The Memphis Sessions (Rick Nelson album)
1986 studio album by Rick Nelson
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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]
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| The Memphis Sessions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 1986 | |||
| Genres | 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 Real Gone Music label included the album in the 2012 The Complete Epic Recordings 2 CD set.[5] Bear Family included the album in the 2010 The Last Time Around box set.[6]
The album charted for four weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums, peaking at No. 62.[7]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [9] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [10] |
Billboard gave the album a positive review, saying that "these recordings from 1978-79 show off Nelson's rockabilly and '60s-rock leanings."[11] 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'".[12]
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."[13] 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'."[14] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution concluded that "the backing, some of which was added after Nelson's death, is uninspired."[15]
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 two
| 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)[7] | 62 |