THE THOUGHTS OF EMERLIST DAVJACK

Like many an ELP fan, I started listening to the Nice long after they had broken up. Because the record shops weren't exactly overflowing with Nice albums, I became acquainted with their work in reverse order- that is, the KEITH EMERSON AND THE NICE stuff first and "Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" last. I've come to regard "Thoughts" their best album - not uncoincidentally, the first and last time that Emerson had a full-time guitarist in his band. Too bad: the presence of O'List and his considerable chops actually did Emo a lot of good. The songs on "Thoughts" stand up well, also, with the possible exception of the Lee Jackson snarlfest "Dawn." All in all, a must have for ELP fans and very enjoyable in its own right.