- In it's continuing efforts of remastering Rick Nelson's vast catalog of classic rock'n'roll and pop performances, Capitol Records, on February 12 will release RICK NELSON GREATEST HITS, the definitive Hits package for Rick Nelson. The CD contains twenty of his classic songs digitally remastered from studio tapes, some recently discovered in the Nelson Family archives. As with the acclaimed box set RICK NELSON: LEGACY and the recent twofers containing all his classic Imperial Records albums, no stone was left unturned in obtaining the best possible sources for this landmark package, assuring that this will be the best sounding hit collection ever produced of this legendary performer from rock'n'roll's esteemed early years.

In one of his most famous songs, Rick Nelson sang, "Some people call me a teen age idol." But in reality, Nelson was underestimating his own fame. He was the ORIGINAL Teen Age Idol, voted by People Magazine in recent years as the #1 Teen Idol Of All Time. In actuality, he brought the term into our daily lexicon when in 1957 he sang a version of Fats Domino's "I'm Walkin'" on his family's popular television show The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet one night and shortly thereafter sold a million copies of the song on Verve Records. That historic record, remastered from his very first recording session tapes, leads off this collection.

Covering a span of fifteen years, the CD concludes with "Garden Party," his last major hit for Decca Records in 1972. A gentle but acerbic response to being booed off the stage of a Madison Square Garden rock'n'roll revival concert for performing his contemporary repertoire, the self-penned "Garden Party" became an international sensation and reestablished Nelson as a major force in the musical community. It also epitomized his resistance to becoming an "oldies" act and declared his personal creed of "you can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself." It also shot up to #6 on the best seller charts.

In between are eighteen more seminal recordings, all but one, a Top 20 Hit. For sheer chart power, "Believe What You Say" (#4), "Lonesome Town" (#7), "Never Be Anyone Else But You" (#6), "It' s Late" (#9), "Hello Mary Lou" (#9) and the aforementioned "Teen Age Ido"l (#5) are topped only by Rick's two #1 singles, "Poor Little Fool" and "Travelin' Man," the biggest record of his career and to date accounting for over six million in sales.

Aside from "Garden Party," Nelson's Decca career is represented by "Fools Rush In" (#12), "For You" (#6) and "She Belongs To Me" (#33), Rick's first hit when he formed his highly regarded Stone Canyon Band and became a pioneer in the country-rock genre.

The package also has Hall Of Fame written all over it. Aside from Rick himself, an early inductee of Rock'n'Roll's hall, fellow members Earl Palmer (drums on "I'm Walkin'") and guitarist-supreme, James Burton (featured on most tracks) were important contributors to the Nelson musical legacy. Recently Rick's background singers, the legendary Jordanaires, were inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame.

The extensive liner notes by music historian James Ritz include interviews with the Jordanires' Gordon Stoker, Stone Canyon Band manager Willy Nelson (Rick's first cousin), songwriter Jerry Fuller ("Travelin' Man," "Young World") and long-time Nelson producer, Jimmie Haskell. These interviews and essay provide a fascinating insight to not only the Nelson musical career, but also afford a unique glimpse of Rick Nelson, the man.

Supplemented with many unpublished photos, session data and reproductions of rare original picture sleeves, RICK NELSON GREATEST HITS is the ultimate hits collection for not only Rick's millions of fans, but lovers of classic rock'n'roll the world over.

RICK NELSON GREATEST HITS
Track listing (with chart position):
1. I'm Walkin' (#4)
2. Be Bop Baby (#3)
3. Stood Up (#2)
4. Believe What You Say (#4)
5. Poor Little Fool (#1)
6. Lonesome Town (#7)
7. I Got A Feeling (#10)
8. Never Be Anyone Else But You (#6)
9. It's Late (#9)
10. Just A Little Too Much (#9)
11. Sweeter Than You (#9)
12. Travelin' Man (#1)
13. Hello Mary Lou (#9)
14. Everlovin' (#16)
15. Young World (#5)
16. Teen Age Idol (#5)
17. Fools Rush In (#12)
18. For You (#6)
19. She Belongs To Me (#33)
20. Garden Party (#6)

RICK NELSON GREATEST HITS
Street Date: February 12, 2001 Label: Capitol Records
Format: CD

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