Top Ten Songs by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

EL&P? Are you kidding? No, I am not. Emerson, Lake & Palmer, progressive rock's first 'supergroup' and a leading influence in the classical-based popular music movement of the 1970s, wrote some of the world's most technically perfect pieces while also presenting classical music to a young generation in a new, if not bombastic way. The trio, comprised of keyboardist Keith Emerson (formerly of The Nice), bassist, guitarist and vocalist Greg Lake (of King Crimson fame) and percussionist Carl Palmer (from Atomic Rooster and The Crazy World of Authur Brown) brought together the styles of classicist, romantic and cro-magnon to form a band noted for taking the high road both lyrically and musically, while satisfying the need for outrageous synthesizer riffs and orchestral flourish. Here are EL&P's top ten songs in the opinion of a long time fan who still enjoys their albums to this day.

1.Toccata (Brain Salad Surgery, Welcome Back My Friends)
This piece was originally written by Argentina's famed pianist Alberto Ginastera, and when Emerson played a tape of the band's rendition of the work for the artist, Ginastera exclaimed, “Diabolic! No one has been able to capture my music like that before! It's exactly the way I hear it myself!” Indeed, this is a most demonic-sounding piece on the piano – when you hear how EL&P interpreted it, it will simply blow you away. This is an action-filled, energetic and dynamic song played with the fervor and accuracy such musical works demand.