Classic Pop Icons

Rick Nelson’s country rock hit “Garden Party” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons. “Garden Party” was released in June 1972, backed with “So Long Mama,” and was the title track of an album released several months later.

“Garden Party” is Rick Nelson’s account of his appearance at a Rock ‘n’ Roll revival concert, which took place at Madison Square Garden, New York City, on October 15, 1971. Other stars on the bill included Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Bobby Rydell.

Nelson had been one of the most successful teen idols of the early years of rock ‘n’ roll, before moving on to record pioneering, but less commercially successful country rock music in the mid-’60s. Accompanying the new music was a new image that had little in common with the rockabilly persona that the nostalgia-driven Madison Square Garden audience might have expected. Nelson turned up with shoulder length hair, a purple velvet shirt and bell-bottoms – a situation that he would describe as follows in “Garden Party”:

After sitting through new material by Nelson and his Stone Canyon Band, including a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Country Honk” (a country version of “Honky Tonk Women”), the Madison Square Garden crowd began to boo and a disappointed and hurt Nelson cut his set short. At least, that was Nelson’s interpretation of the event. It has also been suggested that Nelson wrongly assumed that boos directed at disturbances in the crowd were meant for him. Whatever the truth, it prompted Nelson to write a fine country rock track that would be his first Top Ten hit since 1963.

Although “Garden Party” was inspired by a disheartening experience, it doesn’t take the form of a frustrated rant. Instead, Nelson came to accept the crowd reaction and view it as a learning experience, as highlighted by the chorus:

This point is reinforced by the one of the song’s most memorable lines:

Nelson tells us that two former-Beatles were in attendance for the Madison Square Garden show, namely John Lennon and George Harrison. They are identified by the lyrics “Yoko brought her Walrus” and “Mr. Hughes hid in Dylan’s shoes, wearing his disguise,” respectively. The Walrus reference of course relates to the Lennon-penned Beatles track “I Am The Walrus.” The “Mr Hughes” reference is less obvious and is often wrongly thought to apply to Howard Hughes. In fact, Hughes was a name that Harrison used in order to remain anonymous when travelling, and the “Dylan’s shoes” lyric was probably a reference to a Dylan covers album that Harrison was planning.

Further evidence of Nelson’s lyrical inventiveness comes with the line “I said hello to Mary Lou, she belongs to me” because “she belongs to me” highlights not only his enduring association with the monster hit “Hello, Mary Lou,” but also his 1969 cover of the Dylan song “She Belongs To Me.”

Nelson breathed life into these fine lyrics with a strong country rock melody sang in typically laidback fashion, ably backed by his Stone Canyon Band.

Rick Nelson – “Garden Party”

Authorship

“Garden Party” was written by Rick Nelson.

Recording date

“Garden Party” was recorded in the spring of 1972.

Musicians

The following musicians played on “Garden Party”:

• Rick Nelson – guitar, lead vocals
• Allen Kemp – lead guitar, background vocals
• Tom Brumley – steel guitar
• Stephen A. Love – bass, background vocals
• Patrick Shanahan – drums.

Kemp and Shanahan had played together for years, as both had been members of The Poor, along with Randy Meisner, who played bass with the Stone Canyon Band until he was replaced by his former Goldrush bandmate Stephen A. Love in 1971. Meisner would join the Linda Ronstadt band, which would morph into The Eagles after parting with Ronstadt.

Tom Brumley had played with Buck Owens for years before joining Nelson’s band in 1969. He regards the “Garden Party” album as one of the highlights of his career.

Chart performance

“Garden Party” peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 29, 1972.

Cover

John Fogerty – “Garden Party”

Former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman, John Fogerty, covered “Garden Party” for his 2009 album “The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again.” The Eagles’ Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit joined vocal duties with Fogerty on the track.

This is an enjoyable cover, but holds no surprises as the original arrangement is followed closely.

There will be a new Song of the Week on February 6.

Rick Nelson’s “Garden Party” is available on the album “Garden Party” and on a number of compilations, including “Ricky Nelson’s Greatest Hits.”

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Garden Party (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
Ricky Nelson Greatest Hits (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now