LP Record review:
Ricky Nelson - Four You [LP VINYL]

Ricky Nelson - Four You [LP VINYL]

Band: Ricky Nelson Title: Four You [LP VINYL] Rating: Release Date: Media: LP Record Tracks:

Customer Review Rick's Memphis Sessions His first album for the label, 1977's "Intakes", was a commercial failure, despite containing an excellent blend of country rock and more straight ahead rock and roll songs. Rick Nelson's years at Epic Records were a troubled time. In 1978, Al Kooper produced some sessions on Rick that resulted in an unreleased album titled "Return to Vienna". Rick also recorded in Memphis during late '78/early '79, out of which came the charting single "Dream Lover". Although Rick promoted the song on a highly rated episode of "Saturday Night Live", Epic chose not to release the rest of the songs from the session right then. The stalemate between Rick and the label resulted in Rick moving over to Capitol Records, then Epic promptly released this e. p. to cash in on his success with "Playing to Win" on Capitol in 1981. The complete Memphis sessions have still not appeared on vinyl or cd, so this record at least gives us a sneak peak into what Rick and his band were doing in 1979. "Almost Saturday Night" is an anthemic John Fogerty song that gets things off to a strong start here. "Lay Back in the Arms of Someone" is the type of mid-tempo country/rock ballad that Rick excelled at. Layers of acoustic guitars cushion Rick's smooth vocal. "That's All Right" is Rick doing Elvis' first record with an arrangement similar to Presley's "Mystery Train", some fine guitar by Stone Canyon Band member John Beland. "Rave On" is an updated take on the Buddy Holly classic, with more fine guitar from Beland, and a classic vocal from Rick. Unfortunately, Epic chose to dub in some phony applause on this track, thus diluting it's impact just slightly. Still, the beauty and power of these tracks shows how wrong Epic was to not release the entire album. Rick, as was often the case, was a couple years ahead of the rockabilly revival, spearheaded by acts like the Blasters and Stray Cats. I hope someday soon we'll get a complete Memphis sessions disc, but this one is a worthy addition to any fans' Rick Nelson collection - get your turntable out of the garage or attic, and crank this one up! . . You can see a complete list of all Ricky Nelson discography, or go back to the Ricky Nelson tabs