Search - Rick Nelson :: Another Side of Rick/Perspective

Nelson's experimental phase

Burritoman "USA" | Pennsylvania | 12/10/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This cd contains two of Rick Nelson's late '60's albums, '67's "Another Side Of Rick" and '68's "Perspective". After his career had begun to flounder in the '60's Rick began experimenting with different styles, and here you'll find him doing contemporary folk-rock to decidedly mixed results. "Another Side" is the weaker album, with too many lame songs. He does do an excellent version of Tim Hardin's classic 'Reason To Believe', only to have it ruined by the most overdone production I can think of. 'Dream Weaver' and 'Suzanne On A Sunday Morning' work well, but his covers of 'Georgia On My Mind' and 'Daydream' are less than inspired. The best track on "Another Side" is the lovely, gentle song to his family, 'Promenadw In Green'. "Perspective", however, is great. Here Nelson finds the right songs for his voice, and the production is much more restrained. 'When The Sun's Shined It's Face On Me' is a great rock/r&b number that deserved to be a hit single. 'Without Her' is the Nilsson ballad, and Rick's is probably the finest version of it ever done. 'Three Day Eternity' is a superb Richie Havens song which Nelson interprets well. The Paul Simon number 'For Emily' is just ok, but his covers of Randy Newman material is just terrific. 'Love Story' in particular is a must-hear. Nelson's own 'Hello To The Wind' is a fascinating period piece as well. "Perspective" also boasts some well-used sound effects, which are mostly placed in his four- song Newman suite. Overall, this cd is a fine one. I would recommend it to '60's music fans as well as to Nelson fans (who actually might be the ones to dislike it as the albums are such a radical departure from the rest of his work). Rick Nelson was a sadly underrated talent, but hopefully with the reissues and the recent VH1 movie, he'll finally receive his just due."

Rick's "experimental" albums

Henry R. Kujawa | "The Forbidden Zone" (Camden, NJ) | 01/28/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Rick's 1967 & 1968 albums, actually recorded back-to-back, were an odd departure from anything he'd ever done before, and a questionable move after the success of his 2 country albums just before. The sound is definitely "1967"; I'm reminded a bit of the sound of THE BIRDS, THE BEES & THE MONKEES. Whether simply caught in the mood of the times, or perhaps inspired to do something for his kids, this material didn't go over well with his fans at all. Yet there are nice moments: "Dream Weaver", "Marshmallow Skies", "Don't Make Promises", and "Promenade In Green", on which Rick sings "Tracy, come out to play." (His daughter would have been 3-1/2 when he did this...!) Much is forgettable, and there are even serious misfires, such as "Georgia On My Mind", on which Rick's usual classy covering of a standard is ruined halfway thru by John Boylan's bizarre arrangement. It's a pity Rick didn't stop at one such album, because the 2nd one, PERSPECTIVE, is a definite nosedive. There's a few nice songs, like "I Think It's Gonna Rain Today", but most of it is a clear case of Rick just going thru the motions and doing what the producer wanted without bringing anything of himself to the material. When he returned with a live album in 1969, things would definitely be back on track."