Released 6 July 1972 Artist Emerson, Lake & Palmer Label Cotillion Records | Length 42:23 Release date 6 July 1972 | |
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Recorded October 1971–January 1972 at Advision Studios, London, England Similar Emerson - Lake & Palmer albums, Progressive rock albums | ||
Trilogy full album 2012 remaster emerson lake palmer 1972
Trilogy is the third studio album by the English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer, released in July 1972 on Island Records. The cover, designed by Hipgnosis, depicts the band attached at the shoulders, while the interior of the original gatefold sleeve features a photomontage of the three in Epping Forest.
Contents
- Trilogy full album 2012 remaster emerson lake palmer 1972
- Songs
- Reception
- Track listing
- Emerson Lake Palmer
- Production
- Singles
- References
Trilogy increased ELP's worldwide popularity, and included "Hoedown", an arrangement of the Aaron Copland composition, which was one of their most popular songs when performing live.
References to a quad version of this album appeared in 1974 Harrison or Schwann record and tape guides, listing Trilogy in the Quadraphonic 8-track tape cartridge format. Collectors report never seeing a Trilogy Q8 at retail, despite its having a catalogue number "Cotillion QT-9903."
Lake had said this was his favourite ELP record.
Songs
"The Endless Enigma" consists of three parts; the first section begins with the sound of a beating heart, an effect sometimes claimed to have been created by the Ludwig Speed King bass drum pedal of Palmer's Ludwig Octaplus kit. However, in the sleeve notes to the 2015 CD/DVD reissue, remix engineer Jakko Jakszyk is quoted as saying "It starts with a heartbeat which I've discovered is actually Greg [Lake] playing... muted strings on his bass guitar."
"From the Beginning" is a soft, acoustic guitar-based piece that peaked at #39 on the US charts. More often appearing in ELP compilations than live concerts, the track lent its name to a 1997 retrospective of Greg Lake's work. The song was also covered by Czech folk rock band Marsyas, albeit under a different name (Studená koupel - Cold Bath) and with Czech lyrics.
In the opening drum solo on the track "The Sheriff", Carl Palmer accidentally hit the rim of his tom-tom with a drumstick. He responded with the word "shit" which can be heard when listening carefully. "The Sheriff" ends with a honky tonk-type piano solo with Palmer playing woodblocks.
"Hoedown" is a cover of "Hoe-Down" from the Rodeo ballet by Aaron Copland (1942). It became the opening song for both the Trilogy and Brain Salad Surgery tours.
"Abaddon's Bolero" sounds like a bolero turned into a march (in 4/4 rhythm rather than the usual 3/4). A single melody containing multiple modulations within itself is repeated over and over in ever more thickly layered arrangements, starting from a quiet Hammond organ making a flute-like sound over a snare drum, and building up to a wall of sound – Maurice Ravel's famous Boléro uses a similar effect. "Abaddon's Bolero" is replete with overdubs. Almost every time an instrument comes in, another overdub follows. "Abaddon's Bolero" was only played live a handful of times, with Greg Lake handling Mellotron and additional Moog synthesizer duties; the song turned out to be a disaster, and was cut from the set list. There is also the quoting from the British traditional song "Girl I left Behind Me".
Reception
The album reached #5 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at #2 on the UK album charts. It appeared in the Top 10 in Denmark for 4 non-consecutive weeks, peaking at #6.
Track listing
All tracks arranged by Emerson, Lake & Palmer. All lyrics by Greg Lake.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Production
Singles
Songs
1The Endless Enigma (Part I)6:41
2The Fugue1:57
3The Endless Enigma (Part II)