Fan Reviews ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ". . .I love it! Folk music the way it's supposed to be played." . . .Chris McNamara "First and foremost "Strange Rivers" (a personal favorite from your concerts) I can't say enough about your work on this great tune YOU NAIL IT!! The arrangement and instrumental work on "Under The Rainbow" and "That's The Easy Part" are superb!" . . . John Silady "It's a terrific and very professional piece of work, from the liner notes, to the song production." "I've always liked hearing Rick and his song selections...but he's reached a new height on General Merchandise. Never heard him better! " . . . Bob Edwards "Why...it sounds just like him!" . . . Rick's Mother Points of Interest Rick has played a variety of 12- string guitars including the Ex-Gibson built by Bozo Podunavac, and played by the late Bob Gibson from 1976 until the early 1990's,  a Japanese Bozo, built by Yairi, a 1970s vintage Guild F-512, and lately, a very nice Larrivee L10-12. Rick plays a Wildwood Troubador long neck 5-string banjo. Rick uses GHS custom Extra Long banjo strings, and for the 12-strings D'Angelico brass wound strings.  Sometimes older IS better! Professional Reviews ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rick Neeley has talent. He's a great banjo player and has a wonderful style on the 12-string guitar. In the right hands the 12-string is an orchestra of strings and Neeley has the hands. But, what separates Rick from the pack of great talents is his ability to entertain. Rick's show at The World Folk Music Company was captivating from the first strum of the banjo. He has a relaxed rapport with his audience and a pocket full of great songs and stories. And make no mistake when Rick entertains the audience is his. .  . . The World Folk Music Company "The only way to reach this level of performance is through years of playing experience. Rick Neeley is able to reach into his experience and pull out songs that delight and entertain." . . . The Mast house Concerts "A rich mixture of traditional folk, covers, and original material performed in that comfortable folk style many of us grew up on." . . . Cliftoncrest House Concerts Rick has a driving style and a talent for connecting with his audiences. His engaging style and expertise on the 12-string guitar and 5-string banjo wrap you in a blanket of music and carry you to a simpler time. . . . Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northern Illinois Sixth annual Winter Folk Festival  About General Merchandise . . . Here is what Sing Out!  had to say  . . . In a world of singer-songwriters striving to be ever more artsy-crafty, Rick Neeley comes as a breath of fresh air. He straightforwardly sings songs without artifice, but with plenty of skill and style. He shows great taste in music, programming a pleasing buffet of satisfying songs . . . . . . the CD has an overall upbeat, bouncy feel, a great relief from the so many somber, self-important recordings flooding the Market. This recording is a wonderful time warp, but not an anachronism. Fine unplugged performances without drums or percussion, like the sound of the 1960's, but with today's sensibilities entertain the listener. What a concept, making music to entertain. . . . Rich Warren -- Sing Out! Magazine More More More! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From RAMBLES, A Cultural Arts Magazine. On line at www.rambles.net Using a musical mix of guitar, banjo and acoustic bass, this trio, subtitling themselves the Store Keepers (dispensing the General Merchandise, I suppose), presents us with a wide-ranging mixture of old and new tunes. We learn from the notes that Rick Neeley has been playing for over 40 years, John Cavalier is a classically trained guitarist and Marc Edelstien suggested a musical get-together a quarter-century ago. Well, they got together and the CD is a joy to hear. The tracks range from the traditional to songs by some of the modern giants of songwriting. Gordon Lightfoot's "Ribbon of Darkness" is given an excellent treatment. This is followed by a spirited rendition of "St. James Infirmary." I was expecting a version of the "Lock Hospital," but this is a very much gospel take on death and loss. "King Brady" is one of those very interesting story-songs that could be adapted as a crime drama for television. The trio gives us a beautiful rendition of the great tune "Evangelina." Evocative banjo picking transports us to "East Virginia," a traditional tune and song. John Stewart's song "Strange Rivers" is a new one to my ears, but I would class it as one of my favourites on the album. It is a clean, classy piece that is delivered with clear voice and unobtrusive backing that deliver a strong tale. Neeley is also a writer. His track "Better Times" is well written and expertly performed. The album ends with the Gibson/Silverstein track "Fog Horn." General Merchandise is a CD that delivers on the content of the title. Here you will get a very good mix of music and styles. It is a very worthwhile album and well worth seeking out.  . . . Written by Nicky Rossiter and  published  15 November 2003