A Loose Salute (25 Big Ones From The Underappreciated Canon Of Michael Nesmith, The RCA Victor Years)

Most everyone is already familiar with the name of Michael Nesmith, whether you came of age during his stint with the wildly successful Monkees, or learned of him years later while browsing through an older brother or sister's record collection. His pivotal role in that zany made-for-television music combo no doubt kept his children outfitted in new shoes and wool knit caps all the way from K, though earning their Masters. However, much to his detriment, it was also the stigma of his association with the pre-fabricated band that forever haunted his post-Monkee musical career. Without bothering to check the facts, many of those who had previously dismissed him as simply a be-hatted puppet in a corporate marketing scheme, largely continued to spurn him as a counterfeit pop star who made trivial music exclusively for the pre-teen set. In doing so, they did themselves no small favor by overlooking some of the most listenable recordings ever created in the country rock idiom, recordings that were among the first in the genre, squarely placing the ex-Monkee alongside Gram Parsons as a founding father of the once popular hybrid. Nesmith's music during this period may in fact have actually been the more organic, and thereby more authentic of the two band leaders, though it is Parsons who has been lionized, largely due to his larger than life legacy of 'living fast, dying young, and leaving behind a good looking corpse.' After all, the elder Nesmith had already paid his dues in the folk music scene, tasted life as a rock star, and shared a certain commonality with 'The Father of Country Music,' Jimmie Rodgers. Nesmith was also a Texan, a state that is rich in country music mavericks. At the bottom line, regardless of how history may ultimately rank him, Nesmith and his band made some damn fine music, largely due to the presence and superb playing of pedal steel great, Red Rhodes, with whom Nesmith had forged a copasetic musical relationship. Collectively, his First National Band had more than enough credibility to not only to stand shoulder to shoulder with their L.A. peers, but with their Nashville counterparts as well. Admittedly, from a compositional point of view, Parsons songs do have legs, and perhaps are built around more sophisticated themes, structures, and harmonies, but Nesmith's on the other hand are just plain fun to hear! There's no pretense, no grand statements, no ridiculous Topanga Canyon outlaws, no desperadoes, and no tequila sunrises. Just honest, unaffected heartfelt tunes that are extremely listenable and likable. They're the kind of songs that would sound great on a summer's eve as a soundtrack for sharing tacos and cold beer with a handful of good friends. And what could be better than that!? Well, a lot of things actually, but the point is, like that unassuming gathering, Michael Nesmith's music too, is a simple and rewarding pleasure.

A Word About The Albums

These recordings come from Michael Nesmith's RCA albums dating from 1970 through 1974, minus one, 'And The Hits Just Keep On Coming,' which is another worth investigating. Most are still in print and issued on CD, and there are also several collections of varying quality that are also available. Nesmith later recorded a handful of projects on his own imprint, Pacific Arts. These are also in print and well worth investigating. The titles from which the songs below are drawn include: 'Loose Salute,' 'Magnetic South,' and 'Nevada Fighter' by Michael Nesmith and The First National Band. 'Tantamount To Treason, Vol.1' by Michael Nesmith and The Second National Band, and finally 'Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash' credited solely to Nesmith.

A Loose Salute

1) Tengo Amor
2) Wax Minute
3) Propinquity (I've Only Just Begun To Care)
4) Calico Girlfriend
5) Nine Times Blue
6) Little Red Rider
7) The Crippled Lion
8) Joanne
9) Continuing
10) Some Of Shelly's Blues
11) Prairie Lullaby
12) Born To Love You
13) Silver Moon
14) I Fall To Pieces
15) Thanks For The Ride
16) Dedicated Friend
17) Texas Morning
18) Tumbling Tumbleweeds
19) I Looked Away
20) Rainmaker
21) René
22) Release
23) Winonah
24) Bye, Bye, Bye
25) Only Bound

To download, click here, and don't forget the hot sauce.

Visit Michael Nesmith's latest project, Videoranch 3D.