Tarkus (studio album) by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Now having listened to each of the first three ELP albums, I'd have to pick this quite easily as my favorite of the bunch. Self-titled and Trilogy are good, each with some really fantastic moments, but this is great, maintaining a better sense of rhythm, melody, cohesiveness, and musicality all throughout, as opposed to the other two records which can feel a bit stagnant and unmelodic in moments. The highlight here is obviously the stunning side-spanning title track, one of the great prog epics, maybe a short step below the likes of Close to the Edge and Supper's Ready. I hadn't heard many good things about the B-side going in, but I quite liked it—Bitches Crystal and Time and a Place giving a spot for ELP to put the "rock" in prog rock, Jeremy Bender and Are You Ready Eddy showing the band's more playful side, and The Only Way/Infinite Space being a rather profound tune. I like this album in totality from start to finish, which I couldn't say about the other two ELP records I've completed. Will be listening to this offering more often.

From IlMala 01/27/2022 13:33

Frankly... never enjoyed so much ELP: Brain Salad Surgery i really don't like, sounds like an exhibition in itself rather that an album; despite this, Tarkus and Trilogy are 2 excellent albums, of course extremely well played and "easy" to listen.

great, not their best

Enjoyed the title track - the rest is a mix bag of stuff

really good prog rock

From Fischman 12/02/2018 19:54

This album is the epitome of prog greatness. It is complex, epic, virtuosic, challenging... yet listenable and compelling.a seminal masterpiece of the genre.

I much prefer this album to 'Pictures at an Exibition'. It is a more melodic and cohesive affair. I particularly like 'Battlefield' which give 'Yes' and 'Genesis' a run for their money. I am not so keen on the way Keith Emerson chose to play his Moog, for example 'Aquatarkus' is a very 'plinky plonky' affair, great on a honky tonk piano but not on a Moog.Great honky took piano on 'Bitches Crystal' by the way. ELP albums don't really flow given that tracks move from Church organ led to honky tonk piano led to plinky plonk Moog led. Fantastic musicians, but I often get a sense they all wanted to showcase their singular abilities rather than gel as a unit.

From Jbalbinolr 11/22/2017 20:46

Great, but if wasn´t for the title track tha album would be nothing.

All very competent but slightly overrated. Still, it is one of their best records, although could you honestly get away with this today?

I bought Tarkus by Emerson, Lake & Palmer on 27/12/2000 from on CD for £4.99 The version I have is on the record label Essential catalogue number ESM CD 340 It entered the UK charts on 19/06/1971 and got to number 1 spending a total of 17 weeks on the chart.