AMG Review of King Biscuit Flower Hour: Greg Lake In Concert

Lindsay Planer
All Music Guide

From the voluminous archives of the King Biscuit Flower Hour comes this live set from Greg Lake (bass/guitar/vocals) at the ~Hammersmith Odeon in London on November 5, 1981. Lake, while on an extended hiatus from Emerson, Lake & Palmer (E.L.P.) , recorded a pair of solo efforts in the early '80s. The show captured on Greatest Hits Live (2003) is circa his self-titled debut Greg Lake (1981) and features the artist leading an impressive backing band with Gary Moore (guitar), Ted McKenna (drums), Tommy Eyre (keyboards), and Tristian Margetts (bass). Understandably, the original play list was heavy on material from the new album. Standouts among the lot are the slightly synth sounding "Retribution Drive" and the edgy '80s power rockers "The Lie" and "Nuclear Attack." Also worth mentioning is the upbeat and agile "Love You Too Much," which Lake co-wrote with Bob Dylan. The stage performance is interspersed with indisputable classics dating back to a pair of pre-E.L.P. King Crimson cuts, as "21st Century Schizoid Man" and "In the Court of the Crimson King" conclude this collection. While not as taut as E.L.P.'s renderings, both "Fanfare for the Common Man" and "Karn Evil 9" are given workouts that seem to lumber a bit in places. The sole acoustic side "Lucky Man" is arguably the highlight, with Lake's skills as a performer and songwriter at their most prominent. While diehard enthusiasts should be on board with Greatest Hits Live, those looking for a solid compilation of Lake's most memorable sides are advised to try the double-disc From the Beginning: Retrospective (1997). Or for the more adventuresome, From the Underground: The Official Bootleg (1998), which is a single CD companion of essential stops in Lake's musical legacy.