the Nilsson thread
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was listening to Mucho Mungo/Mt. Elga and I really love the bass line. it's got the whole feel of the song down right from the first beat. I believe that was Klaus, sweet work there Klaus. And Ringo on drums! wonder why John opted not to sing on it with Harry? go PussyCats
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I'm a huge fan of Harry's. I love his version of "Mother Nature's Son" (a rare example of a Beatles cover I actually like), but there are so many of his songs which deserve a wider audience than they currently get, like "Mournin' Glory Story" and "Rainmaker", as well as his album full of Randy Newman covers, or "A Little Schmilsson In The Night" where Harry covers some of the greatest songwriters of the 30s/40s. He has a phenomenal voice and there's nothing of his which isn't worth checking out. Strangely enough, perhaps my least favourite album of mine is "Pussy Cats", the one produced by John Lennon. His voice really doesn't sound as good as it used to at that point.
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I definitely agree he was phenomonal, and I'd have to say I agree about PussyCats. It's amazing that record got released at all, with how bad Harry's voice sounded. the main reason you listen to Harry is for the vocals, and that was just taken out of the picture completely. I read a quote from Elton John who claimed to have dropped by the PC sessions and watched as Harry sang and spit blood due to hemoraging from coke intake. damn bro.. the Toot n a Snore recording is just an extension of that whole thing, shows you where John was with that as well. But in the end, what I like, is what you're left with is sort of a birdseye view of Harry and John's taste in music at the time, great musicians (Moon, Ringo, Klaus) and some oddball production from JL. Lennon doing Nilsson a solid at that point in his career. I mean did Lennon ever produce anyone other than himself, the Beatles and Nilsson? I don't have the link but I read about how John and Ringo talked RCA into renewing Harry's contract, I think in 1974? good dudes those ex-Beatles! I'll try to find that link, would fit nicely here...
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here's a blurb I just found at this site http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/harry_nilsson/biography.php After the relative failure of his latest two albums, RCA Records considered dropping Nilsson's contract. In a show of friendship, Lennon accompanied Nilsson to negotiations, and both intimated to RCA that Lennon and Starr might want to sign with them, once their Apple Records contracts with EMI expired in 1975, but wouldn't be interested if Nilsson were no longer with the label. RCA took the hint and re-signed Nilsson (adding a completion bonus clause, to apply to each new album), but neither Lennon nor Starr switched to RCA. Lennon throwing his weight around
..on another note, while I was surfing the web I happened upon this site http://fortheloveofharry.blogspot.com/ ..could be older news, not sure.. but man would I love to hear those tapes. anyone heard them? the sites not that great so here's the blurb of interest: Two reel to reel tapes of John Lennon and Harry Nilsson jamming on the oldies during the Pussy Cats sessions are currently up for auction at Bonhams in June. The auction house estimates the value of the tapes at $40,000-45,000 (...guess they're not used to hearing Lennon's live jams). The tapes feature Lennon on guitar & vocals, Nilsson on drums & vocals and Simon & Garfunkel, all rehearsing at the Record Plant in NYC for approximately 95 minutes. According to a source who has heard some of the tapes, Nilsson is heard saying "goodbye Paul" and "stick around Artie" at one point. The source goes on to say that both Lennon & Nilsson "have had too much to drink." Also confirmed is that the tapes are not the god-awful Toot And A Snore session tapes featuring Lennon, Paul McCartney, Nilsson and Stevie Wonder.
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Here's a photo I took of Harry playing drums with Liverpool, at a 1982 Beatlefest.
Here's his business card from the late 1980's.
He was a cool guy and from what I understand, Ringo was there to help him financially when Harry's accountant cleaned him out. I still have the "Coalition to End Handgun Violence" items Harry personally gave to me.
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nice SillyLoveSongs! awesome pic, and amazing that you have his business card! that would be one of my most prized posessions. so cool you rubbed shoulders with such a character. so did he just give it to you so you had his phone number, in case you ever felt like calling him up to hang out (or make a movie)? there were some crazy goings on during his waning years. was it ever release how much money his personal assistant stole from him? I heard this person never disclosed the location of the money. what does that even mean, did she have it all in cash somewhere?! I would have thought the ycould track down a bank account. anyone have any details on the hiest or resolution? so did that pretty much bankrupt Hawkeye? I remember hearing about a movie he produced and co-wrote called the Telephone, with Whoopie Goldberg. I just cant bring myself to actually watch it
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Well thanks for making this dedicated Nilsson thread kapoo. Glad you like the pic and biz card - I'll dig out some more images along the way. We did exchange phone calls a few times and somewhere I have a message from him to me on a cassette. The last time I saw Harry was '89 I think. To be honest, I don't know many details of that whole mess which turned up in the early 1990's. I learned bits about it after Harry's passing. I felt so bad for Una and their kids. Oh yeah, 'Telephone.' I may have seen it but to be honest, I don't remember it. Sorry Whoopie. Harry had some fun stories but I can't really share them. No no no, well, no.
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man, I'm sure I'd be thoroughly entertained by your stories of Nilsson
I'm still loving that business card. so its 3:15am and I'm awake tending to my 1 month old son.. but I have Nilsson Schmilsson playing softly on the turn table right now. Just heard Down. That song is just the shot of pure energy I needed right about now. great brass arrangement on that. I love the phrase the horns repeat at the end.
wa wana wa wa wana wa wa wana wa wa wana wa wawa wawa.. there's my scat rendition
and another clever lyric from Harry. and what a vocal. down you got it goin going round you got it goin down goin down down down
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I wish I could tell you who the photographer of this fantastic photo is but unfortunately, I do not know off hand. One thing Harry had asked of me when he had learned that I was into photography, was to make some copies of his pictures. This is one of my favourites and it must have been a great moment to have been present. The photo was taken inside the offices of the Capitol Records tower, in Hollywood. It may have been 1973 when Harry joined Ringo on top of the tower in the promotional film for 'Only You.'
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thats a great pic! rock stars having a ball. Moon seems to have that expression on his face in a lot of the picturs I see, just rip roarin! I love their version of Only You. one of my fav all time tracks from Ringo. do you know the identity of the other two guys in the shot? I wonder if that pic was taken at the pre-party to the Only You video shoot? because Harry and Ringo look like they just might have been lit up in that video
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That's so cool! You're playing Nilsson for your little guy there. Congratulations by the way! I mean, he's gotta love 'The Point,' eh? I'll never forget watching the original telecast in the early 1970's which featured Dustin Hoffman's narration, long before Ringo did it for the home video release. I did have the chance to let Harry know how much I loved his theme, 'Best Friend,' from the television show, The Courtship of Eddie's Father. We were talking about whether or not there existed a clip of him singing the song from some t.v. appearance and unfortunately there doesn't seem to be one in existence. I'll counter the shot you've posted from the 'Only You' promo. I have some B&W's from that. Other stuff to follow when time permits.
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you know it, I want to introduce him to the best first. I play him all the greats. guess you could say he's my one boy my cuddly toy my up and down my pride and joy
that is a great little ditty regarding the Point!, I'm hoping I receive the album this Christmas, I've put the word out that I want it. if not I plan to buy it shortly. I know Arrow real well but not much of the rest. Here's an article I found about that project. the controlled chaos that was Nilsson http://www.lacitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/?id=1076&IssueNum=59
buying this for my son! but actually for myself
![](http://i.ebayimg.com/12/!BR2EhD!Bmk~$(KGrHgoOKkMEjlLmV,uSBK!IM71rUg~~_12.JPG)
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I dont know where life's going but soon it will be gone I hope the wind thats blowin helps me carry on
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I seriously have a new favorite song! Nilsson does a version of the Moore/Abner song At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama), on his Son of Schmilsson album. I just got this on vinyl and been wearing it out, the energy is amazing. Ringo (Richie Snare) drums on it, and you got the works: Klaus on Bass, Nicky Hopkins on Piano, Peter Framption on Guitar, Bobby Keys on Sax. It's the most rocking track on earth, I'm convinced! Rich Perry got it right! for the life of me I cannot find Harry's verison anywhere online.. so sad! if anyone can help me out there. otherwise I'll just keep playing the record
Most rockin track on earthhere's the old school El Dorado version to wet the whistle
heard it here first btw there's a great pic on the rear cover of Nilsson wearing the Schmilsson robe over a tuxedo, underneath his dracula cape.. smokng a pipe. cant find that pic online either or I'd post. but fantastic stuff.
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Just realized that there was at least one alternate photo for this, the 'Daybreak' 45rpm single...
Not sure if this has ever been used for promoting 'Flash Harry,' but this is one of four similar shots I have in my archives...
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great Flash Harry pic, thats awesome. I don't have that album but have heard some, his version of Old Dirt Road is cool. just cool to hear him do it.
I saw this too, Harry with a far out take on Blackbird. that guy was so creative. did you ever notice the similarity of the music from Turn On Your Radio and Blackbird? Blackbird Turn On Your Radio anyway -
Way to go Jimmy! did you see that, he got Ringo talking about Nilsson! at about the 1:00 min mark http://www.hulu.com/watch/120234/late-night-with-jimmy-fallon-ringo-starr-interview-part-2 I'm going to have to check out Harry's version of River Deep-Mountain High now
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Calling all Nilsson fans.. I found this forum and would love it if more people got involved. looks sort of slow over there. so if you're interested, hook up a user name and lets talk a little schmilsson. http://forum.nilssonschmilsson.com/index.php
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Nilsson, John and Ringo banging out Dylan
Johnnys in the basement mixin up the medicine Harry's on the pavement thinkin bout the government -
where'd the pictures go SLS! I liked dropping in and looking at them
oh Harry Harry Harry.. I'm still stuck on the music bro. love it. I've learned pretty much all the songs on guitar from Son of Schmilsson recently, to varying degree of accuracy. I could listen for hours. AmBuSh the song was sung with spirit but soft and like a choir but by the time we stopped the song the enemy had opened fire