Customer Reviews

Complete First National Band Recordings

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
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Apart from Gram Parson's work with the International Submarine Band, Byrds and Burritos, this is as good a place as any to start if you're interested in the roots of country/rock.

However, I'd recommend the "two-fer" packages (MAGNETIC SOUTH/LOOSE SALUTE and NEVADA FIGHTER/TANTAMOUNT TO TREASON) over this particular package as those recordings have been re-mastered...and believe me, these recordings needed to be remastered!

At any rate, a case can be made that Nesmith's songwriting was at a peak at this point in his career and these tunes need to be heard.

Michael Nesmith's history as an artist is a tale of two careers. As a Monkee in the late-sixties, he was part of a commercial juggernaut that produced a number of hit singles. As a solo artist he garnered critical raves for his first three post-Monkees albums where he was backed by the First National Band and helped launch country rock. While he seldom gets the credit, Nesmith's work with the First National Band was every bit as influential as the Byrds or the Flying Burrito Brothers. [I say this knowing full well that in the liner notes Nesmith calls this nonsense, saying "Arbitrary categories such as Country Rock or R&B is fostered by schools, perpetuated by fools, creates havoc in the business of arts and tends to oppress artists." But I think he is just being modest.]

For years these three albums--MAGNETIC SOUTH, LOOSE SALUTE (both from 1970) and NEVADA FIGHTER (1971)--have only been available through Nesmith's website. It's nice to see these more readily available.

Each album is presented over two CDs in its entirety. Thirty tracks in all of Nesmith originals and a few well chosen covers. His biggest hit, of course, was "Joanne" (No. 21, 1970), but other highlights include "Calico Girlfriend," "Silver Moon," Tengo Amore" and "Propinquity." Nesmith also breathes new life into such classics as "I Fall to Pieces," "Beyond the Blue Horizon" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds."

Nesmith's distinct sound also owes a great deal to the late O.J. "Red" Rhodes on pedal steel, who would perform an every studio album Nesmith ever recorded. If you are a fan of SWEETHEART OF THE RODEO-era Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Poco or the Eagles, you must add this to your collection. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The quality of Nesmith's first three albums is not in dispute. The music contained here is fantastic, if not as richly experimental as the album that followed. However, unless this set has been remastered since its original release - a big if - the music on the first disc (Magnetic South, Loose Salute) is absolutely taken from vinyl sources. In a misguided effort to disguise the many inherent pops & clicks, as well as abundant surface noise (all still occasionally audible), the high end has been mostly stripped leaving the recordings sounding very bassy and tinny in the middle. Loose Salute suffers most from this treatment. The second disc (Nevada Fighter) is also most likely taken from vinyl, though a cleaner source than was used for the first two albums. The unfortunate result is that the rich, warm fidelity of the original LP's is completely missing from this set. This music certainly deserves better, though one could argue it's better to have these tunes this way than not at all.

Mike Nesmith's music, in my opinion, is the spiritual heir of Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, with lingering soulful, haunting, and picturesque melodies. What he does with old standards, romantic, sassy or jazzy, is just as beautiful and respectful. I could listen to his stuff for hours. Oh wait...I do.

Michael Nesmith shocked the critics with the release of his first recording: Michael Nesmith and the First National Band. Despite his public pleas that "THE MONKEES" were just a made for TV band, his announced break-away effort was expected by all to be nothing short of an embarassment. I only am familiar with his first recording - that being more than 30 years ago - but recall with fondness the song "Joanne". It is every bit as vital today as it was then. He then went on to produce the award winning video "Elephant Parts", and earned the title, "Grandfather of MTV". His mother invented White-out."Joanne was her name, and she lived in a meadow near a pond..."Great stuff! Try eBAY.

Of the first of two discs, the only good song on disc 1 is "Joanne" but the song is so beautiful that I haven't even listered to the second disc