Friday, February 17, 2006

A Tribute to Nicolette Larson: Lotta Love Concert


A Tribute to Nicolette Larson: Lotta Love Concert was just issued by Rhino, which I ordered to Amazon Japan. I received this CD on Feb.16. There are 4 CDs set available in the market but very rare. Finally it is officially issued. Nicolette's happy smile on the jacket is very good. Of course contents are excellent. Booklet inside includes short comments by Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Dan Forgelberg, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Jimmy Buffett, Paul Gurian, Carol King, Paul Barrere, Emmylou Haris, Peter Max, followed by Russ Kunkel's( Nicolette's husband) essay and Puaul Gurian's liner notes.

In this liner notes I found new facts;

"Neil Young, urged by Emmylou and her producer-husband, Brian Ahern, ambled down malibu's Broad Beach to play some tunes for Linda and found her harmonizing with Nicolette. So were born the Bullets on American Stars'n Biars. The next year Nicolette backed up Young on Comes A Time"

However according to John Rogan's "NEIL YOUNG:The Definitive Story of his Musical Carrer", Neil asked Linda to find female singer for his new album, "American Stars'n Bars". Linda introduced Nicolette at Neil's ranch (I believe his ranch is in Woodside in northern California). And female vocal group, Linda & Nicolette was called "the Saddle Bags", not "Bullets".

So now I'm confused at following issues.

Issue 1:
Where did Neil meet Nicolette? Malibu or Woodside?

Issue 2:
Which is correct, "Saddle Bags" or "Bullets"?

I think biggest issue is "Why without Neil Young?"

I believe Neil introduced Nicolette to the music scene at that time by his "American Stars'n Bars". Further more he invited Nicolette for backing voclas for some of his following albums. Nicolette's biggest hit "Lotta Love" in her 1st album is by Neil Young. Neil should have been the most important guest in this concert. Liner notes say "Neil Young sent a bouquet of rose as big as the audience. He could only attend in spirit on the group encore of 'Lotta Love'", but there is no Neil's name in "Spacial Thnaks" on this booklet. Of course Neil had some relationship with Nicolette before her marrige. I don't want to suspect Russ Kunkel was jealous on Neil.

At the center of the booklet, there is a pic of the group member. I can recognize some of them, Russ Kunkel and daughter, Elsie May, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Carol King, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt. I also want to know who is who.

Proceeds from this CD go to The Nicolette larson Pediatric Endowment, Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

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