Harry Nilsson Fans

[punkinhead]

I've just recently got into this genius' work (about 4 months ago) and I need some advice.
i have his greatest, a little touch of schmilsson in the night and Nilsson Schmilsson, so what do i get next?
also, on Nilsson Schmilsson, does anyone think he looks like Brian in the 70s? I think it would have been great if he woulda done some work with Brian...and not to judge the Lennon/Nilsson project: Pussycats, which I've only heard only a couple of tracks of, I'm not too impressed....and from what i've heard it wasnt such a good time for either of them.

i'd love to hear what others think of Harry.

[I. Spaceman]

Without one single doubt, his first two albums, Pandemonium Shadow Show and Aerial Ballet.
Two of the finest pop albums ever reased. Absolutely essential for any fan of quality music, period. Perfection.

Then grab Harry, Nilsson Sings Newman, The Point, Son Of Schmilsson and Skidoo.

Then get back to me. Have fun. Harry was the best voice of his generation.

[punkinhead]

ah, fan of quality music, you couldnt have put it better...i feel that relevant to this day

[monkee knutz]

Ian nails it... as always !! I prefer some of the mixes off Aerial Pandemonium Ballet. If you're not talkin' vinyl, get the Eruo-2-fer that has both Pandemonium Shadow Show & Aerial Ballet PLUS Aerial Pandemonium Ballet. Then you win 3 times!!

[dogbreath]

Just raising my clenched fist of support for the Nilster. Mr Knutz is right about the twofers (and the threefer!) - they came after a long period of Harry-drought in the racks, and you should snap 'em up if you see them. I have The Point three times, I just realised (including vinyl with the niftyswell comic book) but not a copy of the movie, which I remember as being a treat, and as great for adults as for kids.

Yeah. But I don't think Lennon was too good for his artistic development, and maybe the other way round, too.

My favourite is still Aerial Ballet. Something almost "Friends"-like about the lightness of feel, and airy, summery production. Gorgeous.

[trumpet sounds]

Son Of Schmilsson

[the captain]

Nilsson Sings Newman is, to me, one of the very finest albums, not just by Nilsson and not just of the '70s, but period. One of the very best albums. It is beautiful--a great example of an artist bringing out the best of another artist's work. Very good interpretations, some similar, some not. And the singing...!

After that, I'd go for the threefer disc. After that...all the rest, of course!

[Alan Boyd]

I love 'em all, even if a couple of the later albums are kinda weak...

Many years ago I used to check out albums at the local library, and they had all of Harry's LPs.... each week I'd get another one, and one of the remarkable things about his work is that every album seemed to be completely different from the others.  I never knew WHAT to expect.... and there was always something magical on each release.  I finally tracked down all of his records by the early 80s, and during times when I'd be away on long trips, I would lend the entire Nilsson collection to a couple of friends, saying, "Take your time, and enjoy the journey."  By the time I got back, these frineds were dedciated Harry-Heads.  It happened every time - it even worked on my Mom! 

(For the record, her favorite Nilsson song:  "Here's Why I Did Not Go To Work Today")

By the way, a couple of years ago Curtis Armstrong and I were at RCA going through some unreleased Nilsson masters, and we came across an unfinished recording of a Jimmy Webb song, "Campo D'Encino," that Harry had done back in 1973 or 74 (before he lost his voice).... We took the surviving tracks, and with the help of Gary Griffin, assembled, edited, and reconstructed the song.  It's absolutely marvelous (Harry really makes the song his own, somehow), and Curtis has recently informed me that it will be included on a reissue CD coming out in the spring.

Alan

[Jason]

How can one post describe the love and respect I have for Nilsson and his music? It's like trying to say why I like the Beach Boys in one brief, succinct post.

Nilsson moves me like very few artists do. One of the true greats and one of the best songwriters in the history of popular music.

[I. Spaceman]

I love 'em all, even if a couple of the later albums are kinda weak...

Many years ago I used to check out albums at the local library, and they had all of Harry's LPs.... each week I'd get another one, and one of the remarkable things about his work is that every album seemed to be completely different from the others.  I never knew WHAT to expect.... and there was always something magical on each release.  I finally tracked down all of his records by the early 80s, and during times when I'd be away on long trips, I would lend the entire Nilsson collection to a couple of friends, saying, "Take your time, and enjoy the journey."  By the time I got back, these frineds were dedciated Harry-Heads.  It happened every time - it even worked on my Mom! 

(For the record, her favorite Nilsson song:  "Here's Why I Did Not Go To Work Today")

By the way, a couple of years ago Curtis Armstrong and I were at RCA going through some unreleased Nilsson masters, and we came across an unfinished recording of a Jimmy Webb song, "Campo D'Encino," that Harry had done back in 1973 or 74 (before he lost his voice).... We took the surviving tracks, and with the help of Gary Griffin, assembled, edited, and reconstructed the song.  It's absolutely marvelous (Harry really makes the song his own, somehow), and Curtis has recently informed me that it will be included on a reissue CD coming out in the spring.

Alan

AMAZING, Alan. Can't wait to hear this major discovery!

[Beckner]

Without one single doubt, his first two albums, Pandemonium Shadow Show and Aerial Ballet.
Two of the finest pop albums ever reased. Absolutely essential for any fan of quality music, period. Perfection.

This coming from my week old opinion: YES YES YES!

[I. Spaceman]

Sounds like you may need the Harry album soon, becks. That's great, too!

[Beckner]

All I know is once I heard "Aerial Ballet" I shelved "Scmillson" for good.

[hypehat]

So weird, this thread. Campo de Encino is one of my favourite Nilsson recordings, so funny and so beautiful.


So essentially, I love Nilsson. Luther is right, Nilsson Sings Newman is the bible for a singer as far as I'm concerned. It's taught me everything I know, and I haven't learnt nearly half of what it has to offer.

As for his own songwriting, it's the balance between the humour and beauty. That's life to me. Harry embodies that.

[SMiLE-addict]

Glad you bumped this thread, because it inspired me to start looking for his songs on Youtube, and found this one which I'd been trying to remember for YEARS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATg8CdRD68E

[I. Spaceman]

Spotify, mate. I'd recommend it.

[guitarfool2002]

"Jump In The Fire"...everyone who has seen Goodfellas knows it...has been a recent favorite. Jim Gordon just rocking out on drums, intense Harry vocal, great echo/delay vocal effects, just a great intense rock and roll record that sounds like some top-notch players in the studio just rocking out with abandon.

I wish music like that were still being made on a regular basis where you could turn a radio dial and hear that kind of tune among the new releases.

I also just heard "Everybody's Talkin" on the digital channel yesterday, but the single/radio version with a different vocal than the soundtrack album which I prefer. That's always been a favorite, and the film itself has always been in my top 5 of all time. Perfect song for that film.

Love that guitar intro. Al Casey picking those guitars, I believe.

[Mike's Beard]

Harry is my second favourite singer after Carl Wilson. Everything up to A Touch of Scmillson... is a must have.