...That's the Way It Is
Encyclopedia
...That's the Way It Is is the thirteenth album by Harry Nilsson
.
The album includes a couple of original songs, but mostly consists of cover tunes
. Some of the covers include: America
("I Need You" is from their 1971 album America), George Harrison
("That Is All" is from his 1973 album Living in the Material World
, Randy Newman
("Sail Away
" is from his 1972 album Sail Away
), The Heartbeats
' "A Thousand Miles Away," "Zombie Jamboree"
(which was previously recorded by Lord Intruder
, Kingston Trio, Harry Belafonte
, and many others), and more. This album maybe symbolizes the last effort of what Harry started back in 1973, when he moved to Los Angeles. Released in 1976, most of the songs were actually recorded during the Sandman
sessions of late 1975. The sound of both albums were pretty much the same, and it can also be said that Duit on Mon Dei
has a similarity as well; the same musicians assisted Nilsson to make the albums, and the core of the list included: Jesse Ed Davis
and Danny Kootch
on guitars, Jim Keltner
on drums, Kessel on piano, Al Kooper
on percussions, and Klaus Voormann
on bass, among others.
, former Supreme and then-current wife to album producer, Trevor Lawrence.
Harry Nilsson
Harry Edward Nilsson III was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson...
.
The album includes a couple of original songs, but mostly consists of cover tunes
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
. Some of the covers include: America
America (band)
America is an English-American folk rock band that originally included members Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek. The three members were barely out of their teens when they became a musical sensation during 1972, scoring #1 hits and winning a Grammy for best new musical artist...
("I Need You" is from their 1971 album America), George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
("That Is All" is from his 1973 album Living in the Material World
Living in the Material World
Living in the Material World is a studio album by George Harrison, released in 1973.-Background:As a follow-up to 1970's greatly received All Things Must Pass and his mammoth charity project, The Concert for Bangladesh, Living in the Material World was among the most highly anticipated releases of...
, Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
("Sail Away
Sail Away (Randy Newman song)
"Sail Away" is a song by Randy Newman, the title track of his 1972 album.-Lyrics and interpretation:"Sail Away" is representative of Newman's trademark unconventional and clever approach to songwriting: it takes the form of a "come on" or a "pitch" from an American slave trader to potential slaves...
" is from his 1972 album Sail Away
Sail Away (Randy Newman album)
-Personnel:* Randy Newman - arranger, composer, piano, vocals* Ry Cooder - guitars on "Last Night I Had a Dream" & "You Can Leave Your Hat On"* Russ Titelman - guitars* Jim Keltner - drums* Gene Parsons - drums* Earl Palmer - drums* Chris Ethridge - bass...
), The Heartbeats
The Heartbeats
The Heartbeats were a 1950s American doo-wop group best known for their song "A Thousand Miles Away", which charted at #53 in the US Billboard listings in 1957....
' "A Thousand Miles Away," "Zombie Jamboree"
Jumbie Jamberee
Jumbie Jamberee is a calypso song credited to Conrad Eugene Mauge Jr. In 1953 Lord Intruder released the song as the B-side to Disaster With Police. The song is also known as Zombie Jamboree and Back to Back...
(which was previously recorded by Lord Intruder
Lord Intruder
Lord Intruder was a calypsonian from Tobago who was active in the 1950s.He is known to have performed with the Trinidadian calypso tent The Original Young Brigade , whose ranks included The Mighty Sparrow, Lord Melody and The Mighty Bomber .He is credited with originating one of the most famous...
, Kingston Trio, Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
, and many others), and more. This album maybe symbolizes the last effort of what Harry started back in 1973, when he moved to Los Angeles. Released in 1976, most of the songs were actually recorded during the Sandman
Sandman (album)
Sandman is the twelfth album by Harry Nilsson.-Track listing:All music and lyrics by Harry Nilsson, except where noted.#"I'll Take a Tango" – 2:58#"Something True" – 2:54...
sessions of late 1975. The sound of both albums were pretty much the same, and it can also be said that Duit on Mon Dei
Duit on Mon Dei
Duit On Mon Dei is the eleventh album by Harry Nilsson. The original title for this album was "God's Greatest Hits" but RCA didn't approve. The title is a punning spelling of Do It On Monday, playing on the British Monarchy's motto Dieu et mon droit...
has a similarity as well; the same musicians assisted Nilsson to make the albums, and the core of the list included: Jesse Ed Davis
Jesse Ed Davis
Jesse Edwin Davis was an American guitarist. He was well regarded as a session artist. His death in 1988 is attributed to a drug overdose.-Biography:...
and Danny Kootch
Danny Kortchmar
Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar is a guitarist, session musician, and songwriter. Kortchmar's work with singer-songwriters such as David Crosby, Carole King, Graham Nash, Carly Simon and James Taylor helped define the signature sound of the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s...
on guitars, Jim Keltner
Jim Keltner
James Lee "Jim" Keltner is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He has contributed to the work of many well-known artists...
on drums, Kessel on piano, Al Kooper
Al Kooper
Al Kooper is an American songwriter, record producer and musician, known for organizing Blood, Sweat & Tears , providing studio support for Bob Dylan when he went electric in 1965, and also bringing together guitarists Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills to...
on percussions, and Klaus Voormann
Klaus Voormann
Klaus Voormann is a German Grammy Award-winning artist, noted musician, and record producer. He designed artwork for many bands including The Beatles, The Bee Gees, Wet Wet Wet and Turbonegro. His most notable work as a producer was his work with the band Trio, including their worldwide hit "Da Da...
on bass, among others.
Track listing
Track 2, "Just One Look/Baby I'm Yours" was a duet with Lynda LaurenceLynda Laurence
Lynda Laurence is an American singer. She is best known for being a part of two Motown acts: Stevie Wonder's backup group Wonderlove, and one of the post-Diana Ross versions of The Supremes...
, former Supreme and then-current wife to album producer, Trevor Lawrence.
Charts
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
158 |