ELP Performing Tarkus (Eruption) Tokyo 1972

ELP had plenty of stinkers, but they also had more than their share of incredible ballads and long compositions. E.g. "From the Beginning", "Tarkus", etc. Stinkers include "Nutrocker" and anything off of "Love Beach".

In Costello's case, it's easy to criticise what you don't understand.

Jethro Tull is competition to that progressive title! in fact I saw the ELP and Tull tour of 1996, WHAT A LINEUP!!!

Indeed. But this song is so much better on the studio album.

R&R Hall of Fame is a joke without these guys.

I knew quite a few people who shared the same view as Costello and some were musicians.,Quite a lot of musicians seem to speak very negatively of great artists.If they don't like certain kinds of music,surely they should recognise their talent unless its down to jealousy for certains.!!!!!I heard David Grosby saying he hates the Doors music and their lyrics !

ELP were not songwriters in the Costello vein - they were composers/musicians/performers. In fact, when they tried to be 'pop' they failed miserably. Their strength was the extended, keyboard-driven rock suite a la 'Karn Evi 9', 'Tarkus', etc.

Its like comparing apples to nuclear power plants - not even in the ballpark.

As for Elvis Costello, well, he's a very talented "song writer." Meaning he rips off a nice tune that people can hum along to. I think you might refer to ELP's music more in a "classical" or Bach-y kinda way. No-one would ever make the statement that Bach was a good song writer, since he didn't write pop music. If you want to sing along with stuff at Karaoke, then ELP is not for you. Maybe Elvis Costello?

Costello is a F**king loser and has close to 0 decent if even bearable songs, id like to see him play this and as for song writing i think Lake is one of the most talented visual writers of all time. Know you're ELP before you get on here bashing

I think Elvis Costello was a waste of two good names and an insult to Government issue eyeglasses

Yeah, I can agree. Lake wasn't the greatest writer, most of there better written stuff was written by Peter Seinfeld.

EC says some fairly silly things - he also said he was embarrassed by Led Zeppelin. To be honest I kinda agree w/ his ELP comment - very talented trio, but they fell short on the song writing.

If Elvis Costello did say that, that's a pretty ridiculous comment, considering I can think of some WAY worse band's that are just wasting electricity and have no talent.

Nothing word I can say.... the best prog band in the world.....

Gotta love prog rock!