It was an ordinary day. Working at the gallery while listening to some of my favorite songs from the past. For me, the past means songs from the 50s and 60s. I have a small CD player that used to be my mom's, but claimed it after she died a few years ago. Holds just one CD, but you can't listen to more than one at a time anyway, right? Today I have my Ricky Nelson CD with songs such as Travelin' Man, Poor Little Fool, Hello Mary Lou, Lonesome Town, It's Late, Never Be Anyone Else But You, and Garden Party. For many of you reading this, you may have heard of Ricky Nelson, but perhaps you never heard most of his music. Ricky was a few years older than me having been born in 1940. He happened to be born into a family of performers. In the late 40s he joined his family in the radio and television series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet where he played himself. In 1952 he appeared in his first feature film, Here Come the Nelsons. Then in 1957 he began a long and successful career as a popular recording artist when he appeared on the television version of the sitcom. I remember watching the show every week on TV. At the time it was black and white. Always loved when Ricky had the chance to sing one of his songs at the end of the show. He was one of the top "teen idols" of the 1950s which was reflected in his record sales at the Grant's Department Store where I worked part-time in the sports and record departments as a high school Junior. His musical career led to 53 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 which included his first #1 hit single in 1958, "Poor Little Fool", which still holds the distinction of being the first #1 song on Billboard Magazine's then newly created Hot 100 Chart. The following year he received a Golden Globe nomination for "Most Promising Male Newcomer" after staring in Rio Bravo.
One of my favorites, Ricky Nelson
On January 21, 1987 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Then in 1996 he was ranked #49 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time. In 1963 he married Sharon Kristin Harmon. They had four children; Tracy, twin sons, Gunnar and Matthew, and Sam. On December 26, 1985, Ricky and his band left for a three-stop tour of the southern United States. Following stops in Orlando and Guntersville, the band left for a New Year's Eve performance in Dallas on December 31. His plane crashed northeast of Dallas in De Kalb, Texas in a cow pasture less than two miles from the landing strip. Seven of the nine occupants were killed, Ricky being one of them. One of my favorite songs that Ricky sang was one called "Garden Party" that he wrote in 1972. The song was written by Ricky a year after he went to the Richard Nader's Rock 'n Roll Revival concert given at Madison Square Garden. The playbill included many greats of the early rock era including Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Bobby Rydell.
Nelson came on stage dressed in the then-current fashions, bell-bottom pants and a purple velvet shirt with his hair hanging down to his shoulders. He began his stint with "Hello Mary Lou" and a few more of his all-time favorites, but then he played the Rolling Stones' "Country Honk". The crowd began to boo him. It was later reported that the booing was caused by police action in the back of the audience, but Nelson thought it was directed at him. He took it personally and left the stage. He spent the rest of the concert backstage. "Garden Party" was written as a response to his feelings after the concert. It is supposedly his only song that he wrote entirely by himself. If you listen to the lyrics of "Garden Party", you will hear that it tells of various people who were present, frequently in an oblique manner.
Matthew and Gunnar Nelson in concert.
Last year Carol and I went with friends to the Mount Gretna Playhouse in nearby Mount Gretna, PA where we saw Gunnar and Matthew perform all of my favorite Ricky Nelson songs including "Garden Party". That particular song may be my most favorite, even though it is meant to tell the story of Ricky's ill feelings after his concert performance. Listen to the song and read the lyrics which follow. Maybe you will hear his sorrow, but is still a very moving and inspirational song. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
Lyrics to Garden Party
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.
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
People came from miles around, everyone was there
Yoko brought her walrus, there was magic in the air
And 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.
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
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.
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
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 rather drive a truck
And it's all right now, learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself
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