Keith Emerson or Rick Wakeman?
 

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I wore out both Yessongs and Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends, Ladies and Gentlemen - Emerson Lake & Palmer

I vote Keith Emerson. What say ye?

I believe you mean "Brain Salad Surgery".
This was an ongoing debate at my high school.
I'm a big fan of both ELP and Yes.
I guess I'm a little bit more of a fan of Yes so I guess you know which way I vote. :D

But really, they are both great at what they do.

I'm in the Rick Wakeman camp on this one, if only because I think the sum of the parts was greater in Yes than it was in ELP...personally speaking of course.
Obviously this is going to be a very subjective opinion. It's music!

Can't find any live Yes youtube to link to.
But "Close to the edge" and "fragile" are two of my favorite tunes of theirs.

I think Joe means the triple live album Welcome Back My Friends to the Show that Never Ends, ELP's answer to the triple live Yes album Yessongs. Genesis had Seconds Out, and on and on - many "prog rock" bands felt compelled to release a triple live album during those years. Of these three more prominent bands that did so, I still like Seconds Out the best.

I'm a huge fan of all three, and have had the privilege of seeing them live on numerous occasions.

I would give the nod to Emerson as far as technical ability, but Wakeman was more "musical", or "melodious", or whatever - easier to listen to, more flowing. Emerson was definitely the bigger showman of the two. Tony Banks was extraordinary as well.

Not taking anything away from Wakeman but, I feel that Emerson was the better keyboardist and an incrediblly superior showman. He was a pioneer with the Moog and other synthesizers. I also loved how he incorporated ragtime and classical as well. My bias may also be that I saw ELP live and have a great appreciation for all three musicians. The only negative was that Lake was a Habs fan. Yes, I was referring to the triple live album (as the linked video).

That said, I won't turn off the radio if either group comes on.

I have never owned a Moog, despite a lifetime involved with electronic music. The Mother 32 they currently offer is pretty cool. More of a Pittsburgh Modular fan today.

Seen both live. Keith by far was the better showman but yes was the better band. Have either of these groups made it into the rock and roll hall of fame?

apples and oranges. both great.

Went to almost every concert in the 70's and 80's all kinds of music. Best concert I've been to was Yes. They were on a rotating stage in the middle of the coliseum. The best "show" was Alice Cooper. Brain Salad Surgery was one of the first albums I bought.

Hard to say who is better. But what about Ray Manzarek? I was always impressed with the ability to play keyboard leads and the baseline at the same time.

ELP has always been among my favorites of all time. So, a big fat vote for ELP and Keith. Combined with Greg Lake's guitar and voice, backed up by the amazing Carl Palmer on drums, nope, not even close (for me).

There behind the glass, stands a real blade of grass, be careful as you pass, move along, move along.

Can't stand Yes, will listen to ELP if it comes on the radio, but don't look forward to it.

I liked Jon Lord, because he played with a decent band.

Probably not technically in the same league though. Emerson and Wakeman are pretty evenly matched as far as skill goes.

You might want to give him a deeper look. Read the wiki on him, for starters. What he did with Deep Purple was a tiny fraction of his career and you might be surprised to see just how extensive it was...

Here is something he wrote in 1975, obviously this particular performance was recorded much later in his life. Notice how much fun everybody in the band is having ...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A3aW1pJeddg

Never having had the privilege of seeing either live, I tend listen to more Wakeman because I have more of his music around. To "javadog's" comment - Jon Lord certainly could play a bit.

Cheers
JB

If you like one, you like the other...................what's not to like?

Just play the music.