Live At The Fillmore East December 1969

The Nice | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: July 27, 2009
• Release Date: July 27, 2009
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: CAROLINE WORLD SERVICE
• Copyright: (C) 2009 Virgin Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2009 EMI Records Ltd
• Total Length: 1:33:47
• Genres:
• ASIN: B002IR6W9Q
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,779 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like The Name Says...Nice!, November 29, 2009

By 

Progboy "[e-mail]" (Escondido,CA,USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Fillmore East 1969 (Audio CD)

It's about time that we got a full concert from the Nice rather than the haphazard live selections sandwiched into their later-period official studio releases. I never saw the sense of gluing an indifferently performed version of Rondo onto an album with studio version of For Example;to me,it just seemed to confuse the listener.On the other hand,the studio version of Hang On To A Dream is far better than the overwrought piano piss-fest that is found on the Elegy LP. This is a wonderful concert,with much more in-your-face fullness than I would've expected from a late sixties cassette recording. Each musician shines and the drummer,Brian Davison,(may he R.I.P.,)particularly gives a ferocious performance.His solo in the Ars Longa Vita Brevis Suite is the best thing about that piece in its live incarnation. Lee Jackson holds down the fort with a steady bass,alternately jazzy and experimental,(the old violin bow across the strings,99...the second time it's happened to me this month.." His vocals may leave a lot to be desired,(there,I said it before any of the rest of you..)but he's hardly the worst vocalist I've ever heard; that distinction would go to any dozen of today's over-emoting,panty-less,female posers. Emerson,of course,is Emerson. He is the star here and the obvious focal point of the live presentation. Is it just me,or did Emerson play far more Jazz and Blues licks in the Nice than he did with E.L.P.? No matter,he plays beautifully for the most part here with the occasional I've-Lost-My-Way moment popping up here and there,(the part in Ars Longa Vita Brevis where he disrupts Brian Davison's Gong solo with the usual Emersonian organ twinking.)The version of Hang On To A Dream here is shorter and therefore much more bearable. There are some All-Time Great moments like a very good 13-Minute version of The Five Bridges Suite featuring fantastic ensemble playing from all three members.Rondo is played a lot more viciously than other versions by the Nice,complete with opening locomotive sounds like the later E.L.P. renditions. Brian Davison uses brushes like Carl Palmer never could and there are times you wish Emerson had kept him on as his de-facto drummer. No offence to Mr.Palmer,but he squandered his years with E.L.P. by consistently showing off,composing impossible to fathom drum parts that showcased technique over substance,and in general tried his best to hide the fact that he had no Rock-And-Roll credentials. Brian Davison,by contrast,plays with fire and gut intuition; the way he follows and kicks Emerson is quite joyful.This is the Nice as they were meant to be heard,live and raw.If you are a Nice fan,you'll need this.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LONG LIVE "THE NICE", August 21, 2010

By 

JIM G. (FLORIDA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Fillmore East 1969 (Audio CD)

As their recorded legacy shows, Nice fans were always teased with portions of live shows on their various releases. Finally we get "the mother lode" for Nice (as well as Keith Emerson fans), an entire show! These shows were recorded in December of 1969. These shows were taken from their last two shows to finish out their U.S. tour. The booklet is great for it details the history of the band. By this time, it was over for them as a group. Listening to this release you wouldn't know they were on the verge of a major split. Fortunately for us fans, their manager of the time had the engineer record the shows.

The shows were of high quality performance wise. This two cd set captures it so well. The Nice were a beast live and one listen to this and you'll really appreciate how great and talented they were. The mastering is excellent. Keith Emerson was amazing here but what really impressed me was Brian Davison's drumming.

You get an inspired version of "Rondo" as well as "The Five Bridges Suite" sans the Orchestra. It's a shame they didn't last too long. Shortly after these shows they went their separate ways and ELP were soon to be unleashed onto the world at large. If you're an ELP fan, get this and see where it all started. Thank you Virgin for finding these tapes and releasing them.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Recording, January 30, 2010

By 

John Gibbs (OCALA, FLORIDA, US) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fillmore East 1969 (Audio CD)

If you like Keith Emerson you can't go wrong with this one. Well recorded, alot of energy on that stage.