The Fall - Hex Enduction Hour (yup)Sonic Youth - (spelt Psonick Youth) SisterKraftwerk - the Man MachineWire - Chairs Missingsome CCR album, I can't remember which one
I remember feeling surprised/redeemed/something that 'Chairs Missing' was on there cuz it's one of my favorite albums
― James Blount (James Blount), Sunday, 1 December 2002 23:29 (twenty-one years ago) link
His first two albums, Pantomime Shadow Show and Aerial Ballet, are favorites of mine, too.
― Curt (cgould), Sunday, 1 December 2002 23:54 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Tom May, Monday, 2 December 2002 00:05 (twenty-one years ago) link
― webcrack (music=crack), Monday, 2 December 2002 00:43 (twenty-one years ago) link
Also, for pure fabulousity: the Shangri-Las doing "Paradise," one of his first songs. If you haven't heard this, track it down immediately. It's the Shangri-Las singing a Harry Nilsson song, for Christ's sake! Could anything be better?
― Marcel Post (Marcel Post), Monday, 2 December 2002 02:02 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Tom May, Monday, 2 December 2002 02:40 (twenty-one years ago) link
This album is GORGEOUS.
― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 2 December 2002 02:48 (twenty-one years ago) link
I think I've already blabbed over "Without You" and the embarrassing Pavlovian reaction I have to its opening bars elsewhere on ILM.
I'd love to hear this Newman material. The Camden version is 35 tracks - for only 8 quid (well, it includes Harry). What am I waiting for?
― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 2 December 2002 10:32 (twenty-one years ago) link
The other album talked up has been Pussy Cats but I find this difficult to listen to given the state his previously amazing voice is in. Too many brandy alexanders. The albums after this his voice recovers somewhat but it's never quite the same again.
Son of Schmillsson is also worth checking out especially the master stroke of getting the OAP's from the local old folks home to sing on a song called I'd Rather Be Dead. Not only a great voice and a great songwriter but a great sense of humour too.
― mms (mms), Monday, 2 December 2002 14:42 (twenty-one years ago) link
One of my favorite songwriters. Nilsson Schmilson and Son of Schmilson are complete classics. His songs hold up so well, it's pretty amazing. And I can't really see how Elliot Smith or Badly Drawn Boy without him.
The story about him blowing out his vocal cords when he was recording Pussy Cats because he didn't want to let Lennon know is pretty tragic.
― Aaron W, Monday, 2 December 2002 14:48 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Orange, Monday, 2 December 2002 20:37 (twenty-one years ago) link
But ....man....Nilsson Sings Newman.....phew....extraordinary...
― harveyw, Monday, 2 December 2002 21:53 (twenty-one years ago) link
A friend of mine in college swore by Harry's later albums, like 'Duit on mon dei.' I haven't heard them myself. Thoughts?
― Amateurist (amateurist), Monday, 2 December 2002 23:24 (twenty-one years ago) link
― polyphonic (polyphonic), Monday, 2 December 2002 23:29 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Tom May (Tom May), Sunday, 9 March 2003 19:13 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 9 March 2003 19:15 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Tom May (Tom May), Sunday, 9 March 2003 19:25 (twenty-one years ago) link
Not completely sure, but it must be one of his very earliest albums.
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 9 March 2003 19:29 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 9 March 2003 19:30 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 9 March 2003 19:40 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 9 March 2003 19:55 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 9 March 2003 19:58 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Tom May (Tom May), Sunday, 9 March 2003 19:59 (twenty-one years ago) link
Joy to the world was a beautiful girl But to me Joy meant only sorrow
― christoff (christoff), Monday, 10 March 2003 20:19 (twenty-one years ago) link
Does anyone have either of those two double-CD sets comprised from his last late 70s records? I like the few songs I have from them on comps, and I'm intrigued...
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Tuesday, 23 September 2003 14:27 (twenty years ago) link
― Dadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 24 September 2003 08:32 (twenty years ago) link
Thoughts about his best record? Those first three are all filled with absolutely brilliant pop confections, but also some filler. Pussy Cats is pretty terrific in places -- "Don't Forget Me" being one of his best twisted ballads.
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 24 September 2003 16:18 (twenty years ago) link
You're not the only choo choo train,That was left out in the rain,The day after Santa came.You're not the only cherry delight,That was left in the night,And gave up without a fight.
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 24 September 2003 16:25 (twenty years ago) link
― ron (ron), Thursday, 25 September 2003 00:08 (twenty years ago) link
― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 25 September 2003 10:16 (twenty years ago) link
He also apparently finished his last album right before he died in 1994. Would love to hear that...
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Thursday, 25 September 2003 21:02 (twenty years ago) link
― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 25 September 2003 21:34 (twenty years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 25 September 2003 21:36 (twenty years ago) link
And??!? Sadly, I am Soul Seekless right now...
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Thursday, 25 September 2003 21:50 (twenty years ago) link
― M Specktor (M Specktor), Thursday, 25 September 2003 22:58 (twenty years ago) link
― adaml (adaml), Sunday, 19 October 2003 01:35 (twenty years ago) link
Hours later I caught Harry heading for the hotel bar with friends and I asked him about a rumor I heard that their might be a POINT II in the works (animated sequel and album to The Point) and he said there was some talks about it. He said he wanted to call it "Back To The Point". Obviously, it was never made - but he did seem to have some fondness for The Point. At this point in his career Harry's voice was raspier than ever - and he never did recover to the point where he released anything like his earlier albums. I think he had just done the Popeye Soundtrack, which of course he didn't sing himself. But now hearing that there may be demos to it I certainly would love to hear what that sounded like.
My last recollection about Harry is a bittersweet one... he decided to join the Beatlefest house band onstage during one of their sets, and although it got a standing ovation from the audience - it was more out of appreciation for the man than it was for the vocal performance anyone was hearing that night. Harry was obviously drinking and at times when he spoke you either couldn't hear him or understand him - but I remember just the same how everybody went crazy for him. How could you not? I mean - this was Nilsson.
― Donald, Friday, 11 June 2004 15:33 (nineteen years ago) link
― briania (briania), Friday, 11 June 2004 18:17 (nineteen years ago) link
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Saturday, 12 June 2004 14:44 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 12 June 2004 15:57 (nineteen years ago) link
"Put a lot of echo on it if you can..."
― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 12 June 2004 17:35 (nineteen years ago) link
I'm probably going to wind up snatching everything through Pussy Cats (already got that, Newman and Aerial Pandemonium Ballet) except Touch Of Schmillson, but I was wondering if anybody wanted to defend his post-Pussy Cats work. I've heard most of its really uninspired but I was wondering if anybody had a differing opinion.
― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 3 October 2004 22:18 (nineteen years ago) link
― the great doxology of heckmondwike town (gareth), Sunday, 3 October 2004 22:20 (nineteen years ago) link
― Didoismus (Dada), Monday, 4 October 2004 11:49 (nineteen years ago) link
Anyhow, Got the Camden 2CD Aerial Pandemonium Ballet thing. Brilliant stuff. Got a couple of singles back in the day, "Daybreak" and "All I think about is you" which are both fine and grand. too.
― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 4 October 2004 12:01 (nineteen years ago) link
― Jay Watts III (jaywatts), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 01:20 (eighteen years ago) link
― Billy Pilgrim (Billy Pilgrim), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 04:53 (eighteen years ago) link
― mms (mms), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 10:34 (eighteen years ago) link
― Baaderonixx weaves a daisy chain for... SATAN!! (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 11:33 (eighteen years ago) link
― Oh No, It's Dadaismus (and His Endless Stupid Jokes) (Dada), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 11:34 (eighteen years ago) link
I mean, this was post-"Smile"
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 18:08 (five years ago) link
Did Smile have a lot of overdubs? Edits yes, but not aware of it having lots of multi-tracked vocs.
― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Wednesday, 23 May 2018 18:42 (five years ago) link
heard some of the Popeye demos on WFMU
― the ignatius rock of ignorance (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 23 May 2018 18:45 (five years ago) link
is this a joke...
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 18:46 (five years ago) link
there are tons of multi-tracked vocals all over the Beach Boys work from like '66 on, including demos/early studio versions where Brian would do all the voices himself etc.
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 18:50 (five years ago) link
and the stuff on Smile is particularly dense
not to take away from Nilsson - who was an incredible singer and vocal arranger - but he was not unique in this regard, or the first (or the last). Certainly post-1970 there's tons of intricately arranged, densely multi-tracked vocals on pop records, from stuff I hate (like Queen, who definitely went up into the high end of numbers of tracks range) to stuff I love (like the Bee Gees).
Personally I'm a little skeptical of the "118 overdubs" claim in 1970, I'd like to see the tracklist for that, given that the first 24-track recorder wasn't even invented until 4 years later. In 1970 putting 118 tracks on a recording (presumably using a 16-track recorder) would probably involve a serious amount of signal degradation due to all the bounce-downs you'd have to do.
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 18:57 (five years ago) link
Sounds like 118 nilssons tho
― don piano (Ross), Wednesday, 23 May 2018 19:01 (five years ago) link
I'm with you on hating Queen despite their craftsmanship.
Yeah, there are def. some similarities on this record with Smile (which, mind, was mostly unreleased in 1969). Nilsson def. also had an obsessive quality to getting vocal takes right (which apparently annoyed Newman -- he prob. meant "118 takes"). And there is a Glenn Gould-ish aspect to how tracks on both records are spliced together to create the feeling of a perfect, seamless performance (and of course, Smile/VDP-->Song Cycle/"Vine Street"-->Nilsson Sings Newman/"Vine Street").
But there are some pretty big differences, as well, not least of which is that Smile is a big, maximalist record performed by a studio orchestra and sung by an ensemble and Nilsson Sings Newman is a record where the dude himself is an orchestra. While there are vocal overdubs on Smile, most of the "wow" factor on that album is the arrangements. Also, Nilsson Sings Newman is in stereo, which Nilsson's vocal arrangements use to great effect.
Beyond that tho, is Nilsson's voice, which was more far more versatile than anyone's in the Beach Boys. Don't get me wrong, I love the purity of Brian's voice and Carl's vocals on Wild Honey but no one in the Beach Boys was ever going to pull off something like "Without You" or "Spaceman" (or even "Sail Away" from years later). Even by 1969, the strength of Nilsson's voice lets him explore some pretty sophisticated, witty arrangements, and create different shades to the music (i.e., "I'll Be Home"'s gospel choir -- or "Vine Street," which feels Beach Boys-esque in places but without any trace of the Four Freshman) In general, there is a more seamless feel to his arrangements.
All that said, I don't hear Nilsson Sings Newman as some masterpiece in the way Smile is -- it's a great record but a small one. And what I find most fascinating about it is how he's using someone else's songs as a springboard for his own vocal experiments. And I think a lot of that experimentation is still unique.
― Naive Teen Idol, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 21:13 (five years ago) link
yeah that all makes sense. Nilsson def had a better, more versatile voice than any of the Boys
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 21:20 (five years ago) link
One of my best recent vinyl scores was a nice copy of Son of... w/the poster for only $3.
― Making Plans For Sturgill (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 23 May 2018 22:07 (five years ago) link
love that record so much.
Nilsson as a vocal genuis is pretty evident right from the start of his career (see his version of "You Can't Do That"). also good to note there is a difference between singing in a group (a la Beach Boys) vs singing alone. for one rehearsal is a lot more difficult to do!
― Hazy Maze Cave (Adam Bruneau), Wednesday, 23 May 2018 22:35 (five years ago) link
his cover of many rivers to cross gets a lot of play around here
― don piano (Ross), Wednesday, 23 May 2018 22:37 (five years ago) link
for one rehearsal is a lot more difficult to do!
I dunno, is it? Maybe this is a funny question that only musicians care about but in some ways one person with a recording device is actually easier - you only have to get it right once, then every time you hear it back it's always the same and you build the next part on top of that, then overdub another one, etc. It's sequential and iterative. Whereas with a group everyone has to learn/write/know their individual parts (have them written out in advance, or have someone like Brian Wilson sing them to you etc.) and each person has to hit it right every time or it sounds bad. So there you have to get everyone in their assigned spot and then just practice it and refine it til it's as good as it can get. They're different approaches, but I'm not sure one is inherently easier (or better) than the other.
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 22:56 (five years ago) link
and obviously the latter approach is tailored to performing live, the former isn't and is strictly a studio creation
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 22:57 (five years ago) link
NTI expressed what i was trying to say about Smile, but with much more detail and clarity. They are recordings built around elaborate orchestrations and edits rather than obsessive overdubs.
― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Wednesday, 23 May 2018 23:05 (five years ago) link
there are a ton of vocal overdubs!but sure whatever
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 23:06 (five years ago) link
when rehearsing in a group you can sit around with 3-4 other guys who all know their parts and rehearse that stuff simultaneously, continuously, tape rolling or not. you can rehearse in the back of the car on the way to the studio.
as a solo performer, i guess you can rehearse with a tape of yourself and build it track by track. you don't see how this is more painstaking than working out harmonies all-at-once with a bunch of singers who have been singing together since they were teenagers? no room for on the spot adjustments of "oh, how about you go low here and i'll go high".
― Hazy Maze Cave (Adam Bruneau), Wednesday, 23 May 2018 23:10 (five years ago) link
I've done both and they're both a pain in the ass (ok granted I don't have the blood harmony thing at my disposal, that's a pretty big differentiator)
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 23 May 2018 23:19 (five years ago) link
but like I said, the solo recording only has to get each part right once. The group has to rehearse for hundreds of hours.
the solo performer has to rehearse and arrange for hundreds of hours as well. think about how much time Brian Wilson spent arranging that material. we are talking a lot of long days with no breaks. it's not like the singer 1 can go take a break and drink some honey tea while singer 2 does some overdubs. if you are a solo performer you kind of have to be on all the time. this is hard on your throat (keep in mind Nilsson did blow out his voice pushing it too hard).
imo Harry was exceptional because doing this was (seemingly) easy for him. part long hours of hard work part the natural talents of having an incredible singing voice. he can be very smooth, controlled, and on-key, but also really rock n roll, really drunk, loose, silly. his range is vast yet in a real pleasing, pop way. he has powerful command of his own voice. he's a great songwriter as well which always helps.
fwiw he doesn't have to be the sole pioneer of a style or anything, he is just fantastic, his music speaks for itself. it takes a big talent to be able to do this with your voice. i see him as in line with people like Buddy Holly or Brian Eno, the avant pop studio experimenalist. he excels at using overdubs to create a layered voice-as-instrument effect. in the spirit of something like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcuojSU_hOY
― Hazy Maze Cave (Adam Bruneau), Wednesday, 23 May 2018 23:39 (five years ago) link
I've been non stop listening to Knillssonn for the last week. Arguably one of his best albums.
― stranded, Thursday, 24 May 2018 08:33 (five years ago) link
Well, I don't know, Brian and Carl are pretty good singers! I get a strong Bobby Darin vibe off (in particular, but not exclusively) Nilsson's first album.
― Poisoned by Johan's pea soup. (Tom D.), Thursday, 24 May 2018 17:41 (five years ago) link
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/pop-genius-harry-nilsson-left-an-unreleased-record-behind-now-you-can-finally-hear-the-completed-version/2019/09/24/0ae20126-dec7-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html
― a bevy of supermodels, musicians and Lena Dunham (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 25 September 2019 17:07 (four years ago) link
wow, almost didnt recognize his voice on that sample track
― “Hakuna Matata,” a nihilist philosophy (One Eye Open), Thursday, 26 September 2019 12:17 (four years ago) link
UCLA sounds completely in keeping with latter day Nilsson. Title track, agree, sounds like nothing else he did. I would love to hear the demos as well.
― Naive Teen Idol, Friday, 27 September 2019 19:23 (four years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/Boy1C5O.png
dude was ahead of his time...
https://open.spotify.com/track/6fvIzrJ6boUDFF19fH4S2s?si=a48JN0ddSVeLd89E0LCCDQ
― corrs unplugged, Monday, 14 October 2019 07:28 (four years ago) link
There are some days where I think that Pussy Cats may be his best album.
― Mr. Cacciatore (Moodles), Wednesday, 21 October 2020 23:36 (three years ago) link
It's been reported that Zak Nilsson (Harry's son) has passed away after a long struggle with colon cancer.
I didn't know this, but when Paul McCartney heard he was starting chemo, he sent him this letter.
― birdistheword, Friday, 5 March 2021 02:07 (three years ago) link
Confirmed on the Nilsson FB page.e
He appears w/Mom & Dad in the upper corner of the Son of... gatefold.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2176/9085/products/R-682504-1350386714-1971_jpeg_1024x1024.jpg?v=1598380339
― "what are you DOING to fleetwood mac??" (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 5 March 2021 02:24 (three years ago) link
Just saw this. RIP.
― The Ballad of Mel Cooley (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 5 March 2021 04:15 (three years ago) link
Recently picked up ... That's the Way it Is as I continue very slowly filling in his post-Pussy Cats records. It's good! STE at Allmusic always gave me the sense this was the nadir of his recorded output, but it's feeling very consistent with Knnillssonn and Sandman, just wayyy more reliant on covers and therefore less compositionally or melodically surprising. If you like 50% or more of those records, you'd probably like 50% or more of this one.
― Bobo Honk, real name, no gimmicks (Doctor Casino), Friday, 2 July 2021 14:11 (two years ago) link
That run of three albums: "Duit on Mon Dei", "Sandman" and "...That's the Way It Is", is pretty dire compared to the rest of his discography, although there's definitely good (even great) stuff on all those albums. "Knnillsson" is different beast entirely.
― Are Animated Dads Getting Hotter? (Tom D.), Friday, 2 July 2021 14:22 (two years ago) link
i hardly ever put them on individually, but there are enough good tracks across all of them to put together a pretty good album-length playlist imo
― nobody like my rap (One Eye Open), Friday, 2 July 2021 15:36 (two years ago) link
Yes, you could get one very good album out of the three, shorn of dross like "How to Write a Song" et al.
― Are Animated Dads Getting Hotter? (Tom D.), Friday, 2 July 2021 16:11 (two years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/utaGNbW.jpgThis came on and I was like “how did I not know that Lennon covered this?”
― calstars, Thursday, 10 August 2023 00:54 (eight months ago) link
Interesting to compare Nilsson's "Vine Street" to Van Dyke Parks' version starting off "Song Cycle"...
Or Harpers Bizarre's version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEkbPrsoX_c
― Hunky Tory (Tom D.), Saturday, 6 April 2024 15:55 (two weeks ago) link
... and Lulu's version!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epxh3CetPo8
that Harpers Bizarre version is nice
― Muad'Doob (Moodles), Monday, 8 April 2024 13:31 (one week ago) link
This came on and I was like “how did I not know that Lennon covered this?”
Because he didn't? Lennon used the same string arrangement for "#9 Dream."
Nilsson's version is a cover tho ... of a Jimmy Cliff song.
― Naive Teen Idol, Monday, 8 April 2024 15:44 (one week ago) link
Lennon freely admitted he copped it too.
― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 8 April 2024 15:46 (one week ago) link