Ricky Nelson - Ricky Nelson - Greatest Hits
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Free Music Notes for Ricky Nelson - Greatest Hits
Free Music Review: The Original & Most Enduring Teen Idol
Hit: 5 Stars
From 1957 to 1962, RICKY NELSON charted thirty Top 40 hits, more than any other artist at the time except Elvis Presley. Thirty Top 40 chart hits in a six year run is very impressive, considering that some recording artists racked up a possible two dozen hits over a couple decades' time span[if not more] during the Rock Era.[These thirty Top 40 hits do not include the dozens of other "45's" Nelson charted on the lower 60 chart positions throughout the remainder of his almost thirty year career, which was cut short by his untimely death in a plane crash while on one of his music tours in 1985.] Many of Ricky's early records[vinyl 45's] where double hits with both the "A" side and the "B" side placing/peaking a position on the Billboard and Cashbox Magazine Hot 100 Singles charts, plus receiving massive radio station airplay during each single's[recording] respective heyday.
While Nelson preferred uptempo rockers like "Hello Mary Lou", "It's Late", "Stood Up" and "Be-Bop Baby", his smooth, calm voice made him a natural to sing ballads. He had major success with "Travelin' Man", "Poor Little Fool", "Young World", "Lonesome Town", "Never Be Anyone Else", and "Teenage Idol", which clearly could have been about Ricky himself at the time. 1964's "For You" would be his last Top 40 hit until 1970 when he recorded Bob Dylan's "She Belongs To Me" with the Stone Canyon Band. In 1972, he would chart into the Top 40 one final time with his enduring Top 10 hit, "Garden Party".
25 GREATEST HITS compiles Ricky Nelson's impressive initial chart hits[1957-62] in their original alluring versions for his multi-generation fan base to enjoy in remastered sound. Nelson is also credited with being the original and very first Teen Idol, a title he occasionally shunned, and preferred to be recognised as a musician, which he ultimately was. Despite the promotional aspects of his career, it is clear that Nelson knew and loved music and was a credible performer before he became a Teen Idol, largely due to his parents' musical background. Both Ozzie and Harriet Nelson were Big Band musicians/singers during the early years of their careers throughout the 1930's and 1940's - he was the younger son of Ozzie Nelson, the leader of a big band, and Harriet Hilliard Nelson, the band's singer.
Along with brother David Nelson, the family starred in the long-running radio and television series "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" from 1944 to 1966; with Ricky's singing[career] often featured in the show's weekly themes and gaining him national exposure to his unique musical attributes. His record sales skyrocketed into the millions, and is credited with selling close to 70 million of his own recordings. I can recall seeing him on his parent's TV show reruns when I was a child, and proudly became his fan at age 7. At times, I wonder what it would have been like to be a teenager in the late 1950's and have experienced Ricky Nelson's, Buddy Holly's, etc. music eras, but, I can't complain about my teen years in the 70's, either. Many of the songs on "25 GREATEST HITS" have become staples of modern day Oldies/Classic Pop-Rock oriented radio stations. With his youthful image[he never seemed to age during his lifetime] and intriguing music being reissued in various phases through the passing of time, RICKY NELSON remains the most enduring, interesting and gifted of all the Teen Idols, the ultimate musician among them all, and he will never be forgotten.
Free Music Review: The best single-disc version of Nelson's music
Hit: 5 Stars
I have owned three Ricky Nelson anthologies over the years: the EMI America LEGENDARY MASTERS edition by in the days of the LP, this greatest hits edition, and most recently the Bear box set, AMERICAN DREAM. I really love my new Bear set (actually used, since the set is now out of print), but I'm frankly not sure that the extreme cost of the box set (even at the reasonably affordable price I got it for) makes it a better option than the Capital GREATEST HITS album. The LEGENDARY MASTERS album is still available in download-only format, but this disc supercedes that one by not only containing all the major hits found on that one, but by including several additional singles.
Ricky Nelson is the one performer from the period framed roughly by the death of Buddy Holly and the British Invasion who is most unjustly neglected. He didn't rock as hard as Elvis or Carl Perkins, but neither was he as bland as Pat Boone. He had a genuine respect for the music, obtained some great material from some very good song writers, had a decent if not a great voice, and had the great sense to hire the greatest rockabilly guitarist that there was, the legendary James Burton (so superb that Elvis himself made him the cornerstone of his band). Without Burton, Nelson's music would have been pleasant and worth hearing, but Burton's scintillating solos make a knowledge of at least the best of Burton's music essential for any student of rock. Fifty years after these songs were recorded, Burton's guitar playing sounds as extraordinary as ever. Honestly, without Burton I'm not sure how much of a fan of these songs I would be, but luckily that is not an issue. These are great songs and ought to be listened to by anyone who loves music.
On a side note, I was actually listening to Ricky Nelson at the moment of his death. I was in 1985 while attending grad school working as a graveyard shift desk clerk at the faculty club at the University of Chicago (twenty years earlier blues-rock legend Paul Butterfield had the same position -- I always liked to think that Butterfield's buddy and fellow band member Michael Bloomfield might have stopped by to say hello and keep him company). None of the other clerks wanted to work on New Year's Eve so I agreed to work four straight shifts. Because the building was empty I brought along my portable tape player. For a couple of hours -- from around 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm -- I listened to a recording I made on tape from my LP of Nelson's LEGENDARY MASTERS. The next morning when the papers were delivered I opened them to read with some alarm that Nelson had died the previous evening at around (I think I'm remembering the time correctly) 5:45 pm. I realized I had been listening to him at the time.
Free Music Review: Remarkable disc featuring 25 of the biggest and best from this Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.
Hit: 5 Stars
In the liner notes to "Ricky Nelson: Greatest Hits" the legendary John Fogarty mused "I've always considered Rick Nelson equal to the Sun Records artists...Maybe he came from Hollywood but the sound was strictly Memphis." Years later, inducting Nelson posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Fogarty said "He made some of the greatest rockabilly records of all time." He then addressed Sam Phillips: "Sam, he gave you a run for your money." The legendary Sun founder/producer simply nodded in agreement. Now all these years later I had never really thought of Ricky Nelson as a rockabilly artist. To me he was simply a purveyor of some of the most enjoyable pop tunes of the 1950's and 60's. But the more I think about it John Fogarty was absolutely right. Just one listen to "Ricky Nelson: Greatest Hits" sure convinced me. Despite the fact that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame saw fit to honor Ricky Nelson by inducting him in just their second year of operation Ricky Nelson remains a vastly underrated figure in the history of rock and roll.
It is easy to forget just how prolific Ricky Nelson was in the period from 1957 to 1964. During these years Nelson amassed an impressive total of 50 charted hits on the Billboard Hot 100. 18 of the tunes made the Top Ten and 2 of these reached the top of the charts. "Ricky Nelson: Greatest Hits" features 25 of Ricky's biggest and best. Rediscover classic hits like "Hello Mary Lou" and the #1 hit "Poor Little Fool" from 1958. Sing along with unforgettable hits like "Teen Age Idol", "Young World", "Lonesome Town" "Travelin' Man" and my personal favorite "Fools Rush In". I have always felt that Rick's recording was the definitive version of this venerable standard. It really is a shame but you just don't hear this music on the radio anymore. If you are like me you will enjoy virtually every song on this disc and long to hear more. As young as he was at the time Ricky Nelson knew exactly the sound he was after and played a big part in producing practically all of these records. Incredible!
As I alluded to earlier "Ricky Nelson: Greatest Hits" includes a thoughtful and informative 12 page booklet. And the sound quality is absolutely sensational. I must admit that I was a bit disappointed that this collection failed to include Ricky's 1963 Top Ten hit "For You" or his 1969 comeback hit "She Belongs To Me" which signalled a whole new direction for Rick. Sadly, we lost Ricky Nelson to a plane crash on the last day of 1985. I believe there was still lots of great music in him.
Whether you are a devoted fan or a younger listener exploring the history of early rock and roll "Ricky Nelson: Greatest Hits" would certainly be a great choice. Very highly recommended!!!!
Free Music Review: Satisfying, But Omissions Keep It From Being Definitive
Hit: 5 Stars
Rick(y) Nelson was one of the most successful artists of the rock 'n' roll era. Just two years after his debut single (a cover of Fats Domino's "I'm Walkin'") Nelson had charted fifteen hits--and seven of them sold more than a million copies! Only Elvis sold more records.
Granted, it didn't hurt that Nelson had a national television audience with "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." But it obviously took more than movie idol good looks to sustain a music career that would last nearly three decades.
Many of Nelson's biggest Imperial hits featured future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist James Burton (who would become Elvis' guitarist in the Seventies). To further the Elvis connection, Nelson also frequently utilized the The Jordanaires, including on a cover of Elvis' "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You," which reached No. 29 in 1957 (but not included here). Nelson also benefited from the songwriting talents of Baker Knight ("Lonesome Town," "I Got a Feeling") and rockabilly stalwarts Johnny and Dorsey Burnette ("Believe What You Say," "Waitin' in School," "It's Late").
Even though Nelson was still a month shy of his seventeenth birthday when he debuted "I'm Walkin'" on the April 10, 1957 episode, his success was no fluke. He went on to create a body of work that included some of the earliest country/rock recordings. (Although "Garden Party" Is the only song from this era of his career; all other tracks are from 1957-1963.) Eventually Nelson would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987) and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame (2003).
This latest collection is obviously intended as a memorial in that Dec. 31 will mark the twentieth anniversary of his untimely death at the age of 45. As such it does a good job of bringing together twenty-five of his thirty-six Top 40 hits. [Notable omissions are his 1964 Top Ten hit "For You" and the Bob Dylan cover "She Belongs to Me," which was a minor hit in 1970.] With a playing time of just under sixty minutes, these omissions keep this set from being definitive, but nonetheless a satisfying single-disc anthology. Those wanting more are encouraged to pick up 2000's 4-disc Legacy box set. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Free Music Review: Best of the "Best Of's"
Hit: 5 Stars
I am a heavy metal fan, have no love for "teen idol" singers, and didn't grow up listening to Ricky Nelson, though I'm sure I caught a few Ozzie & Harriet episodes in syndication. I'm probably the last guy who should be raving about a Ricky Nelson Greatest Hits album, but I'm doing it just the same. I've developed an appreciation for 50's rock and rockabilly, and despite Nelson's "teen idol" status, he was a big part of that era's rock scene. Beyond having one of the absolute warmest and steadiest voices in rock, you have to admire the way Nelson took the wilder rock sounds of the era and brought them to mainstream America's living rooms. Admittedly his material was a lot "safer" than that of Gene Vincent or Buddy Holly, but I'd argue that a rockin' song like "Hello Mary Lou" comes pretty close.
There is no shortage of Ricky Nelson "Greatest Hits" packages out there (at least two dozen available on Amazon), but Capitol's 2005 compilation jumps straight to the head of the pack. In terms of sound quality, song selection, and price, you just can't beat this one. You get a whopping 25 songs, including hits like Travellin' Man, I'm Walkin, It's Late, and many more. There are so many great singles, I almost feel like I should list them all.
If you're a Ricky Nelson fan and have one of the earlier "hits" compilations, you may want to consider upgrading to this version. The difference in sound quality is very noticeable. If you're not a Nelson fan, but enjoy early rock & roll, I encourage you to give this disc a try. You might be surprised.
NOTE: There is a deluxe (translation: more expensive) version of this album that comes with a DVD featuring Ricky's musical performances on the Ozzie & Harriet Show. It's well worth the higher price tag.