| Harry | ||||
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| Studio album by Harry Nilsson | ||||
| Released | 1969 | |||
| Recorded | ??? | |||
| Genre | Pop Music | |||
| Length | 40:57 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Producer | Harry Nilsson, Rick Jarrard | |||
| Professional reviews | ||||
| Harry Nilsson chronology | ||||
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Harry Nilsson’s third album for RCA was Harry, released in August 1969. It was his first album to get onto Billboard Magazine's Billboard 200 chart, reaching #120 and remaining there for 15 weeks.[1]
Harry features legendary jazz saxophonist Tom Scott, jazz pianist Mike Melvoin, saxophonist Jim Horn (on flute here), session drummer James Beck Gordon, Larry Knechtel on bass, and David Cohen and Howard Roberts on guitars.[1]
The album has no one distinctive style but ranges over ballads, show tunes, nostalgic Americana, and tin pan alley-like soft shoe numbers.[2]
William E. Martin, who wrote the songs “Fairfax Rag” and “City Life” that Harry covered on Harry, and who collaborated with Nilsson on the song “Rainmaker,” appears in a picture inside the album wearing a bear suit that was made of an actual bear.[3]
Details
- The Puppy Song
Nilsson wrote this song at Paul McCartney’s request for Mary Hopkin, an 18-year old singer that McCartney had signed to Apple records and whose first album, Post Card, would feature her version of Nilsson’s song. Nora Ephron would use Harry’s own version for the opening credits of her 1998 film, You've Got Mail.
Others have covered "The Puppy Song" as well: David Cassidy sang a cover of it on the b-side of his 1973 UK #1 single "Daydreamer"; Victoria Williams covered it on For the Love of Harry: Everybody Sings Nilsson – a tribute album released in 1995; Astrud Gilberto performed a bossa nova lounge version on 2001’s The Girl From Ipanema; and 70’s Australian pop group New World released their cover on their Best of… album in 2002.
- Open Your Window
Ella Fitzgerald covered this song on her album Things Ain’t What They Used to Be, released in 1969, the same year as Harry. She also performed it live on Ella Fitzgerald in Budapest, recorded in May 1970. Louis Bellson recorded a cover for his 1975 album, The Louis Bellson Explosion. In 1973, The 5th Dimension recorded the song for their album Living Together, Growing Together.
- Mournin’ Glory Song
This song, about a homeless woman’s confusion and misery, has been covered by Melanie Safka, Bobby Graham, Jennifer Trynin, Jiffipop, and Al Kooper.
- Maybe
Barbra Streisand covered this song on her 1971 album Stoney End. Karen Akers recorded a medley of "Maybe" and "Nevertheless, I’m in Love With You" on her 1990 album, In a Very Unusual Way. Richard Barnes recorded a cover for his only album, Richard Barnes, released in 1970.
- Marchin’ Down Broadway
This song is based on a song written by Bette Nilsson, Harry’s mother.
- I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City
Nilsson wrote this song for the film Midnight Cowboy. Director John Schlesinger had been using Nilsson’s cover of Fred Neil's "Everybody’s Talkin'" as an example of the kind of song he wanted on the final soundtrack, but then decided not to replace it. If "I Guess the Lord..." had been included, it would have been eligible for an Oscar, as it was an original song. Harry Nilsson did win a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Everybody's Talkin'", however. "I Guess the Lord..." was used in a film – 1971's La Mortadella (US title: Lady Liberty), starring Sophie Loren.
Sinead O Connor recorded a cover of the song for the film You've Got Mail, but director Nora Ephron decided to use Nilsson’s original. O’Connor’s version appears on the soundtrack album.
- Rainmaker
Co-written with William "Bill" Martin in 1968, this song has been covered by Michael Nesmith (Listen to the Band, 1971) and the The 5th Dimension (Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes, 1971). Country group the Wright Brothers Band did a medley of this song together with "Dawson", in both studio and live versions, on the albums Cornfield Cowboys and Memorabila Box.
- Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear
This is a cover of a song written by Randy Newman and popularized by the Alan Price Set. The song also appeared on an episode of The Muppet Show, performed by Fozzie Bear and Scooter.
Nilsson was impressed by Newman’s talents and his next album was Nilsson Sings Newman, ten covers of songs by Newman, with Newman on piano and Nilsson doing vocals.
In 2000, BMG released a combined CD of Harry and Nilsson Sings Newman.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Harry Nilsson, except where indicated (* = produced by Rick Jarrard)
- "The Puppy Song" – 2:58
- "Nobody Cares About the Railroads Anymore" – 2:47
- "Open Your Window" – 2:08 *
- "Mother Nature's Son" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 2:42 - Note: The Beatles once referred to this recording as their favorite Beatles cover song.[citation needed]
- "Fairfax Rag" (Bill Martin) – 2:14
- "City Life" (Bill Martin) – 2:31
- "Mournin' Glory Story" – 2:13 *
- "Maybe" – 3:10
- "Marchin' Down Broadway" – :59 *
- "I Guess the Lord Must be in New York City" – 2:44 - Nilsson originally pitched this song to be used as the Midnight Cowboy theme, but the director, John Schlesinger, decided to use Nilsson's cover version of Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin".
- "Rainmaker" (Nilsson, Bill Martin) - 2:25
- "Mr. Bojangles" (Jerry Jeff Walker) – 3:53
- "Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear" (Randy Newman) – 2:47
- BMG's 1997 re-issue contains the following bonus tracks
- "I Will Take You There" - 2:35
- "Waiting" (non-LP single) - 2:18
- "Rainmaker" (alternate single mix) - 2:25
Arranged and conducted by George Tipton
Notes
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