NICE/THOUGHTS OF EMERLIST DAVJACK IMLP 016 (-67) UK MONO
Nice is mainly known for their mix of rock and art music and long, rather boring interpretations of old classic pieces, later leading on to top seller Emerson Lake and Palmer. But that is not what's going on here. This is a psych masterpiece, as good as anything Pink Floyd did at the time. After being a backing group for P.P. Arnold, the guys took a name (rumour says "Nice" comes from the Small Faces song "Here Comes the Nice" and is a reference to being high)and got to record this album. It still feels fresh today - made in kind of a free spirit with lots of original ideas. I get the feeling of a group very skilled turned on musicians with a bunch of good songs and no one is telling them how to perform. "Rondo" is a piece built on Bach and sign of what to come in later years, but the rest is just out there. David O'Lists guitar on "War And Peace" and "Bonnie K" sounds like he got in without really knowing the song, just got the right key and was told to do whatever he wanted. Overlooked for many years this record is now getting the credit it deserves and has been re-issued many times on CD. It was years since I heard the original stereo, so I can't compare the issues, but it sounds like a separate mono mix to me. The only US release I've been able to trace is a 1968 stereo (Immediate Z12-52004), but if anyone knows of a mono released there - please tell!. First UK on lilac label as shown here and thin matt cover. (YMÖ*) (YDÄ*)(ÄPY*)
In the US, we only got a stereo version, however the US pressing seems to have some additional echo not present on any of the UK pressings. I have heard the mono pressing of this album only had a single run and all second pressings are in stereo (making the mono version of this album very rare).
Thanks for the info. Never seen a US copy here, but it would be interesting to know if the additional echo makes it a better listening and thus worth having.
The echo actually sounds kind of awful and makes the inferior stereo mix even worse. The echo mix made it to cd when Columbia/Sony reissued it in the US in 1991. Interestingly the 1973 reissue on Columbia Special Products seems to used the "dry" stereo UK mix.
In the US, we only got a stereo version, however the US pressing seems to have some additional echo not present on any of the UK pressings. I have heard the mono pressing of this album only had a single run and all second pressings are in stereo (making the mono version of this album very rare).
SvaraRaderaThanks for the info. Never seen a US copy here, but it would be interesting to know if the additional echo makes it a better listening and thus worth having.
RaderaThe echo actually sounds kind of awful and makes the inferior stereo mix even worse. The echo mix made it to cd when Columbia/Sony reissued it in the US in 1991. Interestingly the 1973 reissue on Columbia Special Products seems to used the "dry" stereo UK mix.
RaderaThanks. Maybe I don't need the stereo then after all. Mono sounds so good and probably the one if you wanna enjoy it to the fullest.
Radera