EL & P Emerson,Lake and Palmer/Hyogo,Japan 1972

An amazing, amazing document album has arrived. This work includes the legendary ELP’s first Koshien performance in Japan. Yes, it was the live show where that big riot occurred. This work is not a remaster of a previous release, but a new master with the highest sound quality ever that suddenly appeared on the Internet recently. Its freshness is amazing, and the big incident comes back to life with a real audience as if it was recorded yesterday. However, although the online sound source itself was of high quality, there was some noise in some places, but in this work, careful remastering has been performed to remove noise as much as possible. We have further upgraded the master with the highest sound quality ever. Writing “It will make your hands sweat” sounds like an advertisement for a B-movie, but it’s actually an album of big events that will literally make you goosebumps! The life of this work is the riot scene at the end, but the tremendous power of the recording explodes from the beginning! The applause of tens of thousands of people waiting for the performance to begin was literally a thunderous thunderstorm, and the unison clapping, which is unique to Japanese people, was very powerful, with a time difference that gave you a sense of the size of the venue. “I can’t really hear the performance…” I thought to myself, but when the live performance started, I was surprised for the second time. The band’s performance was amazingly clear! Of course, it cannot be said to be “direct like a soundboard,” but the relationship of “performance is the main, cheers are secondary” does not waver in the slightest, and the roar of the Moog synthesizer stands out vividly. The huge spectacle of “Hoedown” rushing forward as a mass while being followed by tens of thousands of applause… it was amazing. Next up is “Tarkus”, which charges forward without paying any attention to the tuning error. As expected, it is not a storm of applause for the entire piece, as it is a blockbuster over 25 minutes including “Epitaph”, but each time the suite changes, a whirlpool of joyful applause occurs, following the rhythm of the odd time signature. There are many excellent audience recordings of ELP, but it is impossible to find such a large audience that could follow the ultra-fast variable time signature of ELP in its heyday outside of Japan. The realism of the band’s passionate performance and the enthusiasm of the audience is such that even an out-of-tune performance transforms into a strange force. Yes, what is included in this work is not finely polished “art” but a crazy sense of “reality.” This is a “phenomenon” that overflowed from Koshien and was only possible because of the 1972 ELP! The scene that symbolizes this “1972 phenomenon” is the riot scene at the end of the movie. That moment comes with the drum solo incorporated into “Rondo.” An enthusiastic spectator climbed over the fence and broke in. Security guards try to restrain them, but one by one they break in, and more than 1,000 spectators rush in. The security guard has no choice but to run away in the face of the frenzied crowd that charges at him, and the amplifier is eventually turned off by the police. As yellow dust and smoke from smoke bombs swirl, Keith stands on top of the organ and gestures, “Everyone stand down!”, but the situation never subsides. The band’s cameraman frantically presses the shutter, the roadies knock down audience members trying to get on stage with their microphone stands, and the manager breaks down in tears. At the venue, which was at its peak of frenzy, Karl continued to play the drum solo by himself, but when he played the decisive part to return to the band performance, no one came in. Of course, Keith and Greg, sensing danger, ran off the stage and listened to Carl’s signature phrase in their car outside the venue. Apparently there were negotiations behind the scenes to see if the police’s order to cancel could be overturned, but in the end the concert was canceled. Keith’s Japanese sword performance was not performed, and the scheduled songs “Endless Enigma” and “Trilogy” were not performed. (From the book “Emerson Lake & Palmer, The Shocking Rock Trio Biography”) Even in this work, which contains a documentary from the audience side, the voices of the audience aroused by the frenzy in front of their eyes, and the voices of the audience restarting even after members disappear. The sound of applause and the announcement that “today’s event has ended” are clearly recorded. The audience’s angry cries of “Idiot!”, “You idiot!”, and “You idiot!” as well as calls of “Go home!” are very realistic. It was truly an “incident” and a “phenomenon.” This is an album that draws the listener into the vortex. The story doesn’t end even after the riot ends. As a bonus track, a (certain famous) radio program from that time was recorded. It is a mini-party pattern where the members who are about to perform live were invited to the broadcasting station’s studio, but this is also an extremely rare and intense sound source. It was a gathering for fans and members who had no idea that rain and riots would be waiting for them as they were recording “July 19th”, which had not yet been performed live. Fans bring souvenirs such as geta and bamboo swords, and when asked, “Who is your rival musician?” the members joke, “His Majesty the Emperor!” Some of them asked surprising questions, such as “Is the rumor that you’re writing a song with Leslie West true?” but the interpreter didn’t know who West was, and asked, “Are you a man? A woman?” I’m pissed. The party is filled with laughter, and the excitement rises, and Greg begins to kiss a female fan and chase her around, far beyond the level of friendly relations. The fans were soaring in front of a real rocker, which was still rare, the members were getting into the groove, and the DJ was chanting “You’re crazy!” Although it is different from the riot at Koshien, ELP is stirring up enthusiasm here as well. Indeed, ELP was a “phenomenon.” Riots of enthusiasm and radio broadcasts. This two-disc set is full of reality, as if you can touch it with your own hands, and see just how much “ELP’s visit to Japan” was an incident. A documentary album that goes far beyond a live album. This work is no longer a music CD. It’s just two time machines that can turn your room into a crime scene. A record of a time when rock had its own vitality, pulsing with bands and fans involved. Leave this life forever on your shelf! Live at Koshien Stadium, Hyogo, Japan 24th July 1972 TRULY AMAZING SOUND Disc 1 1. Intro 2. Hoedown 3. Tarkus: Eruption/Stones of Years/Iconoclast/Mass/Manticore/Battlefield incl. Epitaph 4. Aquatarkus 5. Take A Pebble 6. Lucky Man 7. Piano Improvisation 8. Take A Pebble (Conclusion) Disc 2 Pictures At An Exhibition 1. Promenade 2. The Hut Of 3. The Curse Of Baba Yaga 4. The Hut Of Baba Yaga 5. The Great Gates Of Kiev 6. Rondo 7. Drums Solo 8. Riot 9. Announcement Bonus Track 10. Radio Broadcast Show & Interviews (Originally recorded at Tokyo radio station on 19th July 1972)