- Ricky Nelson (RIP 1985) --  vocals, guitar, keyboards

   supporting musicians (1971)

- Andy Belling -- keyboards

- Tom Brumley (RIP 2009) -- pedal steel guitar

- Alan Kemp (RIP 2009) -- lead guitar, backing vocals

- Randy Meisner -- bass, backing vocals

- Patrick Shanahan -- drums, percussion

- The Desert Rose Band (Tom Brumley)

- The Eagles (Randy Meisner)

- The Fleas (Ricky Nelson)

- Buck Owens and the Buckaroos (Tim Brumley)

- Poco (Randy Meisner)

- Randy Meisner (solo efforts)

- New Riders of the Purple Sage (Patrick Shanahan)

- Soul Survivors (Alan Kemp and Patrick Shanahan)

- The Trophies (Ricky Nelson)

Genre: country-rock

Rating: 4 stars ****

Title:  Rudy the Fifth

Company: Decca

Catalog:  DL 75297
Year: 1971

Country/State: Teaneck, New Jersey

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 1709

Price: $20.00

During his extensive recording career the late Ricky Nelson generated a gigantic catalog of material (one discography I saw reflected 78 singles).  Huge segments of that catalog consist of pap pop tunes and equally bad country tunes, but this '70s work with The Stone Canyon Band stands as an exception to the rule.

Though largely forgotten today, 1971's self-produced "Rudy the Fifth" showcased a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable set of country-rock tunes.  I hesitate to use the word pioneering, but with backing from The Stone Canyon Band (keyboardist Andy Belling, pedal steel guitarist Tom Brumley, lead guitarist Alan Kemp, former Poco bassist Randy Meisner, and drummer Patrick Shanahan), this album was clearly a forerunner in the country-rock sweepstakes.   To my ears Nelson's always had one of music's nicest voices. Technically that may not have been a true statement, but exemplified by tracks like the sweet pop tune 'Sing me a Song', 'The Last Time Around' and the Dylan cover 'Love Minus Zero/No Limit' Nelson had one of those naturally appealing voices that didn't need any kind of post-production touch-up.   The album also showcased Nelson's amazing growth as a songwriter with nine of the twelve tracks being original compositions.  Anyone who thought he was a vapid pop idol should listen to 'The Last Time Around' and 'Life'.   And speaking of vapid pop idols; anyone who doubted Nelson and company could rock out needed to check out their blazing cover of The Stones' 'Honky Tonk Woman', the rollicking 'Feel So Good', and the haunting 'Gypsy Pilot'.   Summation - a wonderful album that deserves to be rediscovered ...

"Rudy the Fifth" track listing:
(side 1)

1.)  This Train   (Ricky Nelson)  - 2:34

Other than the cheesy train sound effects that opened the tune, 'This Train' was a surprisingly enjoyable country-rock stomper.  Kicked along by Andy Belling's barrelhouse piano, imagine an early Eagles tune and you'd get a feel for this one.  rating: *** stars

2.) Just Like a Woman  (Bob Dylan) - 4:58

Strange, but Nelson seems to have been one of the best Dylan interpreters and his gentle, country-tinged 'Just Like a Woman' may be one of the best Dylan covers ever done.  Shame so few have heard it.   rating: **** stars

3.) Sing Me a Song   (Ricky Nelson)  - 3:21

Anyone who loved 'Garden Party' should find the sweet, breezy 'Sing Me a Song' equally enjoyable.  This would have been my choice for a single.  rating: **** stars

4.) The Last Time Around   (Ricky Nelson)  - 4:21

Kicked along by Patrick Shanahan's martial drumming, 'The Last Time Around' was one of the prettiest things he ever wrote, the lyrics may sound quaint and dated, but to my ears had that patented Nelson vibe.   Another tune with radio potential and kudos to the late Tom Brumley for a classic pedal steel solo (and I don't even like pedal steel).  Nelson's daughter Tracy once described the tune as:  "My dad was a very spiritual guy, believed in sort of a zen/buddhist philosophy, didn't talk about it, just lived it. This song is about reincarnation, something he believed in.  "I don't know how I know/ but I've been here before/ and the things that seem important aren't you see/ I know you don't believe/ in my philosophy/ but I thank you for the love you given me......and Tom Brumley is amazing on this."  The closing "see you later baby" always makes me smile.    rating: **** stars

5.) Song for Kristin  (instrumental)   (Ricky Nelson)  - 1:14

Pretty, almost Baroque-sounding acoustic guitar propelled instrumental.   Given he was married to Kristin Harmon for years,, I'm guessing she was the inspiration for this one.  rating: *** stars

6.) Honky Tonk Woman   (Mick Jagger -- Keith Richard) - 4:11

I've always considered it a shame Nelson and company didn't record more rock-oriented material.   Judging by this cover of The Stones' 'Honky Tonk Woman' he certainly had the voice for the genre and propelled by Alan Kemp's blazing lead guitar, The Stone Canyon Band showed they were more than capable of ditching country-rock for the real thing.  The tune remained a staple in his live show for years.    rating: **** stars

(side 2)
1.)  Feel So Good   (Leonard Lee) - 2:59

A bouncy, radio-friendly tune that should have appealed to both his long standing pop fans and his newer country-rock audience.  Randy Meisner's bass made this song great.   rating: **** stars

2.) Life   (Ricky Nelson)  - 2:57

Another tune seemingly reflecting his spiritual side, though this one was cloaked in a nifty top-40 melody.   Sweet and one of those songs that climbed in your head and starts playing at the least expected times - I once found myself humming it on the Washington DC Metro.  That's presumably why Decca tapped it as a single:

- 1971's 'Life' b/w 'California' (Decca catalog number 32779)  Always wondered why the blissful country-rock 'B' side wasn't included on the album.    rating: **** stars

3.) Thank You Lord   (Ricky Nelson)  - 4:00

Rick Nelson as a Gospel singer ...   Pretty song, that morphed from piano-ballad to Southern soul and back. And while I had nothing against the heartfelt sentiments, this one simply missed the mark for me.  That didn't stop Decca from releasing it as a single:

- 1971's 'Thank You Lord' b/w 'Sing Me a Song' (Decca catalog number 32860)   rating: ** stars

4.) Song For Kristin   (Ricky Nelson)  - 1:15

Continuation of the 'A' side instrumental ...   rating: *** stars

5.) Love Minus Zero/No Limit   (Bob Dylan) - 2:55

The album's second Dylan cover once again served to highlight what a great, natural voice Nelson had.  easy to see why Dylan admired him.   The tune also showcased his facility on keyboards.    One of the album highlights.   rating: **** stars

6.) Gypsy Pilot   (Ricky Nelson)  - 4:06

'Gypsy Pilot' was the perfect introduction who only knew Nelson as a '50s pop star, or country-rocker ...  Autobiographical ?  and also somewhat disconcerting given the airplane crash sound effects at the end of the tune. Daughter Tracy put this up on YouTube: "This song has always seemed to me my dad's premonition as to how he would pass away. Flying was a theme in a lot of the songs he wrote. Particularly haunting is the long steel guitar run at the end and the "crash" , which you can hear much better on the lp than here live. (That's the great Tom Brumley) The last verse: "When they claim my body/they won't have much to say/except that he lived a good life/he lived everyday/ you know he saw the sunshine/ you know he felt the rain/  he loved everybody/ and he hopes you do the same."   Recorded during a 1972  appearance on Kenny Rogers and the First Edition's Canadian "Rollin' On The River" television show, YouTube has a live performances of the tune at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvAn2ehsF6k   The tune was also tapped as a single:

-1971's 'Gypsy Pilot' b/w 'Love Minus Zero/No Limit' (Decca catalog number 32906)  rating: **** stars 

Brumley suffered a fatal heart attack in 2009.

Drummer kemp died of cancer in 2009.