after all these years of enjoying the great ELP live version of this, I couldn't believe how great this version was as well, I mean I just came across it by accident he other day and I was blown away. Both versions have their differences and that's what makes them fun and inspired
My conspiracy theory, for whatever its worth, is that it's Jerry Lee Lewis during the time he was blacklisted from the major American record companies in the early 1960s.
As a teen one Christmas my mother asked me to put on some Christmas music for out guests....I went to my room turned up the stereo and yep...I put this on for everyone.
May I recommend the book 'A Pop Revolution, the transatlantic music scene 1965 to 1969' by the invisible man. The author is a big fan of this fine instrumental.