Defending ELP’s Love Beach Album and Other Albums Made By Bands That Were Not Successful or the Bands That Made Them Don’t Like Them

I am a fan of albums by bands/artists that for whatever reason were not successful.

There are so many:  Aerosmith’s A Night in The Ruts and Rock In A Hard Place, Scorpions Eye II Eye, Black Sabbath Born Again,  Seventh Star and Forbidden, Deep Purple The Battle Rages On, KISS Music From The Elder.  Twisted Sister’s Love Is For Suckers. 

There are sooooo many that were not successful and even the bands/artists that made them don’t even like them.  And even fans don’t like them.

Another one is the Emerson Lake And Palmer (ELP) album called Love Beach.

I’ll be honest:  I’ve known of ELP for years and knew some of their songs but I was not aware of most of their discography until recently, 2024.

After hearing all of their studio albums and some of their live albums, I can say they were a phenomenal band.

But I also knew that their Love Beach album has been panned by both the band and fans over the years.

After hearing the album, I don’t understand the criticism at all.

OK the album cover may have been and may still be a huge turn off.  They remind me of The Bee Gees’ look from that same period, which was the late 70s.  Now I’m not knocking that at all, but it’s just the truth.  And I actually like the cover so there.

But if you listen to the album, it sounds like any other ELP album and that’s a great thing.  They did not turn into a Disco band or change their style all of a sudden to cater to radio.  If you are an ELP fan, there is NOTHING on this album you should not appreciate.

I get that bands/artists pan albums they’ve made if they weren’t hits, but why would you pan one if you had fun making it?  Or if you didn’t have fun making it, why did you put it out?  Maybe that’s just the way it is.  You’ve made the album so you must release it.  Although I don’t think that’s the case because record companies have shelved many albums over the years.

What I’m saying is that if you are a fan of any band, you should give each album a chance.  If you don’t like it, fair enough.  But just because the critics hate it, or your best friend hates it, doesn’t mean you will.  It may end up being your favorite album by them.

Or so what if the album cover looks different.  There may be great music there but you won’t hear it because you’re turned off by the cover.

Just give it a chance.  

And for any ELP fans out there who read this or who are interested and aren’t even fans, check out their album Love Beach.  You may actually like it.

And if you don’t like it, tell me why you don’t like it.  Is there something there I’m not hearing?

Let me know.