Everyone knows his songs, but hardly anyone knows his name. Harry Nilsson is the most famously anonymous composer and performer of our time. He never gave concerts and never performed live, except for one British television show. Yet, musicians adored him and John Lennon publicly declared that Nilsson was his favorite artist. He did everything to excess and taught rock and rollers how to live a rock and roll life. He paid for his over-indulgences with an early death, but he left a legacy of beautiful compositions and recordings.
Here is an offering of the ten best songs of Harry Nilsson:
1. Without You – “I can’t live if living is without you. I can’t live. I can’t give any more.” Probably the most emotionally wrought ballad ever attempted outside an opera. This song wrings you out. It is an excellent vehicle for Nilsson’s multiple octave voice, which was the envy of most singers of the era. The only other artist who comes to mind that could handle a song with this type of mounting emotional crescendo is Roy Orbison. Now for the ironic part. Although Nilsson built his career upon composing and writing numerous songs that other artists made famous, he didn’t write this one. It was a collaboration of Pete Ham and Tom Evans of the band Badfinger. They might best be remembered by the theme song “Come And Get It” from the bitingly satirical film “The Magic Christian” starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr. It would be fun to play the Six Degrees of Separation game with Harry Nilsson’s career.
2. Si No Estas Tu (Spanish version of Without You) – A newly remastered release of his 1971 Grammy winning album titled “Nilsson Schmilsson” includes a Spanish language version of “Without You” which is a revelation. It is so naturally beautiful that is sounds as if it were originally written in Spanish. The English version actually sounds a bit harsh in comparison. This could still be a huge hit for the Ricky Martins and Enrique Inglesias of the world.
3. Without Her – Could be an example of Nilsson’s sly humor. Similar in title to “Without You,” this is the diametric opposite in tone. A low key, almost one note saloon song with samba undertones.
4. One – This was a huge hit for Three Dog Night. Nilsson said he was inspired to write it from a busy tone he kept hearing on the telephone. Think of that for a laugh next time you hear this on the oldies station.
5. Everybody’s Talkin’ – The theme song for the John Schlesinger film “Midnight Cowboy” starring Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight. It set just the right tone for the movie. “Everybody’s talkin’ at me. I don’t hear a word they’re sayin’. Only the echoes of my mind.” Irony again. Nilsson didn’t write this piece, either. Fred Neil did. Here was Nilsson’s most famous performance and he was serving in the role of singer. This is where most listeners were introduced to Nilsson’s trademark “Whhaa wha wha wha whhaa” vocal styling.
6. I Guess The Lord Must Be in New York City – This ballad feels and sounds so much like “Everybody’s Talkin” it just proves that Nilsson could have written “Talkin” if he wanted to.
7. Coconut – Like a cartoon set to music. Producer Richard Perry had Nilsson assume different voices to depict characters in this surrealist reggae comedy. “Doctor! Ain’t there nothing I can take? I said, Doctor! To relieve this belly ache?” “You put the lime in the coconut, drink ’em both up. You put the lime in the coconut and call me in the morning.”
8. Me and My Arrow – A lovely little tune about a boy and his dog what Nilsson wrote for an animated children’s fable titled “The Point.” In a make believe domain where all the buildings have pointy roofs and all the people are point shaped, a young boy is ostracized because he has a round head. This song was appropriated by a car company for use as a television commercial jingle.
9. Cuddly Toy – This was Nilsson’s first financially successful song, when The Monkees recorded it as a bubble gum ditty featuring lead singer Davey Jones. But don’t judge a book by its cover. Wrapped inside this cheerful, bouncing melody are some of the most vindictive, insulting break-up lyrics ever heard. A great example of Nilsson’s sweet and sour capabilities.
10. Driving Along – A psychedelic folk combo. “Driving along at 57,000 miles an hour. Look at those people standing on the petals of a flower.”
Reference:
- Pandemonium Shadow Show, Aerial Ballet, Nilsson Schmilsson, Son of Schmilsson, A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night, The Point, Nilsson Sings Newman
