Nilsson

The Point! - 1971

While the same could be said for any of his albums, The Point is easily a high water mark in the career of Harry Nilsson. Thematically brilliant, densely orchestrated and packed with more hooks than a meat locker, The Point! was commissioned as the soundtrack to an ABC television special in 1971 with a voice-over narration by Dustin Hoffman. In subsequent VHS and DVD reissues of the film, Ringo has taken the voice over reins, while Nilsson handles narration duties on the album itself. But even without the narrative, the album would hold up as a tremendous concept in the sharply focused lyrical and musical themes that pop up across the entire LP. Brief bits of one song will be reprised in another, the story's characters are referenced throughout and all of the songs share similar instrumentation, however every tune is a magnificently crafted pop gem in and of itself. Here, at the peak of his power as songwriter, lyricist and singer, not a soul in the world could match Nilsson's ability. The entire album is required listening, but "Me and My Arrow" is one of my all-time favorites and "Thing About Your Troubles" is absolute perfection.

"I was on acid and I looked at the trees and I realized that they all came to points, and the little branches came to points, and the houses came to point. I thought, 'Oh! Everything has a point, and if it doesn't, then there's a point to it." - Harry Nilsson

Nilsson

Aerial Pandemonium Ballet - 1971

With his star on the rise and his breakthrough LP Nilsson Schmilsson just around the corner, Harry Nilsson took it upon himself to introduce his newly acquired fan base to his earlier material, albeit in a wildly unconventional, but unmistakably Nilsson fashion. Rather than simply re-release his first two records, 1967's Pandemonium Shadow Show and '68's Aerial Ballet, Nilsson chopped, screwed, re-edited and in turn, created the world's first remix album from their contents. Those who hadn't heard the first two records wouldn't necessarily discover anything out of the ordinary, since both were stylistically very similar. But for the few who already had these two records in their collection, purchasing Aerial Pandemonium Ballet was still a no-brainer - even if there were no new songs on the album! Entire sections were slowed down, others were removed entirely, new vocals were added, songs were completely remixed and intros and outros were tacked on to create an entirely new beast, yet one that would remain faithful to the original. So far ahead of its time and an amazing record any way you look at it.

Nilsson

Knnillssonn - 1977

Often overlooked in favor of Nilsson Schmilsson or the John Lennon produced Pussy Cats when it comes to Nilsson's seventies output, Knnillssonn's saving grace is that the LP was his personal favorite at the time of its recording. Plus the music itself is pretty damn impressive to boot. With his voice having finally recovered from the train wreck sessions with Lennon, Nilsson set out to write a complete album of original material, handle the production duties himself and make a proper comeback record before it was too late. The resulting LP was exactly what Nilsson had intended. A lusciously produced album that served as a testament to his continued prowess as one of the decade's finest songwriters and one of the greatest achievements of his career. However, as fate would have it, Elvis died shortly before its release, RCA shifted its marketing focus and both Nilsson and Knnillssonn were hung out to dry. It would be the last record he would release in the US until his death nearly two decades later.

Knnillssonn - Harry Nilsson

Harry Nilsson

Nilsson Sings Newman - 1970

While Nilsson began coming into his own at the beginning of the 1970s, Randy Newman was an unknown to anyone outside the world of music publishing and nonexistent as a performer. The critical appeal both would eventually (and rightfully) attain makes this artistic summit all the more poignant. Famously named "Record of the Year" by Stereo Review magazine, Nilsson Sings Newman stands well outside the mainstream of other LPs of this period - with Newman's piano providing the sole accompaniment to the multi-tracked army of Nilsson harmonies. Stunning from start to finish, but some of my favorites include "Vine St", "Love Story" and "Livin' Without You." Arguably the best album in Nilsson's catalogue and the ideal jumping off point for anyone with an interest in either artist.

Nilsson Sings Newman - Harry N...

Harry Nilsson

Pussy Cats - 1974

Listening to this album is the musical equivilent of watching a prize fighter in the decline of his career. Famously produced by John Lennon during his "Lost Weekend" period in 1974, Pussy Cats is often regarded as one of Nilsson's weaker albums due to the fact that he lost his voice halfway through the recording of it. Keeping the news from Lennon out of fear he'd abandon the project, Nilsson forged ahead, recording a slew of rock n' roll classics and engaging in drunken revelry with a huge cast of backing musicians that included Ringo, Keith Moon, Bobby Keys and Sneeky Pete Kleinow. While it's entertaining to hear Nilsson run through these oldies (each coated in a layer of Phil Spector glaze), the real treat here are his originals, which stack up as some of the most engaging in his entire catalogue--namely "Don't Forget Me" and "All My Life". My favorite of the bunch is "Old Forgotten Soldier", where his ragged voice fits the song's context so well you'd think he's putting you on. The four bonus tracks on this one include a great solo version of "Save the Last Dance for Me", with Nilsson accompanying himself on Fender Rhodes.

Pussy Cats - Harry Nilsson