by Chris NicksonThis is a definite oddity from the Nelson catalog. In 1981 Nelson was commissioned by EMI's library music division to compose and record an album of library music -- to be used for television, radio, or film as incidental music. Never available commercially, it was a rarity in the canon. Nelson's original titles for these pieces were different, but they were all renamed to be more indicative of their content -- "On the Beach" and "Like a Dream," for example, give strong hints as to the mood of the music. Given the period, which was very fertile for Nelson, there are plenty of tasty little items here, and the relatively free hand he was offered was a balm to him; just listen to "To the Sea in Ships" to hear the joy in the work. While originally it was never even advertised, it's finally available on CD, and Nelson fans can take pleasure in owning what was a true rarity for over two decades.