Emerson, Lake & Powell Gets ‘The Complete Collection’

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Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and Cozy Powell

Emerson, Lake & Powell are being celebrated with The Complete Collection, a 3-CD box set, a fitting tribute to the all-too-brief powerhouse collaboration. The title arrived April 12, 2024, on the Spirit of Unicorn Music label via Cherry Red Records. It’s available to order in the U.S. here and the U.K. here.

From the label’s announcement: In the early 1980’s, many of the established progressive rock artists were experiencing a rough ride. The musical landscape was changing. The arrival of punk rock and new wave meant that for many, the grand, creative indulgences which were de rigueur throughout the 1970’s, were fast becoming outdated. During a time of rapid change, bands had to adapt to survive. By 1979, Emerson Lake & Palmer, one of the biggest bands in the world during the 1970’s, were struggling and quietly called time on their once supergroup status band.

Having both explored solo careers, by 1984, Keith Emerson (The Nice, Emerson, Lake & Palmer) and Greg Lake (King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer) were considering their next move. Their longtime ELP bandmate, Carl Palmer, was busy enjoying enormous success with Asia. Thus, Cozy Powell (Rainbow, Whitesnake) stepped in to occupy the drum stool.

“When Cozy came in, he really dazzled us. We didn’t intend to put the group back together but he was such a good technical drummer and such a good performer, we thought it might be a good idea to go back out with a new version of the band,” Greg Lake told the Los Angeles Times in 1986. And so, Emerson, Lake & Powell came to pass.

This 3-CD box set includes the band’s one and only studio release: Emerson, Lake & Powell, featuring three bonus tracks. Also included is their live album, Live In Concert, and a CD of rehearsals, “The Sprocket Sessions,” which has previously only been available as a bootleg.

All material included in the box set has been re-mastered by renowned engineer Andy Pearce. It is also presented with an enhanced booklet with sleeve notes written by Prog Magazine editor, Jerry Ewing.

All three members have passed. Powell died in a car crash in 1998. Both Emerson and Lake died in 2016.

Emerson, Lake & Powell: The Complete Collection Track List
DISC ONE: Emerson Lake & Powell
The Score
Learning To Fly
The Miracle
Touch And Go
Love Blind
Step Aside
Lay Down Your Guns
Mars, The Bringer of War
BONUS TRACKS
The Loco-Motion – B-Side
Vacant Possession – B-Side
The Score – Single Edit

DISC TWO: The Sprocket Sessions
The Score
Learning To Fly
The Miracle
Knife Edge
Tarkus
Pictures At an Exhibition
Lucky Man
Still, You Turn Me On
Love Blind
Mars Bringer Of War
Touch & Go
Pirates

DISC THREE: Live In Concert
The Score
Touch & Go
Knife Edge
Pirates
From The Beginning
Lucky Man
Fanfare For the Common Man
Mars, The Bringer of War / Drum Solo
Medley
Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression)
America
Rondo