Quote:
Originally Posted by Chocaholic
Wow. To discard an innovative band like ELP based on one pop made-for-radio song seems well…
Keith Emerson was a classically trained pianist extraordinaire that was doing incredible things musically during the Frank Sinatra era. Integrating classical and jazz into a rock-fusion style at that time was unheard of. Greg Lake may be one of the best rock and roll vocalists of all time (of former King Crimson fame). Their unique styles melded together with the drumming genius of Carl Palmer (the only remaining member) was pure musical chemistry that requires a much deeper dive than one pop tune. The breadth of their output was staggering, most definitely not made for radio.
As he aged, Emerson became physically constricted medically and when he could no longer play piano, he killed himself. This is not a band to take lightly. They changed the course of rock fusion and musical history with a depth of innovation and musical risk-taking that ushered in an entirely new genre of rock fusion. I will always be a fan.
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Indeed. The song in question is something of an ironic narrative about a privileged man who was lucky in that regard. Then he goes off to war and is killed. The label "lucky man" then becomes sardonic. "No money could save him".
Greg Lake first sketched the song when he was just 12. IIRC my rock history it started as more of a folk song then it evolved into the rock masterpiece it is.
Read these lyrics... “white horses” and “ladies by the score” dressed in satin, with a “gold-covered mattress” and “white lace and feathers” . That's the lucky rich man.
Then he “went to fight wars for his country and his king” "of his honor and his glory the people would sing"
.So... “Ooooh, what a lucky man he was,” goes from an envious tone to a sardonic one.
Great song...great musicians.
YMMV
By the way that is not the released version of the solo.