Rick Nelson - see artist discography
Willie Nelson -- see artist profile
Tracy Nelson - see artist discography
Michael Nesmith & The First National Band "Complete" (Pacific Arts, 1993)
This fab 2-CD set draws on Nesmith's first three solo albums -- Magnetic South (1970), Loose Salute (1970), and Nevada Fighter (1971) -- psychedelic citybilly music that many hail as pivotal landmarks in the nascent country-rock scene of the post-Woodstock era. At the time, Nesmith was in seclusion, seeking to dodge the unwanted attention of life as a former star of the "Monkees" TV show, and all the silliness and baggage that came with it. These records certainly have the air of, well, a particular, peculiar time and headspace, reflecting the eclectic, inventive spirit of the times, building on the spacy foundations set down by the Byrds, et al., while also expressing a unique hippie-weirdo perspective that was all Nesmith's own. On first listen, much of this collection seems to melt into an undifferentiated oddball hybrid of Nashville stylizations, Tin Pan Alley affectations and restrained, tweaky rock flourishes... Revisiting this album will pay off richly: Nesmith was tapped into a free-form Americana similar to that of Van Dyke Parks, and covers quite a range of styles. Several songs stand out, and the album continually sheds intriguing glimpses at Nesmith's new, kooky, interior landscape. What mainstream countrypolitan producer Felton Jarvis made of it all, Lord only knows... Also on board for all three albums was pianist Glen D. Hardin, a few years later one of the main anchors of country diva Emmylou Harris' legendary Hot Band. Now, how's that for some serious alt-country history?
Michael Nesmith & The First National Band "Magnetic South" (RCA, 1970)
Michael Nesmith & The First National Band "Loose Salute" (RCA, 1970)
Michael Nesmith & The First National Band "Nevada Fighter" (RCA, 1971)
New Riders Of The Purple Sage "New Riders Of The Purple Sage" (CBS, 1971)
Originally formed as a spinoff of the Grateful Dead (so that Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh would have an outlet to play "straight" country music...) the New Riders took on a life of its own, with the dudes from the Dead eventually bowing out and leaving the band to songwriter John Dawson... I promise: when I have more time I will get around to reviewing their albums -- they were certainly one of the best and best-known hippiebilly bands of the '70s... And still fun to groove out on, lo, these decades later. This debut LP featured the pothead ballad "Henry," as well as their fine version of "Glendale Train..."
New Riders Of The Purple Sage "Powerglide" (CBS, 1972)
New Riders Of The Purple Sage "Gypsy Cowboy" (CBS, 1972)
New Riders Of The Purple Sage "The Adventures Of Panama Red" (CBS, 1973)
New Riders Of The Purple Sage "Home, Home On The Road" (CBS, 1974)
New Riders Of The Purple Sage "Brujo" (CBS, 1974)
New Riders Of The Purple Sage "Oh, What A Mighty Time" (CBS, 1975)
New Riders Of The Purple Sage "New Riders" (MCA, 1976)
New Riders Of The Purple Sage "Who Are These Guys?" (MCA, 1977)
New Riders Of The Purple Sage "Marin County Line" (MCA, 1977)
New Riders Of The Purple Sage "Feelin' All Right" (A&M, 1980)
The New Riders Of The Purple Sage "The Best Of..." (Columbia-Legacy, 1976/2006)
A much-welcome reissue of a classic best-of from one of the '70s most iconic (and accomplished) of the hippie-stoner country-rock bands. Originally, the New Riders were formed as an outlet for Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh (of the Dreadful Grate) to explore their love of country music outside of the more far-out confines of their acid-test jam-band scene. They couldn't stick with it full-time, though, and eventually handed the California-based band over to songwriter John Dawson, who sculpted it into one of the best stoner novelty acts of the decade. This best-of includes classics such as "Glendale Train" and pothead anthems like "Panama Red" and "Henry," as well as boogie-band covers of old R&B and teenpop tunes... This new CD version also tosses in some live tracks, including one ("Linda") that was previously unreleased. It all holds up surprisingly well... If you remember these songs from the old days of freeform FM radio, they'll still make you smile -- if you're a whippersnapper who's never heard 'em before, then here's a nice chance to check out some tunes from the primordial roots of the alt-country scene.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - see artist discography
Gary P. Nunn - see artist discography
The "twangcore" and "Americana" boom of today owes a large debt to the shaggy twangers and no-hit wonders of yesteryear -- this section looks at the hippiebilly and stoner bands and a few odd, random artists from the 1960s, '70s and early '80s, back before there was anything called "alt-country." This page covers the letter "N."
