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Harry Nilsson - Son of Schmilsson Audio CD

A fair review of the Harry Nilsson "Son of Schmilsson" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Harry Nilsson reviews here, or go back to the Harry Nilsson tabs.

Harry Nilsson Band: Harry Nilsson
Title: Son of Schmilsson
Rating:
Release Date: 2007-03-19
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: It Had To Be You 2: Take 54 3: Remember (Christmas) 4: Joy 5: Turn On Your Radio 6: You're Breakin' My Heart 7: Spaceman 8: The Lottery Song 9: At My Front Door 10: Ambush 11: I'd Rather Be Dead 12: The Most Beautiful World In The World 13: What's Your Sign? 14: Take 54 15: Campo De Encino 16: Daybreak

How sad, how nostalgic, how 1970s... perfect.


There are very few albums from that time that took you all the way, however: Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Back To Front," or 10cc's "The Original Soundtrack," or even Paul McCartney's "Vewnus and Mars," but on this album of rememberances and experimentation, it's odd to listen to such a mish-mash of feelings about the songwriting talent of the one and only Harry Nilsson. This album takes me back, and I mean (now) way back to the beginning of the 1970's, when music like this was still considered "commercial" - emotion-filled stories that took you on a real journey throughout the entire album.

I don't profess to know every nuance of every song here, or will I try to. I listened to it a few times. I liked it. I felt good on some songs, sad on others, and laughed on a few, especially the rambling and repetitive "Joy".

Was the cosmic joke on me by listening to what has been called by most a quickly rushed out project to cash in on his fame of the moment, or was this Harry's attempt to grow, to play, to enjoy what he was doing and using that "fame" to put this out? I prefer the latter reason.

The copy I have has only the 11 tracks from the original album. The sound is crisp, the music is free and Harry has never sounded better. I have heard other albums by Harry, but this is the first album by him I've decided to review.

To be honest, I don't think I want to hear the other tracks given out as freebees for the collectors, because if they were meant to be released, Harry would have done so. I think as the 11 tracks go, form the ultra-depressing and thought-evoking "Remember (Christmas)" to the outright happy/angry toss-off of "You're Breaking My Heart," the music ranges from the upper registers of happiness to the bitterness and anger of being dumped, or is it that our Harry has done something dirty in the dark and decided to exercise some of his own demons here?

Either way, I loved the lyrics, loved the bounciness of the music, and even in the more depressing moments, he still managed to inject his own twisted humor into the words to make you laugh even as you pause and feel sorry for the guy a bit.

Think about this: you really are laughing at him, and not with him. And I didn't think on this album he didn't care, because this wasn't put out to capitalize on anything that the record executives wanted, this is an album he wanted and it was filled with hope, depression, anger, humor, and pretty much anything he wanted, because they gave him the free rein to. . . and at the time, this wasn't so easy.

Harry Nilsson is best remembered for many of the songs not associated with this particular album by the greedy selfish shallow public, and there are some who've called him a one-hit wonder on the oldies radio, but I don't think I can pass this up without enjoying it every time I've listened to it. There are definite "hits" here, but the kind that make a much better impact than just selling 45's off the shelves.

According to most fans of Harry, he can do no wrong. I'll be honest here, I think he didn't here, and for me, the gamble paid off. I'm a fan. I'll be getting more albums to listen to in the future and checking out the legend that is Harry Nilsson.

Please, pick up a copy.

P. S. - I only gave it 4 stars because I can't really give just every album I rate 5 stars. This was a interesting album, to say the least, but not a great album, let's be honest.

Thanks for reading.


Good version
. Very good new version for this album with some extra tracks, making a good souvenir of Harry Edward Nilsson's songs.


a classic moment in rock
This guy was a real talent. I was a young teen when this came out and it was big in my neighborhood. Go ahead and buy it, its well worth it.


Son of Schmilsson is So Schnice
Plus, the bonus, un-released cuts are a Harry-fanatics' dream come true ! His vocal gifts and musical friends accompanying him are all at their peaks ! This is an historical record !. One of the best, the sweetest and the funniest of Harrys' albums ! No music collection is complete without a Nilsson disc and this is the one must-have album to start your Nilsson catalog.


This is his greatest album!
I've purchased this album in vinyl, then 8-track, then cassette, and just recently, this newly-released CD with the extra tracks. Son of Schmilsson has been one of my all-time favorites since I was just a kid. His incredible range is truly displayed in these odd-ball tunes, and I still cannot listen to this music without smiling. I have most of his other recordings but, compared to this album, they rarely get played. I just keep coming back to these wonderfully-written songs that I can enjoy over and over again. Son of Schmilsson is true genius!.


You can see a complete list of all Harry Nilsson discography, or go back to the Harry Nilsson tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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