The Essential Nilsson

by Harry Nilsson

Overview

A missing element in Harry Nilsson's catalog is an excellent double-disc retrospective. That's precisely what the 2013 compilation Essential Harry Nilsson provides: two discs that tell his story from beginning to end, hitting all the high points along the way. The first disc concentrates on his '60s work, chronicling the rise of Nilsson the maverick interpreter and songwriter; his original versions of "Cuddly Toy," "I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City," and "One" are here, as are his breakthrough cover of Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin'" and several selections from the landmark Nilsson Sings Newman, plus such remarkable pieces of popcraft like "1941," "Good Old Desk," "Without Her," and "Me and My Arrow." The entire second disc is devoted to the '70s, beginning with the smash 1971 album Nilsson Schmilsson and its hits -- "Without You," "Coconut," "Jump in the Fire" -- plus the album-opener "Gotta Get Up." From there, hits, non-LP singles, and the occasional oddities pile up -- "You're Breakin' My Heart," "Spaceman," "Daybreak," his straight version of "As Time Goes By," "Kojak Columbo" -- tracing his majestic rise and being kind with his fall. Although this doesn't have every great song Nilsson made (a few absent favorites are "Driving Along," "The Lottery Song," "Take Fifty Four," "Jesus Christ You're Tall"), no other compilation has captured his peculiar genius as thoroughly as this, which does indeed make it something close to the Essential Harry Nilsson. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	04/30/2013
Label:	Rca
UPC:	0887654849427
Rank:	50782

Tracks

Disc 1

1. 1941
2. Cuddly Toy
3. You Can't Do That
4. Without Her
5. Daddy's Song
6. Good Old Desk
7. Mr. Richland's Favorite Song
8. Together
9. Everybody's Talkin'
10. One [Mono Single Version]
11. Girlfriend [Remix]
12. I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City
13. Rainmaker [Mono Version]
14. I Will Take You There [Mono Single Version]
15. The Puppy Song
16. Vine Street
17. Living Without You
18. Life Line [Alternate Piano Take 13]
19. Me and My Arrow
20. Think About Your Troubles

Disc 2

21. Gotta Get Up
22. Without You
23. Jump into the Fire [Single Version]
24. Coconut
25. I'll Never Leave You
26. Old Forgotten Soldier
27. Remember (Christmas)
28. You're Breakin' My Heart
29. Spaceman
30. Daybreak [Single Version]
31. As Time Goes By
32. Many Rivers to Cross
33. Don't Forget Me
34. Black Sails
35. Kojak Columbo
36. Easier for Me
37. Here's Why I Did Not Go to Work Today
38. Sail Away
39. All I Think About Is You
40. Perfect Day

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Harry Nilsson   Primary Artist
George Tipton   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Rick Jarrard   Producer
Randy Newman   Composer
Harry Nilsson   Composer,Producer
Tom Evans   Composer
Danny Kortchmar   Composer
Vic Anesini   Mastering
Pete Ham   Composer
Herman Hupfeld   Composer
Mark Larson   Art Direction
Robert Beckhard   Photography
Michael Putland   Tray Photo
Tom Hanley   Tray Photo,Photography
Jessica Connelly   Photo Research
Mike Cimicata   Project Director
Richard Fitzgerald   Cover Photo
James E. Chambers   Composer
Trevor Lawrence   Producer
Paul McCartney   Composer
Andrew Sandoval   Liner Notes,Compilation Producer
Richard Perry   Producer
Fred Neil   Composer
John Lennon   Composer,Producer
Derek Taylor   Producer
Rob Santos   Compilation Producer