Rick Nelson

Shortly after his teen idol status began to dissolve, Ricky Nelson took the "y" off his first name and started playing L.A. twang rock with the Stone Canyon Band (an outfit consisting of guys who had played with Poco, Buck Owens and Roger McGuinn). This comeback album eventually came to symbolize one of country rock's benchmark sounds.

On the front cover, which is stunning, there are several things of note. Rick photographs
better here than he ever has in 32 1/2 unnaturally handsome years, resplendent in a jacket
of rock & roll (embroidered) velvet. He's gripping his Les Paul Gibson with both hands, and
with the same tenacity that's kept him going through the dubious success of his recent
career. Right above his elegantly coifed head, in thin but emphatic lettering, is t... More >

This is the music "no one heard" at the Garden party because Rick "didn't look the same." Despite such titles as "Are You Really Real?" and "A Flower Opens Gently By" he has some reason to pout if music rather than songs is the operative concept--the band is concentrated, jagged. Best music: Chuck Berry's "I'm Talking About You." Second-best song: Rick's own "So Long Mama." (Grade - B-)