The Rick Nelson of the mid-Seventies had travelled removed from the teenager idol years that first took him to superstardom within the late Nineteen Fifties. Now he was an vital, if not all the time totally acknowledged, pathfinder within the burgeoning nation rock sound together with his Stone Canyon Band. On February 23, 1974 that yielded one other, if modest, US album chart entry in Windfall.
Nelson, now producing himself, had unveiled the brand new band way back to 1969, after they appeared with him on the reside album Rick Nelson In Live performance, launched the next yr. 1970 additionally introduced their studio debut on Rick Sings Nelson. Then, after Rudy The Fifth in 1971, the next yr introduced a main increase to Rick’s profile with the hit single “Garden Party,” and a Prime 40 US album of the identical identify.
By 1974, a few of that momentum had dissipated, however the band’s creativity actually hadn’t. Windfall stands among the many favourite albums of many longtime Nelson followers, and stays a pleasant hear. 4 of its tracks have been written by Stone Canyon Band lead guitarist Dennis Larden, who additionally co-wrote the title observe with Nelson himself.
Tracks from Windfall such because the opening “Legacy” present Nelson’s voice to be completely suited to the laid-back, countrified remedy. Right here, in addition to on the one “One Night Stand” and elsewhere, the impact was immeasurably enhanced by the metal guitar taking part in of Tom Brumley, who got here to the group after a few years of labor in Buck Owens’ Buckaroos within the Sixties.
Nelson’s personal “Someone To Love” was to a rockier framework, however nonetheless fitted the west coast sound of the period with its elegant harmonies, as did the Crosby, Stills & Nash-evoking “How Many Times” and the elegant “Don’t Leave Me Here” and “Lifestream.”
Windfall edged into the Billboard album chart at No.197, climbing six locations after which yet another, earlier than falling to No.200 and off the countdown. However its modest gross sales efficiency belies the significance of a key album within the Rick Nelson story.
