Emerson, Lake And Palmer: Pictures At An Exhibition [DVD] [2006]

Good music.

Thought it was good at the time but..have a different view now.

Very good

I've just bought this DVD, and I must agree that the psychedelic graphics on some of the tracks ruin something that would have otherwise been excellent. They don't even seem to have anything to do with the music. Nevertheless, I would recommend this DVD to any ELP fan, as a rare early glimpse of the band playing on a small stage, in front of a small audience - after his speech, Keith Emerson goes to play the first chord of Promenade, and nothing happens. He runs over and turns on the amplifiers. During Gates of Kiev, there's a spot where Carl Palmer and Greg Lake get out of time - but correct it brilliantly. In other words a genuine live gig! There is a raw energy in this performance that can never come across in the big stadium shows of ELP's later years.

Most fans of Emerson, Lake & Palmer properly know their famous CD/LP version "Pictures at an Exhibition", which actually also were recorded live in March 1971, and where they as here, gives their version of the great Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky's piece bearing the same title. They were properly the only rock band at that time, and likely in the history of rock, who really could do that and gain your respect, because these chaps could really handle their instruments. The footage on this DVD was recorded approximately 4 month earlier, at the Lyceum Theatre, and picture and sound is in very good shape. Also the performance is really up to par, and the only real critique I have is not concerning the performance, but really only the idea of the, at that time, artistic distortion of the picture; firstly during Keith Emerson's great jazz, blues & rock hammond organ solo in "Blues Variation", which properly is one of his best performances in that style, where the whole band swings and almost brings to mind, the more free nature of The Nice and secondly and even worse, the cartoon figures during "The Hut Of Baba Yaga", splashed all over the footage, so you can't even see the musicians. But when that said, and when you prepare yourself for that, you shouldn't hold back, because this is historical ELP, and if you like this group it is absolutely a must have, mostly also for the reason that there just isn't that much footage available with them from that time. Another DVD with them, also highly recommended is "Emerson, Lake & Palmer - beyond the beginning".

Aside the temperamental moog which Keith constantly had to tweak, musically this is early ELP at their confident best. I've always thought Keith should have stayed with this format of keyboards; Hammonds and minimal synths, his organ work is still unmatched. The nausea inducing Marvel comics overlays are a destruction of important musical footage. I was so disappointed and angry over the stupid editing that it took me a number of tries before I could force myself to watch the entire video. Hopefully there is original footage available, if so, to release this concert with the cartoon editing intact is lazy and a waste of time. Until this concert is released in its entirety, sans the cartoons, don't waste your money.

I saw this film at the pictures when it was first given a general release. There was a season in Odeons across the country where you could see Mad Dogs and Englishmen, Plod, Cream Farewell and Monterey and the like. The original film lasted a good ninety minutes and contained not just the Pictures performance but pretty much the whole show including Barbarian, Take a Pebble, Knife Edge and Rondo. This is an almost identical set to the woeful Isle of Wight debut set but executed in a much more confident fashion. So why the grumble... This is such a missed opportunity. There are several versions of this DVD available and this is no different. The decent thing would be to have the original film as it was intended with all the missing tracks. There is very little ELP film and this very early document is a real missing link. The missing songs are all very different to the recorded versions and the obligatory Hammond thrashing is a joy to behold in these days of safe and sanitised rock n roll. Yes and I do mean rock and roll when discussing ELP. I recommend keeping the copy you have and waiting for someone to get their finger out and restore the original. - A cynical release!

Fun to see Emerson playing a modular Moog. Very few have used that on stage, this was before the time of the popular MiniMoog. He is also using a Moog ribbon controller in a special way. And his bashing of the Hammond organ is a classic. Music is good, film quality is good, but those ridiculous graphics spoils the whole experience.

NOTE: This ONE star rating is NOT about the music - which is one of my favourites and which I Love. IT is about the defective DVD - it does NOT play beyond the 18th minute or so in a normal continuous play - and neither does song selection beyond that track (Blues Variation) help. This is a Manufacturing defect (not a seller issue per se). The defect was there in the original delivery last week - and the same defect persists in the replacement which was delivered today. DO NOT BUY THIS DVD - from any seller - as the defect is one of Manufacturing. All items manufactured in this particular batch will be defective.

映像はこれまでも何度も見ていたが、今回は音声がきれいで、大変良かった。

ELP is one of my favorite bands right up there with Zep, Floyd and Alice. Theirs is a unique sound and a singular vision. That vision is brought to light exquisitely by this DVD. It is a treat to see the young trio playing their instruments and such, but after a while them just standing and playing would start to get old (especially after repeated viewings). I mean, you can watch Keith Emerson's hands all day long, but that isn't going to mean you can play like him. There are some groovy psychedelic effects in the middle part of the show that both both enhance the viewing experience and illustrate what ELP is all about. The swirls turn into comic-book images (not cartoons). These are Marvel comics characters from the 60's by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko-- two artistic visionaries that were doing with pen and ink what ELP did with sound. The visuals are thus a perfect match! Dr. Strange and the Fantastic Four in particular are well suited to ELPs music. Some people may be annoyed that they can't see the band clearly the whole time, but there is plenty of unadulterated footage of the band doing its thing. By the time the visuals start you ought to be in the proper state of mind to enjoy them them anyway. They wash over you just like the music does. This is certainly one of the best concert DVDs available.

Es ist zwar noch eine Veröffentlichung von dem Konzert 1970. Auch wurde schon viel bei anderen Rezensionen über die Psychedelic Effekte geschrieben. Diese tauchen zwischendursch immer wieder auf und man sieht Emerson, Lake oder Palmer nur als Konturen im Hintergrund. Aber ich denke in den 70 iger Jahren war das etwas besonderes die Bilder zu verfremden. Auch ist es nur beim Stereoton geblieben. Stört mich nicht. 1970 war es so. Was ich aber wichtig finde, die drei hatten richtig Spaß am spielen. Deshalb macht es Freude sich das Konzert anzusehen. Das erkennt man vor allem an den Großaufnahmen der Musiker. Und dann gibt es noch als Bonus die Live Aufnahmen aus der Sendung Pop Shop 1971 mit Interview, Rondo, Nutrocker, Take A Peabble, Knife Edge, Blues Jam/Nutrocker und den Original Filmtrailer. Also wer Pictures At An Exhibition noch nicht hat oder am Bonusmaterial interesse hat, sollte sich die Special Edition kaufen.

This video includes the orchestral version of the same - a must have.