Customer Reviews

Rick Nelson In Concert (The Troubadour, 1969)

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Hard to believe, but before the Eagles flew it was Rick Nelson who help inspire them. This live album, recorded during the hey-day of L.A.'s rock club "The Troubador", features future Eagle Randy Meisner as a member of Nelson's band. Steel guitar player Tom Brumley's performance alone is worth the price. You'll listen and be saddened and surprised -- Rick Nelson was so much more than his teen-age idol image. Yet, for so many of us, the perception prevented a true appreciation of his music.

When Rick Nelson "In Concert" was released in January 1970 it came as a quite a shock to many who purchased it. Here was an artist who was so ingrained in the minds of most as a fabricated "Teen Idol." How could "Ricky Nelson" interepret Bob Dylan, Eric Anderson and Tim Hardin such respected singer songwriters? Well it turns out quite well and he could even approach their caliber of songs with his own ie, "Easy To Be Free." Eric Anderson in the liner notes to this album writes "Easy To Be Free is one of the most beautiful songs I ever heard."

The band, not yet offically known as "The Stone Canyon Band," consisted of Randy Meisner on Bass/Vocals, Pat Shanahan Drummer, Alan Kemp Guitar/Vocals and Tom Brumley on Steel Guitar. Meisner would of course go on to be a founding member of the Eagles, Shanahan and Kemp to first Roger McGuinn and then New Riders Of The Purple Sage. Brumley of course was "Steel Guitarist Of the Year" in 1967 while with Buck Owens and the Buckeroos. He is now in the Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame and brought the most credibilty to the band at the time. The band and Rick would present great three part harmony and tight instrumention.

Opening with "Come On In" Rick lets the audience know "you can be just what you want to be" and Nelson wanted to be a serious musician respected for his talent. With this album Rick clearly shows that he was right there with contemporary music. Dropping right into "Hello Mary Lou" you would think you were at a honky tonk enjoying what Mike Nesmith called " the first Country Rock song." Author Stephen King (yes that Stephen King) writes "the live version of She Belongs To Me is maybe the best cover of a Dylan song ever recorded." Rick did a nice country version of "I'm Walkin" and a Cajun song "Louisianna Man" from his "Bright Lights and Country Music" album. His Rockabilly classic "Believe What You Say" is givin a rousing spirited version with a great steel solo by Brumley and fiery " I Believe" in the chorus by Meisner and Kemp. Concluding the album/cd is, in my mind the best version of "I Shall Be Released" his meaning/feelings clearly amplified by Rick and the band.

Afte being in release for over Thirty years, MCA has deleted "In Concert" and so now it sells for well over a $100 if you can find it. Recently "Bye Bye Love" with Don Everly joining Rick and "My Buckets Got A Hole In It" have surfaced. Its very clear that several songs are missing so MCA/ Andy McKaie why not give us the complete show/songs and also the bonus DVD of "Easy To Be Free" that David Nelson filmed and has only been seen by a very few. Incorporate Rick's appearance from "The Everly Brothers Show" where Nelson performs "Violets Of Dawn" and "I Shall Be Released" which are not in "Easy To Be Free" and do right by Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band.

It took me over 1 year to find a used CD of this classic and it was worth the wait. Violets of Dawn, Louisiana Man and I Shall Be Released are standouts. Fantastic pedal steel by Tom Brumley. Many of the cuts on this CD are on the Rick Nelson & the Stone Canyon Band compilation CD's but they simply don't have the same "feel" of this live recording because they have omitted the audience reaction. One of the best live recordings ever. It's a real shame this CD has not been re-issued. If you're a fan of the late 60's country-rock genre, this is a must have.

This is one of the best live albums I've ever heard. I can really just think of one bad thing about it, it's very, very ,very hard to get. A reissuing is badly needed!

This is one hell of an album. "Violets of Dawn" is incredible and the best version of "I Shall be Released" I've ever heard.

I recently bought a 33 year old vinyl copy of this on Ebay, after searching for over a year for the CD! Why has this album not been remastered and reissued on CD in recent years? I guess because of the criminal underappreciation of Rick Nelson and the Country Rock Genre as a whole. What a magical period for music, and what a magical live performance this is from the Troubadour in 1970. This album contains some new songs(at the time), and some of Rick's old ones, sweetened up with some nice steel guitar licks. I guess if this CD is ever reissued I'll have to buy it, although I can't imagine it sounding much better than my old 33rpm.

This outstanding concert, captured live before nelson did GARDEN PARTY helped redefine him seriously. The Chicago Tribune reviewed the LP favorably and the long-lost vinyl (I have it) is nowhere to be found; where is this CD? You can find a few tracks on the Ricky Nelson compilation set, but for a complete show, this CD is the real thing. Ricky came back as Rick, did some Dylan and current tunes for the decade and was low-key about it all. What an event; what an album!

If you've evr bgeen to a live show in a small place, this is as real as it gets, and it is great.

With the intro of "Ladies and gentlemen, The Troubador is proud to present Mr. Rick Nelson...", this concert performance begins.
This MCA CD reissue of the original Decca LP documents Rick Nelson's place as one of the pioneers of country rock music. Along with the Byrds, Poco, and The Flying Burrito Brothers, he was at the forefront of the genre's birth in the late 1960's.
In 1969, coming off of two country LPs("Bright Lights & Country Music" and "Country Fever")and two Summer Of Love folk rock LPs("Another Side Of Rick" and "Perspective"), he was inspired and focused.
His performance on this night was passionate, delivering a mix of country, Dylan, folk, new originals, and new arrangements of his old hits.
He was supported by the virtuoso steel guitar playing of Tom Brumley, the high harmonies of bassist Randy Meisner and guitarist Allen Kemp, and the spirited drumming of Pat Shanahan.
The Dylan covers ("I Shall be Released", "If You Gotta Go, Go Now") are exceptional, and one ("She Belongs To Me") hit #33 from a studio recording.
Among the other covers are Eric Anderson's beautiful "Violets Of Dawn", Tim Hardin's "Red Balloon", and Doug Kershaw's "Louisana Man".
The originals("Come On In", and "Who Cares About Tomorrow-Promises")more than hold their own with the work of the other classic songwriters included.
To seal the deal, Rick revisits some of his catalog in spirited new settings. "Hello Mary Lou, Goodbye Heart", "I'm Walkin", and "Believe What You Say" are all delivered with style and excitement.
The highlight of the set is the self composed "Easy To Be Free", a soaring beauty that builds to a moving climax.

After drifting for a few years, Rick Nelson got back to doing what he did best: fronting a band of great players, singing songs by great songwriters - with the bonus that some of those songs were now his own. It took time for Rick to blossom as a songwriter, but he came through with the goods on this album. "Easy to Be Free" is a beautiful, soft country rock tune, with almost cosmic or spiritual lyrics. Rick and his band perform it to perfection here. Another Nelson original, "Come On In", is the album opener, and sets the tone with Allen Kemp's aggressive guitar leads, and the harmonies of Kemp and bassist Randy Meisner. Perhaps the best of Rick's originals, though, is the medley "Who Cares About Tomorrow - Promises", that starts of somewhat soft, and builds in intensity as it goes along. The band absolutely smokes on this! Rick also does three Bob Dylan songs - "If You Gotta Go, Go Now", "I Shall Be Released", and his hit arrangement of "She Belongs to Me". Tom Brumley's steel guitar playing is particularly outstanding on "I Shall Be Released". Too bad they didn't find room for another Dylan song Rick performed at the Troubador, "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here with You". Rick was one of the best interpreters of Dylan material (years later, he also did a fine version of "Mama, You've Been On My Mind"). He also does well with songs by Eric Anderson ("Violets of Dawn", a beautiful love song, with shimmering harmonies from Kemp and Meisner), and Tim Hardin ("Red Balloon"). Rick's past is not ignored, either - "Hello Mary Lou", "I'm Walkin'", 'Louisiana Man" and "Believe What You Say" round out this set, all featuring incredible steel solos from Brumley. I've also gotta mention drummer Pat Shanahan - his playing is technically brilliant, but never detracts from the songs themselves. Rick's voice never sounded better than it does here, artistically he was reaching another peak. How many hit makers from the late 50's/early 60's could say that in 1970? This is the sound that influenced countless bands in the 70's, including Meisner's future band the Eagles. It's criminal that this album is out of print. I've got it on both vinyl and cassette, and will never part with either. A must have.