Notes

---

Because the Nice were never really blockbuster pop stars, especially in the U.S., where they were virtually unknown, anyone attempting to compile a Nice greatest hits collection has their work cut out for them. For most listeners, the Nice are primarily known as a progenitor of prog rock, not just because their biggest claim to fame is as the group that brought Keith Emerson (of Emerson, Lake & Palmer) to prominence, but also because the few songs of theirs that were mildly successful, their covers of Tim Hardin's "Hang On to a Dream" and "America" (from West Side Story) are extended epics. Similarly, their later albums were also filled with classical pieces, such as a version of Sibelius' "Intermezzo From Karelia" (a blueprint for Emerson's later ELP work), which also pigeonholed them as a proto-prog act. What this collection also demonstrates is the Nice's underrated more whimsical side, which sounds much closer to Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd. "Daddy Where Did I Come From?," a silly explanation of the birds and the bees, could easily fit on Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Similarly, "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" is as catchy as "Itchycoo Park"-era Small Faces. Greatest Hits is carefully balanced, mixing quirky psychedelic tracks with proto-prog selections. Unfortunately, one drawback of the package is the absence of any liner notes whatsoever. Listeners will have to do some research of their own to find exactly which album contained which song, not to mention the names of the musicians involved. Nevertheless, because it not only compiles the essential material but also displays a less famous but equally remarkable side of the Nice, Greatest Hits is a worthy collection.