gun in Josie's face
The law enforcer pointed his gun at Josie, who was defenseless
And said look here
The sheriff most likely threatened or berated Josie in some way, telling him to cooperate
Sheriff rode him into town
The sheriff escorted Josie back to the city following his capture
With Josie looking sad
Josie was naturally unhappy about being caught
He didn't know about the six-gun
Josie was not prepared for a gun battle with the sheriff, who was armed with a six-gun revolver
Wicked Josie had
The adjective 'wicked' suggests that Josie may have been notorious in some way
Then Josie drew his gun real fast
Josie quickly pulled out his firearm, hoping to surprise the sheriff
Gave the sheriff one big blast
Josie fired a single shot at the sheriff, possibly killing him
And Josie was a song at last
Josie became a legend, remembered in songs and stories for his daring escape and lethal revenge
A legend from the past
Josie's tale has become part of history and legend
Nobody ever messed with the sheriff
The sheriff had a reputation for being someone not to be messed with, but ultimately, Josie was the one who killed him
Lyrics Β© CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: AARON COPLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MysticNode626
Met Greg when I was about 12, he stayed at our familyβs house for a couple weeks, him and my father were good friends from the old days. Nice to hear his music living on
@dw-fe2ww
This is a great wake up jam. Gets the blood going
@Steps85
I'm 38 and most of the time my dad was a jerk. But he introduced my to ELP. I guess we are even.
@aleocampos9547
I LOVE this piece. The way Keith's keys and Carl's drums move together is simply brilliant ππ. Trilogy, my ELP album πππ
@kleberveridianogoncalvesde6293
Thank you, Aaron Copland and Emerson, Lake and Palmer for the Joy to hear this music. Keep going Carl...with the legacy!
@gunternetzer9621
Keith loved a bit of Americana.
@lesblatnyak5947
Sweet!
Totally forgot about this.
ππ
@karlamartin8215
Memories β€
@juanalbertorendonsalazar1908
β€β€ Ecxelencia musical
@ttststs
Best dance music