Rick Sings Nelson/Rudy the Fifth

Before the Flying Burrito Brothers, Eagles, Poco, and other country rock acts became really well known, there was Rick Nelson and The Stone Canyon Band blazing the early country rock trail. It was where Rick felt most at home, despite his teen idol success in the late 50's. This two-for CD includes 1970's Rick Sings Nelson and 1971's Rudy The Fifth. Rick wrote all the songs on the first, hence the title. Not quite so prophetic, Rudy The Fifth is named after a bottle of champagne! No matter though, both have great tunes that show Rick in his best country rock persona. Listen to "California", "Down Along The Bayou Country", and "Mr. Dolphin" and you will see why. Ex-Poco and soon-to-be Eagle Randy Meisner rejoins the Stone Canyon Band for Rudy The Fifth. Rick works out on a Stone's tune "Honky Tonk Women", and visits Dylan "Just Like A Woman", "Love Minus Zero/No Limit. Give a listen to the beautiful, ethereal harmonies on "Life" and Thank You Lord". Rick and Stone Canyon in probably some of its' best L.A. country rock!

For anyone that likes songs that reveal what the artist thinks and feels. This has it all. Rick poured his heart out in this. this CD. Is a window into his soul.

Rudy The Fifth is one of my all time favourites, as good today as the day it was released. And for just 1$ more you get Rick Sings Nelson in addition. A great buy.

This is a great album from beginning to end. Two of Rick Nelson's best albums with The Stone Canyon Band on one CD.Both packed with that country/rock sound.Highlights of the album are the songs "Honkey Tonk Women","Look At Mary", and the haunting "Gypsy Pilot".Rudy The Fith/Ricky Sings Nelson are worth adding to any music collection.Also check out the Garden Party/Windfall twofer CD.

One of my fave Rick Nelson cds. Superb harmonies ! Great lyrics and the musicians are awesome. The booklet notes are very informative and you'll see that Randy Meisner who later would be a founding member of the Eagles who co-wrote "Take It To The Limit" plays bass and adds his fantastic vocals to the songs. Very impressive indeed! Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band was a Country Rock pioneering band. You'll enjoy these cds. It is a British Import and 2 cds in one so that it why it may be a little more than a single cd but it is sooooo worth it.

I'm sure fans were surprised when "Rick Sings Nelson" was released in 1970. He was known, for the most part, as an interpreter of other writer's material. "Rick Sings Nelson" is just what the title says - an entire album of songs written and sung by Rick Nelson. This was also his first studio album with the Stone Canyon Band, featuring drummer Pat Shanahan, bassist Jim Cetera, Allen Kemp on lead guitar, and Tom Brumley on steel guitar. Rick couldn't have found a better group of musicians to play these songs. The band is incredibly tight, and the arrangements just perfect for the songs. For example, listen to the way Kemp and Brumley's guitars duet on the solo section of "Anytime". Beautiful. Brumley is the best steel guitarist around, and his playing enhances Rick's songs throughout, whether slow or fast, country or rock 'n' roll. Cetera does a fine job of harmonising with Rick on the haunting "Anytime" and "How Long". Rick himself plays some appropriately bluesy piano on "The Reason Why" (possibly inspired by marital difficulties with his wife Kris). "We've Got Such a Long Way to Go" and "Mr. Dolphin" endorse the peace and love sentiments of the era (something we all could use a little more of today!), while "Down Along the Bayou Country" ventures into classic country. "California" is a bright, catchy ode to family down in the golden state. This is definately one of Rick's best albums, and the second album on this cd, "Rudy the Fifth", is just as good. "Rudy' may be Rick's peak as a writer. He looked deep inside himself for the songs in this collection. The lyrics of songs such as "Life" and "Last Time Around" are spiritual and searching. Rick seems to be looking for meaning in his life, with lyrics like "life, what are you here for". "Thank You Lord" is a simple, heartfelt rock/gospel tune, with Rick on piano. The heavy rocker "Gypsy Pilot" is autobiographical, prophetically so (the song ends with the sound of a guitar simulating the sound of a plane crash). "Sing Me a Song" is another jewel, with awesome pedal steel from Tom Brumley. Brumley's playing on this and "Last Time Around" is masterly, while on 'Honky Tonk Women" he makes his pedal steel sound like a dirty slide guitar. There's nothing this guy can't play, he's so versatile. His weeping steel on "Just Like a Woman" makes the song cry. Randy Meisner is back on bass and harmonies for this album - his bass carries the instrumental hook on the verses of "Gypsy Pilot". There's lots of fine piano on this album, too, some by Rick himself, and some by session player Andy Belling. This album didn't make the charts at all when it was released in 1971, but that's no reason to pass it by today. Rick Nelson in the early 70's was a veteran rocker at his creative peak, doing what bands like the Eagles did before they did it - and doing it just as well or better, in my opinion. Gram Parsons may be the guy the rock critics have hailed as the father of country rock, but Rick Nelson is the one who truly deserves the credit for fusing the two genres.

For those who may have missed it, Rick Nelson was a pioneer of the contemporary sound of country music. Ahead of his time as his time was running out, and under-appreciated by those who could not see or hear beyond his 'Ricky' days. His appearances at the Palomino Club in North Hollywood, CA were glimpses into what would come to represent the blurring of lines between California Rock and Nashville. These two albums, along with the later disc, 'Windfall', need to be heard and the man needs to be recognized for the chances he took and the melodies that sound as fresh as when they were recorded over 25 years ago.

After returning from the ashes of a nearly destroyed career with Rick Nelson "In Concert" in February 1970, it was time for Rick to expose his inner feelings as a songwriter. This lead to the release in the Fall of 1970 with "Rick Sings Nelson." As the title indicates all 10 songs were Nelson compositions. Rick wrote some beautiful ballads with "How Long", "Anytime" and "The Reason Why" with a energetic piano part played by Nelson. The two rockers "Sweet Mary" and "Look At Mary" really showcase the bands ability to ROCK! "California" would make the Top 20 in Australia but sadly like the album (which made #196 in Billboards Top 200) barely make a noise in the United States. Throughout the album, Tom Brumley on steel shows his skill and Allen Kemp does some wonderful background vocals, especially on his counter to Rick on "Anytime." Sadly missing is Randy Meisner who was so effective on the "In Concert" album. Tim Cetera (brother of Chicago's Peter Cetera, who was taking steel guitar lessons from Brumley) lacks the high harmony ability that is clearly Mesiner's territory.

In the Fall of 1971 (with the return of Mesiner) Rick would release his Stone Canyon Band masterpiece "Rudy The Fifth." The album was named for the champagne the band was enjoying during the album playback. "Rudy The Fifth" is a excellent combination of originals and covers. "This Train" is an excellent opener with the cymbals and steel effectivly sounding like a train coming down the tracks. Rick continues his winning feel for Bob Dylan tunes with "Just Like A Woman" a nice Country Blues version and then with "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" which would be released as a single. The old Shirley and Lee song "Feel So Good" is a terrific romp with some nice piano playing throughout and "Honky Tonk Women" has Rick playing his combination of "Grandma Nelson/Ray Charles" piano style and Brumley with a sizzling steel guitar solo.
There are eight Nelson compositions on this album. Two are Victorian guitar solo's by Rick about his wife Kristin. He writes some beautiful songs including "Life" (Adult Contempory Top 20), "Sing Me A Song" and "The Last Time Around" (about reincarnation) that features a wonderful fade out by Brumley. Ending the album with the Rockin "Gypsy Pilot" which describes Rick' love of Rock & Roll, this energetic rocker with Meisner's strong bass, Kemp's lead guitar and stunning crash ending by Brumley eerily forcast the way Rick's life would end.

This is a "two for one" cd that you can't afford to miss with some of the best of what is called 70's LA Country Rock. Lose out at at your own peril!

Before the Flying Burrito Brothers, Eagles, Poco and other country rock acts became well known, there was Rick Nelson and The Stone Canyon Band blazing the early country rock trail. It was where Rick felt most at home, despite his teen idol success in the late 50's. This two-for CD includes 1970's Rick Sings Nelson and 1971's Rudy The Fifth. Rick wrote all the songs on Rick Sings Nelson, hence the title. Not quite so prophetic, Rudy The Fifth is named after a bottle of champagne! No matter though, both have great tunes that show Rick in his best country rock persona. Listen to "California", "Down Along The Bayou Country" and "Mr. Dolphin" and you will see why. Ex-Poco and soon-to-be Eagle Randy Meisner rejoins the Stone Canyon Band for Rudy The Fifth, and Tom Brumley proves his excellent steel guitar prowess on both! Rick works out on a Stones' tune "Honky Tonk Women", and also visits Dylan "Just Like A Woman", "Love Minus Zero/No Limit". Rick meets Rudy and then some as the Stone Canyon Band moves from Stone Canyon down to Sunset Blvd. and out to the rest of the country! Get this one, folks!

"Rick Sings Nelson" by itself is a good body of work. These songs are especially appreciated in that they are Rick Nelson compositions. In my opinion it was a mistake to combine this album with "Rudy the Fifth". "Rudy" has some good songs like "This Train", and "Life" as well as the Dylan covers of "Just like a Woman" and "Love Minus Zero/No Limit". Dylan, a talented artist, is a great song writer, but should not be mistaken for a singer. With Rick's singing the Dylan songs are great. Other than the songs previously mentioned the rest of the album is not what you would expect from a Rick Nelson album. The worst are "Honky Tonk Woman" with trashy lyrics and "Gypsy Pilot", strangely prophetical, but with a noisy heavy metal sound. "Thank You Lord" starts out being a beautiful prayerlike ballad, but turns raucous in the middle, and ends with Rick sounding like a screach owl (terrible). The duplicated "Song for Kristin" which is one minute and seventeen minutes long, has no lyrics and sounds like a classical piece (nice music, just doesn't fit).