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Garden Party By Ricky Nelson
And Other Hits
On The Acoustic

Garden Party By Ricky Nelson

Welcome to my Garden Party by Ricky Nelson page where I demonstrate how to play several greatest hits by Ricky Nelson. I'll be using some Ricky Nelson album covers images below so you can see the origin of each song.

There are also free .pdf Ricky Nelson chords and lyrics sheets available for download, rhythm tips and more. If you need full tutorial lessons, they are available for a small fee. See right menu for greater discounts.

Jump links to quickly access the sections.


Garden Party By Ricky Nelson
Chords, Demos, Lyrics, Tutorials

1. A Teenager In Love

ricky nelson a teenager in love

A Teenager In Love can be found on his album "All My Best", which was released in 1985.

"Teenager in Love" was originally recorded by Dion and the Belmonts in 1959 and became a hit, reaching number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Ricky Nelson's version of the song features his signature smooth vocals and a rock and roll arrangement, and is considered a classic cover of the song.

The album "All My Best" is a compilation album that features many of Ricky Nelson's biggest hits, including "Hello Mary Lou", "Travelin' Man", and "Garden Party".

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: root down up root up down up
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: C, Am, F, G

Chords & Lyrics

 

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2. Don't Leave Me This Way

dont leave me this way ricky nelson

Don't Leave Me This Way was written by Ricky Nelson for Lorrie Collins, with whom he was romantically involved at the time. The song was released as a single in 1958 and featured Nelson playing guitar and providing background vocals.

The song is a country ballad with a traditional sound, and showcases Collins' powerful vocals. While the song was not a major hit, it remains a notable early example of Nelson's songwriting ability and his collaborations with other artists in the early years of his career.

You'll find this track on the album "All My Best" from 1986.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: root up down up up down up and repeat
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: E, B7, A, Gb
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top Of Garden Party By Ricky Nelson

3. Dream Lover

dream lover by ricky nelson

Dream Lover was written by Bobby Darin who recorded his version  back in 1959. Twenty years later in 1979, for his unfinished album "Rockabilly Renaissance" in 1979.

"Rockabilly Renaissance" was intended to be a comeback album for Nelson, featuring updated versions of some of his classic hits as well as covers of other rock and roll and country songs. However, the album was never officially released due to legal and financial issues with the record label.

Nelson's version of "Dream Lover" features a more rockabilly-influenced arrangement than Darin's original, with twangy guitars and a driving beat. Nelson's smooth vocals bring a touch of country flavor to the song, and the overall result is a catchy and upbeat rendition of the classic tune.

Despite the fact that "Rockabilly Renaissance" was never officially released, some tracks from the album have surfaced over the years, including Nelson's version of "Dream Lover".

The song re-appeared for his Memphis Sessions album of 1986. Nelson's version peaked at #29 in the US. Download the Ricky Nelson Dream Lover chords below.

  • Drop D Tuning: Yes
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: root up down up up down up and repeat
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: D, Bm, A, G
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top Of Garden Party By Ricky Nelson

4. Garden Party

garden party ricky nelson

Garden Party is a song written and recorded by Ricky Nelson in 1972, and it tells the story of a real-life experience that Nelson had at a concert in Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The event in question was a rock and roll revival concert that was organized by Richard Nader and held on October 15, 1971. The concert was billed as "The Rock and Roll Revival of 1971" and featured a lineup of legendary performers from the early days of rock and roll, including Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Nelson was also scheduled to perform at the concert, but when he took the stage, he was met with a less-than-enthusiastic response from the crowd, who were expecting him to play his old hits from the 1950s and 60s. Instead, Nelson had recently been exploring country rock and was performing some of his newer material, which included original songs as well as covers of songs by other artists.

The crowd began to boo and jeer, and Nelson eventually left the stage in frustration. In "Garden Party", Nelson reflects on this experience and expresses his frustration with the narrow expectations that some audiences have of their favorite performers. The song features catchy guitar riffs, a driving beat, and Nelson's smooth vocals, and it became a hit upon its release in 1972, reaching number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Overall, "Garden Party" is a memorable and iconic song that reflects the changing landscape of rock and roll in the early 1970s, and the challenges faced by artists who were trying to navigate these changes while staying true to their own artistic vision.

The song hails from the album of the same name. Download the Garden Party Ricky Nelson lyrics and chords below.

  • Drop D Tuning: Yes 
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: root up down up root up down up and repeat
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: D, A, G, A/Db, Bm, Bm/A 
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top Of Garden Party By Ricky Nelson

5. Poor Little Fool

poor little fool ricky nelson

Poor Little Fool is a song that was written by a 15-year-old named Sharon Sheeley, who was a friend of Eddie Cochran and a frequent collaborator with him. Sheeley wrote the song after a breakup with her boyfriend, and Eddie Cochran originally recorded a demo of the song.

However, it was Ricky Nelson's recording of "Poor Little Fool" that became a huge hit in 1958, reaching number one on both the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK Singles Chart. The song features a catchy melody, a gentle rock and roll beat, and Nelson's smooth vocals, and it remains one of his most iconic and beloved songs.

The success of "Poor Little Fool" helped to establish Ricky Nelson as a major force in rock and roll, and he went on to have many more hits throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s. Sharon Sheeley also went on to have a successful songwriting career, and she wrote many more hits for artists such as Brenda Lee, Rick Nelson, and the Crickets.

Overall, "Poor Little Fool" is an important and influential song in the history of rock and roll, and it remains a classic example of the genre's early years.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: root down root up down up
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: G, Em, C, D
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top

6. Travelin Man By Ricky Nelson

travelin man ricky nelson

Travelin Man is a song that was recorded by Ricky Nelson in 1961, and it quickly became one of his biggest hits.

The song features a catchy melody, a gentle rock and roll beat, and Nelson's smooth vocals, and it tells the story of a man who travels the world but always feels a sense of loneliness and longing for home. The song's lyrics are simple and straightforward, but they resonate with listeners who can relate to the feelings of wanderlust and homesickness that the song captures.

"Travelin' Man" was written by Jerry Fuller, who was a staff songwriter at Imperial Records, the label that Nelson was signed to at the time. Fuller wrote the song specifically for Nelson, and it was produced by Joe Johnson.

Upon its release, "Travelin' Man" became an instant hit, reaching number one on both the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK Singles Chart. The song remains one of Nelson's most popular and enduring hits, and it has been covered by many other artists over the years.

Overall, "Travelin' Man" is a classic example of the gentle, melodic rock and roll that Ricky Nelson was known for, and it remains a beloved and iconic song in the history of popular music.

Neil Sedaka said he used some of the chord progressions for his song Calendar Girl.

You can find this on the album "Rick Is 21". Download the Ricky Nelson Travelin Man lyrics below.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: root down up down up root up down up and repeat
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: D, Bm, A, D7, G, Gm, Gbm, E7
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top Of Garden Party By Ricky Nelson

Thanks for dropping in to my Garden Party by Ricky Nelson page and I hope some of the info here was useful for you in learning some music by Ricky Nelson on guitar.


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What happened to Ricky Nelson? He was a teenage star of course who was born in 1940 and grew up as a teenager in the 1950's and as a teen actor at age 8 with his family members on the TV show "The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet".

Is Ricky Nelson still alive? No he isn't. When did Ricky Nelson die? He died on New Years Eve, Dec 31st 1980 in a plane crash. Who died with Ricky Nelson? I don't have their names but 7 others perished in the crash but the two pilots survived.

Where is Ricky Nelson buried? He is buried in the Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.

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