RK 50: The Nice

RK 50: The Nice

LP ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS IMMEDIATE US Z12 52020

1968? 12 TRKS

LP AUTUMN '67 TO SPRING '68 (Collection) CHARISMA UK CS 1

1972 9 TRKS ('67/'68 recordings)

LP AUTUMN TO SPRING (Collection) CHARISMA US CAS 1

1973 9 TRKS ('67/'68 recordings)

CD ELEGY CHARISMA UK CASCD 1030

1970 10 TRKS ('90 issue) (6 x bonus tracks)

LP ELEGY CHARISMA UK CAS 1030

1970 4 TRKS full-size hatter

LP EVERYTHING AS NICE AS MOTHER MAKES IT IMMEDIATE US IMOCS 102

1968? 6 TRKS stereo

CD FIVE BRIDGES CHARISMA UK CASCD 1014

1970 13 TRKS ('90 issue) (5 x bonus tracks)

LP FIVE BRIDGES CHARISMA UK CAS 1014

1970 9 TRKS UK original issue

LP THOUGHTS OF EMERLIST DAVJACK, THE IMMEDIATE US Z12 52004

1967? 8 TRKS stereo

Believe it or not, I think I actually knew who The Nice were before there was such a thing as Emerson, Lake & Palmer!

I never got fanatical about The Nice, however. I got as many LP’s as I could find, and a couple of singles – but I never went nuts – with variant pressings etc. I think it’s very cool that the old UK CD’s for “Five Bridges” and “Elegy” contains the “Autumn To Spring” LP as bonus tracks. Should I get the Immediate LP’s as CD’s? In Japan, they’ve made really nice little paper album cover (kami sleeve) CD’s of those titles.

Of course, when Keith Emerson teamed up with the King Crimson vocalist and Atomic Rooster drummer – the other members of The Nice found other groups, too – Lee Jackson in Jackson Heights (LP’s on Charisma and Vertigo) and Brian “Blinky” Davison with Every Which Way (a sole LP on Charisma). Jackson and Davison teamed up for a stint with Patrick Moraz as “Refugee” (who managed one LP for Charisma – but I saw that recently there has been a live album by Refugee entered into the market place).

And what of the original guitarist of The Nice, Davy O’List? He was in Jet (with Andy Ellison) and…didn’t O’List make an indie single or two in the 80’s?

Time has been kind to The Nice. I think their LP’s are more highly regarded now than when they were released. My choice cuts for The Nice are: “Diamond Hard Blue Apples of The Moon”, “Flower King of Flies” and “One Of Those People”!

And R.I.P. Brian “Blinky” Davison – I got his “Every Which Way” CD when I visited Portland earlier this month.