Tank (song)

Song_infobox
Name = Tank


Artist = Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Album = Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Released = November, 1970 (UK) January, 1971 (US)
track_no = 5
Recorded = July to September 1970
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 6:47
Writer =Keith Emerson, Carl Palmer
prev = The Three Fates: Clotho / Lachesis / Atropos
prev_no = 4
next = Lucky Man
next_no = 6

Tank is the penultimate song from the British Progressive rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer's debut album. The song was intended to showcase drummer Carl Palmer's unique drumming style. The song is also the first appearance of the Moog synthesizer in ELP's catalogue.

Beginning

The song is segued into from the explosive end to "The Three Fates" by an upbeat drum pattern by Carl Palmer. Greg Lake provides a short bass solo over Palmer's drums to apparently make up for the absence of his bass part on the previous song. Keith Emerson comes in energetically with a trio of keyboards: two clavinets and a piano. The trio's combined improvisation goes on for about a minute, which then Emerson and Lake trade bars of soloing with Palmer.

Drum Solo

Palmer then goes on a long and fast drum solo which lasts for at least three minutes. During the solo, Palmer exhibits all parts of his drum set (which includes tubular bells and a gong). At the end of his drum solo, Palmer's fast snare drum action is phased and panned quickly to the left and right.

End

Emerson plays a riff of F-G-A#-G# on the Moog (marking its first appearance on any ELP song), while Lake and Palmer lock in a tight, marching rhythm. Emerson goes on a two-minute improvisation on the Moog which lasts until the song fades out.

1977 Remake

ELP did a 1977 version of Tank that was slightly faster, featured an orchestra, but dismissed the original's drum solo. This version was released on Works Volume 1, an album that had a major budget backing, but was not paid much attention to (a Flop).

Personnel

*Keith Emerson: Clavinet, Piano, Moog Synthesizer
*Greg Lake: Bass Guitar
*Carl Palmer: drums, percussion