Album Seven By Rick – RICK NELSON***

Summertime/Congratulations/Baby You Don’t Know/I Can’t Stop Loving You/Excuse Me Baby/History Of Love/ Today’s Teardrops/Mad Mad World/Thank You Darling/Poor Loser/Stop Sneakin’ Round/There’s Not A Minute

Album Seven By Ricky includes teen idol Ricky’s final recordings on the Imperial label before he moved to Decca. His new label was not to know that his hit making career would soon be over. (US:27)

“Very polished and consistent pop/beat album. Excellent electric bass and vocal production throughout.”

“Having good writers shape material for him was a boon to Nelson, and if nothing here quite rises to the level of his biggest hits, there is much good early-'60s pop/rock. The covers of Summertime and I Can't Stop Loving You are effective.”

“The recordings he was making in the early '60s suggested Nelson had made the transition from the earnest, derivative music he performed at the start of his career, to a stream of high-quality material that would seem to assure him a place near the top of the pop heap, which is probably why at this point Decca made him an unprecedented offer and spirited him away from Imperial. Who could have known that his hit-making days were just about over.”

“Nelson's final Imperial release before leaving for Decca, Album Seven was his last hurrah. Much of Album Seven displays a decidedly country edge, particularly in James Burton's guitar licks.”

“The range of songs runs from rock, pop to country. The rock version of George Gershwin's Summertime still stands out to this very day. Stop Sneakin' 'Round has a very unique sound and syncopated rhythm. Many of Rick’s songs were way ahead of their time.”

"Album Seven is not among the top tier of Nelson albums, but is still a solid collection of songs. The kick-off track, a rock version of the Gershwin standard Summertime, is one of Rick's most overlooked recordings. Play this one for anyone who ever accused Nelson's music of being 'bubblegum'. The album closer, There's Not A Minute, is one of the saddest songs I've ever heard. There's a strong country feel on songs like Congratulations and Can't Stop Loving You, and plenty of rock and roll on Stop Sneakin' Around and Excuse Me Baby.”