Rick Nelson performing in 1970
Rick Nelson discography
Rick Nelson, 1958
Studio albums24
Live albums4
Compilation albums9
Singles94
Soundtrack albums1
Box sets4
Notable archival projects5

Eric Hilliard Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985), known professionally as Ricky Nelson until his 21st birthday when he officially dropped the "y" and simply became Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter. His discography comprises 24 original studio albums, one original live album, various compilation and archival projects, and 94 singles.

Albums

Studio albums

Year Album Peak positions
US
[1]		 US Country
[2]		 AUS
[3]		 CAN
1957 Ricky 1 — — —
1958 Ricky Nelson
  • features "Don't Leave Me This Way", Nelson's earliest recorded composition
 7 — — —
1959 Ricky Sings Again 14 — — —
Songs by Ricky 22 — — —
1960 More Songs by Ricky 18 — — —
1961 Rick Is 21 8 — — —
1962 Album Seven by Rick
  • Nelson's seventh studio album and the final comprising new material on Imperial Records
 27 — — —
1963 For Your Sweet Love
  • Nelson's Decca Records debut and eighth studio album
 20 — — —
Rick Nelson Sings for You
  • Nelson's second Decca album
 14 — — —
1964 The Very Thought of You — — — —
Spotlight on Rick — — — —
1965 Best Always — — — —
Love and Kisses — — — —
1966 Bright Lights and Country Music
  • Nelson's exploration of the nascent country rock genre
  • "You Just Can't Quit" was penned by Nelson
  • featuring guitarists James Burton, Clarence White, and Glen Campbell
 — — — —
1967 Country Fever
  • the sequel to Bright Lights and Country Music
  • "Alone" was composed by Nelson
  • James Burton, Clarence White, and Glen Campbell are among the players
 — — — —
Another Side of Rick
  • orchestrated psychedelic pop
  • "Marshmallow Skies" and "Promenade in Green" were co-written with James Burton and John Boylan, respectively
 — — — —
1968 Perspective
  • more orchestrated psychedelic pop
  • "Hello to the Wind" was co-written alongside producer John Boylan
 — — — —
1970 Rick Sings Nelson
  • all 10 songs composed by Nelson including "Down Along the Bayou Country", "California", and "How Long"
 196 — 33 —
1971 Rudy the Fifth
  • seven tunes written by Nelson including "This Train", "Life", and "Gypsy Pilot"
 204 — 38 —
1972 Garden Party
  • six songs penned by Nelson including the career-defining title cut, "So Long, Mama", and "A Flower Opens Gently By"
 32 26 67 39
1974 Windfall
  • Nelson's final Decca / MCA album
  • "Someone to Love", "Lifestream", and "Windfall" were composed by Nelson
 190 — 61 97
1977 Intakes
  • Nelson's only released Epic Records LP
  • the final appearance of the Stone Canyon Band
  • "It's Another Day" and "Something You Can't Buy" were Nelson's songwriting contributions
 — — — —
1981 Playing to Win
  • Nelson's sole Capitol Records album
  • "The Loser Babe Is You" and "Call It What You Want" were his final released compositions
 153 — — —
1985 All My Best
  • studio re-recordings of 21 of Nelson's greatest hits plus "You Know What I Mean" overseen by longtime arranger Jimmie Haskell
  • later reissues eliminated various songs
 — — 58 —
1986 The Memphis Sessions
  • dubbed Rockabilly Renaissance in the late '70s before Epic Records cancelled its release
  • 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
 — 62 — —

Soundtrack

Year Album
1966 On the Flip Side
  • a Burt Bacharach and Hal David-scored soundtrack for the rare 60-minute ABC special
  • Nelson is heard on only four songs—"It Doesn't Matter Anymore", "They Don't Give Medals (To Yesterday's Heroes)", "Take a Broken Heart", and a duet with costar Joannie Sommers on "Try to See It My Way"

EP

Year Album
1960 Ricky Sings Spirituals
  • Feature 4 Songs, Glory Train, March with The Band of The Lord, If You Believe It, I Bowed My Head in Shame
  • Nelson Only EP Album

Lost studio albums

Year Album
1978 Back to Vienna
  • produced by Bob Dylan's session organist Al Kooper
  • Epic scuttled the 10-song studio LP, which was finally distributed in its entirety on the mammoth 2010 Bear Family box "The Last Time Around" as well as Real Gone Music's "The Complete Epic Recordings."
1979 Rockabilly Renaissance (aka The Memphis Sessions)
  • The only time Nelson recorded outside Los Angeles.
  • "That Ain't the Way Love's Supposed to Be" was co-written by Nelson and Flying Burrito Brother John Beland and attached as the B-side of Bobby Darin's "Dream Lover."
  • Excepting the afore-mentioned single, Epic canned the Larry Rogers-helmed album.
  • Epic belatedly released four additional sides ("Lay Back in the Arms of Someone" and renditions of John Fogerty's "Almost Saturday Night," Arthur Crudup's "That's All Right" (popularized by Elvis Presley), and Buddy Holly's "Rave On") on a February 1981 EP entitled "Four You." According to biographer Philip Bashe, Nelson was unaware of his former label's intentions and was incensed to discover that applause had been overdubbed onto the Holly rocker to simulate a concert atmosphere.
  • The summer after Nelson's passing Epic compiled 10 cuts into "The Memphis Sessions," omitting "That Ain't the Way Love's Supposed to Be."
1986 Untitled Curb Records Studio Album
  • Jimmie Haskell continued his renewed collaboration with Nelson, laying down instrumental tracks and guide vocals in the fall of 1985 at Baby-O Recorders and Conway Studios in North Hollywood for 10 new songs, albeit none penned by Nelson.
  • If the entertainer had not perished on New Year's Eve, the rockabilly-themed project was poised for a 1986 release with Mike Curb's Nashville-based Curb Records.
  • These are the only Nelson songs still relegated to the vaults although unauthorized, unfinished versions have leaked.

Live albums

Year Album Peak positions
US
[1]		 CAN
1970 Rick Nelson in Concert at the Troubadour, 1969
  • Nelson regains his footing as a country rocker
  • the debut of the Stone Canyon Band
  • the sole live album issued during Nelson's lifetime
  • "Come on In", "Who Cares About Tomorrow", "Promises", and "Easy to Be Free" were Nelson compositions.
 54 66
1989 Ricky Nelson Live (1983–1985)
  • issued by Rhino Records
  • 18 songs featuring the Jordanaires
  • The first half was recorded on August 22, 1985, at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles while the remaining nine were waxed on February 22, 1983, at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois.
  • Nelson's second live album
 — —
1991 Live at the Aladdin
  • Nelson was booked at the Las Vegas hotel on three occasions—March 7–20, June 6–20, and August 25 – September 5, 1978. It is unclear which show the 12 songs come from
  • featuring steel guitarist Tom Brumley, lead guitarist John Beland, and the Sweet Inspirations on backing vocals
  • produced by Beland
  • issued on the British Magnum Force label
  • Nelson's third live album
 — —
1999 A Night to Remember
  • An audio document of Nelson's August 22, 1985, televised concert at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.
  • released by Fuel 2000 Records in cooperation with Varèse Sarabande
  • Nelson's fourth live album
 — —

Notable archival projects

Year Album Peak positions
1993 Stay Young: The Epic Recordings
  • the first compilation to unearth four of the "Back to Vienna" outtakes and strip away Steve Buckingham's mid-'80s production flourishes
 —
2003 The Lost '60s Recordings
  • between 1961 and 1962 Nelson, Glen Campbell, Jerry "Travelin' Man" Fuller, and Dave Burgess collaborated vocally in two studio groups—the Trophies and the Fleas—although Nelson was never credited because he was contractually bound to Imperial Records
  • 18 tracks issued by Varèse Sarabande
 —
2004 Rick's Rarities (1964–1974)
  • an Ace Records compilation excavating a selection of Nelson's unreleased Decca tunes
 —
2012 The Complete Epic Recordings
  • Real Gone Music released two CDs containing Nelson's entire 1976–1979 Epic tenure (i.e. Intakes, Back to Vienna, and Rockabilly Renaissance)
 —

Box sets

Year Album
2000 Legacy
  • notable as the first Nelson box set
  • a four-CD career-encompassing project distributed by Capitol
2001 The American Dream: The Complete Imperial and Verve Recordings (1957–1963)
  • the first installment of a chronological archival series released by Bear Family, a German indie label specializing in vintage country and pop
2008 For You: The Decca Years (1963–1969)
  • the second Bear Family box set devoted to Nelson
2010 The Last Time Around (1970–1982)
  • the third and ultimate Bear Family box set revisits Nelson's Stone Canyon Band tenure

Compilation albums

Year Album Peak positions
US
[1]
1963 Best Sellers by Rick Nelson
  • Imperial Records
  • 1957 single "Stood Up" b/w "Waitin' in School" makes its LP debut
 112
It's Up to You
  • Imperial Records
  • 1962 single "It's Up to You" b/w "I Need You" makes its album debut
 128
Million Sellers
  • Imperial Records
  • "Young World", "Everlovin'", and "I Wanna Be Loved" make their LP debut
A Long Vacation
  • Imperial Records
1964 Rick Nelson Sings For You
  • Imperial compilation distributed on the coattails of Nelson's Decca hit "For You"
 —
1989 Lonesome Town (All-Time Greatest Hits) —
2005 Greatest Hits
  • Capitol Records
 56
2007 Ricky Rocks
  • Bear Family
 —
2008 Greatest Love Songs
  • Capitol set cherry-picking romantic highlights from Nelson's tenures on Imperial and Epic
 —

Singles

Year Single (A-side / B-side)
Non-charting B-sides from same album as A-sides except as indicated		 Peak chart positions Label and catalog no. Album
US US
Cashbox		 US
Country		 US
AC		 CAN
 CAN
Country
 CAN
AC		 UK
[4]		 AUS
[5][3]
1957 "A Teenager's Romance" /[6] 2 8 — — — — — — 34 Verve 10047 Teen Time (Various artists)
"I'm Walkin'" 17 12 — — — — — — 10
"You're My One and Only Love"
b/w "Honey Rock" (by Barney Kessel)		 16 23 — — — — — — — Verve 10070
"Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" / 29 21 — — — — — — — Imperial 5463 Ricky
"Be-Bop Baby" 5 6 — — — — — — 33
1958 "Stood Up" / 2 3 8 — — — — 27 33 Imperial 5483 Best Sellers by Rick Nelson
"Waitin' In School" 18 6 12 — — — — — —
"My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" / 18 20 10 — — — — — 79 Imperial 5503 Non-album track
"Believe What You Say" 8 12 10 — — — — — 77 Ricky Sings Again
"Poor Little Fool"
b/w "Don't Leave Me This Way"		 1 2 3 — — — — 4 10 Imperial 5528 Ricky Nelson
"Someday"
b/w "I Got A Feeling" (Non-album track)		 — — — — — — — 9 66 London 8732 (UK only)
"Lonesome Town" / 7 7 — — — — — — 26 Imperial 5545 Ricky Sings Again
"I Got a Feeling" 10 15 — — — — — 27 85 Non-album track
1959 "It's Late" / 9 6 — — — — — 3 28 Imperial 5565 Ricky Sings Again
"Never Be Anyone Else But You" 6 5 — — — — — 14 14
"Just a Little Too Much" / 9 18 — — — — — 11 11 Imperial 5595 Songs by Ricky
"Sweeter Than You" 9 11 — — — — — 19 63
"I Wanna Be Loved" / 20 21 — — — — — 30 35 Imperial 5614 Million Sellers
"Mighty Good" 38 57 — — — — — — 35 Non-album track
1960 "Young Emotions" / 12 11 — — — — — 48 33 Imperial 5663 Million Sellers
"Right by My Side" 59 70 — — — — — — 33
"I'm Not Afraid" / 27 40 — — — — — — — Imperial 5685 More Songs by Ricky
"Yes Sir, That's My Baby" 34 49 — — — — — — 36 Million Sellers
"You Are the Only One" / 25 29 — — — — — — 76 Imperial 5707
"Milk Cow Blues" 79 101 — — — — — — —
1961 "Travelin' Man" / 1 1 — — — — — 2 1 Imperial 5741 Rick Is 21
"Hello Mary Lou" 9 9 — — — — — 2 1
"A Wonder Like You" / 11 11 — — — — — — 14 Imperial 5770 Non-album tracks
"Everlovin'" 16 20 — — — — — 23 —
1962 "Young World" / 5 9 — — — — — 19 11 Imperial 5805
"Summertime" 89 111 — — — — — — — Album Seven by Rick
"Today's Teardrops" (AU & Europe only) / — — — — — — — — 32 Imperial IH 568 (EU)
London HL-1954 (AU)
"Mad, Mad World" — — — — — — — — 32
"Teen Age Idol" / 5 9 — 2 — — — 39 18 Imperial 5864 Non-album tracks
"I've Got My Eyes on You (And I Like What I See)" 105 130 — — — — — — 18
"It's Up to You" / 6 7 — 4 — — — 22 18 Imperial 5901 It's Up to You
"I Need You" 83 91 — — — — — — —
1963 "I'm in Love Again" / 67 51 — — — — — — 50 Imperial 5910 Ricky Nelson
"That's All" 48 53 — — — — — — 50 Songs by Ricky
"You Don't Love Me Anymore (And I Can Tell)" / 47 48 — — — — — — — Decca 31475 For Your Sweet Love
"I Got a Woman" 49 58 — — — — — — 45
"If You Can't Rock Me" / 100 — — — — — — — — Imperial 5935 It's Up to You
"Old Enough to Love" 94 86 — — — — — — — Ricky Sings Again
"A Long Vacation"
b/w "Mad Mad World"		 120 107 — — — — — — — Imperial 5958 A Long Vacation
"Gypsy Woman" / 62 91 — — — — — — 26 Decca 31495 For Your Sweet Love
"String Along" 25 17 — — — — — — 26
"There's Not a Minute"
b/w "Time After Time" (from More Songs by Ricky)		 127 149 — — — — — — — Imperial 5985 Album Seven by Rick
"Fools Rush In" / 12 — — — — — — 12 26 Decca 31533 Rick Nelson Sings for You
"Down Home" 126 131 — — — — — — —
"Today's Teardrops"
b/w "Thank You Darlin'"		 54 65 — — — — — — — Imperial 66004 Album Seven by Rick
"For You"
b/w "That's All She Wrote"		 6 8 — 1 — — — 14 10 Decca 31574 Rick Nelson Sings for You
1964 "Congratulations"
b/w "One Minute To One" (from Songs by Ricky)		 63 104 — — — — — — — Imperial 66017 Album Seven by Rick
"The Very Thought of You"
b/w "I Wonder (If Your Love Will Ever Belong To Me)"		 26 19 — 11 — — — — 65 Decca 31612 The Very Thought of You
"Lucky Star"
b/w "Everybody But Me"		 127 142 — — — — — — — Imperial 66039 Rick Is 21
"There's Nothing I Can Say" / 47 49 — 18 — — — — 90 Decca 31656 Non-album track
"Lonely Corner" 113 105 — — — — — — — Best Always
"A Happy Guy" / 82 83 — — — — — — — Decca 31703 Spotlight on Rick
"Don't Breathe a Word" tag — — — — — — —
1965 "Mean Old World"
b/w "When The Chips Are Down"		 96 94 — — — — — — — Decca 31756 Best Always
"Come Out Dancing"
b/w "Yesterday's Love" (from Spotlight on Rick)		 130 131 — — — — — — — Decca 31800 Love and Kisses
"Love and Kisses"
b/w "Say You Love Me"		 — 124 — — — — — — — Decca 31845
1966 "Fire Breathin' Dragon"
b/w "Your Kind Of Lovin'"		 — — — — — — — — — Decca 31900 Non-album tracks
"You Just Can't Quit"
b/w "Louisiana Man"		 108 76 — — 24 — — — 81 Decca 31956 Bright Lights and Country Music
"Things You Gave Me"
b/w "Alone"		 — — — — — — — — — Decca 32026 Country Fever
1967 "They Don't Give Medals (To Yesterday's Heroes)"
b/w "Take a Broken Heart"		 — — — — — — — — — Decca 32055 On the Flip Side – Original Cast Album
"Take a City Bride"
b/w "I'm Called Lonely" (Non-album track)		 — — 58 — — — — — — Decca 32120 Country Fever
1968 "Suzanne on a Sunday Morning"
b/w "Moonshine" (Non-album track)		 — — — — — — — — — Decca 32176 Another Side of Rick
"Dream Weaver"
b/w "Baby Close Its Eyes"		 — — — — — — — — — Decca 32222
1969 "Don't Blame It on Your Wife"
b/w "Promenade in Green"		 — — — — — — — — — Decca 32284
"Don't Make Promises"
b/w "Barefoot Boy"		 — — — — — — — — — Decca 32298
"She Belongs to Me"
b/w "Promises" (Non-album track)		 33 30 — 27 33 — — — — Decca 32558 Rick Nelson in Concert
1970 "Easy to Be Free"
b/w "Come On In"		 48 50 — 21 46 — — — — Decca 32635
"I Shall Be Released"
b/w "If You Gotta Go, Go Now"		 102 — — — — — — — — Decca 32676
"We Got Such a Long Way to Go"
b/w "Look at Mary"		 — — — — — — — — — Decca 32711 Rick Sings Nelson
1971 "How Long"
b/w "Down Along the Bayou Country"		 — — — — — — — — — Decca 32739
"Life"
b/w "California" (from Rick Sings Nelson)		 109 110 — 15 — — — — — Decca 32779 Rudy the Fifth
1972 "Thank You Lord"
b/w "Sing Me a Song"		 — — — — — — — — — Decca 32860
"Gypsy Pilot"
b/w "Love Minus Zero/No Limit"		 — — — — — — — — — Decca 32906
"Garden Party"
b/w "So Long Mama"		 6 3 44 1 1 52 13 41 6 Decca 32980 Garden Party
1973 "Palace Guard"
b/w "A Flower Opens Gently By"		 65 79 — — 80 — — — — MCA 40001
"Lifestream"
b/w "Evil Woman Child"		 — 105 — — — — — — — MCA 40130 Windfall
1974 "Windfall"
b/w "Legacy"		 — 116 — 46 — — — — 62 MCA 40187
"One Night Stand"
b/w "Lifestream"		 — — 89 — — — — — — MCA 40214
1975 "Try (Try to Fall in Love)"
b/w "Louisiana Belle"		 — — — — — — — — — MCA 40392 Non-album tracks
"Rock and Roll Lady"
b/w "Fadeaway"		 — — — — — — — — — MCA 40458
1977 "You Can't Dance"
b/w "It's Another Day"		 — — — — — — — — — Epic 50458 Intakes
1978 "Gimme a Little Sign"
b/w "Something You Just Can't Buy"		 — — — — — — — — — Epic 50501
1979 "Dream Lover"
b/w "That Ain't the Way Love's Supposed to Be"		 — — 59 29 — 55 — — — Epic 50674 Rockabilly Renaissance (Unreleased)
1981 "It Hasn't Happened Yet"
b/w "Call It What You Want"		 — — — — — — — — — Capitol 4974 Playing To Win
"Believe What You Say" [New Version]
b/w "The Loser Babe Is You"		 — — — — — — — — — Capitol 4988
1982 "Give 'em My Number"
b/w "No Fair Falling in Love"		 — — — — — — — — — Capitol 5178 Non-album tracks
1986 "You Know What I Mean"
b/w "Don't Leave Me This Way" [New Version]		 — — — — — — — — — MCA 52781 All My Best
"Dream Lover" (re-issue)
b/w "Rave On"		 — — 88 — — 57 — — — Epic 06066 Memphis Sessions
1991 "Hello Mary Lou"
b/w "It's Late" (UK only release)		 — — — — — — — 45 — Liberty EMCT 2

Billboard Year-end performances

Year Song Year-end
position
1957 "A Teenager's Romance" 25
"Be-Bop Baby" 42
1958 "Stood Up" / "Waitin' in School" 17
"Poor Little Fool" 24
1959 "Never Be Anyone Else But You" 42
"It's Late" 74
"Just a Little Too Much" 78
"Sweeter Than You" 83
1960 "Young Emotions" 85
1961 "Travelin' Man" 23
"Hello Mary Lou" 49
1962 "Young World" 43
1972 "Garden Party" 46

References

  1. 1 2 3 For peaks after 1963: "Ricky Nelson Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Ricky Nelson Chart History: Top Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 214. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 389–390. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. ↑ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book (1940–1969). Turramurra, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book, 2005. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
  6. ↑ "For his first recording, Nelson cut a double-sided smash: "A Teenager's Romance" backed with Fats Domino's "I'm Walkin'."
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