Perspective (Rick Nelson album)

Last updated
Perspective
Perspective (Rick Nelson album).JPG
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 2, 1969
Genre
Length30:56
Label Decca
Producer John Boylan
Rick Nelson chronology
Another Side of Rick
(1967)
Perspective
(1969)
In Concert at the Troubadour, 1969
(1970)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Perspective is the eighteenth studio album by American singer Ricky Nelson, and his eleventh for Decca Records.

Contents

The album was a departure from Nelson's previous rockabilly records and an experiment in a more contemporary orchestral style. [2] Like Nelson's prior album Another Side of Rick, it was produced by John Boylan. [3] Boylan selected a number of contemporary songs for the album, including four by Randy Newman, who was not yet a well known songwriter. [4] He also contributed two of his own songs, while Nelson's wife Kris performed vocals on "Hello to the Wind" (a joint Boylan/Nelson composition) and supplied album artwork. [4] The album was recorded in California in 1968, Nelson's only recording that year. It was not released until nearly a year later. [4]

Neither of the two Boylan-produced albums were a commercial success. [4] Although Nelson grew to dislike Perspective's overproduced style, he credits the album with clarifying his future musical direction. "Perspective with those songs was a complete experiment and those Steve Miller type sound effects between tracks were my idea.... I'm not sorry I did those things because, if anything, it made up my mind as to the way I wanted to go... I just simplified the whole thing and went back to the formula of drums, bass, and guitar. That's where I'd always been most effective." [3]

Reception

Richie Unterberger of AllMusic said that "Nelson did have good taste in selecting material, covering songs by Paul Simon, Richie Havens, Harry Nilsson, and Randy Newman, all of whom (except Simon) were little known by most of the public in 1967; indeed, Nelson covers five Newman songs in a row to end the album, creating the effect of an aborted "Nelson Sings Newman" concept record. [5]

Track listing

Side one

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."When the Sun Shined Its Face on Me"Reid Whitelaw2:19
2."Without Her" Harry Nilsson 2:32
3."The Lady Stayed with Me" John Boylan 2:19
4."Three Day Eternity" Richie Havens 2:22
5."For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her" Paul Simon 2:43
6."Stop by My Window"John Boylan2:52

Side two

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hello to the Wind"John Boylan, Ricky Nelson3:05
2."Wait 'til Next Year" Randy Newman 2:29
3."Love Story"Randy Newman2:59
4."So Long Dad/Love Story (Reprise) [Medley]"Randy Newman3:57
5."I Think It's Going to Rain Today"Randy Newman3:19

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References

  1. ""Perspective" - Album Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  2. Courrier, Kevin (2005). Randy Newman's American Dreams. ECW Press. p. 117. ISBN   978-1-55022-690-4.
  3. 1 2 Homer, Sheree (2012). Rick Nelson, Rock 'n' Roll Pioneer. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. p. 88. ISBN   978-0-7864-6060-1.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Selvin, Joel (1990). Ricky Nelson: Idol for a Generation. Chicago: Contemporary Books. p. 175. ISBN   978-0-8092-4187-3.
  5. "Rick Nelson – Perspective: Review".