Hi Joseph, I noticed this thread come up on your blog. To answer your question, first it helps to understand the context. Rick loved country-rock from day-one. In the 50’s it was terms rock-a-billy. That was what resonated for Rick. That was the sound he wanted to capture in his early recordings. So, when his records stopped selling in the mid-60’s, he decided to go out on a limb and record two straight up country albums. The studio musicians included Clarence White, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Leon Russell. Soon after, he began looking for a regular touring band. There are only two known shows during this period at the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. The band included many musicians from those sessions. He didn’t do a whole lot after these two albums until he heard Richie Furay and Jim Messina with Poco at The Troubadour. That inspired two things; one, a renewed interest in country-rock as he experienced in the 50’s and two, to draft bass player/vocalist Randy Meisner for his newly forming band, Stone Canyon Band. Chief among his drafts was Tom Brumley, who was with Buck Owens and became a key member of his band for the next decade. The timing on all of this makes Rick a chief player in early California country rock. He went on and recorded a series of albums championing country-rock. Of course this peaked in 71 when he recorded “Garden Party,” which would be the last hit of his career. Most of them were uneven…but here’s a few I’d recommend:
Bright Lights/Country Fever
http://www.amazon.com/Bright-Lights-Country-Music-Fever/dp/B000007O74/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1355705214&sr=1-1&keywords=country+fever+ricky+nelson
Live at the Troubadour
http://www.amazon.com/In-Concert-The-Troubadour-1969/dp/B004FEDV9Y/ref=pd_sim_m_4
Rudy the Fifth and Rick Sings Nelson
http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Sings-Nelson-Rudy-Fifth/dp/B00000I535/ref=pd_sim_m_1
Garden Party/Windfall
http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Party-Windfall-Rick-Nelson/dp/B00000AOSO/ref=pd_sim_m_1
These represent Rick’s second creative peak and his influence on the country rock of his times and his pioneer work as a key figure in Americana music today. Sadly, he is mostly known now as a ‘teen idol’ with Elvis envy, which couldn’t be farther from the truth.
