“Have you walked on the stones of years?  When you speak, is it you that hears?” If these lyrical questions are familiar, you’re one of thousands of prog fans who looked at the crudely rendered, mechanical tank-armadillo creature on the cover of Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s TARKUS and said “I want to know more.” Did you ask yourself "What is the 'Endless Enigma', anyway" as you gazed at their fused heads on the cover of their follow-up, TRILOGY? This week, Charlie, Henry, and Bill get an organ transplant (sorry) from prog rock’s keyboard-centric power trio to take you on a trip into a futuristic dystopia of heavy rhythms, jazz riffs and sci-fi themes.  Plus: we dare to ask—is there such a thing as “dirtbag prog”?

Discussed in this episode

The Nice's "America" on YouTube

Emerson, Lake and Palmer's "Tarkus" full album on YouTube

E. Power Biggs "Tocatta and Fugue in D Minor" by J. S. Bach on YouTube

Emerson, Lake and Palmer's "Trilogy" full album on YouTube