In the early nineteen-seventies, E.L.P., alongside several more or less like-minded British groups—King Crimson, Yes, and Genesis, as well as Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd—went, in the space of a few years, from curiosities to rock stars.

Some statements hit you like an out-of-tune piano. Pink Floyd should have been mentioned first. They had five bloody albums of incredible experimentation out before ELP ever twitched the needle in a studio. Certain songs can probably be traced as archetypes for whole genres. Love 'em or hate 'em, it's true.