»Tarkus« is probably the only existing album that combines jazz luminary Dave Brubeck, Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, sound engineer Eddy Offord, Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera, American genius Frank Zappa and German multihyphenate Johann Sebastian Bach. Emerson's second album, Lake & Palmer, which was at once diverse, ambitious, and complex, proved to be fantastically successful and accessible. It reached number 1 on the UK album charts and climbed into the top 10 in the US. Released in 1971, the work catapulted the British group to the forefront of the concert scene and became instantly recognizable with its now iconic cover. Free of drum solos, acoustic ballads and cerebral interludes, "Tarkus" differs from its equally esteemed predecessor, but once again shows that Emerson, Lake & Palmer runs on all cylinders as a band that seems to be able to play any style at any tempo. When he reflected on the album more than 40 years later, Emerson rightly said: "It offers a lot for the development of musicians. If someone wants to get into progressive rock music... it provides the elements. You have a lot to do with 'Tarkus'." This also applies to William Neal's lively cover design. The final design, which emerged from a rather innocuous scribble, reflects the story of the title track and blends in with Neal's other drawings related to the story: the band name has been omitted, the skeletal remains of a eaten lizard can be seen, and a red-eyed armadillo that has transformed into a hybrid tank with weapons and tire treads. From the first to the last note, from the cover to the last illustration, »Tarkus« is the complete package.