Hang on to a Dream: The Story of the Nice

Rating:
Summary: Solid Bio of a Neglected Band - A bit Anti- ELP
Review: The Nice were true orginals - in 1960's Britian awash with imitation blues bands and R & B [imitations], all of whom were crushed beneath the weight of the Fab Four, The Nice appeared from nowhere along this continum. Showcasing great musicianship and knowledge of Classical musical forms, the Nice were the missing link between Psychedelic mayhem and Progressive pandemonium.

Martyn Hanson gives us a complete run-down of each member of this revolutionary band, and details how they came together ostensibly as P.P. Arnold's back-up band. Original manager Andrew Loog Oldham,[inespensively], needed an opening act, so The Nice stepped forward. Hanson show how lamentable management skills of the mentally-unbalanced Oldham put pressures on the band to constantly tour since they never saw a penny of royalties from any of their albums.

The Nice began with four players, and almost according to the [strange] script of LSD-laced guitarists, Davy O'List became more and more unbalanced and was let go, reducing The Nice to a power trio, but giving Keith Emerson more influence. Throughout the remainder of the 60's The Nice produced ambitious, if poorly recorded albums, and built a fan base.

Emerson wanted better players, certaintly a better singer than Lee Jackson, so he dumped the Nice to hook up with "his heaviness" Greg Lake and Carl Palmer to form ELP, a higher-tech version of The Nice, although Emerson claimed he wanted to do something different. Hanson is critical of ELP's work, but I can't imagine Jackson or Davidson playing on say "Tarkus" or "Brain Salad Surgery." Emerson snakebit his former bandmates when he broke up The Nice, and they both have struggled unfairly. Yes destroyed their second chance of a breakthrough when they recruited Patrick Moraz from Refugee to replace Rick Wakeman.

Hanson's book is well-written, full of information, anecdotal, and appraisals with a slight critical edge that gives his recounting of the rise, fall, and rebirth of this seminal 1960's band. A strong slice of rock history, and a solid addition to anyone who is interested in Keith Emerson, 1960's British rock, the Nice, or Prog in general.