THE NICE - Hang on to a Dream

[mckenzie818]

Keith Emerson is absolutely brilliant.

[Cascabel40]

Ars longa vita brevis...

[martynhanson]

One of the great bands. If only Keith would release the 30 min Norway footage, and other stuff he is sitting on, on a dvd then everybody would know the truth about the Nice.

[mostermeyer]

Hi Folks;

I remember seeing the Nice play this during a residency at the Marquee Club in London during the summer of 1968 - GREAT!!

Malcolm

[Meddled]

Lee Jackson wasn't always a crap singer, although a lot of the time he sounds like he had a built in ring-mod.

[JacoMauro]

Amazing Video, never seen before ! I saw the NICE reunion back to 2002 in London..Although Lee Jackson sung "Hang on to a Dream" exactly one octave lower pitch respect this original version!! But I was glad to being there ! I'm going to add this song on my ELP Tribute concert! Long Live ELP !

[Victoriangent]

I've been a fan of all things ELP for a long time now . In relation to the discussion here I have to say , Keith when in unison with fellow musicians he is superb . However , I think what dosen't fit in too well with todays expectations as a Prog rocker , is the solo " show offy " impoverishes . In the Seventies , such displays of musical competiveness was the norm . Emerson , to me was at his best when playing as a trio . Much as I love the guy .

[cholling]

Emerson is only 25 in this vid and I can't fucking believe how good he can play for such a young age. Obviously, he is a natural who practiced his ass off and found something in life that gave him purpose and direction. If only the rest of us were so lucky...

[johnnysarthouse]

Emerson..pure genius, has an edge that Wakeman doesn't seem to have..particularly in his early work with the nice and the early ELP performances. Great to find a version i've not seen before.

[violethill]

Why doesn't quality musicianship count for anything anymore in popular music culture? What are the histories of tomorrow being made today that will populate YouTube 30 years from now?

[cholling]

The music being made today WILL resonate 30 years from now, but certainly not in the form of prog rock. That was an era which is now dead, no longer to progress. That's why there are no new bands taking the place of ELP.

[violethill]

I appreciate your response. I suppose I had two questions, and I agree there is music today that will resonate in 2036 & that prog rock is dead--musical form is forever dynamic. Still the question stands, is musicianship such as Emerson's important today, or not? Thanks.

[cholling]

Will there ever be another Hendrix, Beatles, Elvis, etc? Probably not. It's just good to have had them around. If a person wants to find Emerson-level musicianship, they can always check out the classical and jazz genres. Such artists have been pushing the envelope for all time, and always will. With regards to prog rock, Yes and King Crimson (esp. the latter) were/are phenominal and more like-minded musicians are taking their place. You just need to dig a little deeper. Nighty nite...

[Kitsurai]

You must see, however, that that's where you're wrong, especially with regards to ELP. Prog rock is not what it was over thirty years ago, no, but you fail to see its importance and its influence today. Without it, guess what, there's no more Boston, no more Styx, no more Rush, etc. They wouldn't have existed.

[Kitsurai]

And now consider this, without those said bands, no more Dream Theater, no more Queensryche, no more Coheed & Cambria, all of which are very popular bands nowadays, especially with the latter, since they're more up and coming.

[Kitsurai]

Prog rock is definitely not the same thing as it was, but it's spirit lives on to this day, and millions upon millions of young people listen to what it is now. And I can say this solely because of ELP's influence. They were the ones that made the style super popular back in the early 70's, and they are the reason its still such a largely recognizable style; without them it would have faded into history, and music would be so much different right now.

[violethill]

Yes, w/out Vivaldi no Beethoven; no Beethoven, no Mozart; no Mozart no Elvis, etc... But, has "musicianship" per se such as Emerson's (or Hendrix, Squire, or Pert), come to an end in pop form--prog or otherwise? Who are the pop-virtuosi of today?

[Arlesey52]

Wonderful memories, saw them three times and still one of my favorite groups. Thanks for making this available, hopefully there's more out there.

[ignaciomoran]

Keith Emerson has some chops. Classical technique particularly. Lee Jackson on bass and Brian Davidson on drums. Great trio.

[tdm5874]

One of the greatest songs ever!! I will forever love it.

[doctorted]

Amazing...The Nice were simply incredible...

[bohemianchick69]

when I am sad, this song makes me happy!:-)

[barbiroto]

Emerson take the scene in everything

[bohemianchick69]

Yes, so very beautiful. Thanks for this video.

[MrWally417]

Simply Beautiful.

Emerson is my hero.

[RogerMurdock]

I'm quivering. Everything Emerson touched was great. His work with the Nice was honest music. He will always be a god to me. Thanks for this.

[Avebury]

Beautiful. Thanks!