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PoolmanProgger
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- Review count31
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- First reviewJanuary 11, 2015
- Last reviewApril 16, 2017
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- Average rating5
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![The Studio Albums [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2872/28721346_sa.jpg)
Posted by: PoolmanProgger
As a die-hard Coop fan, I salivated when I saw this hit the market. However, I did not purchase it right away, as some of the reviews I read were not favorable as regards the sound of the CDs. However, since some of these CDs are EXTREMELY hard to find and/or VERY expensive, I decided that it'd be best to purchase this collection anyway, in spite of the bad reviews, and the fact that I already owned about half of these CDs. When I got the set, I was blown away by the sound! While some sound better than others, it's easy to tell that they've been remastered or remixed at some point, and they sound great for the most part. The difference was most notable on "Black Juju", which was nearly inaudible on my original "Love It to Death" cd. The first two album, "Pretties For You" and "Easy Action", are rare psychedelic masterpieces, while the 80s material is hilarious and top-notch punk/new wave. And the 70s stuff is awesome as well. If you're a die-hard Coop fan, or just curious, do not hesitate to purchase this collection. It's the only Coop purchase you'll ever have to make! (Unless, of course, you want to dive into his later metal stuff, which I recommend as well, but is not for everyone.)
My Best Buy number: 3452183086
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![In the Wake of Poseidon [CD & DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1283/1283003_sa.jpg)
Posted by: PoolmanProgger
"In the Wake of Poseidon" was King Crimson's second album, following up their wildly successful debut, "In the Court of the Crimson King". It would also be the last KC album to feature Greg Lake, as he would bolt to ELP following the recording of this album. While not as classic as their debut, or as adventurous as its successor, "Lizard", "Poseidon" is a very worthy KC album nevertheless. If you're a prog/KC fan, I suggest you buy this after "Court", "Lizard", "Islands", "Larks Tongues", and "Red", as those albums are more essential to KC's pioneering sound.
My Best Buy number: 3452183086
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Islands [CD & DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1283/1283085_sa.jpg)
Posted by: PoolmanProgger
After the very much jazz-centric sound of Lizard, Robert Fripp wanted to further expand the band's sound, so Boz Burrell was added as bassist/singer, and with his angelic vocal chords, the whole palette of musical soundscapes was open to Maestro Fripp. Along with the jazz musicians that would make its predecessor so great, Fripp added classical musicians to the recording of Islands, making for a truly must-have album, featuring a unique blend of jazz, rock and classical, plus some heavy guitar riffs on songs such as "Ladies of the Road" which would be more prominent on later albums. Making this CD even more of a must-have is the DVD, which features many alternate versions of the songs contained on Islands, making this THE definitive release. If you want to hear something out of this world, you MUST buy this album!
My Best Buy number: 3452183086
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Lizard [CD/DVD] [CD & DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/9547/9547528_sa.jpg)
Posted by: PoolmanProgger
King Crimson's third album is by far their jazziest, which also makes it their most controversial. Panned universally by critics - and most fans - when first released, Lizard even received Robert Fripp's scorn, and was the key factor in Gordon Haskell's exit from the band. However, Steven Wilson decided to undertake a massive remix to save this album's reputation, and the result is this awesome remixed CD. It may take a couple of listens for you to really "get" it, but when you do, it's an enlightening experience. My favorites are "Lady of the Dancing Water" and "Lizard", which features Jon Anderson from Yes on vocals. From the lovely acoustic guitar, to the gorgeous flute, to the rousing saxes, this album is a treat for every prog and jazz fan. If you want to hear the best of jazz rock/fusion, this is it right here. You MUST buy this!
My Best Buy number: 3452183086
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Brain Salad Surgery [Deluxe Edition] [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/3210/32108239_sa.jpg)
Posted by: PoolmanProgger
Brain Salad Surgery is ELP's magnum opus, containing the song cycle that would forever define them, "Karn Evil #9". Each movement of this side-long-plus epic is amazing, and is truly something special to hear each time. Other great songs on the album are "Toccatta" and the Greg Lake ballad "Still...You Turn Me On". If the original album wasn't enough reason to purchase this awesome CD, the fact that there's a second CD with alternate versions of the album's songs, plus a few songs that weren't on the album, and this is a MUST for anybody who professes to love prog rock, or just excellent music in general. Get this, you won't be disappointed!
My Best Buy number: 3452183086
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Tarkus [Bonus Disc] [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/3178/31788448_sa.jpg)
Posted by: PoolmanProgger
You can't say enough good things about this album. "Tarkus" is one of the greatest epics of the prog rock era, clocking in at over 20 exhilarating minutes. While "Tarkus" is a bit intimidating at first, it gets better and better with every listen, "Tarkus" alone is worth this purchase, but wait, there's more! "Jeremy Bender" is a delightful tongue-in-cheek honky tonk piano piece, while "!itches Crystal" features some great piano work for the Maestro himself, Keith Emerson. While I'm not a fan of "The Only Way", "Infinite Space" is a fantastic piano track which will have you wanting more. "A Time and a Place" features some of Greg Lake's most aggressive vocals, and "Are You Ready Eddy?" is a 50's rock and roll tribute to sound engineer Eddy Offord with a surprise at the end, bringing some more levity to the album. The second CD, which features a Steven Wilson remix, has several great bonus tracks: "Oh, My Father", a very sensitive song Greg Lake wrote about his deceased father, "Unknown Ballad", another touching song, and "Mass", an instrumental take of the "Mass" section from "Tarkus". Overall, this is one of ELP's best albums, and one of the best progressive rock albums ever made. You won't regret purchasing this!
My Best Buy number: 3452183086
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Trilogy [Deluxe Edition] [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/3210/32108202_sa.jpg)
Posted by: PoolmanProgger
Another amazing performance by Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Trilogy features some amazing piano and drum work from Keith Emerson, particularly on "The Endless Enigma", and Carl Palmer - listen to those drums on "The Sheriff", wow! Plus, this album also features a few of ELP's better known songs, "From the Beginning", a great ballad from Greg Lake, "Hoedown", the exhilarating rock adaptation of Aaron Copeland's classical piece, and "Trilogy", the fantastic title track. Greg Lake had always said that Trilogy is his favorite ELP record, and it's easy to see why.
My Best Buy number: 3452183086
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Emerson, Lake & Palmer [Bonus Tracks] [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/3178/31788402_sa.jpg)
Posted by: PoolmanProgger
Purchased this album along with ELP's other albums leading up to Brain Salad Surgery. Of all of ELP's albums, this one is probably the least pretentious, and possibly even the best. A fantastic amalgam of rock, classical, jazz and folk music, ELP's debut album should satisfy the tastes of all progressive rock fans. Aside from the classic "Lucky Man", this album also offers the classics "The Barbarian", "Knife-Edge", "The Three Fates" and my personal favorite, "Take a Pebble". I love Keith Emerson's piano flourishes throughout the album, particularly on "The Three Fates", which ends with an explosion! Definitely recommend this to all fans of progressive rock and aspiring piano/keyboard players. You won't regret this purchase!
My Best Buy number: 3452183086
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Original Album Series [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/8823/8823787_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
The Most Underappreciated Band in Rock History
on February 14, 2016
Posted by: PoolmanProgger
This is a fantastic collection of albums, and it sure does make a case for Chicago being the most under appreciated band in rock history. The Chicago Transit Authority is one of the greatest debut albums ever recorded, as Chicago ushered in a new type of hard-hitting rock n roll with politically charged lyrics and massive horn sections and lush percussion arrangements. Chicago II further develops Chicago's trademark sound, with the fantastic Ballet for a Girl in Buchanon song cycle in the middle of the album. The fact that each of Chicago's first two albums were double albums speaks to how great this band was in the beginning. Chicago III was also a double album, but unfortunately is not featured in this collection. The other two album in this collection, Chicago V and Chicago VI, are great albums in their own right, but the first two albums are enough for the asking price alone. If you want to know know what Chicago is really about, you NEED to buy this collection. This is NOT your Mama's Chicago.
My Best Buy number: 3452183086
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Electric Light Orchestra II [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1873/18739545_sa.jpg)
Posted by: PoolmanProgger
ELO II sees the group heading into a proggy direction, a direction they would soon steer themselves out of, but it is a nice snapshot of a band still trying to find its sound. ELO II has its ups and downs, and therefore is very inconsistent and probably the least likeable of the early records to the untrained ear. On repeated listens, this album is very good, and songs like Roll Over Beethoven, Mama and Kuiama are among the best ELO has ever recorded. A Patient listener will be well rewarded with this album, and that is why I recommend it to all fans of prog rock.
My Best Buy number: 3452183086
I would recommend this to a friend!
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