Ricky Nelson

[Jim Colyer]

Ricky Nelson is one of the most underrated of the rock era. He made great records: Travellin' Man, Hello Mary Lou, It's Late, Just A Little Too Much, Young World, Teenage Idol. He appealed to the girls. After Elvis, they went for Ricky. I would watch Ozzie & Harriet every Saturday night for one reason, to watch Ricky Nelson sing his latest hit at the end of the show. Guitar legend James Burton played lead over his shoulder. Burton went on to play for Elvis in the 70s. One reason for Ricky Nelson not getting his due is that his father controlled everything. Ozzie would not let Ricky appear with Dick Clark. Clark was such a force in those days that only Elvis could ignore him. I sang It's Late last night karaoke. Ricky Nelson was cool.

Edited May 1, 2005 by Jim Colyer

[Kooperman]

Check out the Rick Nelson posts by me and kiwi in this thread:

http://www.beatking.com/forums/index.php?s...10060&hl=nelson

[Jim Colyer]

I read your posts. So true. Ricky Nelson was one of the greats!

[moodyblue]

I like the song Garden Party by Ricky Nelson.

[LadyLuck]

I like the song Garden Party by Ricky Nelson.

I agree. Ricky Nelson is very underrated. Its a shame really. "Hello Mary Lou" is on of my favorite songs of all time. He will not be forgotten by me :D

[Redneck4sure]

I like quite a few of his songs. I picked up a low bit rate (128cbr) copy of a 6cd set of his music entitled "The American Dream: The Complete Imperial and Verve 1957-1962" a while back. It's a great set. I wish I had a better copy.

Copied from AMG:

Review by Thom Jurek

This is one of the more difficult Bear Family sets to take on simply because it is such an intimidating package. Never mind that Nelson is an American myth, having eked his way into that terrain by dying in a plane crash while still in his forties, and despite being managed by Colonel Tom Parker, he still looked fantastic despite the unsubstantiated rumors of drugs, alcoholism, and twisted sex that poured forth from the tabloids after his passing.

But that Ricky (or Rick as he was known then) Nelson doesn't even appear inside this box set. The material documented here begins near the end of the rockabilly era in 1957 and ends before the Beatles came stateside. The 180 tracks contained on this set represent five years in the recording life of Ricky Nelson, who before he even began his recording career was a television star with his real-life family, the Nelsons, parented by Ozzie and Harriet. In fact, Ricky Nelson starred in a number of motion pictures during the era when these recordings were made — most notably Rio Bravo with John Wayne and Dean Martin and The Wackiest Ship in the Army — and remained on the TV program until 1966, four years after these sessions leave off in 1962. Ricky Nelson was indeed America's most popular and respectable teen idol.

For starters there's the hardbound book that's 180 pages long with rare photographs galore, including some risqué shots of a "party" at Nelson's house; some shots with Eddie Cochrane's widow, Sharon Sheeley; shots from the TV show; wedding day photos; record covers from seven different countries; all of the original singles and LP sleeves; press clippings; and magazine and fan club shots, as well as stills from the movies and even a full four-color reproduction of the Ricky Nelson comic book. A large chunk of the book is dedicated to an exhaustive essay by Todd Everett that fills in not only biographical details, but cultural ones as well, and quotes many of the major figures in Nelson's life at the time at length, including, but not exclusively, Gene Pitney, Johnny Rivers, Johnny Cash, and Larry and most notably Lorrie Collins of the Collins Kids, whom Nelson was romantically linked to early in his career. In addition to Everett's essay there are copious production notes on remasters and mono and stereo mixes as well as how most of the recordings were constructed in the studio. This adds up to an insanely beautiful package and we've yet to comment on the music. ... Read More...

Tracks

Title

Composer

Time

1 I'm Walkin' [Mono Version] Bartholomew, Domino 1:58

2 You're My One and Only Love [Mono Version] Kessel, Marshall 2:04

3 A Teenager's Romance [Mono Version] Gillam 2:18

4 Be-Bop Baby [version] Lendhurst 2:14

5 Have I Told You Lately That I Love You [Mono Version] Wiseman 1:59

6 If You Can't Rock Me Jacobs 1:58

7 Your True Love [Mono Version] Perkins 1:59

8 Honeycomb [Mono Version] Merrill 2:55

9 Boppin' the Blues [Mono Version] Perkins 1:56

10 Baby I'm Sorry [Mono Version] Scott 2:21

11 I'm Confessin' [Mono Version] Daugherty, Neiburg, Reynolds 2:16

12 Be-Bop Baby [LP Version] Lendhurst 2:00

13 Have I Told You Lately That I Love You [LP Version] Wiseman 1:58

14 Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On [Mono Version] David, Williams 2:11

15 True Love [Mono Version] Porter 2:15

16 Am I Blue? [Mono Version] Akst, Clarke 1:38

17 Teenage Doll [Mono Version] Lendhurst, Lendhurst 1:40

18 If You Can't Rock Me [version] Jacobs 1:54

19 Stood Up [Mono Version] Dickerson, Sheeley 1:53

20 Waitin' in School [Mono Version] Burnette, Burnette 2:02

21 My Bucket's Got a Hole in It [Mono Version] Williams 2:02

22 Believe What You Say [version] Burnette, Burnette 2:06

23 Shirley Lee [Mono Version] Trammell 2:00

24 I'm Feelin' Sorry [Mono Version] Clement 2:19

25 There's Good Rockin' Tonight [Mono Version] Brown 1:49

26 Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You) [Mono Version] Hodges 2:51

27 Down the Line [Mono Version] Orbison, Phillips 2:34

28 Unchained Melody [Mono Version] North, Zaret 2:18

29 Poor Little Fool [Mono Version] Sheeley 2:32

30 My Babe [Mono Version] Dixon 2:34

31 I'm in Love Again [Mono Version] Bartholomew, Domino 2:19

32 There Goes My Baby [Mono Version] Burton, Kirkland 2:15

33 Believe What You Say [version] Burnette, Burnette 2:05

34 Don't Leave Me This Way [Mono Version] Nelson 2:29

35 Lonesome Town [stereo] Baker-Knight 2:15

36 I Got a Feeling [stereo] Baker-Knight 2:05

37 I'll Walk Alone [Mono Version] Cahn, Styne 2:38

38 Restless Kid [stereo] Cash 2:18

39 It's All in the Game [Mono Version] Dawes, Sigman 1:58

40 Lonesome Town [Mono Version] Baker-Knight 2:12

41 Cindy [stereo] Traditional 2:00

42 It's Late [Mono Master] Burnette 1:57

43 One of These Mornings [stereo] Burnette 1:55

44 Old Enough to Love [Mono Version] Jones, Jones, Kilgore 2:17

45 Trying to Get to You [stereo] McCoy, Singleton 2:14

46 Gloomy Sunday [stereo] Javor, Lewis, Seress 2:06

47 Be True to Me [stereo] Kirkland, Stuckey 2:24

48 Never Be Anyone Else But You [stereo] Baker-Knight 2:15

49 Just a Little Too Much [stereo] Burnette 1:57

50 Sweeter Than You [stereo] Baker-Knight 2:52

51 I've Been Thinkin' [version] Burnette 1:49

52 It's Late [stereo Mix] Burnette 1:46

53 I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love With You) [stereo] Williams 2:18

54 You Tear Me Up [Mono Version] Baker-Knight 2:20

55 Just a Little Too Much [stereo] Burnette 2:13

56 Sweeter Than You [stereo] Baker-Knight 2:21

57 I've Been Thinkin' [stereo] Burnette 2:03

58 One Minute to One [stereo] Baker-Knight 2:05

59 So Long [stereo] Nelson 1:59

60 Blood from a Stone [stereo] Bachelor, Stevens 2:16

61 You'll Never Know What You're Missin' [stereo] Baker-Knight 2:31

62 You're So Fine [stereo] Burnette 2:19

63 That's All [stereo] Brandt, Haymes 2:03

64 A Long Vacation [stereo] Burnette 2:12

65 Hey Pretty Baby [stereo] Burnette 2:20

66 Half Breed [stereo] Loudermilk 2:03

67 Don't Leave Me [stereo] Burnette 2:17

68 Make Believe [stereo] Marie 1:56

69 Mighty Good [stereo] Baker-Knight 2:17

70 I Wanna Be Loved [stereo] Baker-Knight 2:44

71 Again [stereo] Cochran, Newman 1:52

72 I'd Climb the Highest Mountain [stereo] Brown, Clare 2:09

73 Young Emotions [Mono Version] David, Livingston 2:35

74 Make Believe [stereo] Marie 2:10

75 Glory Train [Mono Version] Baker-Knight 2:39

76 If You Believe It [Mono Version] Nelson 2:18

77 March With the Band of the Lord [Mono Version] Johnson 2:41

78 I Bowed My Head in Shame [Mono Version] Baker-Knight 2:34

79 Right by My Side [Mono Version] Baker-Knight 2:42

80 Here I Go Again [stereo] Covay 2:14

81 Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans? [stereo] Alter, DeLange 2:32

82 When Your Lover Has Gone [stereo] Swan 2:24

83 Baby Won't You Please Come Home [stereo] Warfield, Williams 2:11

84 Time After Time [stereo] Cahn, Styne 2:12

85 I'm Not Afraid [stereo] Bryant 2:38

86 Yes Sir, That's My Baby [Mono Version] Donaldson, Kahn 2:04

87 You Are My Sunshine [stereo] Davis, Mitchell 2:32

88 Ain't Nothin' But Love [stereo] Baker-Knight 2:22

89 Proving My Love [stereo] Baker-Knight 2:05

90 I'm All Through With You [stereo] Baker-Knight 2:45

91 You Are the Only One [stereo] Baker-Knight 2:41

92 Milk Cow Blues [Mono Version] Arnold 2:13

93 Hello Mary Lou [version] Pitney 2:17

94 Everybody But Me [stereo] Burgess 2:14

95 Break My Chain [stereo] Fuller 1:56

96 Travelin' Man [stereo] Fuller 2:23

97 Oh Yeah, I'm in Love [stereo] Carrol, Payne 2:07

98 Sure Fire Bet [stereo] Pitney 2:11

99 Stars Fell on Alabama [stereo] Parish, Perkins 2:36

100 Lucky Star [stereo] Burgess 2:17

101 My One Desire [stereo] Burnette 2:17

102 I'll Make Believe [stereo] Rivers 2:22

103 Hello Mary Lou [version] Pitney 2:19

104 That Warm Summer Night [stereo] Fuller 2:17

105 Everlovin' [Mono Version] Burgess 2:06

106 A Wonder Like You [Mono Version] Fuller 2:36

107 Thank You Darling [stereo] DeShannon, Sheeley 1:39

108 History of Love [stereo] Burgess, Fuller 2:05

109 Today's Teardrops [stereo] Pitney, Schroeder 2:16

110 Baby You Don't Know [stereo] Burgess, Fuller 2:02

111 There's Not a Minute [stereo] Ballard, Tobias 2:23

112 Mad Mad World [stereo] Burnette, Osborne 2:02

113 Sweet Little Lovable You [stereo] Burgess, Fuller 2:33

114 Stop Sneakin' Around [stereo] Baker-Knight 2:33

115 Excuse Me Baby [stereo] Burnette 2:39

116 I Can't Stop Loving You [stereo] Gibson 2:42

117 Summertime [stereo] Gershwin, Gershwin, Heyward 2:16

118 Congratulations [stereo] Fuller 2:16

119 Poor Loser [stereo] Fuller 2:22

120 Young World [Mono Version] Fuller 2:27

121 I've Got My Eyes on You (And I Like What I See) [version] Burgess 2:05

122 Teenage Idol [Mono Version] Lewis 2:30

123 It's up to You [stereo] Fuller 2:52

124 I Need You [Double Vocal] Baker-Knight 2:26

125 Brand New Girl [stereo] Traditional 3:26

126 Brand New Girl [stereo] Traditional 2:07

127 Scratchin' [version] Burgess, Fuller 2:31

128 Tears [version] Burgess 2:20

129 Doggone It [version] Burgess 2:09

Composed by: Burgess

Performed by: Nelson, Trophies

130 Desire [version] Dobro, Fuller 2:28

Composed by: Dobro, Fuller

Performed by: Nelson, Trophies

131 Cindy [version] Traditional 1:18

Composed by: Traditional

Performed by: Nelson, Walter Brennan, Trophies

132 My Rifle, My Pony and Me [Mono Version] Tiomkin, Webster 2:12

Composed by: Tiomkin, Webster

Performed by: Nelson, Dean Martin

133 Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans? [Mono Version] Alter, DeLange 1:43

134 I'm Walkin' [Mono Version] Bartholomew, Domino 1:38

135 You Are the Only One [Mono Version] Baker-Knight 2:31

136 Stood Up [Mono Version] Dickerson, Sheeley 1:27

137 Trying to Get to You [Mono Version] McCoy, Singleton 1:38

138 Just Because [Mono Version] Shelton 1:41

Composed by: Shelton

Performed by: Nelson, Lorrie Collins

139 Baby I'm Sorry [Mono Version] Scott 1:48

140 Waitin' in School [Mono Version] Burnette, Burnette 1:32

141 You Are the Only One [Mono Version] Baker-Knight 2:36

Composed by: Baker-Knight

Performed by: Nelson, Lorrie Collins

142 Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On [Mono Version] David, Williams 1:51

143 Never Be Anyone Else But You [Mono Version] Baker-Knight 1:52

144 Cindy [version] Traditional 1:55

145 Sevillanas [Mono Version] 1:28

Composed by:

Performed by: Nelson, Vicente Gomez,

146 Again [Mono Version] Cochran, Newman 1:53

147 Rick Flat-Picking [Mono Version] Nelson :16

148 Have I Told You Lately That I Love You [Mono Version] Wiseman 2:12

149 The Christmas Song [Mono Version] Torme, Wells 2:26

150 Jingle Bells [Mono Version] Pierpont 1:44

151 Radio Ad-Album Plug [Mono Version] 1:40

152 You're My One and Only Love [take] Kessel, Marshall 3:39

153 I'm Walkin' Bartholomew, Domino 2:50

154 A Teenager's Romance Gillam 2:42

155 If You Can't Rock Me [take/version] Jacobs 2:37

156 Poor Little Fool Sheeley 2:42

157 Restless Kid [version] Cash 2:15

158 Believe What You Say Burnette, Burnette 2:13

159 Don't Leave Me This Way [take] Nelson 2:33

160 Lonesome Town [stereo] Baker-Knight 2:23

161 If You Can't Rock Me [take/version] Jacobs 2:24

162 It's All in the Game [alternate take] Dawes, Sigman 2:02

163 One of These Mornings [version] Burnette 3:36

164 Be True to Me Kirkland, Stuckey :28

165 Be True to Me [version] Kirkland, Stuckey 1:24

166 It's Late [version] Burnette 2:06

167 It's Late [version] Burnette 1:56

168 Trying to Get to You [take] McCoy, Singleton 2:15

169 Cindy [alternate take] Traditional :50

170 Cindy [Master] Traditional 1:55

171 Just a Little Too Much (Track) [version] Burnette 2:10

172 Never Be Anyone Else But You [version] Baker-Knight 2:19

173 Young Emotions [stereo] David, Livingston 2:39

174 I've Been Thinkin' (Track) [Mono Version] Burnette 1:52

175 Never Be Anyone Else But You [version] Baker-Knight 2:18

176 Doggone It [version] Burgess 2:09

Composed by: Burgess

Performed by: Nelson, Trophies

177 Tears [stereo] Burgess 2:37

Composed by: Burgess

Performed by: Nelson, Fleas

178 Scratchin' [stereo] Burgess, Fuller 2:34

Composed by: Burgess, Fuller

Performed by: Nelson, Fleas

179 I've Got My Eyes on You (And I Like What I See) [version] Burgess 1:33

180 I Need You [single Vocal] Baker-Knight 2:27

[sideshow bob]

Blimey! So many songs!

I only know Hello Mary Lou and It's late.

[Redneck4sure]

Blimey! So many songs!

I only know Hello Mary Lou and It's late.

You would recognize a lot more if you heard them. :)

[boxcar]

You would recognize a lot more if you heard them. :)

I would say the same thing. Actually, the first 4 songs were on Verve, a jazz label. The owner was friends with Rick's father, Ozzie... there was no contract.

When the owner of Imperial heard this, he signed Rick up, and the rest is history....

If it wasn't for Rick, many of the younger and older singers of Rockabilly wouldn't be around today. They wrote for him. Johnny and Dorsey Burnette were working at the same Electric company as Elvis when they decided to go to California and write music.... Gene Pitney wrote many for him, as well....

His guitarist, James Burton, was one of the best in the world.... he later went to work for Elvis in the live shows.........

The last few records on the set are various takes and mono and stereo cuts......... the last few are Doo-wop songs done by artists who don't even sound like Rick, nor are they doing his style. Someone should find out more about these......... I'd certainly be interested..........

Maybe use it in my next book............

http://www.boxcarbook.com/

[Jim Colyer]

James Burton is a guitar god. Few people outside the business even know who he is.

[Jim Colyer]

Thanks for that Ricky Nelson discography.