Search - Ricky Nelson :: Best of 2

More "A"s & "B"s-- and more problems

06/14/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"VOL.2 picks up where VOL.1 left off-- with the other half of a single split between the 2 CDs. It then continues on collecting both sides of Rick's next 7 singles. Followed by the next 5 "A" sides, 2 album tracks, 4 previously unreleased alternate takes and a radio promo spot. So they weren't being very consistent... The WORST moment on the CD is the inclusion of no less than 3 studio "out-takes" as part of the intro to one of his very best songs, "Hello Mary Lou". I can't STAND to listen to it here, and had to get a different CD collection just to be able to hear this song uninterrupted. What some may not realize is that while EMI did, indeed, collect all of Rick's Imperial label "A" sides in sequence, the last 7 (from "That's All" to "Lucky Star" were all pulled from earlier albums at the time of their release, purely as a bid by the label to compete with Rick's "new" releases on Decca. Surely the space on this disc could have been put to better songs? Only "My One Desire" really stands out; it's one of those songs that really SHOULD have been a single, but wasn't. And why did they miss the chance to also include his 2 singles on Verve which preceeded "Be-Bop Baby"? I'm still hoping one day SOMEBODY does "definitive" reissues of Rick's work. An artist of his standing surely deserves it!"

Some people call me a teenage idol.

Johnny Heering | Bethel, CT United States | 05/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD picks up right where EMI's The Legendary Master Series, Volume 1 left off. It features the last five and a half "real" singles that Rick released Imperial Records. These are all great songs. After Rick left Imperial for Decca, Imperial contiued to release Rick Nelson singles, using old songs that had previously been on his albums. Surprisingly, most of these songs, which make up tracks 12 to 20, are very good. Tracks 21 and 22 are album tracks that didn't appear on singles. Tracks 23 to 26 are previously unreleased alternate takes. Track 27 is a pretty uninteresting recording of a deejay reading a commercial for the "More Songs By Ricky" album. This is a fine companion piece to "The Legendary Master Series, Volume 1"."

Ozzie and Harriet's boy did well!

rodboomboom | Dearborn, Michigan United States | 01/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For Ricky Nelson fans, this and volume two are it. I remember that one of the first two records I ever had was Ricky's "My Bucket Has A Hole In It."This volume has two of my favorites, "Travelin' Man" and "Hello, Mary Lou." Many more are good, solid cuts as well, including "It's Up to You" and a great version of "It's All In the Game."With volume two, this is great stuff for us old rockers."