Tarkus likely remains the only album in existence that links jazz luminary Dave Brubeck, Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, country legend Eddie Kramer, Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera, American genius Frank Zappa, and German multihyphenate Johann Sebastian Bach. At once diverse, ambitious, and complex, Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s sophomore statement proved fantastically successful and accessible. It reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and, in the U.S., climbed into the Top 10. The 1971 effort also propelled the British group to the forefront of the concert scene and became instantly identifiable via its now-iconic cover art. Mastered at MoFi’s California studio and housed in mini-LP-style packaging, Mobile Fidelity’s numbered-edition hybrid SACD of Tarkus presents the gold-certified effort in audiophile sound. Clear, dynamic, and balanced, it honors the fastidious approaches that informed the playing and recording of the record. This collectible reissue opens up the window on the tonal depth and virtuosic musicianship on display. You’ll relish the separation, imaging, and timing that help make every song come across with involving presence. These sonic signposts extend to the snorkel-tube-inspired Moog synthesizer on “Aquatarkus,” the pipe organ on “The Only Way (Hymn),” and the improvisational jamming on the lighthearted rave-up “Are You Ready Eddy?” From the first to the last note, from the cover to the final illustration, Tarkus is the complete package.