180g Vinyl, LP - MFSL 1-617 Read more.
1. Promenade
2. The Gnome
3. Promenade
4. The Sage
5. The Old Castle
6. Blues Variation
7. Promenade
8. The Hut Of Baba Yaga
9. The Curse Of Baba Yaga
10. The Hut Of Baba Yaga
11. The Great Gates Of Kiev The End
12. Nutrocker
“Supergroups” already existed before Emerson, Lake & Palmer were formed in 1970 – and many followed. Yet few, if any, could match the chemistry of this British trio and their unique blend of virtuosity, vision and energy. Five months after the release of the band’s second album, Tarkus, Pictures At An Exhibition appeared – a live album by the British prog rockers, released on November 12, 1971 on Island Records and in the United States on January 4, 1972 on Cotillion Records. The album reached the top ten in nearly every domestic chart – climbing to No. 3 in Canada and the UK, and even No. 2 in Japan. To date, nearly 750,000 copies have been sold. In a readers’ poll by the British music magazine Melody Maker, ELP were voted Best Band of the Year. Pictures At An Exhibition was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
The first band adaptation of the famous piano suite by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881) was originally recorded and filmed live on December 9, 1970 at London’s Lyceum Theatre. However, the trio were dissatisfied with the footage, editing and sound, and therefore decided to record another live performance, which took place on March 26, 1971 at Newcastle City Hall. After hours of rehearsals and soundchecks, ELP delivered a performance for the ages, blurring genre boundaries and highlighting the collective’s unique virtuosity and vitality. The live spectacle also featured three additions to the original suite and an encore titled “Nutrocker” – a playful rock ’n’ roll version of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.
Lovingly mastered from the original tapes at MoFi’s California studio and pressed on 180-gram vinyl (33 RPM) at Fidelity Record Pressing, this LP presents the live classic for the first time in audiophile reference quality. With spectacular spaciousness and remarkable detail, this collectible reissue honors the trio’s perfectionist approach, which shaped both their musical interplay and the album’s recording. The live dynamics are revealed on this strictly numbered MoFi pressing as they truly deserve. Housed in a premium sleeve by Stoughton Printing and featuring the iconic cover artwork by William Neal.
We recommend using “L’Art du Son” LP cleaner for wet-cleaning your vinyl. Even newly manufactured high-quality pressings benefit significantly from this treatment.
