Emerson, Lake & Palmer Brain Salad Surgery (Hybrid SACD)

“Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends.” Famously uttered by bassist-guitarist Greg Lake on the epic “Karn Evil 9,” those words encapsulate the theatricality, thrills, breadth, and fascination surrounding Brain Salad Surgery. Originally released in late 1973, Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s fourth studio album finds the trio taking front-to-back control of its situation and incorporating several studio firsts. The platinum-certified effort stands as one of the greatest prog-rock feats in history. Its cohesive blend of musicianship, songwriting, and production set a standard that remains revered amid fans and critics alike. Sourced from the original analog master tapes and housed in a mini-LP-style gatefold package complete with a fold-out insert, Mobile Fidelity’s numbered-edition hybrid SACD of Brain Salad Surgery presents the record ELP member Carl Palmer deemed his favorite in audiophile sound. Clear, dynamic, and balanced, this collectible version brings to light the epic scope, tonal depth, and high degree of virtuosity on display. Key characteristics — textures, nuances, effects, melodies, tempo changes — that go hand-in-hand with the trio’s compositions and interplay are rendered amid broad soundstages and delivered with pinpoint detail. A most amazing show, indeed. Step inside, step inside.