Customer Reviews

Nilsson Schmilsson

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This beautiful album has not recieved the love and affection it deserves throughout the years. There have been numerous CD releases and all (except for the $30 Mobile Fidelity gold CD) have woefully inadequate fidelity due to incompetent mastering jobs and/or poor source material.

The Camden import CD series were taken from cassette quality tape dubs and mastered for that "You aren't there" sound. The recent Japan remasters sound fine but have that very annoying digital hiss removal which destroyed the transients and made things sound like MP3's. Grrrrr!

This CD version was mastered from the original tapes by Vic Anesini. Vic's name is usually the mark of quality. You can buy with confindence when you see his name. He's made this album sound right... finally. It's not as top ended as the MFSL gold CD but that disc was sourced from Richard Perry's personal tapes and not the original masters. Vic has made some wise EQ choices and things sound smooth, natural and pleasing.

The bonus tracks are nice although all have been released before on various discs.

Again, buy with confidence. This is a wonderful album needing a place in everyone's music library.

In 1971, singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson released the album entitled "Nilsson Schmilsson", and what many consider to be his best work. The smash hit "Without You" (written by Pete Ham & Tom Evans of Badfinger) was the album's first hit and it went straight to number one on the pop and adult contemperary charts. But the album also spawned several other hits as well with the reggaeish tune "Coconut" and the frantic rocker "Jump Into The Fire". The musicians on "Nilsson Schmilsson" are first rate with artists such as Jim Gordon (drummer for Derek & The Dominos), Klaus Voorman (played bass guitar on John Lennon's "Imagine" album), Chris Spedding (an accomplished guitarist) and Gary Wright (keyboardist for Spooky Tooth) all adding their two bits on this excellent album. The songs are full of pop tunes such as "Gotta Get Up", "Driving Along", "Coconut" and the seven minute rock classic "Jump Into The Fire". You've got ballads here such as the above mentioned "Without You" and "I'll Never Leave You". There are also six bonus tracks included in this newly remastered version such as "Si No Estas Tu" (Spanish Version Of "Without You"), "How Can I Be Sure", "The Moonbeam Song (Demo Version)", "Lamaze", "Old Forgotten Soldier (Demo Version" and "Gotta Get Up (Demo Version)". The remastering is excellent and certainly surpasses the non-remastered version with increased mid-range, bass and extended output. Ranked in the Top 100 albums of all time, "Nilsson Schmilsson" certainly has earned it's rightful place and is an album all lovers of seventies music should have in their collection.

Nilsson. An underappreciated artist to say the least. Unfortunately his best work hasn't been available on CD or has had inferior sound until now. One of Nilsson's best albums receives the royal treatment with excellent notes by Curtis Armstrong (yeah, the guy from Revenge of the Nerds and Moonlighting). The selection of bonus tracks definitely enhances this package. We get the demos for a number of songs that made (and one that didn't) the album. The Without You demo is of particular interest as you can actually hear Harry working out the arrangement as he performs it solo on piano.

The sound quality is top notch (although it would have been nice if they had used the HDCD format or 24 bit remastering for that extra detail and warmth). There is a noticable difference between the domestic version of NS and this fine import. Rumor has it (Buddah Records wouldn't confirm it but I hear they are working on the masters as we speak) that Buddah Records will be reissuing Son of Dracula next year with a number of previously unreleased bonus tracks. While SOD wasn't Harry's best album (it did feature the terrific Daybreak though), the opportunity to hear unreleased tracks makes me water at the mouth.

Finally the guy is getting his due. Harry we miss you!

Nilsson Schmilsson is quite a departure for Harry Nilsson. Harry turns out some pretty hot rockers, and let's his normally subdued "soul" soar. The rock'n'roll veneer may be the result of a conscious change in style, or the association with musicians such as bassist Klaus Voorman and guitarist Chris Spedding. Klaus was a member of John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band, and Chris has played with everyone from John Cale to Elton John. Drummers Jim Keltner and Jim Gordon are stylist mentors. Also, Richard Perry is an often sought producer responsible for the work of dozens of popular music artists. Nilsson was so pleased with the results of Nilsson Shmilsson, that he asked Perry to produce three more albums. Written while Nilsson was in Africa, the CD is abundant with forceful rhythms.

Quick, who wrote `Without You'? Although the song was written by Badfinger, Nilsson's rendition is the definitive version. It's also the emotional core of Nilsson Schmilsson. Nilsson's pained and lonesome delivery and soaring vocals are unforgettable. In contrast to `Without You,' the most vigorous rocker is `Jump In The Fire.' Klaus Voorman's out-of tune bass lines thunder through Nilsson's impassioned singing. `Early In The Morning' is such a convincing blues number, it's easy to forget that Nilsson is singing. `Down' is a majestic acoustic ballad reminiscent of Nilsson's light and whimsical material. Nilsson's love and respect for Randy Newman is clear on the piano-based `I'll Never Leave You.' The vocal harmonies are tearful.

Harry Nilsson was one of several singer/songwriters of the early nineteen-seventies who defied the trend toward hard rock, and instead centered his vision on romantic sentimentality. Despite the passing of the gifted artist who gave us `Without You,' we don't have to live without Harry Nilsson: his music will continue to charm undying romantics for decades to come. Thanks Harry.

This being Harry Nilsson's most popular album (garnering three major hits), is Harry's most entertaining album. Every song is upbeat containing romantic, rock, silly and torch songs filling your ears. "Down" pushes the envelope of reckless rythym and blues abandon, while "Jump Into The Fire" showcases the same frantic voice working a drum/bass line that never lets up. "Without You" is his most known song, a true tear-jerker and "Coconut" will make you laugh or drive you nuts. Finishing off with the romantic "I'll Never Leave You", Harry Nilsson pulls on your heart strings. Richard Perry did a marvelous job of production; probably one of his best and for the perfect voice.

Ingredients:

take an incredibly emotive, beautiful voice with a four octave range,

blend with a set of eclectic songs that blend humor, pathos, heartache and love.

Cook with a band that included Klaus Voorman ("one" of the "5th" Beatles), Jim Gordon (fantastic session drummer, Derek & the Dominoes), Jim Keltner (if you don't know, don't ask, just listen), Cris Spedding (McCartney, Elton John, etc).

Top with one of the great producers of the '70s, Richard Perry, and you have one hell of a confection.

If you have a good stereo, and want to be blown away, buy this and put it on. Jump Into the Fire alone is worth the price of admission. Without You is simply one of the most breathtaking songs and arrangements, EVER. For those who think it's a bit overwrought, I suggest a steady diet of Mariah Carey.

Thirty-two minutes of pure music & pure genius.

Nilsson is a rarity, an artists' artist, lauded by such names as Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Three Dog Night, Blood, Sweat and Tears and numerous others. Nilsson's commercial success was less dramatic than his artistic influence. However, in November, 1971, Harry released "Nilsson Schmilsson" and achieved his greatest commercial success. This album reached #3 on the charts and remained on the charts for 46 weeks. The album also yielded a cover of Badfinger's "Without You," a powerful tearjerker with incredible vocals that stands as one of the greatest love songs of all times.

In addition to "Without You" are bouncy pop tunes such as "Gotta Get Up," "Driving Along," and "Down." When I listen to "Down" I hear a style that is very similar to that used a few years later by Billy Joel. "Coconut" has been made famous more recently as a commercial for a certain cola brand. Rest assured that Harry Nilsson was not thinking of a soft drink when he original wrote this clever song. All the voices you hear in this song belong to Harry, though it sounds as if three different people are singing.

This CD is made multi-dimensional with songs such as the blues infused "Early in the Morning." "The Moonbeam Song" recalls the work that Harry did for "The Point." This song is ethereal, dreamy and more than a little magical. "Let the Good Times Roll" has country and blues flavors to it, supported by a steel guitar and a harmonica.

This CD originally finished with two longer songs. "Jump into the Fire" has a harder and faster edge to it, and is over seven minutes long. This song is somewhat experimental for Nilsson, but the length is somewhat similar to a few songs by other groups in the era. The song contains lengthy instrumental portions and few lyrics. This song would perhaps not fit onto this CD except it is in the company of other songs that are similarly stylistically different from each other.

The CD originally finished with the beautiful song "I'll Never Leave You." This gorgeous love song is slow and mellow with a lot of strings and harmonies, and Nilsson's wonderful voice. This song is very powerful and even at four minutes in length it leaves you wanting more.

The remastered version of this excellent CD includes six bonus tracks; a Spanish version of "Without You," "How Can I Be Sure," "Lamaze," and demo versions of "The Moonbeam Song," "Old Forgotten Soldier," and "Gotta Get Up." As with most bonus tracks, some are interesting, others are just filler. Many of these have appeared on other CDs, so they may end up being duplicates in a comprehensive collection.

Harry Nilsson had an incredible voice and created music that nearly everyone has heard in one venue or another. Nilsson did the theme song for "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" and more recently the classic song "Coconut" has appeared in a cola commercial. While Harry Nilsson never became as famous as many of his contemporaries, that fault was often as much that of record companies who did not care for his free-thinking ways as the public who sometimes did not know what to make of his music. Looking back we can put into perspective how creative and ground-breaking Nilsson was, and cherish his better recordings. Of those recordings, this one may be the best.

As 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 must have for any music lover's CD collection.

By 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.

This is a classic "must have" album for anybody's collection and doesn't seem 'dated' to me at all. The opening song (Gotta Get Up) will instantly hook you and the great variety of music following will make you hit the 'replay' button on your system. There's a little bit of everything on this album and it flows effortlessly thanks to Harry's amazing voice and ability to move you to laughter or tears. I think people of all ages will enjoy this one and your friends will be asking, "Wow, who's this?!?"

Harry was a lyrical genius no doubt. Between "a Little Schmilson in the Night" and Nilsson Schmilson, the latter shows a true artist at his craft. I just started listening to him with his song "without you" (actually not even his song! But his other works such as Coconuts shows how inventive he was just with a few lines that can make you listen to it over and over again without ever getting tired. Hey, if the Beatles dug him, you can't go wrong.