That was last night, and here's the relevant passage from Bob's book "The Philosophy of Modern Song" (commission earned):Amazing footage of Bob performing „Garden Party“ last night!https://t.co/NZ6SRl49uY#bobdylan pic.twitter.com/BDkqRuHUhn
— Michael (@False_Prophet44) May 16, 2025
There’s an argument to be made that Ricky, even more than Elvis, was the true ambassador of rock and roll. Sure, when Elvis appeared on Ed Sullivan, everybody stopped and took notice, but Ricky was in your house every week. Along with guitarist James Burton and the rest of the band, Ricky made rock and roll part of the family. And not just for us but all over the world, magically transforming the image on a black and white television into the American dream. But mostly it was records that did it. Ricky was a part of the generation that had Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, Fats Domino, and others, that made people from all nations, including commie countries, fall in love with America.....
Including commie countries!
In 1971, Richard Nader tried to book Ricky for a rock and roll oldies show. Ricky agreed to appear on two conditions. They had to call the event the Rock and Roll Spectacular and he had to be billed as Rick, not Ricky, Nelson. He got them to change his name and the name of the event. None of this was known when Ricky played the Garden that night. Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, the Coasters, Bobby Rydell, a bunch of others. They were all good, did their hits. Rick was the only one out there trying to do new material. Oh, he did a couple of familiar songs. But he also did some of his newer songs. People booed. Later he wrote a song about it, called “Garden Party,” and took that song into the top ten. The people who came and saw him again didn’t even recognize themselves in that song.
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, you can't please everyone
So you got to please yourself
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32 comments:
I think the Nelson's hold some kind of record for being the only family in which three successive generations had either a chart single or perhaps even a number 1 hit.
Excellent song. I remember driving down the 55 Freeway in Orange County in late December of 1985 and seeing the sign at a small music venue announcing Ricky Nelson and Stone Canyon Band’s performance booked for a date in the first week of January ‘86.
Bob’s showing his age and bully for him.
"Wow!" is right. Dylan brought his own style to that wonderful rendition of Garden Party.
Some people feel the rain.
Others just get wet. ~ Bob Dylan
I'm in the middle of reading this book now. it might help to point out that Dylan has used this writing style (if he's actually writing -- sounds more like transcribed messages into a dictaphone) in liner notes to some of his albums -- World Gone Wrong comes quickest to mind -- I'm sure there are others. Dylan's style of dispensing anecdotes about the lives of other musicians resembles the stories he told in between his DJ duties on his Theme Time Radio Hour. Either you like spending time with Bob Dylan in this manner, or you don't. I do. It's like drinking with an old friend who is sharing his expertise in some arcane subject. It's discursive and circular. But in the end, you've spent time listening to the insights of a unique mind, you've learned a thing or two. And you've had some fun
Oh, he did a couple of familiar songs. But he also did some of his newer songs. People booed.
I wonder if this is documented with witnesses, video or audio? I've heard the story, but only from Nelson's perspective. I'm sure it happened, I just wonder to what extent. What did it sound like?
Mr. Hughes apparently was George Harrison's travelling alias. According to legend, Harrison was planning to do a cover album of Dylan song, but the record was never made. Harrison, of course, was close friends with Dylan, who was later a fellow Willbury.
As I recall, Nelson and band did a sweet version of Dylan’s “She Belongs To Me”.
Chanson a clef
Many years ago, read an interview with Dylan where he singled-out Ricky Nelson's voice as a personal favorite. At the time, thought that was odd.
I saw Rick Nelson play at the old Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis - which was a great place to see a band live. I was one of the relatively few guys in the audience. He had a way of attracting a lot of women (just slightly older than me). but this was back in the "70s.
This was a really nice compliment by Bob Dylan, however not a really big surprise.
The song pops up in my mind from time to time: "I wish you a lotta luck, but if memories are all I sing, I'd rather drive a truck".
He was very good at what he did, but I'm not buying the "father of R&R" push. Putting him the same league with Holly, Little Richard and Chuck Berry just won't work.
He did have a role though in lifting the whole country rock thing. Note how a "honky-tonk" shows up in the song. FWIW, I think Dylan saw that and among other things, liked the song.
I remember watching Ozzie and Harriet reruns after they'd gotten kind of stupid hoping it was an episode where Ricky sang a song at the end. He didn't do it for all shows. I got into the clarinet for a couple of years and missed the Bug invasion, you know when you not only needed to know their names but but also whose wig your cousin was sporting while banging on his drums. A few years later when I'm buying rock albums Ricky might as well have been Frank S.
I agree with Jay Vogt. I always regarded Nelson as in the second tier of artists, if that, but appreciated his early forays into a country rock sound.
Whe I first heard the line "I wish you a lotta luck, but if memories are all I sing, I'd rather drive a truck" in Garden Party, I remember thinking I hope you like truck driving.
And FWIW, I liked his mother's 1938 version of "Says My Heart".
"Mr. Hughes"
Is that Howard Hughes?
I think Dylan did a really good version of the song, which I was not expecting since for the last ten years everyone I know who bothered to go see Dylan on tour thought the shows were, at best sloppy, if not actually terrible. And listening to the lyrics, Garden Party seems to describe Dylan's career quite well. Before the great purge I had one or two Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band LPs and they were pretty good but as others here have said, second tier.
Dylan looks very old and frail. A lot better than Rick Nelson, but old and frail. This isn't one of life's golden prizes, but Ringo Starr, the least of all Beatles, has aged the best of his contemporaries. It's a consolation prize, but octogenarians prize it highly.......We're the last generation to give a minor blues chord about where Rick Nelson fits into the pantheon of rock. All the people who knew the relative merits of Les Brown' Band of Renown versus Tommy Dorsey have passed on. I think rap music has been more dominant and more enduring than rock, and that's sadder to contemplate than Dylan's frail body.
Dylan looks good for an 83 yo, but is that his hair or a wig?
When I was writing the post, I asked Grok OK so I think who Mr. Hughes was supposed to be and it seemed to think it was George Harrison, but it did also mention Howard Hughes.
Saw Dylan's 2013 concert in Duluth. I can honestly say he doesn't sound any worse.
“… I asked Grok OK so I think who Mr. Hughes was supposed to be … “
That’s a voice-to-text glitch. Just as I hit publish and with the cursor just after “Grok,” Meade said the words “OK so I think.”
Funny, I always understood that line in Garden Party as a sly remark about Dylan's becoming as rich as Howard Hughes, but still posing as his old self.
Grok is a creature of the patriarchy. Confirmed.
William: "I think rap music has been more dominant and more enduring than rock, and that's sadder to contemplate than Dylan's frail body."
Cheer up mate, it's not so bad. Lots of bands are making rock, for whatever definition of 'rock' you may hold. Fuzzy 70s guitars, prog, metal, country rock, etc. Greta. Wolfmother. Killers. The National. Dream Theater. So much out there. Some acts do blend in hip-hop, but lots more dont. And the young kids wear T-shirts of the old bands, even if many of them have no idea about the band.
If anything, one could describe hip-hop as dying, since by its very nature it assimilates and reinterprets other genres. Daniel Boone's axe or Theseus's ship. So many hip-hop acts have gone country, for example.
Roger Daltrey wouldn't let them say rock is dead, and I won't either!
JSM
Meh. A not very good rendition of a not very good song.
The cultural influence discussion is interesting though.
Rick Nelson was my very first heartthrob ...and not just because of his music. Broke my heart the way he died, though.
And now I'm gonna go find Dylan's book.
Dylan is not referring to the quality of Nelson‘s music and lyrics. As a TV star Nelson had by far the greatest reach into the rock ‘n’ roll audience. Personally, I think Dylan got such a kick out of the Hughes in Dylan‘s shoes line that connects him to one of his great friends. Geezers in their 70s and 80s just love nostalgia.
missed the Bug invasion, you know when you not only needed to know their names but but also whose wig your cousin was sporting while banging on his drums.
Bingo, Bango, Bongo and Irving.
Dylan has an A1 take on that later career iconic '72 hit by Ricky Nelson. We were bombarded with Ozziet and Harry reruns in the mid-late 60's. I remember being very surprised that Ricky was cool.
I decided to reward Ann for another Bob Dylan post by purchasing a pair of AirPods through her Amazon link.
Loved me some Stone Canyon Band.
I see that everyone still calls Mr. Nelson "Ricky", but he hated being called that. He became a star as a child, but he grew up. That was the problem that prompted this song - everybody wanted him to be a kid forever; but like all of us, he grew up, and he gave us some great music along the way.
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