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From our pals at the seconddisc.com:

Legendary prog-rock supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer have signed a new deal with Razor & Tie Records to distribute their catalogue, kicking things off with a new compilation.

One of the early supergroups in rock history, comprised of keyboardist Keith Emerson of The Nice, King Crimson bassist Greg Lake on guitar and vocals and drummer Greg Palmer of Atomic Rooster, ELP were a defining force in progressive rock music, melding traditional rock statements with jazz and classically-inspired arrangements, quoting composers from Bach and Copland to Prokofiev and Mussorgsky.

Though they were never major presences on the charts (save the U.K. No. 2 hit “Fanfare for the Common Man”), their works enjoy constant rotation on classic rock radio, notably “Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression (Part 2),” featuring the iconic opening line that gives this post (as well as a 1974 live album) its name. ELP broke up in 1979, after which Emerson and Lake toured with former Rainbow drummer Cozy Powell in the 1980s; the band reunited from 1991 to 1998 and played a one-off anniversary concert in 2010.

In addition to a new, 14-track compilation, The Best of Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Come and See the Show, which is available today, the label announced remastered, expanded releases of the band’s first six albums (studio albums Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1970), Tarkus (1971), Trilogy (1972) and Brain Salad Surgery (1973) and live albums Pictures at an Exhibition (1971) and Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends…Ladies and Gentlemen, Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1974)) as due this year.

It will not be the first reissue campaign for the band; Rhino remastered and expanded several of the band’s albums in the 1990s, as did Shout! Factory with different bonus material in the last five years.

It will take a lot for me to ditch my excellent sounding Shout Factory remasters, but I would if these are done right, and with ample bonus material. I just love ELP so much, I'd be foolish enough again! I hope this goes through every album and not just the obvious ones.
It begins with the first 6 albums in order later this year.
It is possible these will be in 5.1, though nothing is confirmed.

A couple of months ago I started a thread, asking which versions of the ELP catalog are the best, since I mostly have the original Atlantic CDs from the '80s. The consensus seemed to be that Shout Factory was the way to go, but I haven't gotten around to buying any yet. Now I'll have to wait until these R&T versions are released before upgrading my collection. Keeping my fingers crossed that these include 5.1 mixes. I don't care much about bonus tracks, so for me it's all about sound quality and packaging.

They should emulate the King Crimson re-issues, hopefully.

Couldn't agree more. "Paging Mr. Wilson. Mr. Steven Wilson...your presence is requested in the surround sound mastering lab."

If they have 5.1 then I'm in.

Pete, any rumours regarding the format of these possible 5.1 mixes? DVD-A, SACD, Blu-ray?

These had best sound awesome; ELP is starting to rival The Who, The Doors, etc. Let's see........... Atlantic (wasn't there 2 sets of these?), Rhino, Victory, Castle & Sanctuary UK (BSS had 2 different Sanctuary remasters), DVD-A (BSS), Shout Factory, a couple MFSL's, According to Amazon, there is also a 2011 Sony UK series, & what else am I leaving out?

Thanks to Jimbo for the reminder on Victory which I have edited into this post.

Being a MAJOR ELP fan I am glad to see their catlg continue to be in print but... there's nothing left in the vaults sadly. So nothing will be exciting here and the label, Razor & Tie definitely does not have the deep pockets to do things such as 5.1 mixes. Of course, I would be extemely happy to be wrong but I do not think so.

Rick A.

Steve Wilson posted on QuadrophonicQuad.com that there might be 5.1 mixes with at least some of these.

Wasn't the whole ELP catalog also reissued by the Victory label in the 90s?

From the Razor & Tie website:


"As Emerson, Lake & Palmer remain unique in their categories, it's only fitting that they are now with a record company with a unique name like 'Razor & Tie'," explains Keith Emerson. He continues "Don't question anything as the music speaks for itself and 'Razor & Tie' yells volumes on ELP's behalf." Carl Palmer offers, "The time was right to make this move. It's a great, enthusiastic music company." Greg Lake also enthuses, "We are looking forward to a long and productive relationship together."

Razor & Tie co-owner Cliff Chenfeld adds, "We are very excited and honored to distribute and represent the Emerson Lake and Palmer catalog. ELP helped create prog rock and we will use this opportunity to bring ELP's amazing body of work to an even broader audience and to finally understand what the Tarkus album cover means."

Considered by many to be one of rock's original first super-groups, Emerson Lake & Palmer formed in England in 1970 consisting of Keith Emerson (keyboards), Greg Lake (bass guitar, vocals, guitar) and Carl Palmer (drums, percussion). The band created a brand new world of music, combining classical and symphonic rock fused with beautiful vocals. Their penchant for appropriating themes from classical music and the group's more nuanced, textured approach to symphonic arrangements set ELP apart from their more bombastic guitar-based contemporaries of the time. This subtler and more sublime approach carries on today in the expansive atmospherics of Radiohead and Muse and also in the prog-influenced sphere of band's like Porcupine Tree, Dream Theatre, Opeth and many others, making ELP one of the more relevant torchbearers of the progressive rock sound. Along with Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, and Rush, Emerson Lake and Palmer ushered in the Prog era and as one of the most commercially successful rock bands of the 1970's having sold over 40 million albums. ELP's dramatic flair, sincere passion, labyrinthine song structures, and symphony-worthy virtuosity proved that classical rockers could compete for arena-scale audiences as the band headlined stadium tours around the world.

Emerson Lake & Palmer is the latest addition to independent label Razor & Tie's expanding roster that includes a varied roster of artists such as Jon McLaughlin, Vanessa Carlton, Nicole Atkins, Dave Barnes, Dar Williams, Kevin Devine, Saves The Day, The Summer Set, P.O.D., All That Remains, and heritage artists such as Foreigner, Joan Baez, Neil Sedaka, and Michael McDonald. The New York City-based label is one of the fastest growing independent record companies in the United States, and has garnered both Platinum sales and Grammy awards in its 20-year history.

I hear ya Rick, but this COULD be promising.
The Victory remasters in the early 90's were OK, but had no bonus material for the most part. The Castle remasters did in the early 2000's, but they were basically just live tracks, and not all the albums had them.
These were then reissued by Sony UK in 2011.
There were the few Deluxe Editions from Sanctuary a few years ago, but aside from the 5.1 mixes, offered little in the way of rare tracks, but the 5.1 was a treat for most fans (although not all were supposedly done well). The box set From The Beginning in 2007 was very nice indeed and did offer up some rare gems (though not as many as listed on the box!).
The Shout Factory remasters were, to me, the very best in sound quality and came out in 2007-08.
So, here we are in 2012 with Razor & Tie. What I hope-is that these are of good sound (don't know how they'll beat the Castle/Sanctuary or Shout Factory), have legit bonus material, nice faithful packaging, 5.1 for those who want it and want it done right, and are NOT just reissues of what has come before.
So, I understand your hesitation, but let's hope for the real deal!
I also hope they do the whole catalogue from 1970-1994.
Will Shout Factory continue with the vintage live releases I wonder?

i have at least one on victory.

Yes, thanks for the reminder. I knew I'd left something out!

Didn't Jimbo and I already mention that above?

Yes, after my original post.

So, I think we have it covered then. Victory remastered ELP albums. And they were the first. Certainly not the last.

Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree fame (as well as King Crimson/ Jethro Tull) has hinted that ELP 5.1 mixes will come out at some time so we shall see.

It's going to happen.
Listed in amazon.co.uk are debut LP Emerson Lake & Palmer 3 disc (box set) & Tarkus 3 disc (box set). Release date is 16 July 2012.
Let the discussion begin what will be on those discs.

The debut could be interesting, but they need a new mastering mind set if I'm going to be in.