Library Rock's Backpages

Rick Nelson: The Irrepressible Ricky

Bill Bentley, L.A. Weekly, 27 October 1983

RICK NELSON is not an easily understood rock & roller, and even he's not sure why. Maybe it's because his initial prominence came from The Ozzie & Harriet Show, which for all its sturdy virtues was not exactly The Wild Ones. Or maybe it's because his smooth and youthful voice didn't always lend itself to the lusty vagaries of, say, an Elvis Presley or Eddie Cochran. Or possibly it's because Nelson's public lifestyle has never been steamy or sordid enough to give him the greasy streak of a Gene Vincent or even a Roy Orbison.

Total word count of piece: 2177

Subscribe

Becoming a member is easy. Membership gives you access to all the thousands of articles in the library.

Click here to go to Subscribe page.

Click here for academic and other group subscriptions.