Jump to content

The Memphis Sessions (Rick Nelson album)

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Memphis Sessions
Studio album by
Rick Nelson
ReleasedMay 1986
GenreRock and roll, rockabilly
Length29:29
LabelEpic
ProducerSteve Buckingham
Rick Nelson chronology
All My Best
(1985) 		The Memphis Sessions
(1986)
Singles from The Memphis Sessions
  1. "Dream Lover""
    Released: May 1986

The Memphis Sessions is American musician Rick Nelson's final studio album.[1][2] It was released posthumously in May 1986. Nelson recorded it in 1978–79 in Memphis, Tennessee. A few months after Nelson's death, CBS hired Nashville producer Steve Buckingham to replace the original drum and lead guitar tracks and remix the material.[3] Guitar player John Beland thought that the record label ruined Nelson's material.[4]

The Real Gone Music label included the album in the 2012 The Complete Epic Recordings box set.[5]

The album charted for four weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums, peaking at No. 62.[6]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[9]

Billboard gave the album a positive review, saying that "these recordings from 1978-79 show off Neslon's rockabilly and '60s-rock leanings."[10] Cashbox gave the album a positive review, saying that it features "a compilation of favorites, including 'True Love Ways', 'Send Me Somebody to Love', [and] 'Sleep Tight, Good Night Man'".[11]

The Chicago Times wrote: "The result transforms inspired work that no doubt would have excited Nelson fans into a package that should delight anybody who enjoys classic rock and roll, heartfelt vocal work and good music-making. Buckingham's technique brings Nelson's voice out front as never before."[12] The Ottawa Citizen opined that "Nelson's vocals have never sounded better on such rockabilly songs as 'Rave On' and 'That's All Right Mama'."[13] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution concluded that "the backing, some of which was added after Nelson's death, is uninspired."[14]

Track listing

[edit]

Side one

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."That's All Right"Arthur Crudup2:36
2."It's All Over Now"Bobby Womack, Shirley Womack3:28
3."Dream Lover"Bobby Darin3:12
4."Rave On"West-Tilghman-Petty2:44
5."Sleep Tight, Good Night Man"John Lorber, Jeff Silbar3:24

Side two

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Almost Saturday Night"John Fogerty2:42
2."Lay Back in the Arms of Someone"Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman3:04
3."Stuck in the Middle with You"Gerry Rafferty, Joe Egan3:29
4."Send Me Somebody to Love"Tim Krekel2:55
5."True Love Ways"Buddy Holly, Norman Petty1:55

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1986) Peak
position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[6] 62

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Taylor, Jonathan (8 June 1986). "Albums May Renew Rick Nelson's Star Status". Los Angeles Times. p. L11.
  2. ^ Albert, George (22 June 1986). "A True Superstar". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 12.
  3. ^ Hurst, Jack (18 May 1986). "A Rick Nelson Album". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. J5.
  4. ^ Lewis, Jim (9 Jan 1987). "Friend Defends Nelson One Year After Death". Features Showtime. Sun Sentinel. p. 37.
  5. ^ "Rick Nelson - The Complete Epic Recordings". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Ricky Nelson | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  7. ^ "The Memphis Sessions Rick Nelson". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  8. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
  9. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 498, 499.
  10. ^ "Billboard Country's Recommed LPs: Rick Nelson – The Memphis Sessions". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 24. June 14, 1986. p. 69.
  11. ^ "Country Album Reviews: Rick Nelson The Memphis Sessions". Cash Box. Vol. 50. June 21, 1986. p. 32.
  12. ^ "RICK NELSON'S 'MEMPHIS SESSIONS' DUSTED OFF AND POLISHED WITH". Chicago Tribune. 1986-06-08. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  13. ^ Abrams, Mike (11 July 1986). "Rock". Ottawa Citizen. p. D5.
  14. ^ Kloer, Phil (July 5, 1986). "Record Reviews". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. L26.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Memphis_Sessions_(Rick_Nelson_album)&oldid=1255575491"