Tag: The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet

Ricky Nelson – Stood Up

Around 1984 or so I really started to get into Ricky Nelson. Song after song of quality. At first, I only knew Garden Party but it’s his 50s catalog where many of his best songs are found…and I love Garden Party.

By 1957, Ricky Nelson was already a well-known actor from his role on “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet”, a TV show that starred his real-life family. His transition into music was initially seen as a part of his television character, but he quickly proved his talents as a serious musician. The show helped him of course but also hurt his credibility as a rock and roll artist.

Stood Up was part of a string of hits he was enjoying in the late 50s. The song was written by Dub Dickerson and Erma Herrold. The great James Burton, who would later lead Elvis’s TCB Band,  played guitar on this song.

The song peaked at #2 on the Billboard 100 and #27 in the UK in 1957. Stood Up was his second #2 single and the next year he would have his first number one with Poor Little Fool. Poor Little Fool featured The Jordanaires, who were Elvis Presley’s backing singers.

Throughout the 1960s, Nelson continued to record rockabilly and evolve as an artist. He shifted to a more folk-rock sound and formed The Stone Canyon Band and in 1972 he had the hit Garden Party.

Stood Up

Well, I’ve been waitin’ ever since eightGuess my baby’s got another dateStood up, broken-hearted, again

I’ll bet she’s out havin’ a ballNot even thinkin’ of me at allStood up, broken-hearted, again

Well, I know just what I oughta doI oughta find somebody newBut, baby, I couldn’t forget about youStood up, broken-hearted, again, mm

Why must I always be the oneLeft behind never havin’ any fun?Stood up, broken-hearted, again

But I guess I’ll go on bein’ a foolSittin’ around just waitin’ for youStood up, broken-hearted, again

Well, I know just what I oughta doI oughta find somebody newBut, baby, I couldn’t forget about youStood up, broken-hearted, again

Stood up, broken-hearted, againStood up, broken-hearted, again

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Ricky Nelson – It’s Late

Ricky Nelson was a rockabilly guy and a very good one. He gets lost in the shuffle because he was a huge teenage actor at the time on his family’s show…The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Actors that switch to music are sometimes looked over but Nelson was very successful. All in all, he released 94 singles and 24 studio albums in his career. When talking about the fifties though….Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, and Elvis get brought up a lot but Nelson not as much.

t’s Late was written by Dorsey Burnette and his cousin Johnny Burnette and Dorsey released it in 1958. The following year Nelson recorded and released the song. It peaked at #9 on the Billboard 100 and  #3 in the UK in 1959.

I went through a Ricky Nelson phase when I graduated high school in 1985. I purchased a greatest hits package and was learning more songs from him. I wanted to go see him perform that year and I kept waiting for him to appear somewhere because I heard he was touring. This was before the internet and you had to look at the newspapers for any announcements and listen to the radio. Musicians would play at places and you would never know sometimes.

I never got a chance to see him because on December 31, 1985, his chartered jet crashed killing him and six other passengers.

I have to admit…I like the Dorsey Burnette version of this also.

It’s Late

It’s late, it’s lateWe gotta get on homeIt’s late, it’s lateWe’ve been gone too long

Too bad, too badWe shoulda checked our timeCan’t phone, can’t phoneWe done spent every dime

It’s late, it’s lateWe’re ’bout to run outta gasIt’s late, it’s lateWe gotta get home fast

Can’t speed, can’t speedWe’re in a slow-down zoneBaby, look at that clockWhy can’t it be wrong

If we coulda left home at a quarter to nineWoulda had fun and plenty of timeWe got started just a little bit lateHope this won’t be our last date

Look up, look upIs that the moon we see?Can’t be, can’t beLooks like the sun to me

It’s late, it’s lateI hate to face your dadToo bad, too badI know he’s gonna be mad

It’s late, it’s lateWe gotta get on homeIt’s late, it’s lateWe’ve been gone too long

It’s late, it’s lateWe’re ’bout to run outta gasIt’s late, it’s lateWe gotta get home fast

Can’t speed, can’t speedWe’re in a slow-down zoneBaby, look at that clockWhy can’t it be wrong

If we coulda left home at a quarter to nineWoulda had fun and plenty of timeWe got started just a little bit lateHope this won’t be our last date

Look up, look upIs that the moon we see?Can’t be, can’t beLooks like the sun to me

It’s late, it’s lateI hate to face your dadToo bad, too badI know he’s gonna be mad

It’s late, it’s lateWe gotta get on homeIt’s late, it’s lateWe’ve been gone too long

It’s late

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