Customer Reviews

Ricky Nelson - 25 Greatest Hits

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I had forgotten what it was like to be "A Teenager in Love" until I listened to this CD. There I was 13, 15, 16 years old thinking I was a "Poor Little Fool" because of some young romance gone wrong or "I'm in Love Again" over some new young man. This CD not only causes me to smile remembering my youth, it is a pleasure hearing that rich sultry voice and the rock and roll music that was to change the world.

From 1957 to 1962, RICKY NELSON charted thirty Top 40 hits, more than any other artist at the time except Elvis Presley. Thirty Top 40 chart hits in a six year run is very impressive, considering that some recording artists racked up a possible two dozen hits over a couple decades' time span[if not more] during the Rock Era.[These thirty Top 40 hits does not include the dozens of other "45's" Nelson charted on the lower 60 chart positions throughout the remainder of his almost thirty year career, which was cut short by his untimely death in a plane crash while on one of his music tours in 1985.] Many of Ricky's early records[vinyl 45's] where double hits with both the "A" side and the "B" side placing/peaking a position on the Billboard and Cashbox Magazine Hot 100 Singles charts, plus receiving massive radio station airplay during each single's[recording] respective heyday.
While Nelson preferred uptempo rockers like "Hello Mary Lou", "It's Late", "Stood Up" and "Be-Bop Baby", his smooth, calm voice made him a natural to sing ballads. He had major success with "Travelin' Man", "Poor Little Fool", "Young World", "Lonesome Town", "Never Be Anyone Else", and "Teenage Idol", which clearly could have been about Ricky himself at the time. 1964's "For You" would be his last Top 40 hit until 1970 when he recorded Bob Dylan's "She Belongs To Me" with the Stone Canyon Band. In 1972, he would chart into the Top 40 one final time with his enduring Top 10 hit, "Garden Party".
25 GREATEST HITS compiles Ricky Nelson's impressive initial chart hits[1957-62] in their original alluring versions for his multi-generation fan base to enjoy in remastered sound. Nelson is also credited with being the original and very first Teen Idol, a title he occasionally shunned, and preferred to be recognised as a musician, which he ultimately was. Despite the promotional aspects of his career, it is clear that Nelson knew and loved music and was a credible performer before he became a Teen Idol, largely due to his parents' musical background. Both Ozzie and Harriet Nelson were Big Band musicians/singers during the early years of their careers throughout the 1930's and 1940's - he was the younger son of Ozzie Nelson, the leader of a big band, and Harriet Hilliard Nelson, the band's singer.
Along with brother David Nelson, the family starred in the long-running radio and television series "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" from 1944 to 1966; with Ricky's singing[career] often featured in the show's weekly themes and gaining him national exposure to his unique musical attributes. His record sales skyrocketed into the millions, and is credited with selling close to 70 million of his own recordings. I can recall seeing him on his parent's TV show reruns when I was a child, and proudly became his fan at age 7. Many of the songs on "25 GREATEST HITS" have become staples of modern day Oldies/Classic Pop-Rock oriented radio stations. RICKY NELSON remains the most enduring, interesting and gifted of all the Teen Idols, the ultimate musician among them all and he will never be forgotten.

This is a very good disc with many of rickys top 10 hits and few lesser known tracks...There are many ricky nelson collections out there...Ricky,s music has not been fully appreciated over the years...Perhaps the new dvd release and the greatest hit cd ,will change this...Now i like this album very much to,but i hate that i have so many duplicate tracks,on several of the cd,s i own of ricky...4 star recommended...

This CD is a great one for anyone interested in the 50's style of songs that Ricky did. He has his more familiar songs, "Lonesome Town", "Hello Mary Lou", "Traveling Man", "Its Late" and several others that you would expect. What makes up the bulk of this CD is a blues, rock-a-billy, soul sound that many did not know that Ricky performed. These are hard rockin' and movin' and shows the time in which he sang and was trying to make a name for himself. His style is very similar to a young Elvis and the comparisons are obvious. This CD will not be for everyone for the last 10 cuts are not widely known outside the real hardcore fans and after 6 or 7 cuts the style starts to sound the same. It is, however, a good introduction to Rick's early years (but is really misnamed as his 25 Greatest Hits; too many of his hits were left out, such as "Teenage Idol" and "Never Be Anyone Else But You").

Are not very good. It is too bad because many of his songs are very good and not on his CD.

I went to a concert put on by his son's. I know the songs. This alblum is not his 25 greatest hits. I do not know how they can claim that it is. Be careful before you by this CD. It might be OK if you were a real hard core fan.

ALL THE GOOD SONGS ON ONE CD. GREAT LISTENING. MUSIC QUALITY IS EXCELLENT.

THIS CD WAS A GIFT FOR A SPECIAL SOMEONE.
IT WAS FOND MEMORIES FOR MY VALENTINE. CLASSIC RICKY..GOOD LISTENING.

If You want some pure Rock & Roll it's hard to beat this collection by one of the purest rockers ever.

1st, Ricky Nelson didn't have 25 great hits. This CD has only four of his best recordings and my favorite - Garden Party is missing. He has very good renditions of other artists work, lots of the songs he sings on this CD, I have never heard before. Had I known what was included and was wasn't, I would have left it on the shelf. If you like anything Ricky Nelson sings, then buy this CD. If you are looking for his most popular, keep looking.