Ricky Nelson-Hello Mary Lou

[Rotis59]

Since no one else has so far mentioned it concerning this video but notice that Rick's voice is not doubled as it is on the record but rather single-voiced.

[missjoshemmett]

happy birthday, ricky, we'd both be seniors this year...

[Baci302]

Ricky was cool and I love his music, but is there anyone cooler looking than James Burton playing that classic lead?

[wolfwilliams]

Nelson is so effortless he almost looks bored.... When you can look bored and be this good, this smooth, that is talent for your ass..... One of my favorite recordings in rock history. This cat could fucking sing.

[garyguitar]

One of my heroes shortly after I started playing guitar...James Burton that is. The only reason I watched Ozzie and Harriet was to see James pantomime his guitar licks. Been a fan of his since he played the unforgettable lick on Susie Q by Dale Hawkins. Check out our recording in 1964 of Susie Q on my channel.

[villanetto]

James do this great guitar solo with a original Fender Jazzmaster! Fantastic guitar sound!

[speedyflinders]

Let's not forget the bassist in this clip, Joe Osborn, who went on to become one of the great session bass players on hundreds of hit songs. Millions of people know his riffs but have never heard of him. Still alive and playing today. Go Joe!

[hmemerson]

@speedyflinders Wow! That is great information because it probably means that the bass he's playing would likely be the first Fender Jazz Bass with the concentric knobs and individual string mutes!! I have a vague recollection of Joe being given the first one................HE

[giantspacebeaver]

@hmemerson Seems like I have read that Joe's J bass is, in fact, a late prototype (1959ish) given to him by Leo Fender before he went to Australia in '61 . This was, if I recall correctly, determined by some Fender geeks by checking the dates on the pots as well as the serial number. It currently is the property of the Musicians Hall of Fame curator Joe Chambers and it survived the terrible flood that wiped out many of their artifacts.

[giantspacebeaver]

@hmemerson Also, a little bit of Osborn trivia for you. He actually played Travelin' Man on his '59 Precision. Neat, huh.

[countrystore100]

This was NO 1 on the Rock Chart . He sure was a great Singer when i here him . I say to my self and other's no one could copy his songs and sing them the way he did . Yes Ricky you live on in our hearts. No one can comes closed to your voice.

[donwoodswirral]

I had the surreal pleasure of performing Ricky's songs with James Burton on three consecutive International Guitar Festivals in Wirral (U.K.) 2008,2009,2010......

and I've had this solo played by him standing next to me....how cool is that!!!!

Undoubtedly the absolute highlight of my musical career...still hard to believe.

great guitarist...Great guy.

[roadrulz]

MAN- Look at James Burton playing that Fender Jazzmaster. Later he switched to the famous Telecaster. What a great song! Wish I could go back to those days. No HUGE PA systems, No HUGE amps, just small amps and pure talent!

[garyguitar]

@roadrulz He actually played a Tele from the first, even in Shreveport on the Louisana Hayride. Also used a Tele on Dale Hawkins' "Susie Q" when he was about 15. He hardly ever used the Jazzmaster...this was probably one of the few times he did. He's always been a Tele-wacker.

[MrSenneboy]

tjeezes i just needed to favorited this vid :-)

[MsMonacos10]

Jeeze, he was GORGEOUS wasn' he?...what a dish!! ;-)

[magicwOrld22]

helloooo maryloueeee , (my name ! :) )

[ejcheck]

One of the best of Rock & Roll. Written by Pitney, Sung by Nelson and Solo by Burton. Turned out to be an unbeatable combination.

Pitney doesn't sing it well in his version, very unusual for him. Nelson got it perfect for the vocal. And, the Burton solo is like no other.

[goomba17]

Ozzie hired James Burton to be Ricky's lead guitarist. He even lived with Ozzie and Harriet for three years while he was in Rick's band. He still has the James Burton International Guitar Festival every year. One of the great rock and rollers!

[coolmamac]

My first big crush. Miss you Rick.

[rbnyy]

james burton may be a good guitarist, but lets make it clear, ricky nelson was no slouch when it came to playing the guitar lol

[upperdarbybill]

I guess you can say 'If Elvis wanted you' you have arrived where you should be. How did that connection come about? Story goes...Ricky lost a love cause he didn't play guitar but Elvis did. Pop Ozzie got him an ax, learned to sing & play and got James Burton. When did J.B. go to Elvis? It has to be a good story.

[onemorebrando]

awesome post. i love the internet!

[flingalbunt]

Ricky was a fabulous singer - James Burton on lead guitar and Joe Osborn on bass were essential to the overall sound. Does anyone know the name of the drummer?

[akytilop]

@flingalbunt , according to Wikipedia the drummers name was Richie Frost.

[peteandpare]

I agree with you coasteRon for me its the back ground that makes a lot of singers.even tho I must admit ricky nelson can sing.

[bruiser]

To quote the King: "Play it James".

[Jamersonnut]

That's the great LA 60s & 70s Studio Legend Joe Osborn on bass!

[heutsz73]

james burton is a legend

[ramroduk]

@heutsz73 I totally agree. What a great guitarist, one of the masters!

[mchcov1]

je to prostě nádherné

[fliegeroh]

With James Burton as a Lead Guitarist and Ricky on lead vocals, that was quite a band.

[PATAGONIALOOP]

In my opinion Ricky with James Burton and Bobby Vinton, were the real American youth idols ... ,original and talented, they represented the spirit of classic American Rock'nRoll. Say no more!!!

[DougPatton1]

25carat bitch - Ricky-chants, pistol-hot backup, unmatched JB solo and mebbe the 1st ever 6/8 time-Samba Rocker ! 

[pitterpatterpitter]

his voice is SO SMOOTH i love it.

[georgiaslop]

More cowbell!

[MRDILINGA]

real gyallis tune

[Christiane373]

I have become a fan of the drummer and am disappointed that he just hits that cowbell or whatever it is. He was such a great drummer. I like the other video of this song that starts with him hitting the cowbell but continues with his great drumming style. Rick, of course, has always been superb and James Burton's guitar has been the same. However, I do not understand why the drummer never gets credits. Also, thanks to Gene PItney for the great song!

[emb1st]

would you believe that the song writer of Merry Mary Lou by the Sparks gets royalties from this song because he said they copied his music and title. I have both records,

and there are no reasons to think this, yet he gets thousands of royalties monthly.

[Medicinecloud]

wow..i think it was the golden sunny afternoon of '60...guys standing against the building...hearing the song from a cafe 1/2 a blk away...remembered my 1st cousin was on a dating frenzy with a girl from another Indian reserve 2 hrs away...it was one of those 'love-sick' summers of dances and going for moon-lit walks down 'lovers lane' and sittin' n huggin' 'til dawn in an old car..

[pete0969wi]

Sing it rick!!! Makes me want to go stagg at the sock hopp tonight...

[rayyza1]

James Burton..so young...had to watch his fingers to make sure it was him!!

[GGC273]

This is wonderful! Thank you out there!

[easguitar]

Wonderful song and classic Burton. According to his fan club president, James exclusively recorded with the tele but for fun would show up on the screen occasionally with the Jazzmaster or even a Ricky. Play it, James!!!

[cooltooth112]

@easguitar James Burton is still so young, he's checking out other guitars, like you did if you were a player. He found his favorite in the telecaster, now he is known as the "Master of the Telecaster"

[Baci302]

I love Ricky, but James Burton is the man! Putting aside for the moment how great musically that solo is (I've learned it note for note), check out his moves during the solo ... his little dips and head shakes/bobs. KIng James.

[jbyesterday]

How cool to hear this version without the magical & classical duet on the chorus. I like it. Of course, the sparkle of James Burton is without a doubt,the staple of all those great Ricky Nelson gems.

Happy belated Birthday Ricky - Miss you !!

[TL250Rider]

Gene Pitney The Man Could Write Music.

RIP

God Bless

[kwcrabtree]

Guitar legend James Burton on the Fender JazzMaster - prior to his use of Telecaster!

[MetalThrasher92]

kick ass guitar solo

[maryjulie2]

Just great!!!!Love this song!!!

[bassfiddlesteve]

Studio legend Joe Osborn on bass. He recorded with the Mamas & Papas, Monkees, Grassroots, Johnny Rivers, America, Simon & Garfunkel, Carpenters...the list goes on and on.

[Peki1946]

Nö irgend wie haut dies mit den Drummer nicht hin.

Da höre und schaue mir lieber diesen Song mit Jan&Kjeld an.

[rwb010109]

Fender great and gibson also, not to mention Guild,, but don't forget Gretch//Duane Eddy///Great song by the way..RWB

[pleximarz]

Leo Fender definitely had it all, not doubt! built the best sounding guitars and amps and oh yes, even the british copied his designs...........

From what i understand, Burton was the first to use light gauge strings, actually using banjo strings on the Tele.

[DougPatton1]

@pleximarz: One of the great TV performances, complete with Burton's sublime solo - on a Fender Jaguar.

[bassfiddlesteve]

Jazzmaster actually. Great solo either way.

[skipper8257]

James had his own style that no one has copied to this day. That is why he played with the best. Ricky, Elvis, Roy Orbison and many more. Simple one of the best. I wished they had focused on him a liitle more on the solo.

[BOBFORDD]

Looks like the drummer is completely not interested in what is happening around him.

[irwantohartanto]

nice song

[AccordionLadyMi]

This song was my favorite Ricky Nelson song. Ricky and his brother David were on tv with their parents in a family show called "The Ozzie and Harriet Show." After the show ended, Ricky began his musical career.

[TioManino]

¡¡¡ El Clásico Rock and roll !!!

[webaroos]

The real legend is the guitar player James Burton, just in the right hand corner of the vid, read his biography, have seen him for 50 years always behind someone famous making them sound good.

[LachoDroogie]

@webaroos yeah man James Burton is the fucking man!

[CarlDuke]

@webaroos It appears that Ricky is playing an acoustic guitar, while Burton is playing an electric. Is that a normal or unusual circumstance for a group?

[webaroos]

@CarlDuke - I think Rick uses the guitar as a prop, although he did play Burton was the genius not only for Rick but for Elvis and countless others.

[robinfra52]

@CarlDuke In those day amps were not very powerful and a big flattop acoustic could be loud enough for rhythm. It would also pick up in the mic a bit. We are so used to amps people forget how loud a jumbo flattop can be. No prop he could play and write. I was around and playing a few years later.

[ITILII]

@webaroos Elvis also chose James to be his lead guitar when he resumed touring, James Burton's talent must be numbered along with Hendrix, Paul, Atkins, Page, Clapton, Vaughn, Van Halen and all the very finest guitarists

[coolmamac]

@ITILII

He is also on Roy Orbison's TV Special.

[ChiefLinesider07]

@webaroos True 1:00 Ricky says, "damn I wish I could play like that".

[SuperBodd]

@webaroos couldn't agree more.

[ramroduk]

@webaroos James Burton is a Master!

[jagardaxe]

@webaroos You are SO right! James Burton is one of the true unsung heros of Rock and Roll. Some of the best licks ever stolen by other players originated from his hands.

[ITILII]

@webaroos gotta love the look Ricky gives James at 1:00, reminds me of years later, when Elvis said " play it James"

[reverbie65]

@webaroos you noticed that umm thats nice

[bigbldr1]

look at all the tricks bobbin their heads...........LOL

[polpol12]

yeah his handsome and all that jazz, but he doesn't show any emotion...he doesn't even do facial expressions, average voice, average songs, ....he was only a "barbie"and a cash machine, i'm trying to be honest,you know the truth hurts....

[matuschkas]

notin like a tele.thanks

[duvaldornelles]

ótimo......saudades

[matuschkas]

in this video james is playing a jazzmaster.which guitar did he use on the record. help.

[zarchy55]

Most likely his Telecaster.

[sebs26]

yeah - i've read that he would play other guitars for fun on the show, but on the records he always used the same beat up old tele.

[CoasteRon]

Rick Nelson was the original Teen Idol, not to be confused with today's "American Idol". He and James Burton were an unbeatable combination. This is 'Rock'nRoll class101". Check out their CDs & DVDs at Amazon, you won't regret it.

[willy1514]

@CoasteRon

The first teen idol was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

[whammydoom]

Ricky Nelson was a total chick magnet wasn't he?

[annie482000]

My favourite Ricky Nelson track!  RIP Ricky, sadly missed.

[Ocelot1962]

I knew there was a longer version of this out there complete with the James Burton solo. Thanks for confirming that I'm not crazy!

Um, is it possible to improve the sound quality?