As long as we had him: Rick Nelson’s inner circle expose his unreleased last record

Rick Nelson insiders and experts — youngest child Sam Nelson, Telecaster maestro James Burton, arranger-producer Jimmie Haskell, personal manager Greg McDonald, authors Philip Bashe and Sheree Homer — set the record straight on the rock entertainer’s final recording project left undisturbed for nearly 35 years. Seen above is the single cover for Nelson’s “You Know What I Mean” b/w “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” distributed on February 24, 1986, via Silver Eagle / MCA Records. The passionate stage shot originates from Nelson’s August 22, 1985, televised show with Fats Domino at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. Image Credit: 45Cat user MusicTom / Universal Music Group

Rick Nelson, an esteemed member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s sophomore class, was hard at work on his first album of original material since Playing to Win was unleashed to scant fanfare in January 1981 on Capitol Records.

Things had been bleak for the singer during the early ’80s, but a change in the weather was brewing. A difficult and protracted divorce was over, his kids had moved back in with him, he had a steady girlfriend in Helen Blair who loved him, and he had climbed out of debt. Television was beckoning the effortless Rio Bravo costar. Nelson finally met idol Carl Perkins at Sun Studios and contributed backing vocals to John Fogerty’s “Big Train from Memphis.” Curb Records was interested in signing him. Fans were fervently cheering his embrace of rockabilly and pop ballads at shows spanning continents. Above all, Nelson had become comfortable in his own skin and was cognizant of his authentic contributions to rock ‘n’ roll.

But everything ground to a sickening standstill when a faulty airplane heater caught fire while Nelson and his band were en route to Dallas for a New Year’s Eve 1985 show. The album was promptly placed in the dustbin whilst various figureheads argued over rights, whether the singer’s vocals were satisfactory, and if the project deserved to…