It was on Could 30, 1966 that Rick Nelson unveiled his fully-fledged “conversion” to nation music. The previous teen heartthrob had been shifting away from mainstream pop for a while when he launched Shiny Lights & Nation Music, an album with some spectacular cowl variations and notable visitor musicians.
Glen Campbell lent his guitar credentials to the file, as did Nelson’s longtime guitarist James Burton (on dobro) and future Byrds member Clarence White. As Nelson confirmed himself fairly at dwelling with a rustic set record, Shiny Lights… featured such highlights as Invoice Anderson’s title monitor – a success for him the yr earlier than – and namesake Willie Nelson’s “Hello Walls.”
A simple match for nation
Doug Kershaw’s 1961 nation prime tenner “Louisiana Man” was additionally on the album, and on the straightforward listening finish of the spectrum, there was a nicely-measured model of Jim Reeves’ 1964 smash “Welcome To My World.” Campbell’s co-write with Marc Douglas, “Here I Am,” additionally featured, as did Terry Fell’s spirited “Truck Drivin’ Man.” Rick’s one composition of his personal, the only launch “You Just Can’t Quit,” additional emphasised that he was a straightforward match with the nation sound.
Sadly, his conventional followers didn’t agree. Shiny Lights & Nation Music didn’t make the nation or pop charts, or to finish a barren spell that may have Nelson absent from the bestsellers from 1964 all the way in which till 1970.
Hearken to the All Time Best Nation Hits playlist.
That was despite an exhaustive recording and launch schedule that usually produced two albums per yr. Later in 1966, in one other flip, Nelson and jazz and requirements singer Joanie Sommers launched the soundtrack of the TV particular On The Flip Aspect, that includes the songs of Bacharach & David. However finally, the country-rock taste of 1972’s “Garden Party” would win Nelson new followers and show that his earlier experiments hadn’t been for nothing.
Purchase or stream Shiny Lights & Nation Music.
