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Living on the edge of the known universe as we do here in northeast Texas, I didn't have much hope of seeing my heroes in
concert anywhere nearby. So when I decided to go to college in a town north of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, I thought I might
have a chance after all. Alas, my senior year rolled around and no ELP in sight. One day on my way home from classes, I stopped
in a record store on the edge of campus. Guess what it said on their bulletin board?!?!?! ELP Oct. 28 TCCC!!!!! (Interpretation:
Tarrant County Convention Center, a large arena in Ft. Worth) I couldn't buy that ticket fast enough!!!
I decided
that this might be my one big chance, so I took my camera and a little Sony cassette recorder I borrowed from a friend and
a BIG purse. When the gorilla at the door asked me if I had a camera, I smiled innocently and said no :)
This was
the fall of '77...the infamous Works tour that nearly did them in financially. Of course, by the time they got to Texas, the
orchestra was long gone. But, what the heck! I was so happy to see 'em, I didn't care.
They opened with "Peter
Gunn" (now WHY do you suppose this would appeal to them ;-)then went into "Hoedown." I don't remember the exact
order after that, but they played Tiger in a Spotlight, Tarkus, Pictures at an Exhibition, part of Karn Evil 9, Pirates, Nutrocker
(gag ;-), Lucky Man, part of Keith's Piano Concerto...encores were Fanfare/Rondo and Show Me the Way to Go Home...and MY personal
fave of the evening...
There were about 18,000 people there that night, and I was so touched by the powerful image
of Greg standing alone on that stage in front of all those people singing a lullaby to his little girl. It was such a sweet
moment, and one I'll always cherish, and "Watching Over You" will always be one of my favorite Greg songs.
It was a great concert. "Star Wars" was still popular and Keith got in a few quotes from the title theme...and
there was someone in the audience in a Darth Vader costume :) their sound system was beyond excellent, and my pitiful little
recording still sounds surprisingly good after all these years. The program is nearly in shreds from being read so much, and
the little instamatic snapshots have just about faded out, but my memories of that night are still clear and happy. Thanks,
guys :)
They may not be the best concert pix around, but they're MY concert pix and I can say "I was there!"
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