Emerson, Lake & Palmer cover from the Defibrillators

[gecko zzed]

Emerson, Lake and Palmer were a progressive rock group which reached its peak in the 1970's. The trio was known for the complexity of its music, but not for its soppy love ballads.

"Heart on Ice" is a somewhat turgid ballad, rendered by Lake in a world-weary, croaky voice, and is perhaps not a shining example of ELP's more highly acclaimed work, such as their creative rendition of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition", or their brilliant "Trilogy" album.

What better material then, for the Defibrillators to tackle! Specially if you are an eighties tragic fan (as I am), and even if the song appeared in the nineties.

Listen, and enjoy (if you can):

http://www.box.net/shared/y0xbbm33jp

 

[rayc]

A few more changes in the arrangement and it'd make a nice track for the Waits cannon - almost Back In My Ruby's Arms.
Nice capture and performance from the sparkies.

 

[JordanD]

i was just wondering where you were, hoping there wasnt some family tragedy or something!

 

[DavidK]

I know this song very well, it's from "In the Hot seat".

Very nice, an interesting take on it. It reminds me of Rod Stewart's cover of "Broken Arrow". It takes a bit to get used to the vocal if you are used to Greg Lake's "pretty boy" original. Ray is correct, it's Tom Waits material. The backing tracks are very well done.

 

[joeym]

Nice seventies sound, Gecko.
Can hear Keith's hammond in the background....
Nice piano work. Voice isn't 100% spot-on pitch-wise, but it's got a lot of character which more than makes up for that.
One for my nostalgia corner....

 

[guitar zero]

I'll admit, it wasn't what I expected after reading that I was going to listen to an ELP cover. However, the backing arrangement is well done, and the vocals, while of dubious quality, are just raspy enough to make it work on a completely different level than that achieved by ELP. As far as the mix goes, no quibbles here. Thanks for posting!

 

[gecko zzed]

Thanks for all your comments.

ELP is one of my favourite bands, but it is very daunting to try a cover of their more acclaimed material.

But it was pretty good fun giving this less memorable track a try.

My pitching has always been a bit hazardous, but I've long stopped worrying about it . . . I shut my eyes, open my cape and leap off the roof of the back shed . . . and hope for the best . . . and live with the consequences.

 

[Monkey Allen]

Hey gekko...that's a big production...sounds full and well mixed and tracked. This is what I aim for...not this kind of song...but the quality. I don't know how all you blokes do it. Yuo must be renting studios and being produced.

You can tell me....I won't tell anyone

Well done gekko...sounds really good

 

[Chili]

ELP is one of my favourite bands,

Mine too from a long time ago. I wore a hole in the grooves of Karn Evil 9. So it's a little surprising to hear Joe Cocker cover an ELP tune . But I'm guessing you've heard that comparison before.

I'm not familiar with this song, so coming off as a new one, it sounds great. I can see you singing this in some smoky roadside pub with 3 people drinking beer and no one paying attention as the ending credits of the movie start to roll. The tragic hero loses his only chance at love....

Great job Mike.

cheers,

 

[gecko zzed]

Hey gekko...that's a big production...sounds full and well mixed and tracked. This is what I aim for...not this kind of song...but the quality. I don't know how all you blokes do it. Yuo must be renting studios and being produced.

That's high praise indeed!! Thank you for your kind comments. But it's all recorded in my lounge room with my dodgy, cheap and patchwork gear.

Mine too from a long time ago. I wore a hole in the grooves of Karn Evil 9.

I am a confirmed ELP tragic, and I'm convinced that they are the greatest band of all time. I've always aspired to create music of that level of complexity, but I don't have the corresponding and necessary level of skill. It was nice of them to record a track that didn't demand such virtuosity, and made it possible for the Defibrillators to do a cover.

 

[Greg_L]

I really hate complex, overindulgent 70's prog rock, and ELP is one of the worst offenders, but I listened anyway.

I don't know the original.

The music sounds great. Very nice mix. The vocals are pretty terrible, which actually makes this more fun to listen to, so good job!