Aerial Ballet

Harry Nilsson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 29, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000006LDI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #441,854 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE NEW AUDIO BENCHMARK, October 28, 2007

By 

BOB (LOS ANGELES, CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Aerial Ballet (Mlps) (Audio CD)

In 2006, after painstakingly purchasing and comparing all the Nilsson domestic, European and Japanese CD versions, I posted a review on the best-audio edition of each title. That was split between four UK, one domestic and six Japan CD's.

However, time and technology have marched on. In Q307, the entire Nilsson pre-1978 catalog (except "The Son Of Dracula", announced but subsequently canceled), were remastered anew and released in mini-sleeve format by BMG Japan.

So, what was slightly confusing before, with all the different international and domestic versions, has now been simply resolved: In terms of the best audio available, the fifteen new BMG remasters are head-and-shoulders superior to any pre-existing Nilsson CD. While the older versions were no slouches, these new BMG's are absolutely GLORIOUS. And, finally, there's complete, matched-mastered sound through the entire catalog, in contrast to the dynamic range variations in the older releases from varying remastering schemes.

In A/B comparisons between the new and older versions, it is also obvious different masters were availed of, because there are snippets of additional audio on the BMG's that never appeared elsewhere.

In addition, there are now approximately seventy bonus tracks spread out through the new BMG set; demos, alternate takes, singles and non-album tracks. Only one previously-available track is not in residence on the BMG set: "Waiting", which is found only on the "Harry/Nilsson Sings Newman" UK 2-fer.

If you are a true Nilsson fan, then don't delay in getting these, as all mini-sleeve releases are limited edition. It is possible, of course, that BMG will release these as less expensive jewel-case releases down the road. However, as the original Nilsson LP jackets were often wonderfully imaginative affairs, having these exact replicas only heightens the joy of ownership.

Amazon only allows 10 product links per review, so below are the first ten titles. The remainder, you'll have to find on your own (TIP: look for the 2007 release date when searching):

Pandemonium Shadow Show
Aerial Ballet
Skidoo
Harry
Nilsson Sings Newman
The Point!
Nilsson Schmilsson
Aerial Pandemonium Ballet
Son Of Schmilsson
A Little Touch of Schmilsson In The Night
P*ssy Cats
Duit It On Mon Dei
Sandman
That's The Way It Is
Knnillssonn

WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?

Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.

Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.

Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.

Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.

All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 5 star album with a detailed remaster that unfortunately suffers from a lot of compression, May 3, 2010

By 

WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Aerial Ballet (Mlps) (Audio CD)

"Aerial Ballet" was Nilsson's second album. I've had this album in a variety of forms over the years; vinyl was the first and when it first appeared on CD ages ago I had it then as well. I picked up the combo import that has his first two albums plus "Aerial Pandomonium Ballet" which combines tracks from this album and Nilsson's first in remixed/re-recorded form. I recently picked up this Japanese remaster (which is simply a repressing of the 2002 as far as I can tell)in hopes that we might be getting a better version than the Camden edition which has his first two albums plus "Aerial Pandomonium Ballet" and is a European import.

This is certainly a five star album but I've docked this edition twos star for ear piercing, compressed sounding quality of the album. The bonus tracks are nice as is the packaging but can't make up for the trend towards compressed, harsh sounding CDs.

There's good news and bad news here. The good-this remaster has a wealthy of detail that was buried under noise reduction on previous editions and, as far as I can tell, it appears noise reduction hasn't been used here (EQ has eliminated most of the tape hiss).

The bad-this version suffers from peak limiting which can cause some distortion and there isn't much dynamic range here either due to compression. That means that much of the subtly of the instruments and, indeed, Nilsson's voice, can occasionally be lost in the presentation.

There are the bonus tracks that were tacked onto the Camden three-for 1 from 2000 included here as well including an early version of "Best Friend" the theme from the TV series "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" a popular 60's sitcom that starred Bil Bixby that Nilsson provided the music for. It's called "Girlfriend" and is a demo recording very much a diamond in the rough.

The packaging for the 2007 reissue and 2009 is the same--a replica of the LP sleeve with a lyric booklet in both Japanese and English. The label has customed artwork from Harry's own collection and I know I've seen it before but can't recall where (it may have been the original label although I doubt it).

There are no mastering credits here and also no indication if this comes from the original master tapes or some other source.

Conclusion: If you have a decent sounding version of this album which has good dynamic range on CD you may want to stay with that. The good news here is that it appears that if there is noise reduction it is minimal and there is a wealth more detail and it sounds quite good. This album is mastered perfectly for an ipod but might be a bit fatiguing on a high end stereo unit.

This isn't a perfect remaster but it is worthwhile getting for the content if you can't find a better mastered version. It's one of Harry's finest early albums.

My take--it's NOT worth the additional money. I'd try to find a domestic release of this and, failing that, even the Camden 3 album ("Aerial", "Pandomonium" and "Aerial Pandomonium" remix album) is better sounding than this edition.

I'd also recommend:

Nilsson SchmilssonThe Point! (Deluxe Packaging)Son of SchmilssonHarryKnnillssonn

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT, February 7, 2010

By 

Bill Your 'Free Form FM Handi Cyber Print DJ ... (Mahwah, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Aerial Ballet (Mlps) (Audio CD)

Confounding, at least at first. When John Lennon first heard Nlsson in 1968, he wanted to steel Harry from RCA and sign him to the freshly picked Apple. Paul agreed.

Now, let's take a minute: It is 1968. You are the biggest artist in the world. You have just formed your own label. Hendrix, Cream, any of the booming heavy bands are probably yours for the asking. That green apple, for the moment, symbolizes the Beatles unlimited resources and the unlimiited possibilities of the era.

And you single out......with all due respect.......Nilsson? The guy is almost doing chidren's music.

But when you listen to Arial Ballet, a few times, it begins to make sense. On two levels

In a sense, Nelsson's gentle, witty, storybook folk go back, in spirit if not notes, to the pub songs the Beatles heard as chidren. The first material they probably tried to play on their guitars. Think of the first track on Ariel Ballet, and it has an almost circus juggler sense of musicianship.

Yet, just as things were getting 1968 heavy--riots in the streets, Lennon talking about warm guns, fixes and monkey's--Nillson throws back to the innocent side that was getting so quickly lost: In 1967 it was summer of love, Paul fixing the hole where the rain gets in. In 1968, MLK and RFK and Chicago, the eagle picking John's eye and the worm licking his bone.


Ariel Ballet has the whimsical, pastoral, peaceful feel that was slipping away as things began to unravel: drugs, assinations. Nillson, here, seems to pull it all back in a plausable way. Plus his jazzy singing is great.

Some of this, "Little Cowboy," seems ridiculous now, but as a long long ago storybook, well, let's just say "don't leave this album. Things are gonna work out fine."