It wasn’t simply Greg Lake’s booming voice that enshrined him among the greatest rock singers of all time. It was his authority, his ability to play a supporting role in the bands he was a part of, while still maintaining an undeniable presence that placed him front and center no matter what. Although he first came to prominence on that first groundbreaking album by prog rock pioneers King Crimson, his name became forever entwined with those of the supergroup he shared with Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer—Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Lake passed away at the beginning of this month, but his a formidable presence remains in his music. That powerful voice will certainly be missed and we’ve compiled 10 of his best songs to honor that spirit.
10. Greg Lake, “Someone”
While Manoeuvres marked another significant step forward in his solo career (and away from simply being known as the “L” in ELP), Lake wisely chose to stick to the same musical template as far as some of its songs were concerned. Consequently “Someone” became an effective touchstone in an album that spotlighted his creative diversity. It didn’t boost sales, but it did show a consistency that went over favorably with his fans.
9. Greg Lake, “You Really Got a Hold On Me”
An unreleased bonus track tacked on to the re-release of his eponymous solo debut, this reboot of a Smokey Robinson classic finds Lake in unfamiliar terrain and well away from the stylish approach taken with every other song in the set. It may have been too out of character to consider it for release the first time around, but in retrospect, it further affirms Lake’s desire for diversity and need to establish himself as an artist capable of altering his personal palette.
8. King Crimson, “21st Century Schizoid Man”
Lake’s raging delivery helped make “21st Century Schizoid Man” a striking introduction to King Crimson’s remarkable debut, an album that established the template for progressive rock in the U.K. and abroad. The song proved pivotal to Crimson’s immediate success, given that it was the most amplified offering of the set and the one song that could be construed as a true rocker. It’s something of a stretch for Lake, who was generally more melodic in tone and temperament, but it served as good training for the bombast that was to follow with ELP.
7. King Crimson, “Cat Food”
Lake had left Crimson prior to the recording of the band’s sophomore album, but bandleader Robert Fripp convinced him to stick around long enough to contribute vocals on the majority of the album’s tracks. (The record’s most endearing song, “Cadence and Cascade,” was given to new vocalist Gordon Haskell, but Lake laid down the guide vocal.) Sung scat style, Lake’s skittish singing complemented the jazz-like arrangement and further exemplified his versatility as both a singer and musician who could come to the fore.
6. Emerson Lake & Palmer, “Take a Pebble”
While no single song on ELP’s eponymous debut could foretell the success that the band would achieve once they became stadium-ready superstars, “Take a Pebble” did demonstrate the band’s ability to cross stylistic parameters all within the space of a single song. Here again, Lake leans into the song with a muscular authority that’s anything but the timid toss-off the title otherwise suggests. Going from the jazzy flourish of Emerson’s keyboards to Lake’s folk-like flourish, it demonstrated the trio’s ability to effectively blend their individual instincts.