ELP EMERSON LAKE & PALMER - Brain Salad Surgery England artwork H.R. Giger 12" Vinyl LP Album

Enter the mad, majestic world of *"Brain Salad Surgery"*, where prog rock royalty Emerson, Lake & Palmer unleash a full-frontal sonic assault wrapped in the biomechanical genius of H.R. Giger’s nightmarish artwork. Released in 1973 under their own Manticore label, this UK pressing isn’t just an album—it’s a full-blown art-rock manifesto. With apocalyptic synths, operatic vocals, and lyrical twists courtesy of Peter Sinfield (yes, *that* King Crimson guy), it’s a swirling vortex of classical bravado and sci-fi weirdness. “Karn Evil 9” alone is worth the price of entry—if your brain survives the trip, that is.

 

High Resolution Photo elp brain salad surgery england

"Brain Salad Surgery" Album Description:

Emerson, Lake & Palmer's fourth studio album, "Brain Salad Surgery," stands as a testament to the band's innovative fusion of rock and classical elements. Beyond its musical prowess, the album is also renowned for its distinctive cover art, a mesmerizing creation by the Swiss surrealist artist H.R. Giger. In this exploration, we delve into the historical backdrop of "Brain Salad Surgery" and uncover the genesis of the iconic album cover.

The Birth of "Brain Salad Surgery" (1973):

Released in 1973, "Brain Salad Surgery" marked a significant milestone in ELP's career. The album was not only the band's first under their Manticore Records imprint but also a departure from their earlier works, featuring a more avant-garde and experimental approach. With a lineup comprising Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, and Carl Palmer, the album showcased the trio's musical virtuosity and willingness to push artistic boundaries.

Confluence of Minds: Lake, Sinfield, and Giger:

One of the distinctive features of "Brain Salad Surgery" lies in its collaborative lyricism. Greg Lake, a co-founder of ELP, teamed up with Peter Sinfield, a fellow ex-King Crimson member, to craft the album's poetic narrative. This collaboration brought a unique blend of introspection and fantasy to the lyrical tapestry, complementing the progressive and eclectic nature of the music.

Visual Alchemy: H.R. Giger's Artistic Imprint:

At the heart of the album's visual allure is the enigmatic cover art crafted by H.R. Giger. Renowned for his surreal and nightmarish imagery, Giger was already gaining acclaim in the art world. The collaboration between ELP and Giger resulted in a visual masterpiece that seamlessly intertwined with the album's musical complexity.

Giger's Aesthetic and Symbolism:

The album cover features a biomechanical landscape, a hallmark of Giger's distinctive style. Intricate and otherworldly, the imagery evokes a sense of cosmic surrealism. Giger's use of biomechanical elements, blending organic and mechanical components, adds a layer of depth to the visual narrative, mirroring the eclectic fusion of rock and classical influences within the album.

Legacy and Impact:

"Brain Salad Surgery" became an influential work, not just for its musical innovation but also for its iconic visual representation. The album cover remains a symbol of the progressive rock era and a testament to the power of collaboration between musicians and visual artists. H.R. Giger's contribution to the album's aesthetic elevated it to a realm beyond mere music, turning it into a holistic sensory experience.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

Progressive Rock, Acid, Psych, Synth

Collector Notes / Liner Notes
  • Collector Note: This is the UK pressing of "Brain Salad Surgery"
  • Collector Note: Label text is printed in white; title on the record label reads: "Emerson Lake, Palmer / Brain Salad Surgery"
  • Collector Note: Other pressings have silverish label text and the title starting with "Brain Salad Surgery"
Label & Catalognr:

Manticore Records LTD – MC 6669

Album Packaging

Fold Open Cover design (Gatefold), original company inner sleeve, includes poster.

Album cover designed by H.R. Giger.

H.R. Giger a Swiss artist, achieved fame for his dark, biomechanical style that blends human and machine. His airbrushed paintings often depicted disturbing dreamscapes. He designed the terrifying xenomorph in the movie "Alien," which earned him an Academy Award. The H.R. Giger Museum in Switzerland showcases his work. See some of his most famous designs:
Media Format:

12" Vinyl LP Record

Year & Country:

1973 – Made in England

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Members, Musicians:
  • Keith Emerson – Keyboards / Moog Synthesizer, Hammond Organ
    Keith Emerson, a legendary keyboardist and composer, revolutionised progressive rock as the driving force behind Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Known for his virtuosic skills on the Moog synthesizer and Hammond organ, he fused classical, jazz, and rock into epic soundscapes. Emerson’s fearless showmanship and innovative compositions cemented his legacy as a pioneer who redefined the role of keyboards in rock music. Read his mini biography
  • Greg Lake – Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar
    Greg Lake, the voice of progressive rock, captivated audiences as a founding member of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Renowned for his soulful vocals and songwriting, Lake shaped hits like ‘Lucky Man’ and powered the band’s fusion of classical and rock elements. His artistry defined 1970s prog rock and left an enduring legacy. Learn more about Greg Lake’s journey with ELP
  • Carl Palmer – Drums / Percussion
    Carl Palmer, legendary drummer of progressive rock, brought technical brilliance and showmanship to Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP), shaping classics like Tarkus. Later, he co-founded Asia, where hits like Heat of the Moment showcased his versatility. From complex rhythms to arena anthems, Palmer redefined rock drumming. Learn more about his legacy here.

Complete Track-listing:

Album Tracks:
  1. Jerusalem
  2. Toccata
  3. Still... You Turn Me On
  4. Benny the Bouncer
  5. Karn Evil 9

Brain Salad Surgery Album Photo Gallery:

Album Front Cover Photo
Surreal biomechanical front cover of Emerson Lake & Palmer’s Brain Salad Surgery, designed by H.R. Giger, showing a pale humanoid face with closed lips framed by mechanical forms and skeletal eye sockets

Front cover artwork for Emerson Lake & Palmer’s 1973 album Brain Salad Surgery, created by Swiss surrealist H.R. Giger.

The image fuses human anatomy and machine elements in Giger’s iconic biomechanical style. A central, ethereal humanoid face with full lips and braided hair emerges from a circular aperture, suggesting a fusion of femininity and cold industrialism. Above the face are skull-like forms with empty black eye sockets, giving the impression of a hidden skeletal presence.

The entire artwork is rendered in a muted metallic gray, with textured steel panels, bolts, and ribbed tubing forming the surrounding architecture. At the base of the composition, ELP’s band logo is embedded into the machinery, emphasizing the unity of music, flesh, and machine. The fold line vertically bisecting the image is a result of the original vinyl’s gatefold cover.

Album Back Cover Photo
Surreal biomechanical female figure with braided spine-like hair and closed eyes, from the inside gatefold of Emerson Lake & Palmer’s Brain Salad Surgery album

Inside gatefold artwork from Emerson Lake & Palmer’s Brain Salad Surgery, created by visionary Swiss artist H.R. Giger.

The image presents a serene, otherworldly female figure rendered in pale lavender and grey tones. Her eyes are closed in a meditative or eternal sleep, with delicate features suggesting both peace and alien detachment. The head is crowned by a thin metallic band, echoing biomechanical restraint.

Her hair appears as braided, vertebrae-like tendrils that cascade symmetrically down both sides, seamlessly blending with her shoulders and chest, which are formed from a network of ribs and synthetic musculature. The fusion of human form and mechanical design creates an unsettling yet mesmerizing visual, a hallmark of Giger’s futuristic aesthetic. This figure contrasts and complements the more aggressive outer cover, offering a haunting calm from within.

First Photo of Custom Inner Sleeve
Original inner sleeve of Brain Salad Surgery showing a grid of 16 album covers by artists like Yes, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and King Crimson

Original Custom Inner Sleeve (OIS) from Emerson Lake & Palmer’s 1973 album Brain Salad Surgery, showcasing a full-color promotional collage of contemporaneous releases from Atlantic Records and affiliated labels.

The layout features a 4×4 grid of 16 album cover thumbnails, including titles by George Carlin, Yes, The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, the Bee Gees, Led Zeppelin, The J. Geils Band, King Crimson, Bette Midler, Eric Clapton, Danny O’Keefe, The Allman Brothers Band, ELP themselves, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Derek & The Dominos. Each thumbnail includes the label name and catalog number.

This sleeve functioned both as packaging and as marketing ephemera, embedding the record in its early-70s musical landscape while visually linking ELP to other giants of the era.

Close up of Side One record’s label
Side One of Emerson Lake & Palmer's Brain Salad Surgery vinyl record on the Manticore label, featuring song titles, credits, and a circular background of H.R. Giger’s cover art

Close-up of Side One vinyl label from Emerson Lake & Palmer’s Brain Salad Surgery, UK pressing on Manticore Records (MC 66669).

The label features white text over a stylized grayscale background derived from H.R. Giger’s biomechanical artwork. At the top, the Manticore Records logo—a silhouetted manticore creature—sits above the band name and album title in all caps.

The track listing includes five titles: “Jerusalem,” “Toccata,” “Still... You Turn Me On,” “Benny The Bouncer,” and the epic “Karn Evil 9.” Each track is annotated with songwriting credits and durations. Text is neatly aligned and wrapped around the center spindle hole. The label also notes distribution by Atlantic Recording Corp. and production by Greg Lake.

Emerson Lake Palmer Vinyl Album Discography and Album Cover Gallery

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For progressive rock aficionados, Emerson, Lake & Palmer's (ELP) "Brain Salad Surgery" is a landmark LP. Released in 1973, it marked the band's first foray and stands as a testament to their fusion of rock and classical influences

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