Song:I Believe in Father Christmas
Album:A Rock 'n' Roll Christmas
Greg Lake is best known as the lead singer and bassist for Emerson Lake & Palmer and a founding member of King Crimson. He released I Believe In Father Christmas as a one off single in 1975 and it was a big hit in England. It is now a Christmas perennial. Lake was born Nov. 10, 1947 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England. Growing up, his big hero was Cliff Richard & The Shadows guitarist Hank Marvin. Lake played in a few bands in the 60s until his childhood pal Robert Fripp asked him to play bass in King Crimson. That group were innovators of progressive rock with Court Of The Crimson King. Lake left King Crimson in 1970 and Keith Emerson was putting together a progressive rock band. He liked Lake's singing in King Crimson and Emerson Lake & Palmer was born. Lake wrote and sang ELP's biggest hit Lucky Man. After touring to support the 1973 album Brain Salad Surgery, ELP went on hiatus. During that hiatus, Lake released the single I Believe In Father Christmas. It reached #2 on the British Singles chart. Lake wrote the song with King Crimson lyricist Peter Sinfield. The song protests the commercialization of Christmas and the loss of innocence. It was a one off single. Lake didn't record an album at the time and the song was added to ELP shows when they returned in 1977. ELP recorded a different version of the song on Works Vol. II. I Believe In Christmas is now a Christmas classic in England. Plenty of artists have covered it. You can get it on many various artists Christmas CDs. A Rock 'n' Roll Christmas is very cheap and recommended to those looking for a rock Christmas CD. ELP first split up in 1979 and the band has reformed frequently over the years. Lake was also a member of the 80s band Asia. He has only recorded solo a couple of times and he is currently working on a live theater presentation of his life and career. I Believe In Father Christmas is an interesting sidebar of Greg Lake's career. Here's the video for I Believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake.
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