2016 continues its cruelty as it has claimed two-thirds of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. In March, Keith Emerson took his own life. Emerson was unable to cope with the nerve damage in his hand that had compromised his ability to play keyboards. No doubt Emerson's suicide took a toll on Lake's health.
When I think of Greg Lake, there are three songs which immediately spring to mind.
The first two songs are from ELP's eponymous debut album - "Take a Pebble" and "Lucky Man".
"Take a Pebble" is a showcase for Emerson's piano playing. Lake's vocals are only heard at the beginning and end of the song. But the lyrics are memorable especially the quatrain that opens the song:
Just take a pebble and cast it to the sea,
Then watch the ripples that unfold into me,
My face spill so gently into your eyes,
Disturbing the waters of our lives
"Lucky Man" was written by Lake when he was only 12. A last minute addition to ELP's debut album, "Lucky Man" remains their most accessible and enduring song.
Lake's passing is all the more sadder as we are just over two weeks removed from Christmas. His only solo hit was "I Believe in Father Christmas". It might very well be the most cynical song ever written about Christmas:
They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the virgin birth
Yet when one listens to the song one is left with hope even if only a tinge. R.I.P.
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