The early ELP albums were pioneering in a way.

Also the evocative lyrics and acerbic vocals of various songs from Side B of Tarkus (particularly Bitches Crystal and A Time and a Place) have been acclaimed by fans. This album was the most refined of ELP's work combining signature classical pieces (Hoedown and Abaddon's Bolero) with multi-part progressive tracks (such as The Endless Enigma) and shorter more accessible songs (such as Living Sin). Their second studio album Tarkus had a side-long epic on Side A and Side B combined a series of hard rock songs an instrumental and a couple of comic songs.

Gregory Stuart "Greg" Lake (born 10 November 1947) is an English musician songwriter and producer best known as a vocalist and bassist of King Crimson and the bassist guitarist vocalist and lyricist of Emerson Lake & Palmer.