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 – at least in their early years – 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 début 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.
Still...You Turn Me On
Emerson Lake & Palmer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you want to be a star
Do you want to play some magic on my guitar?
Do you want to be a poet
Do you want to be my string?
You could be anything
Do you want to be the lover of another, undercover?
You could even be the man on the moon
Do you want to be the player
Do you want to be the string?
Let me tell you something
It just don't mean a thing
You see, it really doesn't matter
When you're buried in disguise
By the dark glass on your eyes
Though your flesh has crystallized
Still you turn me on
Still you turn me on
Hmm, you turn me on
Do you want to be the pillow where I lay my head
Do you want to be the feathers lying in my bed?
Do you want to be a color cover magazine
Create a scene
Every day a little sadder
A little madder?
Someone get me a ladder
Do you want to be the singer
Do you want to be the song?
Let me tell you something
You just couldn't be more wrong
You see, I really have to tell you
That it all gets so intense
From my experience
It just doesn't seem to make sense
Still you turn me on
Hmm, you turn me on, oh yeah
Hmm, you turn me on
The song "Still... You Turn Me On" is a plea to a lover, asking them to reveal their true self and to be anything they may want to be. The lyrics suggest that the lover has the power to transform themselves, and the singer wants them to explore their potential. The reference to angels and stars suggests that the lover could be anything, even something celestial. The mention of playing magic on a guitar and being a poet or a string further reinforces the idea of transformation and creativity.
However, the singer also acknowledges that the lover may be keeping something hidden from them, or may be buried in disguise. The reference to the "dark glass" on their eyes suggests a mask or a façade. Despite this, the singer is still turned on by the lover, suggesting that their true identity is not as important as the way they make them feel.
The lyrics also suggest a sense of frustration and confusion, as the singer seems to contradict themselves at times. They ask if the lover wants to be a singer or a song, but then claim that it "just doesn't seem to make sense". They ask if the lover wants to be a pillow or feathers, but then ask for a ladder, as if they can't reach them. This confusion could reflect the uncertain and tumultuous nature of the relationship between the singer and the lover.
Overall, the song explores the themes of transformation, identity, and desire, and the complex emotions that can arise from intimate relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you want to be an angel
Do you want to be perfect, pure, and good?
Do you want to be a star
Do you want to be famous and shine?
Do you want to play some magic on my guitar?
Do you want to perform a mesmerizing and enchanting act on my guitar?
Do you want to be a poet
Do you want to express yourself in writing and inspire others?
Do you want to be my string?
Do you want to be the instrument that helps me create music and express myself?
You could be anything
You have the potential to be anything you desire.
Do you want to be the lover of another, undercover?
Do you want to have a secret affair with someone else?
You could even be the man on the moon
You could achieve anything, even the impossible.
Do you want to be the player
Do you want to be the one who creates the music?
Let me tell you something
Listen, I have something important to say.
It just don't mean a thing
It doesn't matter.
You see, it really doesn't matter
What I am saying is, it doesn't make a difference.
When you're buried in disguise
When you are hiding your true self.
By the dark glass on your eyes
By the dark lenses of your sunglasses.
Though your flesh has crystallized
Even though your body has hardened.
Still you turn me on
I'm still attracted to you.
Do you want to be the pillow where I lay my head
Do you want to be the one who comforts me?
Do you want to be the feathers lying in my bed?
Do you want to be associated with intimacy and pleasure?
Do you want to be a color cover magazine
Do you want to be glamorous and capture attention?
Create a scene
Cause a sensation.
Every day a little sadder
Every day is a bit more depressing.
A little madder?
A little more insane?
Someone get me a ladder
I need help getting out of this situation.
Do you want to be the singer
Do you want to be the one who delivers the vocals?
Do you want to be the song?
Do you want to be the one who inspires the music?
You just couldn't be more wrong
What you are suggesting is completely wrong.
You see, I really have to tell you
I must clarify this for you.
That it all gets so intense
That it becomes overwhelming.
From my experience
Based on my own personal experience.
It just doesn't seem to make sense
It does not appear logical.
Oh yeah
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GREG LAKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bryanwhitehouse4141
Wonderful song 😊
@rnemchev
Beautiful song!
@franciscodiaz183
We miss you, Greg and Keith.
@santiagosanchezblanco9430
Greg Lake & Keith Emerson always in our hearts.💐
@bubblesmageefrompoughkipse7104
OMG...the memories I have back when this was released... beautiful song and good times!
@kleberveridianogoncalvesde6293
Beautiful song, wonderful guitar and vocals !!!
@dimalink4486
I like this song a lot!
@SergiusLigurAugustus
Lovely Song!!!
@LuisCorro-qy1sf
This and "Closer to Beggining" are my two favorite Emerson Lake & Palmer songs. The live version is even better.
@THEtimguitartaylor
Beautiful, incredibly passionate.