Stoakes’ Song of the Week
September is Prog month here at Stoakes Media. What a fantastic genre to get your teeth into. We’ll be looking at Prog bands old and new for this months Songs of the Week! And what a place to start…
Robert Berry is an incredible musician. He is one of the last people that Keith Emerson collaborated with before he died. Robert is heading out on the road in support of his latest album 3.2 – The Rules Have Changed. The album encompasses the ideas that Keith and Robert discussed on the phone and the few recorded demos that Robert and Keith worked on.
Robert first worked with Keith 30 years ago when he along with Carl Palmer and Keith Emerson formed the band 3 following the success of Emerson, Lake and Palmer. They only recorded one album, ‘To The Power of Three’ and Stoakes’ Song of the Week this week is a track taken from that album
Desde La Vida is one of the best tracks on the album. Keith had the basic theme when the band started working on it. Carl Palmer at the time lived off the coast of Spain – Robert remembers he was always talking about the Spaniards. Robert’s initial thoughts were to do some of the lyrics in Spanish however Robert doesn’t speak the language and Carl said he wasn’t a lyric writer. The three of them set off together to make it happen. It turned out to be one of the tracks that the true ELP fan would cherish over the years.
On the forthcoming tour of the States, Robert will be performing Desde La Vida along with their top 10 hit ‘Talkin Bout’ – penned by Robert himself! The setlist will also include two songs off the 3.2 album which features Keith’s last efforts before he died. You can also count on hearing Robert’s contributions to the Magna Carta Records tribute series.
Prog fans in the United States will be missing a treat if they don’t catch Robert Berry’s 3.2 show. I’ve seen some rehearsal footage and it will be a very special night.
For more information on the tour, please visit Robert’s website http://www.robertberry.com and us British fans will just have to hope that after the roaring success Robert and his band experience touring the States, the bring the show across the pond!
