Search - Inside Emerson Lake & Palmer: A Critical Review 1970-1995 on DVD

Almost Worth Owning - 3.5 stars - But Not Essential

Mark D Burgh | Fort Smith, AR United States | 01/24/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hoping, like the romantic fool I am, for a real full-length critical assessment of a band I love, but many critics absolutely hated and still use as a whipping boy, I pre-ordered this DVD despite my precarious finances. Was it worth the money and time and angst about spending cash I didn't have? I can't say that this DVD was a complete waste, but it could have been so much better.

First, the good points:

Lots of clips of ELP at their prime.

Discussions of their music by people who are knowledgable and opiniated rock and roll geeks.

Musical discussion by Iain Jennings that illuminates the incredible acheivements of Keith Emerson.

Now the bad points:

This is all to obviously a way of Classic Rock Productions to clear their vaults for a little cash. The length (too short) and limited scope of the critical views (all English) speak to economy in production that hurts this (and the others in the series) right from the start.

No full length songs of ELP (although with many of their tracks, this could be problematic, due to their music's length).

No interviews from the Band. Surely Keith Emerson, at least would have talked. I'd love to see him and Iain Jennings talking music.

Over-cursory assessments of the albums. Only the high points of ELP's albums are discussed, then the albums rated without regard to other music on them.

Did I enjoy Inside Emerson, Lake and Palmer: A Critical View 1970-1995? Not as much as I would have liked, but let me say unequivocally that I'm glad Classic Rock Productions is at least attempting this sort of omnibus critical assesment, and that I'm glad I bought the DVD.
"

OLDROCKER

James English | HOUSTON | 01/14/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"THIS IS ANOTHER DVD WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. I LOOK FOR CLASSIC ROCK DVD'S TO BRING BACK THOSE DAYS. I'M NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT THESE CRITICS OPINION OF ELP IS.I BOUGHT THE DVD TO SEE LIVE PERFORMANCES OF THE GROUP. NONE HERE. I KNOW THE VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE BECAUSE THERE ARE CUTS HERE FROM THE CONCERTS BUT THEY ARE ONLY SECONDS LONG.THIS APPEARS TO JUST BE A WAY TO SELL MORE DVD'D AND STILL NOT GIVE YOU ANYTHING! VERY DISAPPOINTING!"

Too Little for your Money

John P Bernat | Kingsport, TN USA | 03/16/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"It was fun watching this DVD, but, as others have said below, there is not enough "there" there.

You get star ratings of albums without any ostensible purpose to them, and you get extended opinions from people you never heard of. What you get way too little of is the music itself, or footage of these amazing musicians doing their stuff.

I thought for sure that, for the asking price, you'd get full cuts of, say, the MTV-era videos. Nope. What you do get of the music is badly recorded and produced, and chopped up.

Some new information here, some good things, but...nowhere near enough."

This is what's wrong with Critics

Dave | Federal Way, WA | 03/19/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Why did I waste my money...
First of all, any one of us semi-intelligent fans of this great group could have offered some valid observations and impressions. I know I could have. Now, why would I want to pay for a DVD to hear my favorite group marginalized and criticized? Why would any of us accept the absurd notion that Carl Palmer wasn't as good as the drummer in Deep Purple? (Rob Corich is an idiot.) If this was truly marketed toward us fans, it was terribly ill-conceived."