Harry Nilsson: Nilsson Schmilsson (RCA ND83 464 West Germany) CD Track Listing

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Harry Nilsson Nilsson Schmilsson (RCA ND83 464 West Germany) (1971)
Originally Released November 1971\nStandard CD Edition Released October 1990\nRCA Records Gold CD Edition Released June 1995\nRemastered + Expanded CD Edition Released January 13, 2004\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Nilsson had a hit, a Grammy, and critical success, yet he still didn't have a genuine blockbuster to his name when it came time to finally deliver a full-fledged follow-up to Nilsson Sings Newman, so he decided it was time to make that unabashed, mainstream pop/rock album. Hiring Streisand's producer, Richard Perry, as a collaborator, Nilsson made a streamlined, slightly domesticated, unashamed set of mature pop/rock, with a slight twist. This is an album, after all, that begins by pining for the reckless days of youth, then segues into a snapshot of suburban disconnectedness before winding through a salute to and covers of old R&B tunes ("Early in the Morning" and "Let the Good Times Roll," respectively), druggie humor ("Coconut"), and surging hard rock ("Jump into the Fire"). There are certainly hints of the Nilsson of old, particularly in his fondness for Tin Pan Alley and McCartney melodicism -- as well as his 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 idiosyncracies. Chances are that those lured in by the grandly melodramatic "Without You" will not be prepared for either the subtle charms of "The Moonbeam Song" or the off-kilter sensibility that makes even his breeziest pop slightly strange. 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. [RCA/BMG Heritage reissued Nilsson Schmilsson in 2004 with six bonus tracks. Three of these -- demos of "The Moonbeam Song," "Gotta Get Up," and "Old Forgotten Soldier" -- were included on Britain's RCA Camden 2000 reissue, but the other three are not. There's the Spanish version of "Without You," plus two songs not on the album: "How Can I Be Sure of You" and "Lamaze." None of these are essential (though "Lamaze" is pretty funny), but they're all nice to hear. What is frustrating is that the Camden reissue has five bonus tracks not on this disc, meaning that Nilsson nuts need to own both reissues, which is a bit of a pain.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine\n\nHalf.com Album Credits\nChris Spedding, Contributing Artist\nGary Wright, Contributing Artist\nJim Keltner, Contributing Artist\nJimmy Webb, Contributing Artist\nRobin Geoffrey Cable, Engineer\nRichard Perry, Producer\n\nAlbum Notes\nIncludes six previously unreleased bonus tracks.\n\nPersonnel includes: Harry Nilsson (vocals, harmonica, piano, electric piano, organ, Mellotron); Klaus Voorman (acoustic & electric guitars, bass); John Uribe (acoustic & electric guitars); Ian Duck (acoustic guitar); Caleb Quaye, Chris Spedding (guitar); Bobby Keys (saxophone); Jim Price (trumpet, trombone); Gary Wright, Jimmy Webb (piano); Roger Collan (organ); Richard Perry (Mellotron); Herbie Flowers (acoustic & electric basses); Jim Gordon (drums, percussion) Jim Keltner, Roger Pope (drums).\n\nPrincipally recorded at Trident Studios, London, England in June 1971. \n\nOriginally released on RCA (4515).This is the album that brought about Harry Nilsson's commercial breakthrough in 1971. Produced by Richard Perry, it retains all of Nilsson's wonderful songwriting and warm singing, but presents them in a decidedly rock-based setting. As it turned out, the guy who represented a sort of Tin Pan Alley update could rock with the best of them! \n\nNILSSON SCHMILSSON received the contributions of a stellar cast of British and American studio regulars, and was recorded in London. From the opening notes of "Gotta Get Up," Nilsson is in complete control, fronting the proceedings with grace and ease. The album yielded a number of hits for him; "Coconut" (as in "put the lime in the coconut") and "Jump Into the Fire" were two, but his highest chart placement came with a song he didn't write, "Without You," a song penned by the English band Badfinger. The song seems like such a natural selection for Nilsson that it's often assumed that Badfinger had covered Nilsson. This album ranks as one of his finest, along with HARRY and NILSSON SINGS NEWMAN.\n\nRolling Stone (02/17/1972)\n...the cutting edge of NILSSON SCHMILSSON is still Harry's singing. One gets the feeling that he could make something significant out of even the most banal or lackluster songs...\n\nMojo (9/00, p.88) - ...His most successful album....sporadically excellent....represents a creative flowering that extended to several unissued classics...\n\nNME (9/23/00, p.35) - 6 out of 10 - ...[The album] spawned a massive hit with his cover of Badfinger's 'Without You'...as well as a clutch of decent rockers, even if it's a tad too zany.\n\nAmazon.com essential recording\nThe late Harry Nilsson's creative and commercial peak, this LP showcases the singer/songwriter's lighthearted worldview to best advantage. It remains one of the best, most consistent, and least dated albums from an early-'70s era not known for underplayed, unpretentious subtlety. Here you get strong interpretive singing (how ironic that this tunesmith's biggest hits were covers, such as Badfinger's "Without You"), inventive arranging (the hilarious, marble-mouthed "Coconut"), and distinctive melodicism (check out that lovely paean to the stars, "The Moonbeam Song"). In keeping with the domesticated figure on the cover--complete with housecoat, cigarette, and waiting refrigerator--the mood is laidback and homey, Nilsson's multi-octave voice was never so full of life, and there's a palpable feeling of comfort in both the production and the material. Other LPs (like the John Lennon-produced Pussy Cats and the essential Nilsson Sings Newman) have their moments, but this is where to begin any Nilsson collection. --Don Harrison \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nStart your Nilsson journey here., December 14, 2002 \nReviewer: Jamie Tate from Nashville, TN \nAs a recent discoverer of Harry Nilsson I am hurridly finding and buying every CD I see. I wish I could buy this album again and experience it for the first time once more. From the opening piano of 'Gotta Get Up' to the beautiful last chords of 'I'll Never Leave You' there isn't much not to like about this classic record. I'm proud to introduce this album on anyone who will listen. It's a definate must have for a true music lover's CD collection.\n\nBy the way, the Camden import sounds awful. It says it's remastered. If that's true the mastering engineer must have, for medical purposes I'm sure, downed a gallon of whiskey before he started. Notice his name isn't included in the liner notes. Hmmm! The bonus tracks sound good but the bulk of the album was sourced from bad, high generation tapes. I have a copy of the Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs CD and it's wonderful. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nRomantic Sentimentality with a Rock

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