Harry (album)
Encyclopedia
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.
Harry features jazz saxophonist Tom Scott
, pianist Mike Melvoin
, flutist Jim Horn
, session drummer Jim Gordon
, Larry Knechtel
on bass, and David Cohen and Howard Roberts on guitars.
The album has no one distinctive style but ranges over ballads, show tunes, nostalgic Americana, and tin pan alley-like soft shoe numbers.
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.
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. Kenny Loggins
covered it on his 2009 album All Join In
.
Others have covered "The Puppy Song" as well: David Cassidy
sang a cover of it and took it to a UK #1 as a double A-side single with the song "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.
Mother Nature's Son
The Beatles once referred to this recording as their favorite Beatles cover song.
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
(Nevada Fighter
, 1971) and 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. The song charted for folk/rock singer Tom Northcott
in Canada in 1970.
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.
(* = produced by Rick Jarrard)
BMG's 1997 re-issue contains the following bonus tracks:
Arranged and conducted by George Tipton
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...
's third album for RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
was Harry, released in August 1969. It was his first album to get onto Billboard Magazine'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...
chart, reaching #120 and remaining there for 15 weeks.
Harry features jazz saxophonist Tom Scott
Tom Scott (musician)
Tom Scott is an American saxophonist, composer, arranger, conductor and bandleader of the west coast jazz/jazz fusion ensemble The L.A. Express.-Biography:Scott was born in Los Angeles, California...
, pianist Mike Melvoin
Mike Melvoin
Mike Melvoin is an American jazz pianist.Melvoin began on piano at age three. He studied English at Dartmouth College, graduating in 1959, but decided to pursue a career in music. After moving to Los Angeles in 1961, he played with Frank Rosolino, Leroy Vinnegar, Gerald Wilson, Paul Horn, Terry...
, flutist Jim Horn
Jim Horn
Jim Horn is an American saxophonist and woodwind player. He was born in Los Angeles, and after replacing saxophonist Steve Douglas in 1959, he toured with member Duane Eddy for five years, playing sax and flute on the road, and in the recording studio...
, session drummer Jim Gordon
Jim Gordon (musician)
James Beck "Jim" Gordon is an American recording artist, musician and songwriter. The Grammy Award winner was one of the most requested session drummers in the late 1960s and 1970s, recording albums with many well-known musicians of the time, and was the drummer in the blues-rock supergroup Derek...
, Larry Knechtel
Larry Knechtel
Lawrence William "Larry" Knechtel was an American keyboard player and bassist, best known for his work as a session musician with such artists as Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, The Beach Boys, The Mamas & the Papas, The Partridge Family, The Doors, and Elvis Presley, and as a member of the 1970s...
on bass, and David Cohen and Howard Roberts on guitars.
The album has no one distinctive style but ranges over ballads, show tunes, nostalgic Americana, and tin pan alley-like soft shoe numbers.
William E. Martin
William E. Martin
William E. Martin, also known as Bill Martin, is an American musician, songwriter, screenwriter, comedic actor and voice actor.-Life and career:...
, 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.
Details
The Puppy SongNilsson wrote this song at Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
’s request for Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin , credited on some recordings as Mary Visconti, is a Welsh folk singer best known for her 1968 UK number one single "Those Were The Days". She was one of the first musicians to sign to The Beatles' Apple label....
, 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
Nora Ephron
Nora Ephron is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, novelist, playwright, journalist, author, and blogger.She is best known for her romantic comedies and is a triple nominee for the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay; for Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally... and Sleepless in...
would use Harry’s own version for the opening credits of her 1998 film, You've Got Mail. Kenny Loggins
Kenny Loggins
During the next decade, Loggins recorded so many successful songs for film soundtracks that he was referred to as, King of the Movie Soundtrack.He began with "I'm Alright" , "Mr. Night", and "Lead the Way" from Caddyshack...
covered it on his 2009 album All Join In
All Join In
All Join In is the thirteenth studio album and third childrens album by Kenny Loggins.The first Kenny Loggins childrens album to be released by Walt Disney Records in 2009.His previous childrens albums Return to Pooh Corner was released by Columbia Records/Sony Wonder and More Songs From Pooh...
.
Others have covered "The Puppy Song" as well: David Cassidy
David Cassidy
David Bruce Cassidy is an American actor, singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his role as the character of Keith Partridge in the 1970s musical/sitcom The Partridge Family. He was one of pop culture's most celebrated teen idols, enjoying a successful pop career in the 1970s, and...
sang a cover of it and took it to a UK #1 as a double A-side single with the song "Daydreamer"; Victoria Williams
Victoria Williams
Victoria Williams is an American singer-songwriter and musician, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, although she has resided in Southern California throughout her musical career. She is noted for her descriptive songwriting talent, which she has used to immerse the listener of her songs into a...
covered it on For the Love of Harry: Everybody Sings Nilsson – a tribute album released in 1995; Astrud Gilberto
Astrud Gilberto
Astrud Gilberto is a Brazilian samba and bossa nova singer. She is well known for the Grammy Award-winning song "The Girl from Ipanema".-Biography:...
performed a bossa nova lounge version on 2001’s The Girl From Ipanema; and 70’s Australian pop group New World
New World (band)
New World was an Australian pop group that existed from the mid 1960s to the late 1970s. They are best known for their Top 10 hit single, "Tom-Tom Turnaround", which was released in 1971...
released their cover on their Best of… album in 2002.
Open Your Window
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
covered this song on her album Things Ain’t What They Used to Be, released in 1969, the same year as Harry
Harry
Harry is a male given name, the Middle English form of Henry. It is also sometimes used as a diminutive form of Harold and Henry....
. 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.
Mother Nature's Son
The Beatles once referred to this recording as their favorite Beatles cover song.
Mournin’ Glory Song
This song, about a homeless woman’s confusion and misery, has been covered by Melanie Safka
Melanie Safka
Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk is an American singer-songwriter. Known professionally as simply Melanie, she is best known for her hits "Brand New Key", "Ruby Tuesday" and "Lay Down ".-Early career:...
, Bobby Graham
Bobby Graham
Bobby Graham was an English session drummer, composer, arranger and record producer. Shel Talmy, who produced The Kinks, David Bowie and The Who, described Graham as "the greatest drummer the UK has ever produced."...
, Jennifer Trynin, Jiffipop, and 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...
.
Maybe
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
covered this song on her 1971 album Stoney End. Karen Akers
Karen Akers
Karen Akers is an American actress and singer, who has appeared on Broadway, cabaret and film.-Background:She was born Karen Orth-Pallavicini in New York City on October 13, 1945. Her ancestry was a mixture of European stock: her immigrant father, Heinrick C...
recorded a medley of "Maybe" and "Nevertheless, I’m in Love With You" on her 1990 album, In a Very Unusual Way. Richard Barnes
Richard Barnes (musician)
Richard Barnes was a British singer who saw limited chart success in the early 1970s.-Career:Barnes was a vocalist with the UK pop group the Quiet Five before departing for a solo career in 1969. Over the next four years he cut a handful of pop records before launching a career in the musical...
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
Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy is a 1969 American drama film based on the 1965 novel of the same name by James Leo Herlihy. It was written by Waldo Salt, directed by John Schlesinger, and stars Dustin Hoffman and newcomer Jon Voight in the title role. Notable smaller roles are filled by Sylvia Miles, John...
. Director John Schlesinger
John Schlesinger
John Richard Schlesinger, CBE was an English film and stage director and actor.-Early life:Schlesinger was born in London into a middle-class Jewish family, the son of Winifred Henrietta and Bernard Edward Schlesinger, a physician...
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
Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance was awarded between 1966 and 2011...
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
You've Got Mail (soundtrack)
You've Got Mail was a soundtrack released in 1998.- Track listing :# Harry Nilsson - "The Puppy Song" - 2:43# The Cranberries - "Dreams" - 4:31# Bobby Darin - "Splish Splash" - 2:12# Louis Armstrong - "Dummy Song" - 2:19...
album.
Rainmaker
Co-written with William "Bill" Martin in 1968, this song has been covered by Michael Nesmith
Michael Nesmith
Robert Michael Nesmith is an American musician, songwriter, actor, producer, novelist, businessman, and philanthropist, best known as a member of the musical group The Monkees and star of the TV series of the same name...
(Nevada Fighter
Nevada Fighter
Nevada Fighter is the third solo album by American singer-songwriter Michael Nesmith during his post-Monkees career. The album is also the third and final album with the First National Band. Released in 1971, it peaked at No...
, 1971) and The 5th Dimension (Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes
Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes
Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes is the sixth album by American pop group The 5th Dimension, released in 1971. The title song had been recorded originally by Diana Ross the previous year.-Track listing:#"Time and Love"#"Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes"...
, 1971). Country group the Wright Brothers Band
Wright Brothers Band
The Wright Brothers Band, formerly known as the Wright Brothers Overland Stage Company, formed in 1972, is an Indiana based music group. They perform songs from the 1920s to the present day, and can cover bluegrass, pop standards, country, gospel, and even Aerosmith rock standards...
did a medley of this song together with "Dawson", in both studio and live versions, on the albums Cornfield Cowboys and Memorabila Box. The song charted for folk/rock singer Tom Northcott
Tom Northcott
Tom Northcott is a Canadian folk-rock singer with hits in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was nominated as best male vocalist for a Juno Award in 1971. Later he co-founded Mushroom Studios in Vancouver and produced records...
in Canada in 1970.
Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear
This is a cover of a song written by 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....
and popularized by the Alan Price Set. The song also appeared on an episode of The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
, performed by Fozzie Bear
Fozzie Bear
Fozzie Bear is a Muppet, created by Jim Henson. He is an orange, particularly fuzzy bear who works as a stand-up comic and has a catchphrase, "Wocka Wocka Wocka". Shortly after telling the joke, he is usually the target of rotten tomatoes and ridicule, especially from hecklers Statler and Waldorf...
and Scooter
Scooter (Muppet)
Scooter is a bespectacled character from The Muppets. In The Muppet Show he was the troupe's backstage "gofer". He was originally performed by Richard Hunt.-Characteristics:...
.
Nilsson was impressed by Newman’s talents and his next album was Nilsson Sings Newman
Nilsson Sings Newman
Nilsson Sings Newman is an album of Randy Newman compositions sung by Harry Nilsson, with Newman on piano. The record was not a great commercial success, but it was critically praised, and helped Newman gain notice...
, 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" – 2:43
- "Nobody Cares About the Railroads Anymore" – 2:47
- "Open Your Window" – 2:08 *
- "Mother Nature's SonMother Nature's Son"Mother Nature's Son" is a Lennon–McCartney song, written primarily by Paul McCartney and released by The Beatles on The Beatles . It was inspired by a lecture given by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi while the Beatles were in India. The same lecture inspired Lennon's unreleased song "Child of Nature",...
" (John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
) – 2:42 - "Fairfax Rag" (Bill MartinWilliam E. MartinWilliam E. Martin, also known as Bill Martin, is an American musician, songwriter, screenwriter, comedic actor and voice actor.-Life and career:...
) – 2:14 - "City Life" (Bill Martin) – 2:31
- "Mournin' Glory Story" – 2:13 *
- "Maybe" – 3:10
- "Marchin' Down Broadway" – 1:05 *
- "I Guess the Lord Must be in New York City" – 2:44
- "Rainmaker" (Nilsson, Bill Martin) - 2:25
- "Mr. BojanglesMr. Bojangles (song)Mr. Bojangles is the title of a song originally written and recorded by American country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker for his 1968 album of the same title...
" (Jerry Jeff WalkerJerry Jeff WalkerJerry Jeff Walker is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is probably most famous for writing the song "Mr. Bojangles.-Biography:...
) – 3:53 - "Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear" (Randy NewmanRandy NewmanRandall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
) – 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
George Tipton
George Aliceson Tipton, also known as George Tipton is an American composer, musical arranger and conductor.Among Tipton's works are the theme songs for the TV shows Benson, It's a Living, I'm a Big Girl Now and Empty Nest, plus incidental music for numerous shows, including The Courtship of...