Эмерсон, Лейк И Пауэлл = Emerson, Lake & Powell

Released in the Soviet Union in 1988 by the state-owned label Melodiya, this pressing of the 1986 Emerson, Lake & Powell self-titled album represents a fascinating moment in the history of the Iron Curtain's cultural landscape. As per Soviet licensing agreements of the era, the record was released to make Western progressive rock accessible to the Soviet public, often featuring re-designed, simplified sleeve art to conform to state printing standards while retaining the original musical content.

The album itself was the product of a brief supergroup collaboration featuring Keith Emerson and Greg Lake, replacing original drummer Carl Palmer with Cozy Powell. The music reflects the polished, synth-heavy arena rock sound of the mid-1980s, a distinct departure from the elaborate symphonic structures of the 1970s. While critics at the time noted the departure from ELP's classic sound, the Melodiya release remains a sought-after curiosity for collectors interested in how Western progressive rock was officially distributed within the USSR.