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NELSON Set For Greatest Hits (And Near Misses) Album Release

By Larry Petro, News Monkey
Tuesday, May 24, 2022 @ 8:44 AM

Out July 8th Via UMe

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Multi-platinum-selling act NELSON is unveiling their most comprehensive compilation ever on July 8, 2022 on CD and digital platforms through Universal Music Enterprises (UMe). Greatest Hits (And Near Misses) not only includes their smash “(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection” and other hits from their two Geffen Records releases, but also notable tracks from the NELSON twins’ well-received subsequent albums. Available starting today, pre-order and hear the first track, “Too Many Dreams”, which had previously only been officially available in Japan as a 1991 single and as an After The Rain (Japanese Edition) bonus track and is getting its digital debut.

http://nelson.lnk.to/greatesthitsPR

Brothers Gunnar and Matthew Nelson found phenomenal success with their 1990 DGC debut After The Rain, which has been certified double platinum by the RIAA after selling more than 2 million copies and remained on the Billbord 200 Album Chart for over 60 weeks. The twin brothers’ harmony-heavy melodic rock (Billboard described, “a catchy hybrid of power-pop and hard rock”) spawned four singles that cracked the top 30 on Billboard’s Hot 100: “After The Rain”, (charted in the top three and also hit number one in Radio &Records), “More Than Ever”, “Only Time Will Tell” and the chart-topping “(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection”.

“I know that saying, ‘having a Greatest Hits record is a dream come true’ sounds trite, but in this case, it’s totally accurate," describes Gunnar. "I’m just another songwriter/artist whose dream of having a Greatest Hits record one day began in earnest at the age of 6. I truly love music, and I never rest until my work is the very best that it can be. Out of respect for my fellow music lovers and my musical mentors, I’ve always put everything I have into the songs that I hope will turn into the soundtrack of peoples’ lives. I am SO proud of this Greatest Hits record, and all of the blood, sweat, and tears that it took through the decades to bring it to you now. It is the very best of the best that I have to give you.”

When “(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection” topped the singles chart, it marked the first time that one family scored a #1 hit across three generations. Gunnar and Matthew’s father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Rick Nelson, reached #1 twice with “Poor Little Fool” and “Traveling Man” and their grandfather, Ozzie Nelson, had a #1 hit in 1935 with “And Then Some”.

Their breakout debut propelled the Nelsons from playing clubs to headlining arenas, performing over 100 shows per year while touring the world. The twins, with their signature long-blonde hair and photogenic good looks, became an iconic image of the early 90s. By the time NELSON’s second record, Because They Can, arrived in 1995, music trends had shifted, but the album still hit #30 on the Radio & Records Pop chart.

Greatest Hits (And Near Misses) revisits NELSON’s popular radio hits from their Geffen era, while also spotlighting songs from their well-receivedlater releases. This compilation contains After The Rain’s four classic NELSON hits, including “Only Time Will Tell” as well as “I Can Hardly Wait”. Featured from the underappreciated Because They Can album is a trio of tracks: “(You Got Me) All Shook Up”, “Won't Walk Away”, and “Cross My Broken Heart”. Notable too is the rarity, “Too Many Dreams”, which has officially only been available in Japan as a 1991 single, and an After The Rain bonus track (and is getting its digital debut).

“This is the very first time in history that we have been able to deliver a comprehensive career-spanning collection of NELSON’s most shining moments,” says Gunnar “Now that our own Stone Canyon Records label has officially joined forces with Universal, we can finally pull out all the stops. Start to finish, this is an album that we’re truly proud of… and the very first thing any music fan should pick up if they ever wondered what NELSON is all about.”

Included are eight additional tracks, exclusively licensed from the Nelsons and their Stone Canyon Records label. Lightning Strikes Twice, which is often viewed as After The Rain’s true sequel (and even considered by some a stronger album), is represented by “Take Me There”, “You’re All I Need Tonight” and “Call Me”. “Rockstar” hails from Peace Out (lauded by one critic as being “quintessential NELSON from start to finish”) while “A Girl Like That” comes from Life (praised as “sparkling, melody-driven pop/rock by Allmusic.com).

Greatest Hits (and Near Misses) also includes the newly recorded acoustic version of “Keep One Heart”, a studio track that appeared on their Perfect Storm live album and as a bonus tune on After The Rain’s Japanese version. “Two Heads Are Better Than One” is a song movie fans will recognize from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. This original unreleased version features Gunnar’s vocals as heard in the film (while the version on the soundtrack album featured another vocalist). The track is credited to Power Tool, a name the Nelson brothers used for this pre-After The Rain recording.

Gunnar and Matthew have also included “What About Me?” from their Brother Harmony album (that they released as THE NELSONS). This twangy ballad reveals their musical connection to their late father, who helped pioneer the country-rock sound. The brothers further acknowledged their father’s legacy in a highly praised tribute concert that they have performed over the years.