Trilogy

In September 1971 Emerson, Lake & Palmer took a break from their world tours promoting the albums: "Tarkus" and "Pictures At An Exhibition". They went back into the studio to record their next album.

The music magazine NME falsely reported that the band was going to split up. Therefore the band had to make an official statement. Keith Emersons had plans for a solo album with jazz music but the whole idea was shelved. They were also asked to do the soundtrack for a racing movie titled "Fangio" but they refused in favour of a whole new studio album.

In July 1972 Emerson, Lake & Palmer released their third studio album titled "Trilogy". It reached #2 in the UK, #4 in the Netherlands and #5 in the US. Eddy Offord was producing for the last time for ELP before he decided to produce full time for Yes. The album is their most complete work showing all the skills of the band. It's ELP at their peak and a must for every progrock fan.

Back cover picture

THE SONGS

• The Endless Enigma - Is a suite split into 3 parts with a classical piece "Fugue" in the middle. It starts with the beating of a heart and experimental piano play and continues to be a bombastic masterpiece.
• From The Beginning - Was released as a single reaching #39 in the US. After the Endless Enigma a way to relax before anoter ELP opera starts ("Hoedown")
• The Sheriff  - Was written as a western song to be used a a prelude to "Hoedown".
• Hoedown - An adaptation of "Rodeo" by Aaron Copland transformed into a brilliant piece of work
• Trilogy - Is a song split into 3 sections
• Living Sin - A hard rock number about an aggressive groupie
• Abaddon's Bolero - A bolero that changed into a march. The working title for the song was "Bellona's Bolero" named after the goddess of war. It a free interpretation of Ravel's Bolero.`

ELP in 1972

ARTWORK
The album cover was designed by Hipgnosis with ELP presented as gods and in the inner sleeve we see a photomontage with the band in the Epping forest. Salvador Dalí was approached to design it, but he requested $50,000 to do it and was subsequently turned down. They had more luck with their next album "Brain Salad Surgery" from 1973 which was designed by another surrealistic painter: Hans Ruedi Giger.

Original album cover

Trilogy (1972)
The Endless Enigma (Part 1) / Fugue / The Endless Enigma (Part 2) / From the Beginning / The Sheriff / Hoedown / Trilogy / Living Sin / Abaddon's Bolero

Original single cover

SINGLE
From The Beginning / Living Sin

AUDIO/VIDEO

From The Beginning

Trilogy

Abaddon's Bolero