The Singles boxset allows one to traipse across Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s substantial oeuvre by listening to a dozen 7’’ vinyl records, with music plucked from the band’s 1970 inception to their 1992 comeback album, Black Moon. Yet, this set only offers a tickle of the music this seminal progressive band produced. Like so many of their contemporaries, ELP were never known as a singles band, although they undoubtedly had some short-form, radio-friendly hits. Given that some of the songs here are edited to fit the single format, I am not even sure many are even singles beyond “Lucky Man” and “From The Beginning.”
Still, this is a luscious boxset, complete with rare original picture sleeves and label artwork, a booklet of photos with a foreword by Carl Palmer, companion art cards, and fully remastered music from the UK and international pressings of 25 songs. The eponymous first album’s “Lucky Man” paired with “Knife Edge” is perhaps the set’s most prominent single. Yet, others like the aforementioned “From The Beginning” and the truncated “Fanfare For The Common Man,” have gotten plenty of airplay as well.
Soundwise, everything sounds nice and crisp, with Emerson’s keys driving tunes like “Living Sin,” the B-side of “From The Beginning,” and “A Time And A Place,” from the band’s Tarkus album. The instrumentals “When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windmills Of Your Mind I’ll Be Your Valentine” and “Canario,” from the band’s final (and often maligned) album of the 70s, Love Beach, are prime examples of the band’s exemplary musicianship. “C’est La Vie,” “Still… You Turn Me On,” “I Believe In Father Christmas,” and “Affairs Of The Heart” all find Lake delivering some of his best vocals. With all the goodies and superior sound quality, Singles is a terrific and fun way to celebrate Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s 50th anniversary.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
