Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Pictures At An Exhibition: Special Edition (1972/Eagle DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: B-     Concert/Feature: B-

 

 

For years, Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and Carl Palmer have not received the respect they deserve and best yet, they seem to drive the very people nuts who really don’t like music, art, fun or anything else, so any reissue of material by Emerson, Lake and Palmer is a good thing, especially when it is their feature film concert of their 1972 theatrical release Pictures At An Exhibition, based on their classic hit album.

 

Originally issued by Crown International (usually known for their cheesy exploitation fare), it is a very good concert in the most complete version now available and shows how great they were in their early prime and when they were first having hit albums and singles over at Cotillion Records (part of the Warner family).  Like all the great music acts, they were always about the music, the performance and delivering a great show to their audience, something they continued to be about ever since.  They play their version of the Mussorgsky classic, including all the liberties they took with the work in all of its glory.

 

At 91 minutes, it is one of the best records of their greatness and proof that they were not just a novelty or that Progressive Rock was all show and no go.  Lake can really sing and all can really play well, plus they have a great audience and the show is very impressive overall.  This Special Edition adds a few extras.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image was shot on analog PAL videotape and then converted to 35mm film for its theatrical release like the Frank Zappa release 200 Motels, but is here off of a good videotape source and looking real good for its age.  As a result, color looks better instead of washed out and the film does not show the flaws in the tape, including its limits.  The PCM 2.0 Stereo is also good and is the kind of sound the film was originally issued in, as clean and clear as expected.  Eagle and the band decided not to try to make a 5.1 mix out of the surviving material and that was a good choice too.

 

Extras include the original theatrical trailer and a second concert form the TV series Pop Shop where the band is interviewed, then performs five songs including Rondo, Nutrocker, Take A Pebble and Knife Edge.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo