As the previous "Ars Longa Vita Brevis" album a mix between psych/prog numbers and Keith Emerson's trials in the classical music tradition. The grip was unique back then and seminal to the development of the UK prog scene. It also proved successful with the album reaching #3 on the UK list. Side one consists of four studio recordings and side two live takes from a 1969 concert at Fillmore East. Two of the cuts are remakes of numbers from the band's early studio sessions. "Rondo '69" is a live version of "Rondo", first appearing on the debute album and "Azrael Revisited" a re-recording of the B-side to the "Thoughts Of Emerlist Davjack" single - the '45 version pure psych rock with some nice David O'List guitar and the new take more elegant, driven by a twisted honky-tonk piano. To my taste the side one studio cuts works best today. The live stuff is good, but I've heard more like it since and rather listen to the ELP stage recordings when I'm in the mood. Initial US (Z12 52022) came with alternate cover design and a slightly longer version of "Rondo '69". Second press (IMOCS 102) as "Everything As Nice As Mother Makes It" had a third type of cover design, using same "Rondo '69" cut as UK. Permiere UK had label as shown here and fold/out cover with the Immediate London address on the inside spine. (LYBÖ*) (YDÄ*)(ÄPY*)
Scratch that - I see you covered that elsewhere!
SvaraRadera