Harry/Nilsson Sings Newman

Performer: Harry Nilsson
Artist: Randy Newman
Distributor: MSI Music Distribution

Notes: Personnel includes Nilsson (vocals); Randy Newman (piano). Reissue producers: Rob Santos, Glenn Korman, Curtis Armstrong. Recorded at RCA's Music Center Of The World, Hollywood, California. Originally released on RCA (4289). Includes liner notes by Randy Newman, Curtis Armstrong, and Dean Torrence. Digitally remastered by Elliott Federman (SAJE Sound, New York, New York). This collection of 25 songs combines two full-length releases by singer and songwriter Harry Nilsson, featuring "Nobody Cares About The Railroad Anymore," "Fairfax Rag," "Rainmaker," and includes numerous songs written by Randy Newman, including "Beehive State" and "So Long Dad." CD contains 2 bonus tracks. Released in 1970, the same year as Randy Newman's acclaimed second album (12 SONGS), this outing finds Harry Nilsson applying his famed multi-octave vocal range to Newman's witty, finely crafted compositions. (Nilsson, a wonderful songwriter in his own right, had hinted at this collaboration with the inclusion of one Newman song on his previous record, HARRY.) While many of the tunes here would be performed by the more gruff-voiced Newman himself during the course of his first few albums, Nilsson's dynamic, nuanced singing portrays these highly melodic narratives in a much more delicate light. The two are perfectly suited for one another: with Newman accompanying Nilsson on piano, the singer offers an achingly sweet and funny take on "Love Story," saunters playfully through "Yellow Man," and belts out "The Beehive State" as a barroom ditty. Both artists would, of course, go on to greater recognition, but this charming collection stands as a fascinating snapshot of two quirky creative minds working together to wonderful effect. A two-fer of Harry and Nilsson Sings Newman was released as part of British RCA Camden's Nilsson reissue campaign of 2000. These two records are a perfect match, since they find Nilsson gently exploring pop, through either a nostalgic prism or through Randy Newman's show tune-influenced pop. The disc also contained two bonus tracks, "Snow" and "Waiting," his contributions to the motion picture Jenny. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Named Stereo Review's album of the year (and, really, can you ask for a better endorsement than that?) upon its release and generally regarded as the album that introduced Randy Newman the songwriter to a wide audience, Nilsson Sings Newman has gained a reputation of being an minor masterwork. This, in a way, is misguiding, since this isn't an obvious record, where the songs are delivered simply and directly. It's deliberately an album of subtle pleasures, crafted, as the liner notes state, line by line in the studio. As such, the preponderance of quiet piano-and-voice tracks (featuring Newman himself on piano, Nilsson on vocals) means the record can slip away upon the first few listens, especially for anyone expecting an undeniable masterpiece. Yet, a masterpiece is what this is, albeit a subtle, graceful masterpiece where the pleasure is in the grace notes, small gestures, and in-jokes. Not to say that this is devoid of emotion; it's just that the emotion is subdued, whether it's on a straightforward love song ("Caroline") or a tongue-in-cheek tale like "Love Story." For an album that introduced a songwriter as idiosyncratic as Newman, it's only appropriate that Nilsson's interpretations are every bit as original as the songs. His clear intonation and sweet, high voice are more palatable than Randy's slurred, bluesy growl, but the wild thing is, these versions demand that the listeners surrender to Nilsson's own terms. He's created gentle, intricate arrangements of tuneful yet clever songs, and as such, the album may be as much an acquired taste as Newman. Once you've acquired that taste, this is as sweet as honey. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Q (9/00, p.127) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...His undisputed eclectic classic..." NME (Magazine) (9/23/00, p.35) - 8 out of 10 - "...He sang the bittersweet songs of his unknown friend Randy Newman...a fine release..."

Though he's best known for his versions of other people's songs (Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin'," Badfinger's "Without You," an entire album of Randy Newman songs), Nilsson was a skilled composer, and is recognized as a pop craftsman of the first order. As a songwriter, he placed tunes with the Monkees, the Yardbirds and others. As a singer he managed to wring greatly expressive range from his uniquely flexible voice, and is recognized as a pop craftsman of the first order.

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