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 - I'd forgotten how good this wasMore than 30 years ago, I purchased both LPs (that stands for long-play, kiddies...meaning 15-18 minutes of music without having to turn the vinyl over!!!). They got lost/misplaced/discarded somewhere along the way. After recently hearing "Beyond the Blue Horizon" from Magnetic South on XM Radio's X-Country, channel 12, I remembered how good these recordings were. While I occasionally play old music that I liked in my youth, and wonder why I was so fond of it it, in this case my middle-aged brain wasn't being merely nostalgic. This music sounds as fresh and original as it did 30+ years ago. The package is worth purchasing just for Nesmith's compositions "Silver Moon," "Crippled Lion," and "Beyond the Blue Horizon." His cover of "I Fall to Pieces" is one of the best among many. BTW, I also just heard some old Marshall Crenshaw on XM.... Hmmmm... Rating: - If you like Nez...I am a huge fan of Michael Nesmith's solo music and his music with The Monkees. If you enjoy his country-rock style then I strongly recommend that you check out the following: 1) March 16-20 by Uncle Tupelo 2) Papa Nez: A Loose Salute To The Work Of Michael Nesmith by Various Artists 3) Stranger's Almanac by Whiskeytown 4) Trace by Son Volt Rating: - One of the greatest artists never heardThis is great stuff, I give it my highest recommendation. I won't repeat the song by song breakdown given by others. This is one of the early combinations of country-Western (there is definitely a Western component here) and rock influences. Nesmith has a style, sound and quirky sense of humor that are all his own. Rating: - Nesmith's Twin TrailblazersFollowing his departure from The Monkees in March 1970, Nesmith went on to form The First National Band. Although Nesmith and his new band wouldn't enjoy the same degree of commercial success as The Monkees, they did, however, enjoy more respect and even greater critical acclaim. Nesmith's first album with the FNB was Magnetic South. While it didn't make the Top 100 album charts, it did produce a hit single. Though critics praised his follow-up album, Loose Salute, it too fared poorly on the album charts. Nevertheless, over the years, these two gems have aged very well and they've proven themselves to be trailblazers in the annals of popular music. Clearly, Nesmith was a man who was ahead of his time and these albums are testimony to his musical genius. The following is a critique of each song on this disc: Magnetic South Calico Girlfriend: An up-tempo country, lightly jazz tinged pop tune that is every bit as good as the Latin flavored alternate take that Nesmith recorded while he was still under contract with The Monkees. That version can be found on "The Monkees Present" CD. Grade: A Nine Times Blue: An all too short song with very moving lyrics. Grade: A+ Little Red Rider: One of many straight ahead country rockers that Nesmith does so well. Grade: B+ The Crippled Lion: Up-tempo pop tune that could've-and should've-been a hit single. Was the "B" side release to "Joanne" in England. One of the best songs on this disc. Grade: A+ Joanne: A pleasant ballad that was Nesmith's first and only solo hit. Made it to number 20 on the Billboard pop charts. Grade: B First National Rag: A tongue in cheek piece, courtesy of Orville "Red" Rhodes. Grade: B (Oh, why not?) Mama Nantucket: A straight ahead fast paced country rock tune with Nesmith doing some cowboy yodeling. Grade: A+ The Keys to the Car: A classic C & W style tune as only Nesmith can do it. Grade: B Hollywood: Psychedelic tinged country rock tune that echoes Nesmith's frustration and disappointment with the TV industry. Grade: B+ The One Rose (That's Left in My Heart): Another classic C & W style tune that Nesmith sings from the heart. Unfortunately, it doesn't appeal to me very much. Grade: C- Beyond the Blue Horizon: An old country standard that's, well, standard. Not bad but not noteworthy either. Grade: C Loose Salute Silver Moon: A country pop tune that has a touch of calypso to it. Though it didn't do well on the pop charts, it did receive some airplay on adult contemporary stations. Grade: A I Fall to Pieces: An excellent remake of the old Patsy Cline hit. Lap steel guitarist Red Rhodes and drummer John Ware really shine on this number. This should've been a hit on the C & W charts. Grade: A+ Thanx for the Ride: Nesmith's "thanks but no thanks" reply to TV executives who were still pursuing him at that time. A good solid country pop tune if there ever was one. Grade: B Dedicated Friend: Another fast paced, LA style country pop number with a bit of tongue in cheek humor that could've been recorded by the Eagles or even Jackson Browne. Grade: A Conversations: A reworking of Nez's earlier tune, "Carlisle Wheeling." A very pensive acoustic piece that demands your full attention. Grade: B+ Tengo Amore: Upbeat Latin pop tune that could easily be a hit on today's pop charts. Grade: A- Listen to the Band: Nesmith's third try for this tune but it's certainly not a charmer. This country boogie woogie version isn't bad but it's not nearly as good as the version he recorded for "The Monkees Present." Still, I must admit, this version is worth a listen and it does grow on you after a while. Grade: C- Bye, Bye, Bye: A giddy tune about dropping everything and heading down to Mexico and living off of beer and enchiladas. Now, that's what I call a balanced diet. Good song, by the way. Grade: B+ Lady of the Valley: Another pleasant ballad along the lines of "Joanne." Grade: A- Hello Lady: Has a soul edge that doesn't quite work. IMO, it's also the worst song on the disc. Grade: D- (I'm being generous) 1st National Dance: This is one number you can square dance to. Promenade, yes you do. Grade: B- Rating:  - Nez Is King Of Country RockFormer Monkee Michael Nesmith (Papa Nez to his fans) surprised the music world in the dawning days of the '70's with two great albums --Magnetic South and Loose Salute. Let's start with his debut solo effort: he scored a hit with Joanne, and gave his Monkee fans a chance to hear songs that he had written and recorded during his 'pre-fab four' days, but that were never released (until a couple of decades later on the Monkees' Missing Links CDs in their original forms). Here we get the catchy Calico Girlfriend, The Crippled Lion, Little Red Rider, a much-too-short Nine Times Blue, and a totally different take on Hollywood.(Compare it with the version on Missing Links Volume 3.) There is also the Jimmie Rogers-esque ditty Mama Nantucket and the bar room twang of The Keys To the Car, with its subversively cynical lyrics. And speaking of that, Nez is a stand out when it comes to lyrics. The man possesses that rare gift for putting pen to paper and creating not only singable words, but words that lean towards poetry, in that it makes you think. Even his 'love songs' are interesting lyrically. On his second album, the same backing band joins him. It isn't as strong as the first, but does contain the minor hit Silver Moon, a version of the Patsy Cline standard I Fall To Pieces, a Spanish number called Tengo Amore, and a more honky-tonk flavored version of an old Monkees' hit, Listen To the Band (the Monkees' version is better). Also included is Conversations, an updated version of another previously unheard Monkees tune originally called Carlisle Wheeling. The bonus track here is interesting, and all in all, Nesmith laid down some compelling music, making a strong case for his place in the catagory of innovator and visionary. He may not think so, but to us fans, Papa Nez is a legend. If you think you know country music, you don't until you hear Michael Nesmith's much underrated solo work. Trust me - this disc is a worthy buy.
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