Emerson, Lake & Palmer, From the Beginning | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the seventh edition of Throwback Vibez (2025), we recollect and reflect on “From the Beginning” by Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the seventh edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2025), we recollect and reflect on “From the Beginning” performed by Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

“Perhaps there’s a thing or two / I think of, lying in bed / I shouldn’t have said / But there it is.” English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer comprised keyboardist Keith Emerson (1944 – 2016), vocalist, guitarist, and bassist Greg Lake (1947 – 2016), and drummer/percussionist Carl Palmer (1950 – ). “From the Beginning” is a highlight from their music catalog.  It is the fourth track from their 1972 album, Trilogy.  Notably, “From the Beginning” was their only top 40 hit on the pop charts.  It peaked at no. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100.  This was the collective’s highest charting single. Greg Lake composed and produced it. Notably, “From the Beginning” is set in the key of a minor.

“From the Beginning” shines because of its musicianship. The vocals and lyrics are great, but the musicianship is more impressive. Post-singing, there is a sweet electric guitar solo.  Likewise, Keith Emerson ‘puts in work’ on the Moog, adding sensational color.  Before Lake sings one note, the instrumental work at the beginning of “Beginning” is ‘a sight to behold,’ rather ‘hear’ itself.  It commences with a melodic acoustic guitar. Eventually, the melodic guitar transforms into an accompaniment role that is rhythmic and chordal. Of course, there are lyrics worth discussing.  They are simple and uncomplicated. Beyond the first verse, excerpted earlier, Lake sings in the second, “Whatever was done is done / I just can’t recall / It doesn’t matter at all.” Word. The section to beat is the chorus. Here, “You see it’s all clear / You were meant to be here / From the beginning. ” Emerson, Lake & Palmer ‘delivered the goods’ on “From the Beginning”. To reiterate, the high-flying musicianship that ‘takes the cake.’

Emerson, Lake & Palmer // Trilogy // Leadclass Limited / BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited // 1972

Emerson, Lake & Palmer, From the Beginning: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 7 (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Leadclass Limited / BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited; AcatXlo, OpenClipart-Vectors, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]