The Memphis Sessions is American musician Rick Nelson's final studio album. It was released posthumously in May 1986. Nelson recorded it in 1978âÂÂ79 in Memphis, Tennessee. A few months after Nelson's death, CBS hired Nashville producer Steve Buckingham to replace the original drum and lead guitar tracks and remix the material. Guitar player John Beland thought that the record label ruined Nelson's material.
The Real Gone Music label included the album in the 2012 The Complete Epic Recordings box set. Bear Family included the album in the 2010 The Last Time Around box set.
The album charted for four weeks on the Billboard Top Country Albums, peaking at No. 62.
Billboard gave the album a positive review, saying that "these recordings from 1978-79 show off Neslon's rockabilly and '60s-rock leanings." Cashbox gave the album a positive review, saying that it features "a compilation of favorites, including 'True Love Ways', 'Send Me Somebody to Love', [and] 'Sleep Tight, Good Night Man'".
The Chicago Times wrote: "The result transforms inspired work that no doubt would have excited Nelson fans into a package that should delight anybody who enjoys classic rock and roll, heartfelt vocal work and good music-making. Buckingham's technique brings Nelson's voice out front as never before." The Ottawa Citizen opined that "Nelson's vocals have never sounded better on such rockabilly songs as 'Rave On' and 'That's All Right Mama'." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution concluded that "the backing, some of which was added after Nelson's death, is uninspired."