In the summer of 1968 prog-rock’s foundation was still being laid. Using elements of psychedelic pop that came to prominence off the heels of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and combining it with Cream’s affinity for blues-rock jamming found on Disraeli Gears, The Nice wedged themselves between the two and in the process put down some of the first bricks that would eventually lead to a prog-rock explosion in the early 70’s. While the band would only stay together a mere three years, their limited commercial success and artistic output was just enough to springboard the career of principal songwriter Keith Emerson and send him off on a journey in the 70’s that would cement his stature as of the best prog-rock keyboardists of all-time.
Standout Songs: “Flower King of Flies”, “Bonnie K”, “Rondo”
