283:". The story of "Karn Evil 9" is told in three parts, with the second part being an instrumental interlude. First Impression, Part 1 begins with a tale of a bleak world (although timeframe is not specified): "Cold and misty morning I heard a warning borne on the air ..." and where humanity is either being destroyed or has fallen into decay and helplessness. First Impression, Part 2 tells how the decadence of the old world is preserved through exhibits that are part of a futuristic carnival show, which exhibits depravities like "seven virgins and a mule", along with things that are rare in the future, such as a "real blade of grass".
354:, Paul Stump bemoaned that "Karn Evil 9" spends most of its length "ping-ponging frustratingly between the inspired and the intolerable", citing the subdued yet menacing Hammond organ introduction and the group workout during the Third Impression ("full of vigorous and fertile riff-development and fierce, diamond-hard textures") as examples of the former and the bipartite structure of the First Impression, the over-indulgence of Emerson's solo, and the trite science fiction theatrics of the Third Impression as examples of the latter. In 2005
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the computers, claiming that the computers were successful in dominating the humans and let them live only for the sake of gloating. The third interpretation, consistent with Peter
Sinfield's original interpretation that "what invented ironically takes him over" has humans winning a war with the help of computers, only to find the computers taking over in the moment of victory.
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The Third
Impression continues the story begun in the first, describing a war between humans and computers, which can be interpreted in three different ways. One interpretation gives the victory to the humans, who reimpose their dominion over the computers. The second interpretation allows victory to
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and, with a running length of 29 minutes and 37 seconds, is
Emerson, Lake & Palmer's longest studio recording. The initial release of the album on vinyl split "Karn Evil 9" between the two sides due to its length, with a fade out/fade in between First Impression Parts 1 and 2.
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There is some disagreement as to how much of the lyrics were written by
Sinfield: all credits listed show that Lake wrote the lyrics for First Impression alone, but Sinfield himself implies that he co-wrote all lyrics in "Karn Evil 9".
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Selections from Karn Evil 9 were featured in Pride of
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A heavily abridged edit of First
Impression Part 2 is featured in a 2020 NBC NASCAR promo. It focuses on the intro and lyrical references to the show.
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302:".) This impression changes from an upbeat out-of-control tune to a slow interval and then picks up the pace with a structure similar to that of a
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baseball team and played in the clubhouse and Shea
Stadium before games. It was also used on their official 1986 season highlights home video.
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Unlike the rest of "Karn Evil", the Second
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Part or all of the song is included on many of the group's live albums and on all of the group's compilation albums and box sets.
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during the late 1990s and early 2000s, with the vocals regarding seven virgins and a mule being omitted. British Radio show host
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167:. A futuristic fusion of rock and classical themes, it was written by band members Keith Emerson and Greg Lake with former
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Part or all of the song is included on several of
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Part or all of the song is also included on all of the group's compilation albums and box sets.
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also used the "welcome back my friends to the show that never ends" line as a jingle.
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Welcome Back, My
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Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends – Ladies and Gentlemen
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247:. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed.
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used Karn Evil 9 for a drum break in their 1984 and 1985 programs.
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First Impression Part 2 was used as the theme tune for the BBC's
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Epstein, Dan; Gehr, Richard; Heller, Jason (March 11, 2016).
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The Music's All that Matters: A History of Progressive Rock
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Third Impression: Music by Emerson, lyrics by Lake and
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film inspired by Karn Evil 9 was in development, with
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The Original Bootleg Series from the Manticore Vaults
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The Original Bootleg Series from the Manticore Vaults
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337:, vocals by Lake, computerized vocals by Emerson.
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393:(rec. 1974, rel. 1997) – 1st Impression, Part 2
385:(rec. 1992, rel. 1993) – 1st Impression, Part 2
360:listed the song on their "Top 10 Prog Tracks".
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425:(rec. 1974, rel. 2010) – all three impressions
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540:once the lights went out before their show.
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390:King Biscuit Flower Hour: Greatest Hits Live
1169:The Very Best of Emerson, Lake & Palmer
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662:"Official Keith Emerson Website - Ask Emo"
263:Learn how and when to remove this message
1185:The Essential Emerson, Lake & Palmer
543:First Impression Part 2 is heard in the
1094:Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
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16:1973 song by Emerson, Lake & Palmer
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1161:The Best of Emerson, Lake & Palmer
816:"prideofcincinnati.org - Winter Guard"
705:. Quartet Books Limited. p. 170.
536:used it as a lead in to their 1988-90
198:1st Impression, Part 2 (8:42 to 13:22)
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195:1st Impression, Part 1 (0:00 to 8:41)
175:. It is the fifth and final track on
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330:Second Impression: Music by Emerson.
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1142:Live at the Mar y Sol Festival '72
863:Daniel Kreps (February 15, 2020).
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483:The song was covered by guitarist
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433:(2010) – 1st Impression, Part 2
401:(1997) – 1st Impression, Part 2
323:, vocals and lyrics written by
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201:2nd Impression (13:23 to 20:30)
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1204:The Return of the Manticore
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352:History of Progressive Rock
319:First Impression: Music by
243:the claims made and adding
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1371:Emerson, Lake & Powell
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1324:Fanfare for the Common Man
963:Emerson, Lake & Palmer
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791:"1985 :: Blue Devils"
766:"1984 :: Blue Devils"
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275:The phrase "Karn Evil" is
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556:World Championships in
516:is based on this song.
1310:Still...You Turn Me On
726:"Top 10 Prog Tracks".
1403:To the Power of Three
682:. ladiesofthelake.com
1331:Tiger in a Spotlight
701:Stump, Paul (1997).
633:R2 72459. Pg. 11-12
495:Guitars from Mars II
987:Brain Salad Surgery
631:Rhino Entertainment
627:Brain Salad Surgery
177:Brain Salad Surgery
164:Brain Salad Surgery
41:Brain Salad Surgery
1282:From the Beginning
1228:A Time and a Place
1212:From the Beginning
1153:Compilation albums
1118:A Time and a Place
840:"2004 - San Diego"
563:In February 2020,
487:on his live album
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228:possibly contains
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1126:High Voltage
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1418:Discography
1392:Cozy Powell
1387:Eddy Offord
1317:Karn Evil 9
1038:Live albums
945:Carl Palmer
748:youtube.com
277:sound-alike
187:Impressions
151:Karn Evil 9
138:Producer(s)
120:Lyricist(s)
106:Composer(s)
1450:1973 songs
1439:Categories
1019:Black Moon
1011:Love Beach
849:2022-06-21
825:2022-06-21
729:Music Week
582:References
506:shock rock
364:Other uses
357:Music Week
300:St. Thomas
237:improve it
1296:Jerusalem
1275:Nutrocker
1261:Lucky Man
938:Greg Lake
608:April 28,
558:San Diego
467:Dr Pepper
346:Reception
325:Greg Lake
253:July 2023
241:verifying
171:lyricist
143:Greg Lake
126:Greg Lake
1196:Box sets
800:July 19,
752:Archived
534:Bon Jovi
292:steelpan
288:Minimoog
281:carnival
56:Recorded
48:Released
1303:Toccata
1289:Hoedown
979:Trilogy
686:6 March
350:In his
235:Please
1268:Tarkus
1231:(2010)
1223:(2007)
1215:(2007)
1207:(1993)
1188:(2007)
1180:(2004)
1172:(2000)
1164:(1980)
1145:(2011)
1137:(2011)
1129:(2010)
1121:(2010)
1105:(1998)
1097:(1997)
1089:(1997)
1081:(1997)
1073:(1993)
1065:(1979)
1057:(1974)
1049:(1971)
1030:(1994)
1022:(1992)
1014:(1978)
1006:(1977)
998:(1977)
990:(1973)
982:(1972)
974:(1971)
971:Tarkus
966:(1970)
709:
304:sonata
157:group
76:Length
1239:Songs
512:band
504:" by
93:Label
65:Genre
802:2018
777:2018
707:ISBN
688:2012
610:2019
519:The
514:GWAR
463:2007
298:'s "
59:1973
28:Song
844:WGI
239:by
30:by
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128:,
85:37
81:29
1355:3
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