When members of The Beatles have been asked over the years who was their favourite band, each gave the same answer: Harry Nilsson.
Nilsson was a one-man band. An extraordinary songwriter, hell-raiser, multi-instrumentalist and singer blessed with a four-octave vocal range. For me, he was the complete package.
Like my other songwriting idol, Gerry Rafferty, Harry Nilsson stealthily portrayed autobiographical undertones within his songs. ‘1941’ literally tells his early life story and his father’s abandonment.
‘Without Her’ demonstrates the melodician (I believe that I have invented a new word there and will stick with it) at his very finest. A subtle bohemian flavour and a masterful blend of melody and sparse arrangement. A voice and tune that can weave between the lines of the lyrics in the most intimate of ways.
The Beatles loved him and he loved The Beatles. He created music that equalled their rich diversity of genres. His magnetic personality attracted friendships with other uber-famous 60’s stars such as The Monkees (who he wrote an early song which launched his own career), Brian Wilson and Jimmy Webb. His range of both, vocal octaves and a variety of styles is unequalled. His beautiful voice was a perfect tool to illustrate these melodies to the very widest of audiences.
Sadly, his most successful output was from interpretations of other songwriters’ works. ‘Without You’ and ‘Everybody’s Talkin’ were other writers’ songs that Nilsson brought to life larger than they could ever have been imagined by the original writers. His own music is what I will discuss in this blog. One little private comment about Without You. I loved making a creative version of this as a homage to my favourite lost pubs. This song is really important to me. My beloved late dad Laurence went to work in Saudi Arabia when I was a small boy. At a last night’s family party, before he travelled, he accidentally dropped me on my head when trying to twirl me in the air. I was totally knocked out but saw the funny side of things. As my cousin Lawrence picked me up in an Eston Taxi (a company he and his brother Peter had set up) I waved goodbye to my Dad as ‘Without You’ played on the radio. This song means so much to me and that memory is etched in my precious childhood collection. What a recording! What an interpretation!
Back to Harry’s original output.
‘One’ is a stunning song. Inspired by the beeps of an answering machine, this gorgeous melody is augmented by a simple cello and Rhodes piano. That is all it needs. A bit of Harry and those simple backing methods. Aimee Mann did a wonderful version of the song as did Loving Spoonful but, Harry’s version is perfect. It will be the first track on my playlist included below.
This completely unique artist just kept going. ‘Coconut’ was a simple instruction of putting lime in a coconut to sort out a stomach upset. ‘Gotta Get Up’ could tell the story of anybody’s start to a day and what is expected throughout. His music sometimes dives into the traditional American vaudeville style whilst offering something new to the wit and humour within his songs. His emotional output really hits the spot. ‘Remember Christmas’ has the ability to transport the listener to the cosier happier times of childhood Christmases past. Knowing what a difficult childhood Nilsson himself had, this is a beautiful piece of work.
Think About Your Troubles is a piece of lyrical genius. You find yourself following a teardrop on a journey back to and from a teacup to the ocean. A mind capable of writing such lines is a top artistical one in my view.
Nilsson’s interpretation of other writers’ songs is stunning. It takes a great writer and performer to be able to provide such quality to others’ work. It also takes a fantastic ear to select material that has possibly missed the attention of the general public and make it really dazzle.
One such song is a very personal one for me. I play my trumpet because of one life-changing event. When I was about nine years old I watched an old movie on a Sunday afternoon called ‘The Five Pennies’ starring Danny Kaye. This musical biopic was of the life of Loring Red Nichols who was a 1920s cornet player. A cornet/trumpet fight between Kaye and the great Louis Armstrong over The Battle Hymn Of The Republic mesmerised me and, from that point onwards, all I ever wanted to do was play the trumpet. My Dad actually had the soundtrack to the movie in his record collection and I listened to the songs religiously. Danny Kaye doing a wonderful Carnival Of Venice (almost impossible to play on a Cornet unless you are top of your game). But, the standout song for me was Lullaby In Ragtime which had been written by Kaye’s wife Sylvia Fine for the movie. At one point, the song is sung in a three-way Canon with The Five Pennies and Good Night; a musical feat indeed.
Harry Nilsson selected ‘Lullaby In Ragtime’ for his ‘A Little Touch Of Schmilsson In The Night’ album and delivered the most beautiful intimate version of the song ever recorded. Like the other songs I have discussed here, I will include the songs in my playlist for you to explore.
Harry Nilsson’s flame could have burned out really fast and early. A troubled man with drink and drug issues, he tore around the ’60s and ’70s with John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Keith Moon and Robin Williams.
He was a major player in The Hollywood Vampires and, as Micky Dolenz of The Monkees said in an interview I once saw, “some people could drive down a fast lane for a short while, Harry Nilsson had an even faster lane built for him that he tore down faster and wilder than anybody else”. Loaning his London flat to friends whilst he was back in the States ended in disaster. Big Mama Cass Elliott from The Mammas And The Pappas died whilst staying there as did Keith Moon. The lifestyle that Nilsson was leading looked like sending him to a similar early grave.
All of this stopped when he walked into a delicatessen and spotted a beautiful young Irish girl. He asked her on a date but she didn’t like the look of this drunk unkept man from the street and refused him. He went home, sobered up, cleaned up and returned with a bunch of flowers wearing a suit to try again. They married. He cleaned up his act and enjoyed the life of a family man until his death in 1994 aged only 52 as a result of heart problems. As he was put into the ground during a funeral service with illustrious guests such as George Harrison and Ringo Starr, a San Francisco Earthquake cracked. What a prophecy!
I am indebted to Harry Nilsson as a pioneering and original artist. He has taught me to use my vocal range effectively and not be constrained by the barriers of any particular genre. I can relate to his crushing shyness that prevented him from performing live; it is only recently that I have overcome this myself after years of hiding in the background of playing in a band. Standing in a room with only a guitar or piano in hand to perform solo songs can be a terrifying experience. Nilsson found inventive ways to do this and he is an inspiration. Thank you Harry Nilsson for everything you gave us.
Be the first to comment