On this day in history, Ricky Nelson (May 8, 1940 --December 31, 1985), recorded his first hit records, "A Teenager's Romance" and "I'm Walkin' ( A white cover of the Fats Domino song)." A few weeks later, he sang the songs on the TV series and became an overnight pop star, despite his complete lack of musical experience. Over the years until his death, he became a good musician with his last major hit being "Garden Party" bemoaning the fact that he was stuck with the image of being a "teen idol" rather than someone who actually worked at his music. He left behind the twins, Matthew and Gunnar, who became the singing duo "Nelson"
I'm Walkin with Rick Nelson and Fats Domino
I went to a garden party
to reminisce with my old friends
A chance to share old memories
and play our songs again
When I got to the garden party,
they all knew my name
No one recognized me,
I didn't look the same
But it's all right now,
I learned my lesson well.
See you can't please everyone
so you got to please yourself
People came from miles around,
everyone was there
Yoko brought her walrus,
there was magic in the air
'n' over in the corner,
much to my surprise
Mr. Hughes hid in Dylan's shoes wearing his disguise
But it's all right now,
I learned my lesson well.
See you can't please everyone
so you got to please yourself
lott-in-dah-dah, lot-in-dah-dah-dah
Played them all the old songs,
thought that's why they came
No one heard the music,
we didn't look the same
I said hello to "Mary Lou",
she belongs to me
When I sang a song about a honky-tonk,
it was time to leave
But it's all right now,
I learned my lesson well.
See you can't please everyone
so you got to please yourself
lot-dah-dah (lot-dah-dah-dah)
lot-in-dah-dah-dah
Someone opened up a closet door
and out stepped Johnny B. Goode
Playing guitar like a-ringin' a bell
and lookin' like he should
If you gotta play at garden parties,
I wish you a lotta luck
But if memories were all I sang,
I'd rather drive a truck
And it's all right now,
I learned my lesson well.
See you can't please everyone
so you got to please yourself
lot-dah-dah (lot-dah-dah-dah)
lot-in-dah-dah-dah
And it's all right now,
I learned my lesson well
See you can't please everyone
so you got to please yourself
5 comments:
Has it really been that long since he left us? Oddly enough, Garden Party is about not being able to separate from the person that folks first got to know, and it's the one song that he seems to be most famous for, kind of sealing the image.
I don't know if I said that right, but I find it ironic.
Wow. He was, of course, a crush of mine. Though he wasn't a "great" musician, he was pretty darned good. Haven't thought of him in years. It's so good when you bring up folks we have forgotten.
I always enjoyed "Garden Party" and thought that he was a pretty good musician, though he did definitely get stuck in that whole "teen idol" thing. Sadly, it seems to happen to a lot of good musicians who can never seem to break free of it.
I'm another Ricky Nelson fan... and holder of a crush on him. I think Mom understood this (although, at the time, she didn't know nothin' about a pre-teen crush)... anyway, she always made sure we watched "Ozzie & Harriet".
My first "tween" crush!
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