Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Tarkus

One of the best sounding pressings. Don’t hesitate to pick one up.

Este prensado exige un sistema que pueda asegurar al menos una calidad decente en separación de instrumentos y construcción de imagen sonora. De lo contrario, puede sentirse muy encajonado. En general, agudos cristalinos, bajos prominentes sin ser abrumadores y medios correctos. Las voces son cálidas, casi aterciopeladas.

My vinyl has two weird etchings. One says "BITCHES CRYSTALS", and the other says "LEMERPAL AKER & SON". Any explanation behind these? I can't find any research as to why these are on here, or their meanings. It looks like no other Tarkus vinyl release on Discogs has these two etchings

[copied from Discogs Master Notes text - author unknown]

EL&P were already writing and arranging Tarkus, their second album, in January 1971, when their debut album was getting released in the United States.

The first track "Tarkus" is a 7-part suite which filled the whole side one on vinyl editions. It’s an unusual piece of music in uncommon 5/4 time signature which led to some heated discussions upon the band members. Finally it was recorded in six days, finished by the end of February. The concept of "Tarkus" is an Armadillo with the base of a World War I tank and aggressive tendencies. The gatefold sleeve of the album most effectively illustrated the story.

The first part "Eruption" has a gentle intro, which partly is Greg's voice on a tape loop, but then unleashes the band at full tilt. The storyboard shows "Tarkus" being born on the base of an erupting volcano.

It segues effectively into "Stones Of Years" where Lake’s vocals/lyrics have their first appearance and Emerson’s fine Hammond playing is unsurpassed.

The rhythms from "Eruption" make a short return in a more disharmonic form in the instrumental interlude "Iconoclast" and introduces the Moog-driven vocal track "Mass."

"Manticore" is the heaviest and most dramatic part of the whole suite, followed by the mighty "Battlefield."

The melodic theme of "Battlefield" is taken over to "Aquatarkus," before the whole thing returns to the opening theme again and makes one hell of a powerful finale.

After such an intense piece of music it’s no surprise, the second side of the vinyl album would be in lighter vein. The whimsical and lightweight, Floyd Cramer influenced "Jeremy Bender" starts side two, followed by a fast paced "Bitches Crystal."

Way more serious is "The Only Way," based around a heavenly melody sung by Lake over Emerson's grandiose church-organ, and leads the way into the piano-based instrumental "Infinite Space."

The powerful and aggressive next track "A Time and a Place" sure has its share of energy.

The last track is a basic traditional rock'n'roll called "Are You Ready Eddy?" a tribute to their engineer Eddy Offord.