Keith Emerson was already known through his band The Nice, Greg Lake for his work with King Crimson and Carl Palmer for his part in The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Atomic Rooster, when they formed progressive-rock-supergroup ELP in 1970. ELP’s sound was dominated by the Hammond organ, moog synth and piano of the extrovert Emerson but embraced classical, jazz and hard rock stylings, while each album usually contained an acoustic ballad written by Lake (who also produced the first five albums), many of which received heavy airplay.

The band debuted in August 1970, played their second gig at the Isle Of Wight festival and a debut album followed later that year as the band quickly rose to commercial prominence. Lake’s ballad “Lucky Man” was even a chart hit in the US as an unstoppable momentum was built and a second album, the concept project Tarkus was released in 1971. A live album Pictures At An Exhibition was quickly followed by Trilogy and by 1973’s Brain Salad Surgery and the band had enjoyed sufficient recognition and commercial success to form their own label, Manticore. Their theatrical showmanship became legendary and their live prowess was captured on the triple vinyl set Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends.

Unable to keep going at the same breakneck pace, the band broke up in the late ‘70s, although a mid-‘80s incarnation toured and recorded with drummer Cozy Powell, as Palmer was busy with the band Asia. However, the original line-up reformed in the ‘90s, releasing new albums and touring extensively before breaking up again in ’98. In 2010 ELP played a 40th anniversary gig at the High Voltage festival In London.

12 x 7” Singles Box Set.