Harry Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson
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Free Music Notes for Nilsson Schmilsson
Free Music Review: Classic album, packed with extra tracks
Hit: 5 Stars
For some reason, whenever I read about Harry Nilsson, he's always pegged as something of an 'adult contemporary' artist. This label, to me, has always carried an air of condescension--too old to appeal to the youngsters, only fit for mellow adult consumption. Perhaps he earned the label with his early work, especially his most well-known hit cover of Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin'," but to claim that Harry Nilsson, especially on this album, primarily targets a pasteurized market of complacent square "adults" is an insult to both the younger listeners to whom this great music appeals, as well as the so-called "adults" to whom it might also appeal. As the years have proven, Nilsson Schmilsson is one of Harry Nilsson's finest collections of mostly original songs, and is a playful, clever, and rocking romp across several musical styles that is nearly universal in its appeal to fans of rock, pop, blues, and all points in between.
At its heart, Nilsson Schmilsson is a piano-based pop rocker, as the opening track indicates with its infectiously Beatles-esque piano riff that anchors Nilsson's acrobatic, gracefully soaring vocals. Nilsson's move toward a more rock-oriented sound comes off great--it's wonderful to hear his able pop crooning vocals spliced with something a bit edgier, yet still accessible. Add to the more aggressive sound the trappings of a 70's pop-rock album (horns, strings, etc.), and it's a perfectly natural Nilsson outing. Nilsson's adult contemporary reputation is somewhat reinforced by the first two tracks; one deals with the responsibilities of adulthood, and the second, "Driving Along" reflects a melancholy about the spaces between people. They're both rocking and catchy--in fact, listening to Nilsson Schmilsson (which is somewhat of a lost pleasure to fans of my age these days) it becomes pretty obvious that the indie pop rock sounds that are so prevalent today have a clear (and likely superior) predecessor 25+ years in the past. Go figure.
Through the rest of the album, Nilsson deftly covers a lot of stylistic ground--playful, mellow blues on "Early in the Morning," sleepy, mysterious contemplation on "The Moonbeam Song" (which could have easily fit on Nilsson's classic The Point storybook album), hard boogie on "Down," heart-wrenching balladry on the frequently-covered hit "Without You" (Nilsson's oh-so authentic vocal really flies on that one), clever and humorous pop on "Coconut" (THAT'S where that song came from), and barnstorming rock on the breathless "Jump Into The Fire." By the end, it's a wild joyride of an album that takes you a lot of places. Nilsson Schmilsson is loads of fun, boasting some of the strongest singing and writing in his career. Older listeners seem to know about this classic's merits, but for some reason Nilsson's music seems to be lost on a newer generation--mine--that, based on a lot of its music tastes, would gobble this music up. Recommended.
This reissue sounds great and is packed with plenty of extra material--6 bonus tracks, including an interesting Spanish/English version of "Without You," a couple unreleased songs, alternate versions of others, a radio advertisement, and a pretty funny joke song based on a French instruction manual. The bonus tracks definitely sweeten an already essential album, giving more reason to both newcomers and the already-converted.
Free Music Review: Wonderful Music
Hit: 5 Stars
Nilsson is a rarity, an artists' artist, lauded by such names as Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Three Dog Night, Blood, Sweat and Tears and numerous others. Nilsson's commercial success was less dramatic than his artistic influence. However, in November, 1971, Harry released "Nilsson Schmilsson" and achieved his greatest commercial success. This album reached #3 on the charts and remained on the charts for 46 weeks. The album also yielded a cover of Badfinger's "Without You," a powerful tearjerker with incredible vocals that stands as one of the greatest love songs of all times.
In addition to "Without You" are bouncy pop tunes such as "Gotta Get Up," "Driving Along," and "Down." When I listen to "Down" I hear a style that is very similar to that used a few years later by Billy Joel. "Coconut" has been made famous more recently as a commercial for a certain cola brand. Rest assured that Harry Nilsson was not thinking of a soft drink when he original wrote this clever song. All the voices you hear in this song belong to Harry, though it sounds as if three different people are singing.
This CD is made multi-dimensional with songs such as the blues infused "Early in the Morning." "The Moonbeam Song" recalls the work that Harry did for "The Point." This song is ethereal, dreamy and more than a little magical. "Let the Good Times Roll" has country and blues flavors to it, supported by a steel guitar and a harmonica.
This CD originally finished with two longer songs. "Jump into the Fire" has a harder and faster edge to it, and is over seven minutes long. This song is somewhat experimental for Nilsson, but the length is somewhat similar to a few songs by other groups in the era. The song contains lengthy instrumental portions and few lyrics. This song would perhaps not fit onto this CD except it is in the company of other songs that are similarly stylistically different from each other.
The CD originally finished with the beautiful song "I'll Never Leave You." This gorgeous love song is slow and mellow with a lot of strings and harmonies, and Nilsson's wonderful voice. This song is very powerful and even at four minutes in length it leaves you wanting more.
The remastered version of this excellent CD includes six bonus tracks; a Spanish version of "Without You," "How Can I Be Sure," "Lamaze," and demo versions of "The Moonbeam Song," "Old Forgotten Soldier," and "Gotta Get Up." As with most bonus tracks, some are interesting, others are just filler. Many of these have appeared on other CDs, so they may end up being duplicates in a comprehensive collection.
Harry Nilsson had an incredible voice and created music that nearly everyone has heard in one venue or another. Nilsson did the theme song for "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" and more recently the classic song "Coconut" has appeared in a cola commercial. While Harry Nilsson never became as famous as many of his contemporaries, that fault was often as much that of record companies who did not care for his free-thinking ways as the public who sometimes did not know what to make of his music. Looking back we can put into perspective how creative and ground-breaking Nilsson was, and cherish his better recordings. Of those recordings, this one may be the best.
Free Music Review: Can't Live If Living Is Without You , Can't Live Anymore
Hit: 5 Stars
"In which the whimsy and vocal pyrotechnics of Aerial Ballet and Pandemonium Shadow Show, now cunningly collapsed into a disc called Aerial Pandemonium Ballet, are apotheosized under the direction of popmeister Richard Perry. The two-and-a-half years since his last real LP, Harry, have been worth it -- if only every artist could learn to mark time until a good one was ready." Robert Christgau
Harry Nilsson was one of the most important artists in my musical existence in the late 60's and 70's. I fell in love with his voice and his music, no one could top him, he was the sum of all parts of the decade. The Beatles,yes... Van Morrison was in his league but Harry was my man.This CD is the best of the man and his music- a CD I have never been without and this remastered edition 'Nilsson Schmilsson' is the best of Harry. I fell in and out of love several times while this music lived on. I recently heard 'A Little Touch Of Schmilsson In The Night' and it is glorious, as my best friend believes, but this CD is mine. This CD took Harry to the top of the charts with one of my favorites 'Without You';'Put the Lime In the Coconut, gave the CD a fairy-tale feel and 'Moonbeam Song' is just dreamy. "The Forgotten Soldier' brings us back to earth and 'Let The Good Times Roll' brought us back into the stratosphere. 'Jump Into The Fire' is seven-minutes of bliss that gave Nilsson a reputation of a talent of unusual depth and scope.
"Harry had an impish wit -- yet he hadn't made a record as cohesive as this since his first time out, nor had he ever made something as shiny and appealing as this. It may be more accessible than before, yet it's anchored by his mischievous humor and wonderful idiosyncrasies. In short, it's a near-perfect summary of everything Nilsson could do; he could be craftier and stranger, but never did he achieve the perfect balance as he did here." Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Harry Nilsson had a bumpy life of rock, folk and then roll. He is well remembered in my soul, and I find myself singing his tunes along with him:
'Put the Lime In the Coconut'
You put the lime in the coconut, drink them both up,
You put the lime in the coconut, drink them both up,
You put the lime in the coconut, drink them both up,
Put the lime in the coconut, you such a silly woman!,
Harry Nilsson
Highly, Highly Recommended. prisrob 08-24-07
The Point! (Deluxe Packaging)
Harry Nilsson - Greatest Hits
A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night
Son of Schmilsson
Harry / Nilsson Sings Newman
Free Music Review: An Old Friend sounds better than ever!
Hit: 5 Stars
Having been a dyed-in-the-wool Nilssonian for nearly 30 years I had always been in the camp that preferred the follow-up 'Son of Schmilsson' to this, Harry's real 'breakthrough' album...but this reissue may be about to change all that...Firstly, the sound on this reissue is wonderful; much clearer and 'livelier' than the recent Camden version. The song which really jumped up at me in a whole new way was the beautiful 'You'll Never Leave Me' where the voice, instruments and orchestra weave their magic together to make for a completely marvellous aural experience! All the favourites you'd expect to hear on NS are similarly 'reborn': Coconut (which many only know from its numerous film soundtrack appearances - e.g. Reservoir Dogs, although the recent US Diet 'Lime' Cola ads may add a few sales to this release as well), 'The Moonbeam Song', 'Jump Into The Fire' and perennial heartbreaker 'Without You' all aound better than ever, unless you are especially nostalgic for the rumble and click of vinyl, of course!
The bonus tracks, however, are the icing on the cake and are worth the (cheap) price on their own. 'Without You' in Spanish, 4 early demos of tracks on this and later Nilsson albums and the typically quirky and never before heard 'Lamaze'...and there's still more to come if you listen to the end.
The packaging is attractive and informative with quotes from most of the personnel involved and, as is usual these days, superb, humorous and informative liner notes from Nilsson-fan extraordinaire Curtis Armstrong (yes...that one, 'Nerds' fans!). I doubt I'll play my other 4 NS discs much more apart from the bonus cuts - THIS is the benchmark. Thanks, RCA/BMG!
Free Music Review: Nilsson's Best Get's the Deluxe Treatment
Hit: 5 Stars
Harry Nilsson's best-selling album has been remastered and includes extensive liner notes and a number of bonus tracks. The bonus tracks on the CD are:
"Si No Estas Tu" - Nilsson's version of "Without You" in Spanish.
"How Can I Be Sure of You" - This original Nilsson song has never been released before. Harry never finished "How Can I Be Sure of You", but reused some of the song's lyrics for "Good For God".
"The Moonbeam Song" - An early, alternative version of the song, with Harry on piano. Curtis describes this as "a lovely band arrangement, with some surprisingly agile piano work from Harry."
"Lamaze" - "Lamaze" is another unreleased Nilsson original. Apparently done as a joke during the sessions for The Story of Eric, this "theme" has a dissonant piano counterpoint and very funny fake French lyrics. Brief but memorable.
"Old Forgotten Soldier" - This version of Harry's song uses the same basic tracks as the recent Camden release, but incorporates highly complex multi-tracked backing vocals that no one knew were there before.
"Gotta Get Up" - This is Harry's original version of the song with a George Tipton arrangement.
In addition to the above songs, the CD contains three unlisted radio spots, two of which feature brief comments from Richard Perry about the album and Harry.
For the liner notes, Curtis Armstrong conducted lengthy interviews with Richard Perry, Paul Buckmaster, George Tipton, Chris Spedding, Herbie Flowers, Dean Torrence, and Gary Wright.