User reviews

I saw this film in 1978 at a cheapo midnight showing. I recall on the downside that the copy run that night was miserably cut, scratched, spliced and filled with horrible audio glitches. However, as a drooling ELP fan (Palmer was the primary influence for me to pick up a pair of drumsticks and play- something which led to a long and fairly successful music career), I can say that this film is a pure treasure trove of great images. My brother (a keyboardist) got good looks at Keith on the Hammond and so figured out difficult to pick out chords, while I was totally blown away by Carl's absolutely explosive drumming style and overall showmanship. This is a great concert film and I highly recommend it to any fan of the prog-rock genre. Oh, the original Mussorgskiy piece "Pictures at an Exhibition" actually saw a boost in sales as a result of ELP's high energy treatment which was released as an album of its own in the early 1970s (1971 or 72). Find this film. You won't regret it.

ELP, with this film almost fifty years ago, gave us a new way to think about technology and sound. What some may perceive as talentless noise, is a gateway to variation. It comes as no surprise that not all get it. I consider this film a jewel in the crown of progressive music. To have been there would have been amazing.

Carl Palmer is the only one worth seeing out of the band. Emerson is an incredible player but he is no musician. I mean by that, that he has no soul-he plays in an overblown flashy style which simply grates.I always thought Wakeman was over the top until I saw KE. Theirs was the only gig I ever walked out of because I was bored. First saw Palmer in the King Bees (he was about 14) and he was incredible then-why hew stayed with ELP was always beyond me.Lake has some idea of how to play musically when he uses an acoustic but is swamped by Keiths overkill.They just do not have the songs,I'm afraid.Do not waste your time on them, there are better practitioners of the progressive rock genre. Yes and Gentle Giant to name two.