Album Seven and counting
Ron | Tacoma, WA | 11/07/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Although Imperial would continue to release many repackagings of Rick Nelson material for several years, this 1962 album was his final set of new recordings for the label before moving over to Decca Records. "Album Seven" is not among the top tier of Nelson albums, but is still a solid collection of songs, with his usual contributors (Dave Burgess, the Burnette brothers, Jerry Fuller, Baker Knight) all represented here. The kickoff track, a rock version of the Gershwin standard "Summertime", is one of Rick's most overlooked recordings. Play this one for anyone who ever accused Nelson's music of being "bubblegum"! (They might even recognize what Johnny Rivers and Blues Magoos stole from the arrangement!) The album closer, "There's Not a Minute", is one of the saddest songs I've ever heard ("when I see two lovers run to meet each other/then I think of all my dreams that won't come true/when I realize I'll never love another/so many things, dear, remind me of you.."). "Mad, Mad World" makes me want to get away from it all, and just sit by a river in the mountains somewhere. There's a strong country feel on songs like "Congratulations" and "Can't Stop Loving You", and plenty of rock and roll on "Stop Sneakin' Around" and "Excuse Me Baby". The addition of Rick's 1962 hit singles "Teenage Idol", "Young World", and "It's Up to You" is a welcome bonus, as are the 4 songs from his super rare extended play 45 "Ricky Sings Spirituals". Ricky may not have loved gospel music as obsessively as his pal Elvis Presley, but he does just fine with the four songs included here. There's passion in his voice as he sings "I Bowed My Head in Shame", and Baker Knight's "Glory Train". Too bad Ricky never recorded a full album of songs in this style."