Keith Emerson / Variations
20CD box set

Variations is a new 20CD box set that spans the career of keyboard player, songwriter and producer Keith Emerson.
This mammoth package is divided into five parts beginning with Emerson’s early years with The Nice and Emerson Lake & Palmer before moving onto Keith’s solo albums, his soundtracks and collaborations before ending with live performances (including a previously unreleased show from BB Kings in 2004).
All 20 CDs in Variations have been mastered by audio engineer Andy Pearce. The collection also contains a previously unreleased show from BB Kings in 2004.The box set is presented as a 10″ box set and the 48-page book contains rare photos and sleeve notes by PROG magazine’s Jerry Ewing.
Variations has been curated with the full involvement and blessing of the Emerson family and Aaron Emerson, Keith’s son, said “It is with great excitement that we can share all of Dad’s great work, expanding throughout his long career. I hope it gives you as much joy as it has done for all of us”.
Variations will be released on 13 October 2023 via Spirit Of Unicorn Music.
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KEITH EMERSON
Variations - 20CD box set
Tracklisting

Variations Keith Emerson /
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CD 1: Pt. 1 The Early Years / The Bands
- Medley – Keith Emerson (Age 14)
- Rock Candy – The T Bones with Chris Barber
- Lament For Tony Stratton Smith – Keith Emerson
- America / 2nd Amendment – The Nice
- The Three Fates – ELP
- The Old Castle / Blues Variations – ELP
- Fugue – ELP
- Karn Evil 9 2nd Impression – ELP
- Piano Improvisations (Live) – ELP
- Fanfare For the Common Man – ELP
- Barrelhouse Shakedown – ELP
- Honky Tonk Train Blues – ELP
- Introductory Fanfare / Peter Gunn Theme (Live) – ELP
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CD 2: Pt. 2 The Solo Albums – Honky
- Hello Sailor – Includes Bach Before the Mast Part 1
- Hello Sailor – Includes Bach Before the Mast Part 2
- Hello Sailor – Includes Bach Before the Mast Part 3
- Salt Cay
- Green Ice
- Intro Juicing
- Big Horn Breakdown
- Yancey Special
- Rum A Ting
- Chickcharnie
- Jesus Loves Me
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CD 3: Pt. 2 The Solo Albums – Changing States
- Shelter From the Rain
- Another Frontier
- Ballade
- The Band Keeps Playing
- Summertime
- The Church
- Interlude
- Montagues And Capulets
- Abaddon’s Bolero (Orchestral Version)
- The Band Keeps Playing (Aftershock Mix)
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CD 4: Pt. 2 The Solo Albums – Emerson Plays Emerson
- Vagrant
- Creole Dance
- Solitudinous
- Broken Bough
- A Cajun Alley
- Prelude To Candice
- A Blade of Grass
- Outgoing Tide
- Summertime
- Interlude
- Roll’n Jelly
- B & W Blues
- For Kevin
- The Dreamer
- Hammer It Out
- Ballad For a Common Man
- Barrelhouse Shakedown
- Nilu’s Dream
- Soulscapes
- Close To Home
- Honky Tonk Train Blues
- Medley
- Nicola
- Silver Shoes
- I’ll See You in My Dreams
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CD 5: Pt. 2 The Solo Albums – Keith Emerson Band
- Ignition
- 1st Presence
- Last Horizon
- Miles Away Pt. 1
- Miles Away Pt. 2
- Crusaders Cross
- Fugue
- 2nd Presence
- Marche Train
- Blue Inferno
- 3rd Presence
- Prelude To a Hope
- A Place to Hide
- Miles Away Pt. 3
- Finale
- The Art of Falling Down
- Malambo (From “Estancia Suite”)
- Gametime
- The Parting
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CD 6: Pt. 3 The Soundtracks – Inferno
- Inferno (Main Title Theme)
- Rose’s Descent into The Cellar
- Taxi Ride (Rome)
- The library
- Sarah In the Library Vaults
- Bookbinder’s Delight
- Rose Leaves the Apartment
- Rose Gets It
- Elisa’s Story
- A Cat Attic Attack
- Kazanian’s Tarantella
- Mark’s Discovery
- Mater Tenebrarum
- Inferno Finale
- Cigarettes, Ices, Etc.
- Inferno (#1)
- Inferno (#2)
- Inferno (#3)
- Inferno (#4)
- Inferno (#5)
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CD 7: Pt. 3 The Soundtracks – Nighthawks
- Nighthawks (Main Title Theme)
- Mean Stalkin’
- The Bust
- Nighthawking
- The Chase
- I’m A Man
- The Chopper
- Tramway
- I’m Comin’ In
- Face To Face
- The Flight of A Hawk
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CD 8 : Pt. 3 The Soundtracks – Muderock
- Murderock
- Tonight, Is Your Night
- Streets To Blame
- Not So Innocent
- Prelude To Candice
- Don’t Go in The Shower
- Coffee Time
- Candice
- New York Dash
- Tonight, Is Not Your Night
- The Spillone
- Murderock (Part 1)
- Murderock (Part 2)
- Murderock (Part 3)
- Murderock (Part 4)
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CD 9: Pt. 3 The Soundtracks – Best Revenge / La Chiesa
Best Revenge
- Orchestral Suite To Best Revenge (Instrumental)
- Playing For Keeps
- The Dreamer – Love Theme (Instrumental)
- Wha’dya Mean (Instrumental)
- Outgoing Tide
- For Those About to Win
- The Runner (Instrumental)
La Chiesa
- The Church (Main Theme)
- The Possession
- Prelude 24
- La Chiesa Revisited
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CD 10: Pt. 3 The Soundtracks – Iron Man
- Iron Man Main Title Theme
- And The Sea Shall Give Up It’s Dead
- I Am Ultimo, Thy Deliverer
- Data In Chaos Out
- Silence My Companion, Death My Destination
- Iron Man Theme Alternative
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CD 11: Pt. 3 The Soundtracks – Harmagedon / Godzilla
Harmagedon
- Theme Of the Floi
- Jo And Michiko
- Sonny’s Skate State
- Zamedy Stomp
- Challenge Of the Psionic Fighters
- Children Of the Light
Godzilla
- Godzilla Vs. Gotengo
- Godzilla Final Wars Titles
- EDF Headquarters Fight
- EDF Museum
- Infant Island
- Rodan Attacks NYC
- Earth Defense Forces Theme
- Motorcycle Battle
- Godzilla Awakens
- Love Theme
- Monster Zero Theme
- Cruising The Cirro Stratus
- Godzilla Theme
- Godzilla Final Wars End Titles
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CD 12: Pt. 4: Collaborations – Three Fates Project
- The Endless Enigma Suite (Pt. 1)
- The Endless Enigma Suite (Pt. 2)
- American Matador
- After All of This
- Walking Distance
- Tarkus (Concertante)
- Malambo
- The Mourning Sun
- Abaddon’s Bolero
- Fanfare For the Common Man (Pt. 1)
- Fanfare For the Common Man (Pt. 2)
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CD 13: Pt. 4 Collaborations – Beyond The Stars
- Toccata Con Fuoco
- Beyond The Stars
- Glorietta Pass
- The Dreamer
- Endless Enigma Suite Pt 1
- The Fugue
- Endless Enigma Suite Pt 2
- Malambo, Op. 7
- The Mourning Sun
- After All of This
- Walking Distance
- Fanfare For the Common Man Pt 1
- Fanfare For the Common Man Pt 2
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CD 14: Pt. 5 Live Collaborations – Boys Club (Live from California)
- Afterburner
- Long Journey Home
- Hoedown
- A Whiter Shade of Pale
- White Noise
- Cover Me
- Nutrocker
- Tarkus
- Dreams
- Middle Of a Dream
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CD 15: Pt. 5 LIve Collaborations – Moscow Pt. 1
- Karn Evil (1st Impression Pt. 2)
- Piano Concerto (3rd Movement)
- Bitches Crystal
- Malambo
- Touch And Go
- Lucky Man
- Miles Away Pt.1
- Miles Away Pt. 2
- Crusaders Cross
- Fugue
- Marche Train
- Finale
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CD 16: Pt. 5 LIve Collaborations – Moscow Pt. 2
- The Barbarian
- Tarkus
- Nutrocker Suite
- Moscow Fantasia
- Malambo (Orchestral Version)
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CD 17: Pt. 5 LIve Collaborations – Live From Manticore Hall
- From The Beginning
- Introduction
- I Talk to The Wind
- Bitches Crystal
- The Barbarian
- Take A Pebble
- Tarkus
- C’est La Vie
- Pirates
- Moog Solo / Lucky Man
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CD 18: Pt. 5 Live Collaborations – Off the Shelf
- Abaddon’s Bolero Orchestral
- Pictures At an Exhibition
- And Then January
- Rio
- Straight Between the Eyes
- Don’t Be Cruel
- Au Privave
- Walter L
- Rhythm-A-Ning
- Asian Pear
- Motor Bikin’
- America
- Lumpy Gravy
- Up The Elephant & Round the Castle
- Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
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CD 19: Pt. 5 LIve Collaborations – Live at BB Kings – 21/05/2004
- America / Rondo
- Country Pie
- Hang Onto a Dream
- Bitches Crystal
- Touch And Go
- Piano Interlude
- Karelia Suite
- Blade Of Grass
- A Cajun Alley
- Creole Dance
- Quango Story
- Just Crazy
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CD 20: Pt. 5: Live Collaborations – B.B.Kings – NYC – 21/05/2004 / The Keith Emerson Trio Live At BB Kings
Live At BB Kings
- Lucky Man
- Hoedown
- Tarkus
The Keith Emerson Trio
- You Say You Care
- There Will Never Be Another You
- Teenies Blues
- Winkle Picker Stamp
- 56 Blues
- You Came a Long Way from Saint-Louis
- Soul Station
Single
- We Three Kings
- Captain Starship Christmas
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CD 1: Pt. 1 The Early Years / The Bands
To me, any Emerson collection that devotes only 5% of its space to his work with the Nice and ELP is a non-starter. I’m just not that into most of his later work.
I am a big fan of the Keyboard Holy Trinity, always was. Jon Lord is my number one hero for life – for both his music skills and range of his compositional talents but as a top-of-the-mountain example of a rockman being a wonderful, charming, witty and gentlemanly human – a J. S. Bach of my lifetime. Sorely missed.
And then Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson, of course. When I saw this announcement – I felt – and still do – bit of puzzled. Can’t help thinking to myself that market for this release is very narrow. As technically accomplished as Keith was (might have been actually the most dazzling of the three of them) – musically to me he was a bit in his own world and a bit too tech-y on the keys. No wonder he inspired many of the players with the dazzling level of ability – everytime I listen to Don Airey in Deep Purple for recent years – it’s obvois to me – he’s more under Keith’s than Jon’s actual spell with style of playing. But in this density – the “too much Emerson in Emerson” is an understandable statement here. Out of the 3 of them – I think it was only Wakeman who found some sort of formula to pursue his skills and yet reach the mainstream (or at least vast number of listeners) with them – with mixed effects and not with every release, but still. Keith and Jon did the things they fancied – completely abondoning the need to play and record for the listeners. Kudos to them for sticking to their own muse and following it.
Still this – with the stark contrast between Kieth’s collaborative output in the bands – the sountracks and ilustratives – and the late phase of his career where he not really succeeded to stamp his mark as the solo artist – this is just a bit too much to digest in that condensed form. Choices also make me wonder a bit. No 3 (Berry-Emerson-Palmer) plus no sight of the album with Mark Bonilla from, was it 2008? It seems to be missing – and that is a big shame because it was the closest he got back to his ELP vein in a long time with formidable effect.
This is a first for me, but even as someone who likes much of Emerson’s work, this is actually too much Emerson! You can’t knock the price though, and it sure is exhaustive. I love his soundtracks, and Inferno is a classic. But boy, this is a lot of music that I don’t think I’m as interested in. For fans, no doubt, it’s a goldmine – it would cost a whole lot more to get the music here individually.
I feel the same way. I almost bought this the minute it was posted here, but I’m glad I held off.
As much as I love his keyboard work, post-ELP I don’t think he ever really found a creative niche. A lot of the music here is underwhelming soundtrack work with some sub-par AOR and odd detours like Honky mixed in. I already have Inferno (almost certainly his best soundtrack), and the surprisingly good Keith Emerson Band album, and I doubt I’d listen to much of this more than once. As you say, it’s a good buy if you’re *very* into Emerson, whose releases were on multiple labels and sometimes arrived without even his fans noticing.
I wonder what the packaging, apart from the cover, will be like!
I think his work with The Nice deserved to have more than one track on a compilation with that many CDs.
Totally agree, as that was my favourite period of Keith’s.
I’m just crushed by the lack of anything by 3. :)