Nilsson - C or D?

You know, I wrote a song in the style of (Harry's lonely version of) "One" — the subject of which was Harry's rumoured death. It was called "Coffin Full of Stones" and, yes, recounted the Marianne Faithful story. You know that story, right, Dada?

"Cuddly Toy", btw, may be Harry's best song from that era. My gf (now fiance) positively adored that song — that is, until I told her what it was about...

"He'd come to town
and he would hound her for a couple o' days
And then he'd sail across the bubbly waves
And those were happier daaaaays
but noooooooooooooooooooooooow..."

Aside from Schmilsson, The Point has to be my favorite of the ones I've got - the storytelling bits are way, way more enjoyable than they could have been, and the whole thing is very warm and sweet without being cloying. It's absolutely perfect for evenings spent inking comic books, or at least that's what I used it for.

Just yesterday picked up Rock N Roll, which seems to be a reissue of Spotlight on Nilsson, and also one of those rare records that doesn't seem to exist on AMG. Haven't gotten to really digest it yet - apparently Spotlight was a collection of minor studio recordings/demos from when he had access to a studio but before he had a contract of his own. Enjoyable but doesn't really jump out the speaker at least so far...

I love this record. It has to be one of the strangest follow ups to a smash-hit LP by a major artist. There's a strong "I'm not going to repeat the formula, but I'll mess up the expectations of my new fans instead" vibe to it that's fascinating (and makes the album title an intentional joke). God only knows what people who loved "Coconut" or "Without You" might have thought of "You're Breaking My Heart" when they first heard it.

And recording a song titled "I'd Rather Be Dead" with back up vocals from residents of a nursing home is twisted genius. Classic, I say.

Son of Schmilsson is one of his I've never heard, but I'm seeking it out right now for this reason alone.

I see only one mention of Sandman on here -- which I've never heard; is it really bad? Can't say I'm not curious...

http://www.lslproductions.com/wihn_home.html

Seattle Weekly says it "breaks no new ground" but still

How true.

I dug up an old single, Kenny Everett singing 2 nilsson songs. How about that!

http://chilled.cream.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=812&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20

then there is an mp3 of Harry Nilsson from an Everett radio show that's worth hearing. Unfortunately none of the other links on the thread appear to work.

I wanted to add a "classic" vote. The cover of "River Deep, Mountain High" on Pandemonium Shadow Show (better than the "remix" on Aerial Pandemonium Ballet though that one's great too) is so classic: sonically it's very similar to the original, with all the instruments save voice pretty much the same. But Nilsson does all the voices, and on the second verse (the one about the puppy) when he gets to the "I'm gonna be as faithful as that puppy" he shout/sings it and at that moment it's like the standards of faithfulness have been completely reset, like you can only really be faithful to another person if you can shout it that mountain high. It's like when Cash says "I find it very, very easy to be true", and you're like, wow, it's not easy for me at all, I've got some work cut out for me...Nilsson resets the standards of faithfulness too.

I remember Blue Peter creating a dance routine to Nilsson's "River Deep" (didn't know it was his version till many years later, it was that puppy line that registered w/me), with Lesley Judd of the Young Generation (the rest wus historie)

i have been totally obsessed for the past like three months. everything about him is perfect - voice, songs, piano, personality, everything. classic, classic, classic.

Funnily enough, I just dug up my 2CD "Ariel Pandemonium Ballet Show" cd set about an hour ago. And suddenly here's this thread.

how is Son of Schmilsson? seen that LP the other day, looked so cool. dunno why i didnt pick it up

its good. has the fuck you song.

And Without You, of course.

thats on nilsson schmilsson

Knnillssonn is very underrated. He definitely got his voice back after Pussy Cats.

just to say a little more it has a very ethereal, angelic quality to it. a bit Spector-esque with beautiful string arrangements and heavy reverb throughout. not much guitar except for wonderful acoustic playing and lots of Beach Boys style percussion. some of his best vocals and melodies of his career for sure. even the cover is heaven.

http://www.jefito.com/nilsson_knnillssonn.jpg

actually, knnillssonn kind of depresses me. he doesn't sound blown out, but he does a little desensitized to me

haha im liking it tons and tons today. btw i posted a song from it on askchaki! board last week and it still seems to be an active link of anyone wants.

+ i'll ask again: where in sf??