We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
Back in the 60’s and early 70’s albums were expensive as compared to what you might have been making at your part-time job. Singles were alot cheaper so you bought the hits on the little records with the big holes. By doing that you might have missed some really solid LPs…including today’s choice “Garden Party” from Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band.
We all know the story of the hit…Nelson writing about an ill-fated “oldies” concert at Madison Square Garden…and it’s quite a record. But this album is also filled with the music that Nelson was pursuing at the time.
As one of the early purveyors of what came to be known as ‘Country-Rock” , Nelson surround himself with some really good players including Tom Brumley on steel guitar and Allen Kemp on lead guitar.
Kemp shines on the album opener “Let It Bring You Along” and Brumley adds goodness throughout including the fun little country tune “So Long Mama”.
The harmonies are tight and Nelson’s laconic voice works well on tunes like “I Wanna Be With You” and more mellow offerings like “Palace Guard” “Don’t Let Your Goodbyes Stand” and the outstanding “A Flower Opens Gently By”.
He wrote many of the tracks but also includes a Chuck Berry cover of “I’m Talking About You”…maybe as a nod to the crowd at the Garden Party.
There is much more than the “hit” on this one.
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