Customer Reviews

Teenage Idol, Travelin' Man: The Complete Biography of Rick Nelson

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I enjoyed this book much more than Joel Selvin's mean-spirited tome. Rick may have had his faults, but let's remember that we all do,and they were overshadowed by his many good qualities. As a singer and musician myself, he is a great example of doing what you believe in and sticking to it. Bashe emphasises this throughout the book (i.e. Rick turning down an offer of $1,000,000 to do a "balloons and feathers" type show in Vegas in the late 70's). From time to time there are hints of scandal and bad behaviour, but overall, it is a much more fair portrayal of Rick than Selvin gave us.

The book did a good job of telling what all went on behind the scenes without sensationalizing some of the mistakes that Rick made, and the author managed to write the book without it looking like a wordy tabloid article, although Philip Bashe may as well have gone ahead and told us the real name of the teenage hooker Rick had an affair with because an author of a different biography on Rick Nelson did.

I also thought Bashe did a good job of telling both sides of the divorce between Rick and Kris without it seeming as if he were taking sides, or trying to put one or the other person in a bad light.

Bashe captures the true picture of a gentle, kind rock & roller who was only too human! Far too many people did not want Rick to "grow up" nor really be human. But grow up he did! Rock & roll was Rick's life and he kept on rockin' up until the very end! Life was not too kind to Rick during his last ten years of life, but this did not stop him from still doing what he was meant to do - sing and perform his best at all his performances!

Rick's undoing was that he didn't have it in him to sell out. From 15 years old on, he made the music he wanted to, that he believed in. Hindsight proves that, although this didn't lead to continued riches, it gave him an archive to be proud of, not a miss-step in the catalog. This from a kid good-looking enough to get away with much less.

Excellent book on his life and death and even some interesting info on his family and friends ...A very good read.....Highly recommend.....

I enjoy the subject of this book very much. I had seen the book years ago at a library so I wanted my own copy. The copy was in excellent condition and the price was very reasonable. It was easy to order and shipped to me in good condition and without waiting too long. Thank you, GP

A very descriptive biography about Rick Nelson's illustrious life. He was one of those rare people who was blessed with the ability to accomplish just about anything he wanted to. He had a natural God-given talent. That ability included everything from sports to his music. He inherited that talent from his mother, whom was a an accomplished singer herself. It is said that the world is divided into knowers and lovers. Rick was a knower. He had a great understanding about everything. His former wife is a lover. Whereas,Rick didn't have any probelms discerning fact from fiction. She did. Ordinarily this is the best possible combination. Her family mirrors mine and she resembles me. She was lucky to have her dream come true, as she was an admirer of Rick's from adolescence, to marry him. Her family is more sophisticated, her leaving the marriage was indeed the best thing,although she stills loves him. At least, she has her children. The most valuable asset. Over the years I have crossed pathes with his children, and am not impressed with any of them. My admiration is for their grandfather, Ozzie Nelson. The world lost one of the best when he died. Along with Rick. It was a storybook life. You just never know how long the story will last. And, I still admire Rick's former wife. She along with her birth family, the Harmon's has style.