Author: Chris Isaak.
Decades before Chris Isaak, Ricky Nelson was the archetypal rockabilly-pop crooner of brokenhearted laments. This compilation does a fine job of anthologizing Nelson's early teen-idol days (before he dropped the "y" from his name and became a country-rock pioneer). The radio-friendly production always remains on the right side of tasteful, and for every upbeat "Hello Mary Lou," there's a thrillingly disconsolate "Lonesome Town" or "Gloomy Sunday" to be found on this cunningly crafted set. minimize