Monday, June 21, 2010

Harry Nilsson


6-21-10


Harry Nilsson


Can’t find in my index if I’ve written about Harry Nilsson (1941 – 1994) before. Likely not.


I was pretty much always aware of Harry Nilsson – “Everybody’s Talkin’” was a massive hit when I was young. And I must’ve been the right age for “The Point” whether it was narrated by Ringo Starr or Dustin Hoffman. I do not keep a large collection of Nilsson:


CD ALL TIME GREATEST HITS RCA JPN BVCP-2310

1989 20 TRK Collection ('91 issue)

LP DUIT ON MON DEI RCA US APL1-0817

1975 11 TRKS

LP FLASH HARRY MERCURY AUS 6302 022

1980 10 TRKS

LP KNNILLSSONN RCA US AFL1-2276

1977 10 TRKS

LP LITTLE TOUCH OF SCHMILSSON IN THE NIGHT, A RCA US APL1-0097

1973 12 TRKS

CD NILSSON SCHMILSSON RCA US PCD1-4515

1971 10 TRKS

LP NILSSON SCHMILSSON RCA US LSP 4515

1971 10 TRKS insert

7" PER CHI / LEGGENDA (PS) RCA IT N 1658

1972 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD POINT!, THE RCA US 65128.2

1971 17 TRKS ('02 issue) (3 x bonus tracks)

LP POINT!, THE RCA US AYL1-3811

1971 14 TRKS re-issue

LP SANDMAN RCA US APL1-1031

1976 9 TRKS

LP SON OF SCHMILSSON RCA US LSP 4717

1972 11 TRKS


I remember that I first knew something was up when I saw that he had written a song that appeared in The Monkees’ movie, “Head” (“Daddy’s Song”, sung by Davy Jones).


Of course, I snickered along with everyone else when he released “You’re Breakin’ My Heart” (I understand it was the B-side of a 45 in England!) with “F*ck You” in the lyrics.


But as we all know – in the early 70’s, I was lured away from domestic pop culture by European music. So, I missed everything between ’72 and “Flash Harry” – a truly odd LP (and not on CD, as of 6/10, as far as I know) – Eric Idle appears!


The ‘odd man out’ here is the Italian-language 45 that I was made aware of – it’s “Without You” sung in Italian by Nilsson himself!


I know his 60’s albums are very highly regarded, perhaps one of the last bastions of U.S. singer / songwriter that I have yet to investigate.


So, I will continue picking up his LP’s (and CD’s) as they cross my path. I’ve liked everything I’ve found so far.


3 comments:

Anonymous said...

As a boy, I really loved "Coconut" but found "Without You" overwrought. Still do. At the time, I didn't even know it was by the same guy! Fred Schneider's cover of "Coconut" was really weird. I still don't know what to think about it.

George Ferreira said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
George Ferreira said...

Sorry to ask, but who's the writer of "Leggenda", the B side of italian single "Per Chi"?