The Smiley Smile Message Board

I finally had the chance to see the new Harry Nilsson documentary here in Portland and something occured to me. It seems Harry blew out his beautiful, multi-octave voice sometime in late '74, never to regain it. This sounded a lot like our hero, BW. I know this is a silly question, but is it only coincidence, or did all high tenors decide it was more manly to have a wrecked voice instead of a pretty one? I don't really expect too many answers. Just wanted to see if anyone else found this interesting.

Unfortunately, Harry had some of the same bad habits as Brian around that time.

Oh yeah, they both have that Van Dyke Parks connection! I think I'm on to something (or maybe just on something).

I've yet to see the Nilsson documentary, but I must toss in my two cents that I love his music. Like BW, his songs were very melodic and eccentric--my two favorite qualities in this world!

I think I read that Nilsson literally blew out his voice in the studio, as in ripped a vocal chord, and it was bleeding.  Yikes.

Take Harry and Brian...two tenors, very talented vocalists and songwriters...Harry chain smoked, and had a self-destructive attitude, all in the name of fun and wild abandon..quite like Keith Moon. Brian did not have that, although he had his own wild streak, his social skills were not as defined as Harry's, and that is not always a plus, when socializing means staying up 42 hours and snorting a half ream of coke, and smoking a hog's leg of weed, and drinking whatever is in glass. and chain smoking...and you wonder why his voice went out around "p*ssy Cats"? Brian, on the other hand, did not have that social awareness. and in the long run, that might have saved his life, his voice, and his creativity......

Kitty Cats?  I can't believe the censors have changed the name of Nilsson's album.....Kitty Kats, indeed!

lol

Yeah he really ripped his vocal chords during the Pussycats sessions. But the reason he didn't take a rest and go and see a doctor was that he was afraid that if he'd tell Lennon, Lennon would stop the sessions so that Harry could recover. And Harry was afraid the sessions would not be finished afterwards. Wilson vs. Nilsson is a hard comparison for me. They are like two of the best most gifted popmusicians to come out of the 20th century.

p*ssy

Oh.

I've been listening to some of Nilsson's a lot lately and he seems great. Could somebody give advice on how to get more in to him record wise? Should I start with Son of Schmilsson or WHAT?

That depends on the sort of thing you like. MY personal favorite--BY FAR--is Nilsson Sings Newman, a classy, beautiful record in which he sings all Randy Newman songs. The first several albums are my next favorite. To me, after Nilsson Schmilsson, they're all of lesser quality. Some are better than others, but none really hit the high points again to my ears.

For some really good Nilsson on youtube, check this live piano-and-vocal performance. There appear to be 6 parts--I've just come across the first one and am about to begin with the others. Sorry if these are old news, I wasn't aware.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3utxeMHv3vs&mode=related&search=

For craftfull songwriting and a more singersongwriter orientated Nilsson singing with his full angellike vocal range, get Pandemonium Shadow Show, Aerial Ballet and Harry. For his amazing readings of Randy Newman's songs get Nilsson Sings Newman. For his famous children's play The Point get the album of the same title. For his more mainstream Nilsson plays the rockstar music get the great Nilsson Schmillsson and Son Of Schmillssonn. For his readings of the classic american songbook get A Little touch of schmilsson in the night. For drunken fun with a ragged voice and Lennon all over it, get Pussycats. For his amazing sense of humour get Sandman. For a late Harry period record with just Harry, acoustic guitars, classical instruments and percussion, get Knnillssonn. Don't get Skidoo, Duit On Mon Dei and That's The Way It Is. And wait a little longer before getting Flash Harry too! Cheers Yorick :-D

Those clips were great!

Damn, I guess I should just buy all of his albums right away.  8)

......or get his 2 cd anthology, "Personal Best"..another good place to start.