For all the glorious spotlight Keith Emerson enjoyed with THE NICE and ELP, the great late musician’s solo oeuvre remains largely obscure to an average listener – not because his records are not available but because not a lot of people, except hardcore fans, seem to be interested in the ivories driver’s soundtracks and other ventures outside classic art-rock idiom. Still, the albums Keith released under his own name feel quite alluring once given a spin, and tracking Emerson’s personal progress is a treat. Which is why the 20-CD box set “Variations” that’s to see the light of day on October 13th has a certain magnetism to it.
Of course, the aforementioned aficionados will have already collected everything that’s here – apart from the “Live At BB King’s” recording from 2004 which spans one and a half discs – and a 48-page book which comes with the box can be too slim for it, yet with all the studio and concert documents on offer, including those with Greg Lake and Glenn Hughes, the only other gripe may spring from the set’s price tag. However, for completists, such a gripe is minor. As for detailed tracklist, take a look below.
Variations
Part One: The Early Years / The Bands
CD 1:
1. Medley – Keith Emerson (age 14)
2. Rock Candy – THE T BONES with Chris Barber
3. Lament For Tony Stratton Smith – Keith Emerson
4. America / 2nd Amendment – THE NICE
5. The Three Fates – ELP
6. The Old Castle / Blues Variations – ELP
7. Fugue – ELP
8. Karn Evil 9 2nd Impression – ELP
9. Piano Improvisations (live) – ELP
10. Fanfare For The Common Man – ELP
11. Barrelhouse Shakedown – ELP
12. Honky Tonk Train Blues – ELP
13. Introductory Fanfare / Peter Gunn Theme (live) – ELP
Part Two: The Solo Albums
CD 2 – Honky:
1. Hello Sailor – Includes Bach Before The Mast Part 1
2. Hello Sailor – Includes Bach Before The Mast Part 2
3. Hello Sailor – Includes Bach Before The Mast Part 3
4. Salt Cay
5. Green Ice
6. Intro Juicing
7. Big Horn Breakdown
8. Yancey Special
9. Rum A Ting
10. Chickcharnie
11. Jesus Loves Me
CD 3 – Changing States:
1. Shelter From The Rain
2. Another Frontier
3. Ballade
4. The Band Keeps Playing
5. Summertime
6. The Church
7. Interlude
8. Montagues And Capulets
9. Abaddon’s Bolero (orchestral version)
10. The Band Keeps Playing (aftershock mix)
CD 4 – Emerson Plays Emerson:
1. Vagrant
2. Creole Dance
3. Solitudinous
4. Broken Bough
5. A Cajun Alley
6. Prelude To Candice
7. A Blade Of Grass
8. Outgoing Tide
9. Summertime
10. Interlude
11. Roll’n Jelly
12. B & W Blues
13. For Kevin
14. The Dreamer
15. Hammer It Out
16. Ballad For A Common Man
17. Barrelhouse Shakedown
18. Nilu’s Dream
19. Soulscapes
20. Close To Home
21. Honky Tonk Train Blues
22. Medley
23. Nicola
24. Silver Shoes
25. I’ll See You In My Dreams
CD 5 – Keith Emerson Band:
1. Ignition
2. 1st Presence
3. Last Horizon
4. Miles Away Pt. 1
5. Miles Away Pt. 2
6. Crusaders Cross
7. Fugue
8. 2nd Presence
9. Marche Train
10. Blue Inferno
11. 3rd Presence
12. Prelude To A Hope
13. A Place To Hide
14. Miles Away Pt. 3
15. Finale
16. The Art Of Falling Down
17. Malambo (From “Estancia Suite”)
18. Gametime
19. The Parting
Part Three: The Soundtracks
CD 6 – Inferno:
1. Inferno (Main Title Theme)
2. Rose’s Descent Into The Cellar
3. Taxi Ride (Rome)
4. The library
5. Sarah In The Library Vaults
6. Bookbinder’s Delight
7. Rose Leaves The Apartment
8. Rose Gets It
9. Elisa’s Story
10. A Cat Attic Attack
11. Kazanian’s Tarantella
12. Mark’s Discovery
13. Mater Tenebrarum
14. Inferno Finale
15. Cigarettes, Ices, Etc.
16. Inferno (#1)
17. Inferno (#2)
18. Inferno (#3)
19. Inferno (#4)
20. Inferno (#5)
CD 7 – Nighthawks:
1. Nighthawks (Main Title Theme)
2. Mean Stalkin’
3. The Bust
4. Nighthawking
5. The Chase
6. I’m A Man
7. The Chopper
8. Tramway
9. I’m Comin’ In
10. Face To Face
11. The Flight Of A Hawk
CD 8 – Murderock:
1. Murderock
2. Tonight, Is Your Night
3. Streets To Blame
4. Not So Innocent
5. Prelude To Candice
6. Don’t Go In The Shower
7. Coffee Time
8. Candice
9. New York Dash
10. Tonight, Is Not Your Night
11. The Spillone
12. Murderock (Part 1)
13. Murderock (Part 2)
14. Murderock (Part 3)
15. Murderock (Part 4)
CD 9 – Best Revenge / La Chiesa:
Best Revenge:
1. Orchestral Suite To Best Revenge (Instrumental)
2. Playing For Keeps
3. The Dreamer – Love Theme (Instrumental)
4. Wha’dya Mean (Instrumental)
5. Outgoing Tide
6. For Those About to Win
7. The Runner (Instrumental)
La Chiesa:
8. The Church (Main Theme)
9. The Possession
10. Prelude 24
11. La Chiesa Revisited
CD 10 – Iron Man:
1. Iron Man Main Title Theme
2. And The Sea Shall Give Up It’s Dead
3. I Am Ultimo, Thy Deliverer
4. Data In Chaos Out
5. Silence My Companion, Death My Destination
6. Iron Man Theme Alternative
CD 11 – Harmagedon / Godzilla:
Harmagedon:
1. Theme Of The Floi
2. Jo And Michiko
3. Sonny’s Skate State
4. Zamedy Stomp
5. Challenge Of The Psionic Fighters
6. Children Of The Light
Godzilla:
7. Godzilla Vs. Gotengo
8. Godzilla Final Wars Titles
9. EDF Headquarters Fight
10. EDF Museum
11. Infant Island
12. Rodan Attacks NYC
13. Earth Defense Forces Theme
14. Motorcycle Battle
15. Godzilla Awakens
16. Love Theme
17. Monster Zero Theme
18. Cruising The Cirro Stratus
19. Godzilla Theme
20. Godzilla Final Wars End Titles
Part Four: Collaborations
CD 12 – Three Fates Project:
1. The Endless Enigma Suite (Pt. 1)
2. The Endless Enigma Suite (Pt. 2)
3. American Matador
4. After All of This
5. Walking Distance
6. Tarkus (Concertante)
7. Malambo
8. The Mourning Sun
9. Abaddon’s Bolero
10. Fanfare For The Common Man (Pt. 1)
11. Fanfare For The Common Man (Pt. 2)
CD 13 – Beyond The Stars:
1. Toccata Con Fuoco
2. Beyond The Stars
3. Glorietta Pass
4. The Dreamer
5. Endless Enigma Suite Pt 1
6. The Fugue
7. Endless Enigma Suite Pt 2
8. Malambo, Op. 7
9. The Mourning Sun
10. After All of This
11. Walking Distance
12. Fanfare For The Common Man Pt 1
13. Fanfare For The Common Man Pt 2
Part Five: Live Collaborations
CD 14 – Boys Club (Live from California):
1. Afterburner
2. Long Journey Home
3. Hoedown
4. A Whiter Shade Of Pale
5. White Noise
6. Cover Me
7. Nutrocker
8. Tarkus
9. Dreams
10. Middle Of A Dream
CD 15 – Moscow Pt 1:
1. Karn Evil (1st Impression Pt. 2)
2. Piano Concerto (3rd Movement)
3. Bitches Crystal
4. Malambo
5. Touch And Go
6. Lucky Man
7. Miles Away Pt.1
8. Miles Away Pt. 2
9. Crusaders Cross
10. Fugue
11. Marche Train
12. Finale
CD 16 – Moscow Pt 2:
1. The Barbarian
2. Tarkus
3. Nutrocker Suite
4. Moscow Fantasia
5. Malambo (orchestral version)
CD 17 – Live From Manticore Hall:
1. From The Beginning
2. Introduction
3. I Talk To The Wind
4. Bitches Crystal
5. The Barbarian
6. Take A Pebble
7. Tarkus
8. C’est La Vie
9. Pirates
10. Moog Solo / Lucky Man
CD 18 – Off The Shelf:
1. Abaddon’s Bolero Orchestral
2. Pictures At an Exhibition
3. And Then January
4. Rio
5. Straight Between The Eyes
6. Don’t Be Cruel
7. Au Privave
8. Walter L
9. Rhythm-A-Ning
10. Asian Pear
11. Motor Bikin’
12. America
13. Lumpy Gravy
14. Up The Elephant & Round The Castle
15. Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
CD 19 – Live At BB King’s – 21/05/2004:
1. America / Rondo
2. Country Pie
3. Hang Onto a Dream
4. Bitches Crystal
5. Touch And Go
6. Piano Interlude
7. Karelia Suite
8. Blade Of Grass
9. A Cajun Alley
10. Creole Dance
11. Quango Story
12. Just Crazy
CD 20 – Live At BB King’s – 21/05/2004 / The Keith Emerson Trio:
Live At BB King’s:
1. Lucky Man
2. Hoedown
3. Tarkus
The Keith Emerson Trio:
4. You Say You Care
5. There Will Never Be AnoTher You
6. Teenies Blues
7. Winkle Picker Stamp
8. 56 Blues
9. You Came a Long Way from Saint-Louis
10. Soul Station
Single:
11. We Three Kings
12. Captain Starship Christmas
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