Customer Reviews

The Point!

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's hard to understand today how an album like "The Point" was produced. The album is very experimental in that it is a narrated fable, with musical transitions from one portion of the story to another. Note that this story album predates "A Journey to the Center of the Earth" by Rick Wakeman and Jeff Wayne's "War of the Worlds" by a number of years.

The tale is of one Oblio and his faithful Arrow. The two live in the land of points (everyone had a pointy head). For a time the two do quite well, but after a jealous child, son of a count, complained that Oblio had no point, there was a game to see whether Oblio had the ability to compete. Oblio defeated the count's child 2 out of 3. The count was outraged and went to the king to complain that the law was that all things in the land of point must have a point. A tribunal reviewed the case and banished Oblio and Arrow to the pointless forest.

Once in the forest Oblio and Arrow discover that the forest had many points. While making this discovery, Oblio and Arrow have a number of adventures. Eventually the pair come across an egg, with no apparent point. The egg soon opens to reveal a bird with a pointed head. The bird flies off and the two soon fall asleep.

The next day the two find a rock that looks like a pointed hand with the word destination on it. They went in the direction the hand pointed and came to, the pointed land. The count was quite angry, but the people were happy to see them because no one had ever been to the pointless forest. Oblio described the forest, and explained that there were many points in the forest, and reasoned that if the pointless forest had a point, then he must too. Someone shouts out "He has a point there", and the story ends very satisfactorily.

It's easy to see this story being in the same vein as "Gulliver's Travels". Both were written to challenge and make fun of prejudices, as well as noting that underneath everyone is essentially the same. On another level, Oblio and Arrow undertook a journey of discovery, which is the same journey that we all take in life. The journey revealed truths, and the truths ultimately made everyone happier.

This album is a great fairy tale and will enchant adults and children. The music is blended well with the story, seamlessly. The song "Me and My Arrow" received a lot of air play in the early 70s, and became a hit. Other songs are pretty and may remind you of songs by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and the Monkees. One of the best examples is "Are You Sleeping". The music is all pop, mellow, but perfect for the intent of the story and the audience.

The inspiration for "The Point" was chemical, but regardless of how Nilsson arrived, the result is wonderful and charming. 5 stars for a multitude of positives. Pop music with an easy to follow story for children and adults. Make that GOOD pop music. Excellent blending of story and song. Having one or morals to the story to create a fable. Buy this for your children so that you have an excuse to own it.

I first heard this album when I was living in a college dorm 16 years ago. I've been a fan ever since. This is the first time I've heard though, since that day.

The story and the characters behind them are a lot of fun and will appeal to kids and adults alike. The narration between songs is engaging and entertaining and does more than just tell a story. It has a point! What is the Point? You'll have to listen and find out for yourself. Although this album is sort of geared towards children, there seems to be a deeper wisdom under the surface of it all that people of all ages can learn from.

As for the music, it varies a little, starting off very strong with Everything's Got 'Em and Me and my Arrow. It seems to dip occasionally below these very high standards that are set at the start of the album, but there isn't a bad song on the album. For now, Me and My Arrow is my favorite song on the album and must be one of Nilsson's best songs.

It's a very cheerful album. This album might very well change your attitude and brighten your day if you feel so inclined.

The packaging on this remaster deserves to be mentioned. It is one of the best packaging jobs I've ever seen on a CD. Besides the booklet containing lyrics and excellent liner notes, it also comes with a bonus cartoon booklet of the story. Even the picture under the CD in the case is a treat. Very cute! Buy it and see for yourself!

When I was little, we had the record and video of this. Recently, a friend got me the CD. I had forgotten how great this CD is. The songs are so beautiful, and the story is great, too. Who doesn't feel like they stand out, or that they have no "point" in life? Oblio, who has no point on his head, and is therefore an outcast. After a journy around the pointless forest, he learns that if everyone else has one, then he must have one too. Whenever I'm feeling down, I pop in this CD and things seem to be a little better and sunnier. And even when I'm not down, I pop it in and everything seems even better than it was before. A must for any collection. Even if you're not sure if you like Harry Nilsson, then buy this. Because you do. You just don't know it yet.

This is arguably Nilsson's best set of songs. Every number is melodic, filled with wonderful "orchestral" arrangements, retaining the bounciness you want from Nilsson. His puzzling multi-tracked vocalizing never sounded better. Great period keyboards.

It is also one of the best soundtrack lps ever. Why? Not just the songs. The fantastic idea of having Harry himself read his story between each song works so well. And he's NOT reading the film script, but his own typed out version of the fable. (In other words, he's not reading Ringo's narration from the film) This makes for differences in story. For instance, in Harry's version, Oblio has no friends other than Arrow. In the film, he's pretty popular with all the townsfolk, except the Count's son. Harry's own double-tracked Rock Man is hilarious and Harry's voice for the Count is, of course, a bit like a Nazi in a WW2 film. You'd expect that.

The extra cuts are revealing of the creative process. The final one, "Down to the Valley" eventually became the superior song, "Everything's Got 'Em." The other two extra cuts feature radically different instrumentation choices, and different vocalizing.

The package includes two booklets:

The cd-sized comic book is difficult to read as others have said. Get out your magnifying glass.

The main booklet is thoroughly informative, revealing much interesting trivia, and includes a complete personnel listing. Four or five names should look familiar to fans of Pet Sounds!

It was winter (I think) of 71 or 72 and I was 11. I was at home sick with the flu and I saw The Point and loved it. I was a somewhat lonely only child so perhaps I had an inherent set of ideas on conformity which where a large part of The Point's subject. It comforted me during this confusing time and taught me some valuable lessons about always re-examining your ideas and values and the preciousness of a loyal friend (ie. Arrow)among other things. Having seen The Point only the one time its messages have echoed with me to this day. Even now I cant listen to "Me and my Arrow" without beaming, or "Lifeline" (when Arrow dissappears into the hole) without a tug at the ol' heart.

Truly a gentle and unsung masterpiece!

I bought the original 33 rpm LP in the early 70's. It's still my treasure. Have bought the new remastered (deluxe) CD, and love it even more. Track 17 has two selections on it - easy to miss the last one. After "Down in the Valley" there is an unusually long blank space - then a suprise version of I'LL NEVER LEAVE YOU, which is exquisitely an performed solo by Nilsson at piano. Makes me think of him getting up in the middle of the night and spontaniously pushing the recorder button and singing it at the piano. Very unusual! Could be classified as a "nocturn" in that purist form. Piano arrangement is gorgeous, as is Nilsson's haunting vocal. A RARE TREASURE!

Oblio and Arrow are characters of my childhood. Funny thing is 30 years later, I still remember all the words.

Oblio the little round headed ( pointless) boy teaches children and adults about the ridiculousness of conformity in a land of people with pointed heads.

I shared this in college with friends and found it as much fun then, and now my four year old niece and I sing along today.

I still have the record album, have bought several of the Cd's. Now I wish I could find the Movie!

One-of-a-kind offering from the true "Fifth Beatle" (with apologies to Klaus Voorman, Billy Preston and Eric Clapton) mixing narrative and music. Unlike subsequent concept "story" albums like Jeff Wayne's "War Of The Worlds" or Godley + Creme's "Consequences", you won't feel compelled to skip the spoken word parts (after one or two listens) to get to the music; the blend is perfectly symbiotic here. The story, concerning little round-headed Oglio trying to fit into his pointy-head-centric world has the same mixture of charm and winking subtext that made the late Shel Silverstein's clever fables so appealing to kids and adults alike. The music is quirky but beautifully crafted pop, similar to what Brian Wilson was creating during his "Smiley Smile" period (same source of er, "inspiration", from what I understand!). Most listeners will probably recognize the McCartney-esque "Me And My Arrow", which was one of Nilsson's first radio hits. The reissue is nicely packaged and well-mastered. Even the crankiest grown-ups should find this one a guaranteed mood elevator!

This is a wonderful story for children and adults. It brings imagination to a level that as an adult I have forgotten.

I first got this album when it came out ... I was 10. We also watched the cartoon/movie. It was so great. I still have the album and the story and it is amazing how many people don't know about this great story and music. If you have children .... buy it!! I love his music and the story was well, too cool. What is sad though is that our 70s/80s radio station didn't even know who Harry Nilsson is. Sad. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT.