Search - Rick Nelson :: Garden Party

Rick's best-selling 70's album

Henry R. Kujawa | "The Forbidden Zone" (Camden, NJ) | 06/28/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The Stone Canyon Band, with a somewhat changing line-up, did a lot of tremendous music in the early 70's. Most of it went unheard, with the exception of the song "Garden Party", which became Rick Nelson's best-selling record of all time! I never heard it on the radio-- I heard it on TV-- in the "The New Mexican Connection" episode of McCLOUD that Rick guest-starred in! But it didn't stick in my head-- too mellow. When I finally heard this album, I wasn't surprised I liked MOST of the songs MORE than the title track. Highlights: "Let It Bring You Along" (starts out quiet, then turns powerfully dramatic); "So Long Mama" (bouncy), "I'm Talking About You" (a powerful cover of the Chuck Berry classic), "A Flower Opens Gently By" (bluesy), "Palace Guard" (melodic & almost hypnotic). That said, this is STILL my least-favorite of Rick's 6 Stone Canyon Band albums-- but that still puts it way ahead of a lot of bands from the period. GARDEN PARTY is also available as a import "twofer" with the follow-up, WINDFALL, which to me is a much better deal!"

A truly innovative country rock album of the early 70's.

Henry R. Kujawa | 11/15/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rick Nelson was one of the pioneers in the formation of early rock and roll, and later reinvented himself within country rock. Rick's 1972 album shows him at his creative best. Known as his "comeback" album, the music on this album is a compilation of early rock, country, folk, jazz, and ballad-like slow dance music. Besides the well-known "Garden Party" recording, you must listen to the rocking version of Chuck Berry's "Im Talkin About You", the catchy love rock tune, "I Wanna Be with You", and the creative and comical, "So Long Mama." Rick Nelson helped introduce the world to country rock in the early 70's. The Eagles may have popularized it, but Rick started the process. Listen to it for yourself!"

Better music he ever made.

Henry R. Kujawa | 09/09/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is pretty good and probably Rick's best album and work that he has done.You realize when listening to it that Nelson definitly influenced Poco, The Eagles, and later versions of Fleetwood Mac. The Stone Canyon Band are a great backup band. Best songs are "Garden Party", "Let it Bring You Along", and "A Flower Opens Gently By." For the cheap price, I would defintly buy it."