Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Trilogy (Live 3/22/1972) (Audio Only)

[kokakolakidd]

I suggest all ELP fans download this precious recording to their computers, so that it will live eternally. We've all been looking for Trilogy live, and thanks to two gracious users, have finally heard this masterpiece.

Yes..Keith Emerson IS God...no one else could pull this off in their wildest dreams...

Tearing up as I type this. It's so wonderful that Keith actually exists...

[tarkushead]

@kokakolakidd Amen!

[LilyLemony]

"Trilogy" is one of my favorite ELP tracks. Thanks for posting this live version. Had only heard one other before this.

[stefdali]

Many, many thanks for posting this rarity

[sustayne]

It's nothing, if not totally ballsy, to attempt to pull off something like this live where the soundman interjects a tape recording into the middle of a live performance. PLayers know what I'm talking about here. You can even hear that ELP has a bit of trouble making the transition at the end of the tape, but of course, there is no crash-and-burn here. Trilogy is a brilliant composition no matter how one looks at it. The parts are so different from one another, yet the whole hangs together well.

[CashWatkins]

@sustayne Absolutely. Add to that the fact that monitors were an entirely new process around this time. The fact that they were getting click tracks and/or even hearing the pre-recorded synths was probably extremely touchy at this point. I would imagine that the main reason they dropped it back then, was probably mostly because of this, though I wouldn't know that for sure. Still - they pulled this off well!

[nico2262]

the photo is from montreal 1977

[thedreamisme]

Keiths composition is so amazingly fluid at the beginning of this its beyond belief that he ever agreed not to play it live. He always composed with the idea that his work would be played live. But I also recall there was a really bad review where a comment about Greg said he was " crooning like a piano bar songstress." I think that explains why it was only played a few times. There was a circle of critics who did nothing but badmouth ELP and Greg really hated that ..

[lorioftheforest]

@thedreamisme I remember seeing something like that too. It may have even been in Rolling Stone. It seemed as though some of those guys got off bad mouthing ELP, which really sucked. It can't be a good feeling to read something like that about yourself. IT doesn't matter that its wasn't true.

[thedreamisme]

@lorioftheforest You make a very good point Lori.

[lismclis51]

Thank-you for this post. One of my all time favorite songs. Too hear this live, well amazing!!!!!! Thanks again jollyollyorange. 

[rsp196607]

Nice!

It's sadly amazing how sparsely documented ELP is in video and in still photos compared to similarly selling bands of their era.

[lorioftheforest]

@rsp196607 You really hit the nail on the head with that one...

[NCsurfer93]

the first time i saw elp was in plilly it was the brain sallied tore i was tripping on acid wow they were in quad sound round that sold me for ever with the band and live performances keith pulled the roots out of bock's grave elp for ever this is nice to here trilogy live posted lunar sound enterprise sound eng Bob Helms

[351cleavland]

This is great to hear live! Really inspiring

[FredericoCoelhoNunes]

around 3:35, when the synth part starts - "Oooooh... :D"

[Nawtas90]

Emerson is the best keyboard player!!! fantastic.....

[Equinox61]

This recording is one of the greatest treasure. Historical value. Thank you for sharing with us!

[The4thGuy]

I love how that guy goes "OOOHHH! (Clap.)" in the middle.

[cutis1000]

First time I ever hear a LIVE Trilogy. Thank you.

[SuperMegaUberGenius]

the thought of lying to you makes me cry

:)

[socalltd]

interesting live cut. sequencers came out a bit later. i think in the 74 and 77/78 tours kieth could have done more wtih the synths and played trilogy or other moog layered songs with one. this backing track is audio from the album track.

[lismclis51]

I absolutely loved these guys. I saw them 3 times live. INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!! live. They never did play this song though. What a rare treat my friend. Thank-you for posting this. I have goosebumps right now. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KarnEvil91]

Definitely the only reason is too much overdubbing in the studio version, I'd say the same as for Tank, similar problems live. I used to play with a band here in Italy in the 80s both songs together with a lot of ELP staff of course and I absolutely had to use sequencers both for Trilogy and Tank

[Bretsky47]

I posted a comment on Tarkus '72 Puerto Rico. Does anyone else feel like I do? That this band was the absolute best prior or up to Welcome Back '74. As I've said B4: Like fantastic foreplay that led up to an orgasm and a load that all 3 blew right out of the stadium. i.e., What the f was Kieth thinking with that orchestra on Works tour? The best cut I ever heard of Pirates was without it. Also the best thing about them was the fluidity of their timing. Listening to them these days makes me sick.

[mephisto656]

Just... Just perfect and epic... How i wish i was there...

[yarduag2008]

(let us return to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to Keith what belongs to Keith)

[Parkyurkarkas]

Bands don't make music like this any more. The good times have come and gone.

[drainiet]

Ooops, my mistake. This isn't from "Celestial Doggie", which is the show on

"From the Manticore Vaults - Vol. 1" Discs 5 & 6, later in 1972. I got confused because that show includes "the Endless Enigma", which is also very rare to hear live. I've never heard "Trilogy" live before and I don't know where this recording is from. Interesting to hear them try, tough piece, I like the jazz version by Jadd and Den. It makes it very clear what a sophisticated piece of writing this is.

[drainiet]

For all of you interested in this recording,

I believe its from the bootleg "Celestial Doggie - The Lobster Quadrille"

Good luck finding it.

[wlines]

Thanks for posting jollyollyorange !!!! Great to hear this live. Where did you get the photo? Its hard to find descent pics from the 74 tour.

[jollyollyorange]

@wlines I just found it online with an image search. I thought the photo goes well with the audio. The pic reminded me of the one on the back cover of the Welcome Back live triple LP. I really don't know what tour it is from. Someone else here says it was the 77/78 tour.

[drainiet]

Its definitely the 77/78 tour. Here's why. Carl's proscenium is the smaller one, in 74 it was a heavier thicker metal and had a more oriental shape. Greg has the electronics array behind him, not so in 74.

And most obviously, Keith has the Yamaha GX7, didn't exist in 74.

[PaulRoberts]

@jollyollyorange Indeed it is from the 77/78 tour. The giveaway is the Yamaha GX-1.

[ThorHammerdahl]

@jollyollyorange Jolly thanks for posting this cool audio time capsule! yes, Jolly and wlines, this photo is indeed from the Works 77/78 tour. Note the Yamaha GX1 with bottle of booze on top of it, in place of the Hammond L100. looks like Lake was having a good show from the photo.

[ThorHammerdahl]

@jollyollyorange Thanks, Jolly for posting this COOL audio time capsule! This photo is indeed from the 77/78 Works tour. Note the Yamaha GX1 with bottle of booze on it in place of the hammond L100. Looks like Lake was having a blast that night, judging from his power pose.

[dantalionable]

@wlines TRY LAST FM(OR LOST FM) FOR OTHER COOL HI-QUALITY PICS, JUST TYPE IN ELP

[wlines]

@dantalionable Thank you for the link. by the way love your postings of Steve Hackett great version of FOAW.

[dantalionable]

TRY LAST FM(OR LOST FM) FOR OTHER COOL HI-QUALITY PICS, JUST TYPE IN ELP

[tarbuck1]

they only played trilogy twice- in 1972- it was pretty difficult apparently- so- this is a very rare and extreme recording- i bet keith and greg are proud of this

[nduffle]

I spent a couple of hours with Carl back in 1977 and he explained why they didn't do more pieces from Trilogy when they played live. I was doing an interview for the Daily Texan newspaper at the University of Texas, and was fortunate enough to arrange a meeting with him at the Driskill Hotel. They had just dropped the orchestra a few weeks before that, and were playing smaller markets (Austin) to try to make up for some of their financial losses. Carl was obviously bummed about it...

[annikee59]

I can't believe they do this live. Incredibly difficult piece to sing, much less play, note for note.

[paperpichu]

it's funny to hear the audiences reaction to the realy awesome part at 3:30 considering they all hadn't heard it yet because the album wasn't out yet.

[hmpy]

this is one of my favorite ELP songs..

is there any explain for so few live recordings?

[jollyollyorange]

@hmpy In Keith's book, he mentions that Greg was reluctant to perform some pieces from the new Trilogy album on stage, thinking that the audience preferred their usual live stuff. Although Keith protested, "Trilogy" was dropped from their set.

[nduffle]

@jollyollyorange I interviewed Carl in 1977 for the Daily Texan newspaper at the University of Texas in Austin. I still have the recording of it . I asked why they didn't do more of Trilogy live anymore (I saw them do it on the '72 tour) "We went too far with the overdubbing. It was too hard to reproduce it decently on stage." He didn't say anything about Greg's reluctance to perform it, in fact he said they all liked the songs "for the most part." But Carl is pretty diplomatic - LOL

[Trilogy319]

@jollyollyorange -I had the great fortune to meet up with the band in a lounge of a hotel after a show at Stanhope, NJ. I had the great fortune to spend a few minutes with Greg Lake and expressed how wonderful it would be to hear "Still You Turn Me On" in place of Lucky Man. He considered the point for a moment and responded, "I was never sure the audience would respond favourably"....Royal Albert Hall CD did indeed contain "Still You Turn Me On" and I always smile each time I hear it!

[nanpaempire]

@hmpy

I know they had difficulty using the tape loops live in the middle of their performance, so they decided against it. I know this was also true when trying to perform "Aladdins Bolero."

[tarkushead]

I like Keiths explanation of the monophonic Moog at the beginning. Also that guys reaction when the music moves from piano to the synth explosion at about 3:32 - classic! I had the same reaction when I first heard this. Thanks for posting.

[pinkfloydrule27]

what is the name of the bootleg? i really want to try and track it down somewhere

[jollyollyorange]

@pinkfloydrule27 The one I got this track from was called "Trilogy By Trology" but now I see there is a newer one listed at Dragonfly-cd called "Trilogy Is Apparently."

[NCsurfer93]

@jollyollyorange 

[juulbrie]

Tnxs for posting! Never heard this awesome piece live, and now it is here!. Sounds new fresh and so f**@*ng good. And indeed, since I am not relegious I must admit: KE is god. :)

[jgdmlw]

OH MY GOD...unbelievable. I have looked my whole life for a live version of this.

[x1paul]

This recording sounds pretty good to me. I don't see why they couldn't have made this a concert piece, at least to be played occasionaly. I'd also like them to try a live version of the 3 fates. I don't know if they've ever tried that live.

[jtomasik]

My kid formed a band with him as keyboardist and his friend as violinist. They're trying to put this together with just them two. Thanks ELP!

[juulbrie]

@jtomasik You must have done something very good in raising your kid ! I hope you all enjoy the happiness of the ELP music. Last year I went to Asia with my daughter and she was blown away. But seeing you kid trying this, man...

Best wishes and take care from Holland :)

[JesusCisnerosCh]

Que joya, en serio. Te felicito. Gracias.

[rocker70sman]

awesome recording!!! very rare...is this the picture from the show?

[jollyollyorange]

@rocker70sman No, the picture is probably from 1974. Just a random concert photo to post with the audio track.

[johnsharp71]

@jollyollyorange Photo is from 77/78 Tour. Interesting post, cheers!

[77lks]

grazie grazie grazie for posting!

[westy406]

Wow first time i`ve heard this live. One of my favourite ELP tracks, truly great and thanks for sharing it !

[elfo360]

I love this song it's perfect. Emerson, Lake & Palmer rules for ever

[simontherm]

Keith Emerson is god.

[cbkendle8]

@simontherm Indeed, he is GOD!

[superdude13666]

@simontherm All three of them are gods. Emerson = best keys player ever, Lake = one of the best male vocalists, & Palmer = the crazy best drummer ever.

[unclestevie2]

Thanks for posting the only live version of Trilogy I have ever heard!! Didn't even know they ever played it in concert. I live near The Long Beach Arena. I will be reminded of this amazing piece of history when I drive by it. Saw ELP there in Feb '74 but of course without Trilogy.

[fmrph2]

@unclestevie2 Saw the same show in Portland on Feb 9, shot a TV interview with them in 92. Great band and very nice people.They could do a show on just the pieces they haven't done live, like The Three Fates as the first part of a very long show. We can only hope.

[unclestevie2]

@fmrph2 We always have hope!

[FuyuAkiWorld]

Did you record this?

[jollyollyorange]

@FuyuAkiWorld No not me-- It's from a boot CD I once had. I only saved the Trilogy track, since I remember the rest of the show was more common songs which were recorded better elsewhere.

[Prazzle2]

It's great to hear this live! I wish they would have kept trying to play this live.

[PANDOSING]

I'VE READ THAT ELP PLAYED TRILOGY LIVE A HANDFULL OF TIMES ONLY AND THEN DROPPED IT FROM THE 72 TOUR COMPLETELY. I WAITED 36 YEARS TO HEAR THIS! 36 YEARS! ELP RULES!!!

[joanaiaia]

Thank you sooooooo much for posting it! =)

[IIIC]

raw technology and immense talent - fantastic! thanks for posting this

[drkam6]

Holy Smokes!! They DID really play it live!!! AMAZING

[nutella1ful]

@drkam6 Good work digging this up man. I'm really surprised MSG didn't record this! Then again; they lost a lot of recordings through theft back then. I left you about the same comment in your response from the other day. You like this kind of stuff; keep in touch. Hey, try King Crimson.

[cheezeontoast4]

about fucking time!

[jtomasik]

Wow. Amazing song. Loved this on the album. Wish I could've seen them perform it live.

[suchness9]

Very cool. Never heard.

[wentkat]

I've never heard Trilogy played live...until now. Thanks so much for posting - fantastic!

[carlosromero5]

! believe that audio can be improved and placed in an album in the future. Makes me very happy to hear this live version of Trilogy,

This is the first time I hear a record live of Trilogy!

Congratulations for posting it on youtube for us all!

[Brianp823]

Actually they did a pretty good job on this. I think they should have kept with it for a few more shows because they would have worked out the bugs and warts.