The artist previously referred to as Ricky Nelson had been transferring his profession into what turned referred to as country-rock, as one of many forerunners of the type, for some years by 1972. On albums like Rick Sings Nelson and Rudy The Fifth, Rick Nelson confirmed how far he had progressed since his days as a teen idol.
However Rick and his Stone Canyon Band discovered actual validation that 12 months, not simply because the only “Garden Party” climbed all the way in which to No.6 on the Scorching 100, his greatest hit in almost 9 years — however as a result of it was about how he walked off stage when a few of his viewers made it clear they had been nonetheless anticipating to listen to his unique hits. Then on December 9, the album of the identical title made the Billboard chart, on its solution to a brand new 12 months peak at No.32 — once more, his greatest displaying since Rick Nelson Sings For You reached No.14 in 1964.
Nelson had been present process his reinvention because the mid-Nineteen Sixties, and made the High 40 along with his group on a canopy of Bob Dylan’s “She Belongs To Me,” a High 40 single in early 1970. On that single, his band included Randy Meisner, quickly to be a founding member of the Eagles. “Easy To Be Free” made a mid-chart displaying later that 12 months. However the “Garden Party” single was the true breakthrough, sending a transparent message about his musical course and willpower.
The lyric was an actual life reflection of how the now long-haired Nelson had performed the Rock ’n’ Roll Revival live performance at Madison Sq. Backyard in October 1971, on a invoice with Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and Bobby Rydell. He met with a hostile reception for his new sound, particularly when he carried out the Rolling Stones’ “Country Honk,” the C&W-flavoured model of their “Honky Tonk Women” hit, to followers who had been anticipating “Poor Little Fool” and “Stood Up.” He ended up leaving the stage.
“I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends,” wrote Rick. “A chance to share old memories and play our songs again/When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name/No one recognised me, I didn’t look the same.” The lyric additionally contained entertaining references to a few of these current, together with “Yoko and her walrus,” Yoko Ono and John Lennon, and “Mr. Hughes,” aka George Harrison, who generally travelled as Howard Hughes.
Hearken to uDiscover Music’s official Ricky Nelson Greatest Of playlist.
The refrain of the tune had Rick in defiant temper but additionally singing a catchy, harmonised country-rock melody: “But it’s all right now, I learned my lesson well/You see, you can’t please everyone, so you got to please yourself.” Rick did simply that and located an entire new viewers by sticking to his weapons.
Purchase or stream “Garden Party” on Rick Nelson’s album of the identical title.
