The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack


The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack is the 1968 debut album by the English psychedelic rock and progressive rock group the Nice. It is considered one of the first albums in the latter genre.
The name Emerlist Davjack is a pseudonym created by combining the last names of the four members of the group; Keith Emerson, David O'List, Brian Davison, and Lee Jackson.
The album was promoted by a sampler featuring a commentary by John Peel, which included the following comments:

1967 was a strange year for pop music with groups experimenting with new sounds and bouncing on and off bandwagons with dizzying speed and agility. They were calling themselves ridiculous names and regretting it shortly. The Nice came together in a void and will be here when the others are in pantomime in Wolverhampton.

The cover, photographed by Gered Mankowitz, shows members of the band shirtless, wrapped in cellophane.

Background

The original disc credits all compositions to "Emerlist Davjack"; later releases gave more specific credits.
At the 1967 Windsor Jazz & Blues Festival, lead singer Jackson said the song "Flower King of Flies" was about Beatle Paul McCartney. "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" was used as incidental music for the 1968 children's television drama "The Tyrant King", directed by Mike Hodges and written by Trevor Preston for Thames Television, from the London Transport book by Aylmer Hall. The 6-part series also featured music by the Rolling Stones, the Moody Blues and Pink Floyd.
"Rondo" includes a short excerpt from Johann Sebastian Bach's Toccata & Fugue in D Minor, as well as an extended quote and re-harmonization of the Dave Brubeck Quartet's "Blue Rondo à la Turk". "The Cry of Eugene", which was later re-recorded by Jackson's group Jackson Heights, refers to "Harlequin & Columbine".

Legacy

The album was named as one of 'Classic Rock'' magazines "50 Albums That Built Prog Rock".

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Flower King of Flies" – 3:19
  2. "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" – 2:49
  3. "Bonnie K" – 3:24
  4. "Rondo" – 8:22

    Side two

  6. "War and Peace" – 5:13
  7. "Tantalising Maggie" – 4:35
  8. "Dawn" – 5:17
  9. "The Cry of Eugene" – 4:36

    Bonus tracks on 1999 Repertoire">Repertoire Records">Repertoire reissue

  11. "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" – 2:48
  12. "Azrial " – 3:44
  13. "America" – 6:18
  14. "The Diamond Hard Blue Apples of the Moon" – 2:47
  15. "America" – 3:55

    Bonus tracks on 2003 [Castle Music] Deluxe Edition

  17. "Promo 7″ Sampler For Album" – 5:15
  18. "Azrial " – 3:43
  19. "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" – 2:47
  20. "The Diamond Hard Blue Apples Of The Moon" – 2:46
  21. "America/Second Amendment" – 6:19

    CD 2

  22. "Flower King Of Flies" – 3:35
  23. "Bonnie K" – 3:19
  24. "Dawn" – 5:04
  25. "Tantalising Maggie" – 4:22
  26. "The Cry of Eugene" – 4:30
  27. "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" – 4:12
  28. "Daddy, Where Did I Come From?" – 2:46
  29. "America Second Amendment" – 6:14
  30. "Sombrero Sam" – 3:32
  31. "Get to You" – 3:40
  32. "The Diamond Hard Blue Apples of the Moon" – 2:55
  33. "Brandenburger" – 3:49
  34. "Little Arabella " – 3:39

    Bonus tracks on 2004 [Fuel 2000] reissue

  36. "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" – 4:12
  37. "Flower King of Flies" – 3:36
  38. "Azrael " – 3:43
  39. "America" – 6:06
  40. "America/Second Amendment" – 6:23
  41. "Diamond-Hard Blue Apples of the Moon" – 2:45
  42. "Daddy, Where Did I Come From?" – 2:46
Note: tracks #12 & 13 are reversed from label order, with track #12 running 6:18 and track # 13 running 6:06

Personnel

;The Nice
with:
;Technical