| The Memphis Sessions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 1986 | |||
| Genre | Rock and roll, rockabilly | |||
| Length | 29:29 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Producer | Steve Buckingham | |||
| Rick Nelson chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Memphis Sessions | ||||
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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 album charted for four weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums, peaking at No. 62.[5]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [7] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [8] |
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."[9] 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'."[10] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution concluded that "the backing, some of which was added after Nelson's death, is uninspired."[11]
Track listing
Side one
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "That's All Right" | Arthur Crudup | 2:36 |
| 2. | "It's All Over Now" | Bobby Womack, Shirley Womack | 3:28 |
| 3. | "Dream Lover" | Bobby Darin | 3:12 |
| 4. | "Rave On" | West-Tilghman-Petty | 2:44 |
| 5. | "Sleep Tight, Good Night Man" | John Lorber, Jeff Silbar | 3:24 |
Side one
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Almost Saturday Night" | John Fogerty | 2:42 |
| 2. | "Lay Back in the Arms of Someone" | Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman | 3:04 |
| 3. | "Stuck in the Middle with You" | Gerry Rafferty, Joe Egan | 3:29 |
| 4. | "Send Me Somebody to Love" | Tim Krekel | 2:55 |
| 5. | "True Love Ways" | Buddy Holly, Norman Petty | 1:55 |
Charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[5] | 62 |
References
- ↑ Taylor, Jonathan (8 June 1986). "Albums May Renew Rick Nelson's Star Status". Los Angeles Times. p. L11.
- ↑ Albert, George (22 June 1986). "A True Superstar". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 12.
- ↑ Hurst, Jack (18 May 1986). "A Rick Nelson Album". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. J5.
- ↑ Lewis, Jim (9 Jan 1987). "Friend Defends Nelson One Year After Death". Features Showtime. Sun Sentinel. p. 37.
- 1 2 "Ricky Nelson | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
- ↑ "The Memphis Sessions Rick Nelson". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
- ↑ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 498, 499.
- ↑ "RICK NELSON'S 'MEMPHIS SESSIONS' DUSTED OFF AND POLISHED WITH". Chicago Tribune. 1986-06-08. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
- ↑ Abrams, Mike (11 July 1986). "Rock". Ottawa Citizen. p. D5.
- ↑ Kloer, Phil (July 5, 1986). "Record Reviews". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. L26.