Reviews (page 6 of 14)
Schmamazing album. Without You is such an amazing song, it’s begging to be belted by someone like Lady Gaga. Nilsson’s no vocal slouch himself though.
Really enjoyed this and wasn’t super familiar with him before. Listened to it several times.
A few cases of filler but the good songs here are great.
More of the songs than I expected were ones I knew. A wide variety of styles and vocal range. The guy is clearly a genius, both in songwriting and in picking his cover versions to sing. Gotta get up, jump into the fire, and coconut were my favourite tracks. 4 🌟
MMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Not so wonderful, still can't give it less than 4 cause it has some epic tunes in it
Good quality recording
I was not expecting this from some guy in a bathrobe.
Weird but like in a good way
It was very diverse and good. And He had some classic which were really good
Sings like it was nothing (Without You might have been in one take? jesus christ). Wrote songs effortlessly in both the good and bad sense, like 'wow that dude can really write a song out of nowhere' and also now and again 'how about some effort, please, Mr. Nilsson'. Without You followed by Coconut is about the most Nilsson choice you can make. I hate Coconut but hate it a little less now. Have to admire the commitment to stupid ideas. Makes me think of how You're Breakin' My Heart could be a radio hit if it weren't unairable (except it is Cool and Coconut is Dumb). music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)
This once was a favourite of mine. I don’t have anything insightful to say, I still love it a lot. Have maybe just heard too much music now and it’s got a bit bumped down the list. Nilsson is cool as hell.
Keeping this one in rotation, loved it!
My favorite of this week. This album did a lot of good in its day, and tracks were copied and covered in lots of stuff over the decades. A heavy hitter for sure.
Didn't know this one, but there's a lot of well-known songs on here that have been covered extensively. Impressive collection of songs.
Sunday May 11th, 1980 6:55 am
Enjoyed it
Oh so this is where that Muppet song comes from!!
American mccartney
I really enjoyed this album. I'd never heard of Harry Nilsson, but I definitely recognized a few of the songs.
Enjoyed this
Another good rocky album from the 70s.
So much fun!! All of the songs are different in some ways be it either instrumentation or vocal style but it doesn't seem all over the place. I also liked some of the slower songs on this which I sometimes tend to not enjoy. Overall very good! Favourite song: Early in the morning
Mostly a masterpiece. Accolades are deserved for this well-crafted pop album. Nilsson has a great voice with tremendous dynamic range, variety and a heartfelt emotional power. Outside of the two more well-known tunes (Without You and Coconut), "Jump Into the Fire" and "Gotta Get Up" age really well. Nice recording, too. Stands out, being from before the time when pop music was formulaic copy-pastes of pop music that was copy-pasted from the previous, ad infinitum.
It's fun, not my usual cup of tea but not unpleasant (she says fun and then "Without You" comes on). Coconut was repetitive but funny enough (the original Alan Wake referenced it too)
Not a bad album. It was funny a bit it was a little all over the place. Like Jump into the fire - drum and weird bass solo? Overall decent though
Tons of great songs. Spent most of the album saying to myself "Oh I didn't know this was who performed this song" or " I didn't know that the cover version I heard was originally by him"
Fakka med det
Kinda goes insane. This album feels very 70s but goddamn it hits. It’s one of those albums you’re just kinda thinking to yourself the whole time “this is cool, this is a vibe, I like this and I’m not sure why” feels like it has inspiration from multiple groups, Beatles, Tom waits etc. great record. Would probably listen again
Never knew the lime coconut song was from this. I like it idk what you want me to say
Coconut is annoying yet very catchy, felt drugged listening to it
I'd heard about this album for a long time. I first listened to it a few years ago. I kept my expectations low because so often these sort of lost-to-the-sands-of-time gems don't live up to the hype. Then I actually listened to it and I thought it was pretty good. Now for this project I listened to it a second time, and then a third time. The second time I was thinking: this isn't as good as I remembered it being. Then the third time I was like, okay, this is actually is pretty good. So, I guess I'm not completely decided between 3 and 4 stars. But I can tell you that "Coconut" sucks balls.
its like if the beatles were american and not as good. the problem with music like this is that the beatles exist, and they did it already. there is no beatles-esque music that surpasses the beatles. that said, this isnt bad at all, just not incredible, i bobbed my head a little.
Great lyrics. Some classic songs.
Despite all the rage - pretty grungy.
I wasn't familiar with this artist either, although he really does have an outstanding voice. A very entertaining and varied album, humorous and serious pieces and complex arrangements. From pop to rock to rhythm and blues, the album covers a broad spectrum. I particularly liked Early in the Morning, Down and Jump into the Fire.
Not bad
I was in the middle of a breakdown when goofy ahh song Coconut came on 😭😭🙏🙏
You sit there thinking you only know one Harry Nilsson song. Lo and behold you actually know half an album. Nice! Very under the radar genius! 3.8
What an oddball album. Very interested. Subtle hints of playfulness comparable to Ariel Pink or Connan Mockasin, but with a traditional voice and sound. So odd!
this was amazing lime in the coconut
First track is a classic, never heard of this guy - this is really good
Mostly loved this. A handful of songs are amongst my favourites. Always thought “Coconut” was a novelty song and not part of a real album. Can definitely hear the Beatles influence. 4/5
Do I... like this? I think I've heard "Gotta Get Up" before. Maybe it's just that I'm in my mid-30s and the lyrics strike a chord, even if the musicality is very late-60s Beatles-knockoff... That being said, there's good variety in these tracks.
Harry Nilsson really knew how to make a weird little masterpiece. Gotta Get Up kicks things off with such infectious energy you can't help but get pulled in. It's upbeat, it's got bounce, and it sets the tone perfectly. Then there's Coconut, the kind of oddball track you think is a joke the first time you hear it, until it's stuck in your head for three days straight. Everyone knows it, even if they don't know where they know it from. The whole album is packed with charm and a sense of playfulness that makes it stand out. It isn't trying to be cool or profound. It's just good, clever songwriting with real personality. Nilsson was doing his own thing, and this album is a solid reminder of how much fun music can be when it leans into the weird instead of running from it.
Kind of like a 5th Beatle? American Paul McCartney? A bit sillier and unserious, but here's some really fun songs here.
Expected this to be a joke but it’s seriously good!
This was a surprisingly enjoyable album from a guy I hadn't previously heard of!
i like this album! not as good as i remember it being the first time i listened to it, but still holds up imo
Pre-listening thoughts: writing this with the most raging headache in the world. Reallyyyyy hoping this album is good cause idk if I can handle something crappy tonight 😭 Post/during listening thoughts: 35 mins. Life is beautiful, I needed a short and sweet album tonight. The cover is also making me laugh a little like who took that pic 😭😭? I’m enjoying this a lot so far actually. A lot of the male singers on this list have been kind of… samey and a little whiny but this guy has a really lovely voice and I understand the Beatles comparisons (especially with harmony choices and vocal arrangements). This is bringing a smile to my face on such a rough day! The only complaint with short song length is they end so abruptly and many lack bridges (which I love bridges) so it’s a slight sadness. You ever hear a song and know it’s a certified hit? Yeah that’s me when I heard Without You my GODDDD. I did start falling asleep during Jump Into the Fire sorry it’s long and I’m really tired. I love the variety here and would absolutely revisit this 8.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: I dont think so but I definitely enjoyed this (although everyone should hear Without You at least once) Fav tracks: Gotta Get Up, The Moonbeam Song, Without You Least fav tracks: Jump into the Fire past minute 3
Surprisingly good. I didn't recognize the name but "Without You" is a classic I had on repeat thru the day.
Great
Good
Wasn’t familiar with him but enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. There’s at least 3 recognizable songs. Good use of horns, piano, percussion, layering. Some tracks have a zydeco feel. Well produced, his vocal range is quite good and his voice is rich.
Syntes faktisk den var rigtig god, lidt beatles agtig? Rigtig god stemme, solide sange, havde hørt mange før i andre sammenhænge Man ville ikke kunne lave Coconut i dag, på grund af Woke
Virkelig fed energi, og generelt nogen gode sange (der er en enkelt sang der skiller sig lidt ud på det punkt, gæt selv hvilken!) Anede ikke at Gotta Get Up var en Harry Nilsson sang, den har jeg hørt ca 200 gange (fordi jeg har set Russian Doll et par gange).
Upbeat, diverse, vintage
Memorable songs. Used in goodfellas and other movie soundtracks
Pretty great! Was caught completely off-guard by Coconut lol
I've been really into this era of music lately, so I appreciated the slower folk sounds of this album a lot!
Above average
Surprisingly good overall.
A classic
Great artist, very talented. Great songs, and albums.
Such a great songwriter. Without You is a heartbreak classic and deserves to be on every tortured poet's playlist. Wait, Coconut is HIS song? Fecking brilliant.
Worthy of further listening........
Very good songs but reflecting of their time period.
-My mom is obsessed with this album apparently but I’d never listened to it. It’s actually really good, I fw the random Caribbean influence -Favorites are Early In The Morning, Coconut, and Jump Into The Fire
Just a dude jammin' in his morning attire
These are really good songs, well written, nicely performed. I enjoyed hearing them again. Something between Billy Joel and Randy Newman.
Good to know where these songs come from!! A few revelations on the eurostar
Nilsson Schmilsson I fairly familiar with this album, I do listen to it from time to time, although haven’t in a while. I didn't realise until I listened to a Nothing is Real podcast episode last year that there was quite a bit of intertwining between Nilsson and the Beatles, not just the lost weekend stuff with John, but they all liked him and his music. He’s done a few Beatles covers, You Can’t Do That and She’s Leaving Home on Pandemonium Shadow Show are good. Even without knowing that and listening to this album you can tell he’s clearly very influenced by them. Gotta Get Up is great, really sets the tone for the album, kind of classic singer songwriting with a slightly off beat sensibility, interesting instrumentation and a lot of humour. He does seem to have that slight Macca-esque ability to appear to be able to toss off some effortless sounding melodies. Driving along has that same effortless feeling, although it just seems to end, feels like it could have built further. Early in the Morning is also great. I’m not familiar with the orginal but the electric keys only backing is excellent. The Moonbeam Song is very pretty, the Beach Boys style harmonies are great, they really elevate it. Massive solo Lennon and solo McCartney vibes on Down. The piano feels very Spector era Lennon, but the horns echoing the descent as he sings down are very McCartney/Martin. Coconut is fun but of oddness. I guess now you wouldn’t be able to sing in that accent, something something woke, but it’s great. While Let the Good Times Roll is fun enough, I’m not sure it adds a great deal to the album. Without You. Easy to forget what an excellent song this is when it’s been x factored/pub singered to death. I do love this version, the strings are excellent, just enough Bernard Herman edge to them to avoid it being too saccharine. Jump into the Fire is excellent, the stand out track. I’ve liked since I first heard it in Goodfellas. The bass is excellent, especially in the breakdowns. Great song. I’ll Never Leave You is a great downbeat end and a nice contrast to Jump into the Fire. Love the strings, horns and banjo as it builds and then levels out. Very pretty. He really does have a great voice, Moonbeam Song, Down and I’ll Never Leave You really show that. And the Beatles/solo Beatles echoes make a lot of sense as alot of the musicians on here also played on Lennon and Harrison’s stuff. Overall it is a great listen, although it’s definitely a bit woolly in places. It’s probably lacking a couple more really high quality songs to put it in the top tier. Nevertheless it lands very easily in the 4s, its slightly shabby and quirky laid back charm is a winner for me. 🥥🥥🥥🥥 Playlist submission: Jump into the Fire
I really enjoyed this album. Seems like a perfect representation of its time, if not a little bit ahead. Harry's voice is great and it was just a pleasant and fun listen.
Kinds good
This album was awesome. Can't say I've ever heard of Harry Nilsson but he's the coconut song guy! This record is chalk-full of unique and wildly original ideas. Not sure how anyone could hate on something as fun as this, especially for 71'. You can still hear The Beatles influence but it's no where near as derivative as other records following their peak.
Strange album, with a mix of power ballad (Without You) and quirky (Coconut) and other styles. I found a few songs here that I like so it bumps it up to a four.
Mostly here for Jump Into The Fire. Goodfellas :D
Fun album. Someone said “the American beatle” which I could see the connection with a number of his songs.
Favorites were "Without You", "Coconut", "Jump Into the Fire"
Didn't recognize the album cover or the names, but certainly knew the hits. Good album with an interesting mix of sounds. Still very 70's.
Cheto mal, me gusto un monton la verdad. no daba ni dos pesos por este cristiano, pero cuando vi que habia compuesto without you me tomo completamente por sorpresa
Good
This is an album that I've heard was really good for a long time, but have never sat down and listened to. It's as good as advertised. He goes through a lot of different styles, but he's at his best when he's mellow and sweet. Without you is a notable highlight, but the whole album is great. Well crafted songs with great production and a lot of heart 4/5
enjoyed above average
This one was really awesome. An artist I was not familiar with, but an album I will listen to again for sure.
without you and coconut back to back is wild.
never heard of him but he’s got pipes!!
Gear: Hifiman Arya Artwork: 🛀✌😎 Mix (2004 Remaster): 🎧👍😁 Musik: 👨⚕️💬🍋➡🥥🔗🍹🤰🤕🩺👌 Wertung: 🛀🛀🛀🛀/5
Some stellar songwriting here.
Solid with only a few hickups
Great album (except for that one song ...). Happy to listen again anytime.
Really enjoyed it. Probably won't listen to any of it again besides "Gotta Get Up", "Coconut" and that fire song but it was an enjoyable listen.
Was expecting more country alignment but either way was better than anticipated, hilariously simple and effective album title too
lushhhh especially liked 'driving along' and 'early in the morning' also the guitar solo at the end of jump into the fire!!
Ahhh Russian doll!
Always fun to hear an album starts and you say, “Oh THAT song!” And this one has got HITS. A wildly diverse palette of sounds that somehow seem to all fit together naturally. His lack of vocal range is unpleasant at first but he settles in nicely and makes the best of what he’s got as the album rolls along, to the point where it’s endearing and enjoyable by the end. Songwriting is relatable and tongue-in-cheek. Not something id listen to often but a unique gem. Listened to: returning the power broker :( favorite tracks: Get on Up, Early in the Morning, Without You
Great album. The songs are upbeat and fun and little bizarre.
Went in with low expectations based on the genre and name. What a surprise! This was brilliant. Hits for days and great fun
A few bops on here. I dig this album.
This is a really good album. Great songs, great performances, lots of diversity. I can see why the Beatles loved him!
Entspannter Pop, Bekannteste Lied: "Without you" 4/5
Not the work of a "serious artist", and it shows. There's a lightness to this album that's infectious. It's no wonder this was massively popular for its time.
There's some really good tracks on here, 'Without You' is a classic for a reason. The rest of the album doesn't quite hit those heights, but it's still a rewarding listen nonetheless.
Love the classic Gotta Get Up and Without You. Also enjoyed The Moonbeam Song, Down.
4 great songs mixed in with a bunch of good songs. Without You has always been amazing.
Underrated and under appreciated, he was more than just a novelty songwriter.
I have had this record in my collection for years because I fell in love with Harry Nilsson after I watched You've Got Mail. I had heard that this was his best work, and I liked it. Every song was beautiful. I think what I liked most was how Beatles this felt. This being his biggest work and I had heard gotta get up before, but this felt different. I actually heard the lyrics and how poignant the pauses and verbage used was. I love old music like this it makes life feel so simple.
Pretty fun pop rock singer-songwriter record. It's more sentimental moments on tracks like "Without You" and "The Moonbeam Song" do help to keep things varied, and Nilsson's voice has quite the range to it.
I really enjoyed this one. I thought Nilsson has a nice voice and i was surprised at the number of songs I recognized. I know some of the songs were covers but they felt like Nilsson tried to make them his own. I can see myself coming back to this album.
just good music throughout. playful at times but able to take himself seriously as well.
Going into this I only knew “Coconut” which is a great but goofy song, I was very surprised with the amount of range on this project.
I liked this and it has Coconuts which is one of my wife’s favorite songs.
i put on the tracks, said "enjoy it i willsson" though by the last three, i'd already had my fillsson
5/5 album cover
7. I think. I'm torn.
Would have gotten closer to a 5 without that damn lime in the coconut song…
Great album from a great artist
I have a preconceived notion of what this album was going to be because of Coconut. And I was totally wrong. Just when you think you know what’s coming next, it keeps you guessing. Overall, some really great stuff and some really weird stuff, and both are a lot of fun.
Beautiful
Very strong (maybe underrated) album. Some absolute tunes.
New to me but dang, that was good.
I dig it
A number of positive surprises. "Without You" is beautiful, "Gotta Get Up" has a Beatles vibe. Overall - an interesting diversity
That was a very nice and varied experience.
I had never heard of Harry Nilsson before, but I did enjoy this record.
I was super surprised by this album. It was awesome. Almost every song seemed like it was from a different genre. And not only that , they were good songs. It reminded me of Ween Chocolate and Cheese but not as brown.
7.3
A groovy little number. Without You and Coconut are classics. Enjoyed with a bowl of porridge and a coffee. Didn't cum.
This is wild. I've never heard of this guy, but four or so of the songs on this album are total classics -- easy listening soft rock classics. Great example of what the 1001 can do... it's super cool to hear these originals that have been classics for decades and covered by a lot of famous artists.
Ah, Practical Magic!!!
I liked this album it's definitely something I'd listen to again. The bass in all the songs is very good and the album itself has an interesting transition from beginning to end.
This guy. His music has absolutely no edge, and the true me is 100% into it. He wrote “Coconut” and put it on an album without any fear of ridicule. Which, brilliant foresight. It’s a silly song, but awesome. I adore this album and would love to meet Harry someday. I imagine he’s still wearing that robe. 4.0
Liked it a good bit
I can see why the Beatles loved him so much. Really great talent and versatility.
That sure was a schmalbum
given enough time Nilsson could have written Dirty Work
Is my mom in charge of this project? She was OBSESSED with Harry Nilsson lol. Yet another record that brings me back to cleaning house on a Saturday morning before getting shipped over to grandma’s house. This album is kinda like a “guys being dudes” soundtrack. Very dated, but still listenable. There aren’t too many standouts here other than the MASSIVE hit Without You. Lyrically dude has some spunk and some spicy stuff but for the most part I don’t think it’s particularly interesting. Son of Schmilsson is actually better in my mind, but this is still decent. The track Down has some bluesy elements but his vocals are actually pretty strong, so it’s probably my favorite song on this. Coconut… another one everyone has heard but almost nobody remembers who sang it lol. Not a bad record by any stretch but I feel like people who were into this sound kinda knows it’s not his best.
I know nothing about this. Ah, another time I was wrong and recognized stuff without knowing it. HITS. Those aside, there's a good variety of bass-thumping rock and ethereal. Big surprise here. Plus doing the "schm-" prefix has to be a first for major American rock. Hell yeah.
A weird amount of variety in this album. I would be hard pressed to pick a genre to describe this album as. It seemed to change every few songs. In a good way. The lyricals weren’t particularly impressive, nor particularly bad. Gotta give points for variety
pošto sam vrlo neobrazovana kada je u pitanju muzika nikad nisam čula za ovog gospodina, čituckam ja tako o njemu na vikipediji i saznam da je njegova pesma don't forget me sa albuma pussy cats inspirisala lanu del rej da napiše did you know that there's a tunnel under ocean boulevard. ovaj album mi je došao u pravi trenutak!
Without You is such a great cover.
This quasi-self-titled album (one of three for Nilsson, none of which outright said his name) is a hodgepodge of everything Nilsson was. Intricate ballads (“The Moonbeam Song”) clashed with uptempo classic Nilsson styles (“Gotta Get Up”), while his humorous side (“Coconut”) and experimental side (“Jump Into the Fire”) got equal time to shine, but would it be “Nilsson” if it didn’t? Now, it’s impossible to discuss this album without acknowledging arguably his two greatest songs: the emotional powerhouse of “Without You” and the intense closer, “I’ll Never Leave You.” While an album like Aerial Ballet will initially jump to my mind when I think of “Harry Nilsson,” this album is undoubtedly his most interesting and eclectic. this couldn’t be just a self-titled album, that would be too boring for Harry. It’s the “Schmilsson” tag that ultimately sets this thing as something unequivocal in his discography
Surprisingly lovely
The Beatles but better! I love the horns on this album. The off kilter singing and lyrics are charming. His falsetto is on point. 4 stars!
lime in da coconut
Harry Nilsson mastered the art of winning any argument long before James Acaster.
SHEPUTDELIMEINDECOCONUTSHEDRANKEMBOTUP
It was good!
Thought I would hate this but it's pretty great. It's real weird but he basically pulls it off for every track.
Schwonderful.
Interesting, and had more hits on it than I was expecting. 4/5
I thought it was fun and interesting! Ahead of its time in a way.
Really enjoyed it and added Gotta Get Up to my favorites.
Refreshing to see a singer-songwriter who doesn't take himself too seriously. This album is surprisingly fun in a dumb way.
Muy lindo álbum. Without You es de este señor!!
yummy and soft- jazzy, bluesy and with a perfect fusion of rock and pop. It feels very beetlesque- and I'm just now discovering that he is considered "The american Beatle", being friends with both Starr and Lennon- theres definitely a huge semblance. Although each song is incredibly differentiated there's this commonality of each song being super smooth- possibly his vocals, or the production, or both. Either way this album is such an easy listen, thoroughly enjoyed. Favourites: "Without You", "Jump Into The Fire" skips: none
Loved it then, same now.
This is about as 70's as it gets. Lots to enjoy.
I never heard this, but recognized a few songs. Good album!
Been years since I listened to this. Kinda fizzles out for the last few tracks, but otherwise really enjoyed it.
I like how he clearly takes the music very seriously, but not the rest of the stuff process. The album cover and title really encapsulates this attitude very well.
Favs: without you, let the good times roll
I really enjoyed this album because I didn't really know what it was -- what genre is this, even? It's not quite singer-songwriter, it's not quite pop, but I liked it. Put the lime in the coconut!
Yes.
Lovely little record - with some great big hits from this weird weird man. Plays wonderful start to finish - and while there’s a lot of Beatles influence here it also presents itself as a fully 70s record.
I had not heard the whole album before but pretty good. I was familiar with his most famous songs but he was definitely pushing the boundaries of different music from a single artist.
Enjoyed a lot, reminded me of Ben Folds at times
Zaskakująco przyjemne. Without you wielki hit, nie miałem pojęcia, że autorstwa tego pana.4/5
Album Nr. 68 Gute 70iger Popmusik.
Some classics here
Great album…can see why for so many it’s a touchstone
“Nilsson became big when The Beatles named dropped him”. Wake up sheeple. The Beatles had stupid money and power at that time and had the juice to hire a bunch of scientists to mix all four of their essences up together into one person and then age him up to their age so they could hang out and jam with him. The scientists did it in some weird all-chrome 1960’s lab while smoking cigarettes so it came out a bit off, but they pretty much accomplished it. Harry Nilsson had Paul’s old-timey pop sensibilities, John’s acerbic wit, George’s naive vulnerability and Ringo’s goofiness. He’s a one man The Beatles, but just kind of a fucked up one. All of Harry Nilsson’s albums are worth listening to, but this really is the one you need to hear before you die. I think “all the songs sound the same” is lazy criticism because it means you aren’t paying enough attention to pick up on nuances, but there honestly are some albums that really feel like that. This album is the exact opposite. Every single song is wildly different from the others but they all sound like Nilsson. This is a great album by a weird lab-grown Frankenstein monster man who never felt at home in this world because he was brought to life by mad scientists and pop stars arrogantly playing God. Also it has a great beat and you can dance to it.
Nice surprise
I've only ever known "Coconut," so listening to this album was a treat. It's a fully developed album, so much more than "Coconut." Standouts for me include "The Moonbeam Song" (both versions), "I'll Never Leave You," "Lamaze," and "Old Forgotten Soldier."
This is my first Harry Nilsson album, an artist who I know very little about. I like the opening track. Nilsson's vocals are so expressive, sporadic, and all over the place melodically. I think it works well with the sorta clunky horn-backed instrumentation. This is certainly an unorthodox pop album for the time, there's something so strange about the varied and inconsistent style of each track. Like the quiet keyboard backing "Early in the Morning" which has Harry taking an almost soul approach to his delivery. The melancholy image of waking up in the morning to an uneventful day pairs well with this instrumental. I love the piano ballad "Without You" and it's probably my favorite song here as Harry details a tragic breakup with an incredible vocal melody in the verses. The instrumentation here is gorgeous too. Harry's certainly a talented vocalist and he showcases his range by taking on different styles all throughout this album. It keeps the album from getting stale or repetitive. I love the whispered vocals and the harmonies in the slower "The Moonbeam Song" and how it contrasts the following rock-inspired and organ-backed "Down". It's clear Harry takes a lot from the music around him and this album almost feels like a celebration of a lot of the popular music at the time; from RnB to folk to pop. Even tracks that are painfully standard like "Let the Good Times Roll" are still enjoyable to certain degrees. I think it just stands as a testament to how great of a songwriter Harry was. I love the pop-rock epic "Jump into the Fire" which has an incredible groove and is the most ambitious track here; it almost sounds like a Can song near the end. While I do like this album's eccentricity at times, the song "Coconut" was a low for me. It was fun to listen to at first but I think it overstays its welcome. With that said, I do think it still contributes to this album's overall charm. I loved this record's eclectic nature. It doesn't offer anything particularly new or groundbreaking for the time and I think that's fine; sometimes an album can just have really good songs.
That was the Partridge Family's "Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted?" followed by Edison Lighthouse's "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes", as K-Billy's Super Sounds of the '70's weekend just keeps on truckin'
I loved this. OG Father John Misty.
Cannot get over that this album contains the lime and the coconut song, Without You AND Gotta Get Up. We'd never even heard of Harry Nilsson so this album was a huge surprise. The other songs were not hugely remarkable, but for the audacity of having three such varied but iconic songs on the same album we gave it 4 stars.
4/5 Best Track: Without You
absolutely surprised by the songs i knew, thinking i knew none. catchy and nicely crafted
A fun listen. Sometimes felt like a long lost Beatle.
Pretty good, enjoyable throughout. No bad songs although that Coconut song could be considered irritating, but I learnt that he was where that song came from!
I enjoyed this quite a lot more than expected. Couple of corkers and the rest is possibly best described as "emo before it was cool"
Interesting album, very of it's time, but with some good songs on it.
3.5 star album that gets an extra half star because the name of the album makes me giggle
I really enjoyed this one. Added it to my want list.
Pretty cool opening track. Love the sound.
I really enjoyed this from front to back. Absolute solid effort. It felt like a man shooting his last ditch at making a solid album. And he achieved.
yes, finally got around to listening to this one. sometimes proggy, sometimes country bluesy and occasionally whimsical. definitively a product of the 70's us folk rock scene really liked ; gotta get up, perfect opener, early in the morning, down, coconut (lime in the coconut) - classic whim and a dirty little favorite of mine . without you - classic... say no more let the good times roll - a nola-style country jam done right too syrupy for me; moonbeam jump into the fire - prog done right, even though it isn't always in my moodset i'll never leave you -excellent closer with an interesting choice of haunting, dark and harrowing tones juxtaposed with light bringing/ dreamy instruments. not an underappreciated album or music at all. overall an enjoyable, laid back affair with a lot of variation in the styles throughout, all with harry's voicing perfectly laid over the sometimes extraordinary compositions. a journey from the end of the 60's to the 70's encapsulated in an emblematic album
What an eclectic artist. A lot of variety in terms of style: jazz, Caribbean, easy listening, etc.
Good vibes good times
One of those fun albums where I didn’t realize I knew a number of the songs. Very enjoyable! Especially love Gotta Get Up.
DELIGHTFUL
Loved it. Loved singing along to it.
First and foremost, the audacity to call your album “Nilsson Schmilsson” and then just be lookin rough wearing a ratty ass robe for your album cover takes some balls. (Speaking of balls, mad props to the due who must’ve cut his own off to get that high Db on the harmony of without you, goodness). I love when a piece of pop culture can make me go down a Wikipedia rabbit hole and this one certainly did. You can clearly hear Beatles influences on here and it was cool to find out this guy and John Lennon were boys. Without you is a certified power ballad. Sure Mariah can belt better but I was pleased that schmilsson still held his own. Very good pop/rockish songwriting here. The bass solo at the end of jump into the fire is sick. (The only time I’ve heard of this dude before is he plays a song Remember from the hanks/Ryan classic you’ve got mail, which I highly recommend if you don’t know either, and I will definitely start playing again on the piano after hearing this album, sorry geege)
I was pleasantly surprised with the album. Coconut was a fun thing to have thrown in there, followed by Without You as well. I enjoyed my listen through. I felt as if Nilsson had a good balance of music and jest/comedy. Most of the funny albums we have listened to have been lacking musically in comparison.
This white man has so many hits for me to literally not know his name.
Solid old rock
Lot of classics on here - a few whose origins I'd never considered before.
A surprising number of songs I didn't know I knew.
Not bad! A happy sound and I recognized a few songs.
Enjoyed the folksy, almost mundane lyrics in the beginning with some fun lyrics later on
- Never listened to a Harry Nilsson album before but I recognised a few of the tracks - Overall very good but some tracks stood out more than others - How many good albums came out in 1971!? - Fav songs: Gotta Get Up, Without You, Jump Into the Fire
Best lache
Het had wel iets dat bleef hangen. Lekker
likte den! hørte på den igjen i helga. Hadde hørt noen av sangene før men visste ikke at det var "Harry Nilsson". Trodde han var svensk men googlet og fant ut at han var fra New York
Without You is a classic, but for me the surprise of this album is the opener Gotta Get Up. Beatlesque but it gives me Mr Blue Sky vibes and I like it a lot. The rest of the album has an amazing variety to it, yet still feels fairly cohesive. The only song that rubbed me the wrong way was Coconut. I find it stupidly annoying and it stops this being a 5 star album for me.
I enjoyed it much more than I was expecting. Good singer, solid songs, overall. Enjoyed Jump in to the Fire, in particular. Can't justify only 3*, but 4 seems a little too high. 3.5 would be perfect. I'm going with 4.
Today I learned that Harry Nilsson wrote the coconut song. I’ve listened to a little bit of Harry’s music on the past but haven’t listened to this one as far as I recall. Nilsson is an artist who has intrigued me but I haven’t quite gotten hooked on his music. This collection is great and gives me reason to take a deeper dive into his catalog at some point. I really enjoyed it and its Beatlesque sound. He was a fantastic vocalist, that’s clear on this listen. The basslines on several songs really caught my ear. “The Moonbeam Song” and “Jump into the Fire” were standouts.
GREAT album, forgot he sung lime in the coconut. Very good 1st album to start this journey
Definitely could be the 5th Beatle. Songs sounded familiar even though most were new to me.
Surprised by how much I like this. Tonally, all over the place but produced so damn well with loads of catchy songs
Liked Nilsson's work back in the 70s, but not enough to purchase anything. Feel the same way still...interesting to listen to, enjoyable s well, but mostly because if his uniqueness.
Lots of fun songs. Also had no idea the guy who did Coconut also did Jump Into the Fire
This Harry Nilsson album was released in late 1971 and leads off with Gotta Get Up (which sounded like it could have been the theme song from a TV show). The next 4 songs were ok but then next the Grammy winning Without You jumps out at you and reminds you that yes, you have heard this song...many times before, if you are from that era. Great song. The next few songs (Coconut and Let The Good Times Roll) are very recognizable songs from the past. This album was Grammy nominated for Album of the Year in 1973. Great album - 4 stars.
1.16.24
Top 2: Driving Along and Early in the Morning Other goodies: Gotta Get Up, Down and Jump Into The Fire The Coconut was a fun one and Without You were both bangers but unlikely to make it into my frequent listening lol The album had an odd amount of genre range
Only heard of this album, didn't know what to expect. It's very fun, very eclectic and well crafted. Recognized more songs than I thought I would. Good time and I can imagine this hitting hard in 1971. Coconut is also just a wild and goofy track but just try to not enjoy it.
Me gustó mucho
Suprised by this one. Never heard of him. Timeless tunes.
You get why fans of the ‘70s singer-songwriters must have gone bananas over “Nilsson Schmilsson.” It’s packaged with everything Nilsson offers—wry humor, sad sack tales, piano-driven ballads, rock-inflected statements, and a range of voices, like characters in a one-man play. And through the record: melody, most notable of his top tier emotional breakthrough, “Without You,” with a chorus that defies you not to sing along. “Coconut” is a lark and a fluke but it’s also amazingly catchy, even if you get the point about 2 minutes in (hit or not, this one could’ve used editing). And you get why his famous admirers, like David Bowie, and his famous drinking buddy, John Lennon, would hold up Nilsson as a guiding light for their own work. As much as he’s a good vocalist, his real gift here is managing to let the song-craft shine on this record, which probably accounts for its brand of timeless longevity.
first listen a wonderfully vibrant and sometimes silly piano singer record
This is a super cool record - poppy but quirky. Favourite tracks: Gotta Get Up, Down, Jump Into The Fire.
Didn't know some of these songs were on here! Great American songbook
Harry Nilsson is often referred to as a bridge between sunny Beatles psychedelia and the wave of confessional 1970's singer-songwriters (Billy Joel and Elton John, sit up and take notes). His 1971 album "Nilsson Schmilsson" makes it easy to see why: charming, likeable and emotive, with a generous helping of American Songbook-worthy classics. Although Nilsson was closest with Lennon and Starr (they were all close friends and fellow alcoholics throughout the 1970's), "Nilsson Schmilsson" borrows much more heavily from the McCartney school of Beatles. It's stacked full of perfectionist musicality, music-hall level jauntiness, piano-led restless song structures and ambitious orchestral arrangements. "Gotta Get Up", an excellent choice for an opening track, introduces all of this at once: it unravels rapidly through one line after another, modulation after modulation, layer upon layer of instrumentation being added over a lyric mingling the mundane with the fantastical. What are the other highlights of the record? "Coconut" is an unending calypso groove - based around a single chord! - which teeters into winning novelty. Then there's of course "Without You", written and originally recorded by Apple Records alumni Badfinger, but given a sublime symphonic treatment here which has long eclipsed the song's origins. Nilsson was also praised for incorporating layered harmonies into his songs all on his own: they aren't in too much effect here, but are worthy of praise in the lovely "The Moonbeam Song", a slow-moving stand-out from the album's first stretch. Finally, the closing track "I'll Never Leave You" is perfectly judged, shifting from sleepy and lulling to dramatic and bombastic… then back again. Possibly the most striking arrangement on the record. There's a lot to like, but for me it's the full-bodied, inventive orchestral arrangements which are the most exciting aspect of the album. It's the reason the cover of 40's blues track "Early in the Morning" falls a little flat, feeling like a throwaway sketch of something that could have been great. On the other hand, Nilsson proves he can nail straight-ahead rock as well as theatre across the remainder of the album. "Driving Along" and "Down" foreshadow this with strong guitar work and singalong hooks, but it peaks in "Jump into the Fire". This is a masterclass of intensity, from the rumbling bass line to the scratching central guitar motif, insistent stabs of organ, howling, unhinged vocals and climactic drum solo. No wonder Martin Scorcese chose it for such a climactic scene in Goodfellas. "Nilsson Schmilsson" may not be perfect, but it's very close. I've owned it for many years but had completely neglected several of its best tracks: at last, I now feel duty-bound to give it many more listens.
I had no idea who this was until halfway through the album when Without You played, followed by Coconut. I really liked this one, a lot of variety but most of the tracks were really good. I hadn’t expected the random Spanish version of Without You! Listens: 1 Fave Track: Without You Rating: 4
chill semi-groovy 70s rock. lime in the coconut!
4.5
This was a surprise - my listening group talked about it and figure if this had been released by someone more known/popular (George Harrison for example) it would prob have been a big hit actually
Didn't know what to expect from this album. İt was really good, i actually knew some of the songs too and was very surprised i hadn't listened to this artist before. Great ballads, great songs to dance too. This album has balance which is always a pro.
01) Gotta Get Up - 8,5 02) Driving Along - 8,0 03) Early in the Morning - 8,0 04) The Moonbeam Song - 8,0 05) Down - 7,5 06) Without You - 10,0 07) Coconut - 7,5 08) Let the Good Times Roll - 7,0 09) Jump into the Fire - 9,0 10) I'll Never Leave You - 7,0 TOTAL: 8,05 (81/100)
Pretty enjoyable listen. Nice vocals, some recognizable songs. Instrumentation is mostly unimpressive but also enjoyable so who cares
Ken hier een aantal nummers van: Gotta get up is leuk maar vind vooral Coconut grappig, en Without You mooi liedje Jump into the fire kende ik niet maar wat een heerlijk nummer zeg!! Vind het een leuk en gevarieerd album, would buy! Krijgt een 4+
The ‘Russian Doll’ song ! ‘Without You’ ! ‘Coconut’ ?? Had never heard of this guy, but clearly I should have. I recognised a bunch of tracks on this.
A favorite album of mine! Jump Into the Fire is badass. Gotta Get Up is great. Overall the album is a good mix of slow and harder songs. The only thing that really brings this album down is coconut, that song has been over played and I hate it.
Another one I had never heard all the way through before. The most I knew about Harry Nilsson was that he was close friends with John Lennon. I think I never picked up this album because of the stupid name, which is a shame because it’s quite good.
Pro Nilsson! Until recently I didn’t known this artist by name, and I was bowled over when I realized how many songs of his that I knew. So maybe not as familiar as the artists that adored him, but certainly as important. I liked this as much as anyone likes anything that has been with them their whole lives without them knowing it.
A few gems on this one that I never knew the origins of... I'm looking at you Coconut. Of course, the Fred Schneider version is my favorite. Also Without You... still can't figure out what band covered it, but enjoyed it.
This is a fun listen. I had heard of him and some of his songs before, but this is the first time listening intently. There are a couple of weird songs, but overall a fun read with some hits.
If he's the Yank McCartney, Coconut must be his Frog Chorus. Jump Into the Fire is the soundtrack to sauce-stirring which slaps.
amazing vibes
That was a fun ride. Surprising indeed. 4 stars
liked the moonbeam song.
put the lime in the coconut
i enjoyed
Excellently done especially surprised by the clarity in the songwriting, nothing is overstated or overblown.
Surprised I already knew 4 of these songs. Also how varied the sound is across this album. If I didn’t know it was the same artist, I don’t think I would have guessed these were all by the same artist.
It introduces Without You!
Un discazo. Mucha rola chida que ya conocía pero no hilaba a una sola persona.
Some excellent tracks and some filler. The daddie day care song comes from this album! The highlights were breathtaking, like driving along a coastal highway very stoned
Versatile but still cohesive. And enjoyable too, beyond the hit. Easily one I can see revisiting.
Where has he been my whole life
This one is a bit weird, kinda all over the place. Coconut is goofy but without you slaps
Great! Songs that I've heard and enjoyed but didn't have any idea who sang them. What range this guy has.
I get the Beatles comparisons. Pretty good album with some classics on there.
This was a surprising little album packed with some great hits. I’ve never purposefully listened to Harry Nilsson, but have certainly heard his radio hits and know the name. He’s really a great songwriter though, and this album showcases it with a few hit singles. “Gotta Get Up” is a standout favorite of mine though, and what a great album opener. There’s some cheese here, “Without You” lays it on thick, but it’s endearing overall and at 35 minutes the album never overstays its welcome. Plus, how could you not love the lime in the coconut guy?
3.7
Chill and cool
Good early 70’s pop. Like the hits and ‘Jump Into The Fire’. Other songs are also good. Nice album.
This was a pretty good album from someone I never heard of before. Harry Nilsson sounds like the Beatles with the classic pop rock sound from the early 1970s. Favorite Song(s): "Gotta Get Up", "Early in the Morning", "Without You"
Very close to 5 stars. Damn good album! Nilsson had an incredible voice.
Favourite tracks: without you; coconut; gotta get up
I'm already a fan of Nilsson so when I got this album as my second album, I was pretty excited. Everybody's Talkin' is one of my favorite songs of all time, but honestly I'd never really dipped into a full album of Nilssons work. I'm pleasently surprised with this album.. This is the kind of album I'd buy on vinyl to throw on while I cleaned my house or cooked dinner.. I'll go over reviewing the songs I enjoyed off this album and leave out the ones that I didn't.. 'Gotta Get Up' is a great intro track, everytime I put it on I'd catch myself bopping to Nilssons flow.. "We used to carry on and drink and do the rock and roll" great tune. 'Early In The Morning' has this like.. hushed whisper feel to it, the track FEELS like getting up at 5am to go to work. Its a song that just grows on me more and more every listen. 'The Moonbeam Song' has this tranquil acoustic almost harvest moon feel about it. I love this song. A great break or pallet cleanser from the schmilsson you've gotten up until this point. A great song to put on at a lake at night under the moon.. 'Down' has this BIG almost aggressive energy to it that i love, with the horns and Nilsson howling at the top of his lungs screaming about going down to the bottom of a hole.. This is also one that grew on me more and more. Then we have side two.. We start with his most popular song, 'Without You' a beautiful song.. The song features this beautiful soft ethereal piano, and then Nilsson comes in with his iconic sound in a soft tenor voice.. I do get why this is his most popular song, and honestly.. it is an amazing song. I get chills listening to it. It starts bringing tears to my eyes as I listen to it and write this review. Its a reminder to me of all of the love I've experienced in my life, and how strong some of those bonds have been.. How I've felt like I COULD NOT go on at times, how I've loved and lost.. and it reminds me of how time heals wounds, how we find love again, and how its what life is all about.. This is what music is all about. This song reminds me of how music can just move me so powerfully.. A beautiful, beautiful song. Thank you schmilsson for this song.. AND THEN OF COURSE, my personal FAVORITE song on this album and his "meme" song, if you will.. 'Coconut' this song is just fucking FUN man.. I know this song was in some movie and kind of became like a joke song or whatever, but honestly its just funky and psychedelic and fun.. a great song along to and just be goofy! and the final track I enjoyed off of this album, was 'Jump Into The Fire'.. it feels like being in the sahara desert tripping off of peyote and you start to see a mirage of a goddess and you write her this song to prove your love to her? I don't know why but I love this song.. Overall Score: 4.2/5
Strong 4
Kinda fun, alt indie mix
V atmospheric, almost beatles like w the harmonies. V chill and good background. Also happy and fun. Solid 4
4. I was pleasantly suprised
Did anyone else know the guy that sings Coconut was white? Don’t know if I’m embarrassed or offended. Who knew he also covered Without You and is responsible for Gotta Get Up? This album is versatile. Feels like LSD
i liked this more than i expected to. he sounded like an american beatle so if you're into that then you're good to go. nice songs, interesting and varied music, and the song about the lime in the coconut - what more do you want? favorites: gotta get up, without you, coconut, jump into the fire
4.5
Show tunes, jazzy and funny. Some epic tracks
Lots of different styles and influences in one album with a classic in the middle. I liked this.
It’s interesting to me that the popular song form spread by the Beatles—verse chorus verse middle eight chorus coda (and all the variations, sometimes with an intro, etc)—is really etched into our consciousness such that songs which don’t have such a clear structure sound unfinished, which is most of the material here. There are some very fun grooves but they sound like parts of songs. Moonbeam song is good, and How Can I Be Sure of You is a standout for me, and the Coconut Song is fun but the album as a whole feels like a collection of half-finished ideas by an extremely restless mind. Songwriters’ songwriters are always going to have it rough. Probably merits a relished.
Lindo disco, ritmos y sonidos interesantes para la época. Muy marcado por la Beatlemania del momento
:)
Really good! It really has a Broadway musical feel to it but not in a try-hard or overdone way. Really catching and I loved the incorporation on brass into a few of the songs. 8/10
This actually goes pretty hard. I really enjoyed this album
Liked this album a lot, first song was best Very sing-alongy
Coconut is such a classic but I also really enjoyed 'Jump Into The Fire'. Really varied sound.
A funky, bluesy and for the most part entertaining album. Really enjoyed Nilsson's singing and instrumentals, primarily on tracks like Down and Coconut.
What a gem of an album. I never realized how many classics of Harry’s were all here in this one album. From the playful yet realistic themes of “gotta get up” to the very somber and emotional energy of “without you” this album is so human at its core. If you dislike this album then fuck you ya robot freak!
7.0 Nilsson really shows his ability to write catchy and sometimes moving tunes. One can see why he was so heavily covered. Unfortunately, for me at least, he is also able to render catchy-as-fuck but annoying-as-fuck ear worms. The mean mr mustard syncopations are all over this, but the writing is often wry and sincere at the same time. It really is a broad mix in this album. Ballads, expansive rock, you name it.
suave
I had heard the name Henry Nilsson a fair amount but was unaware that I knew a couple of his songs. This album is pretty damn good and will go into my "weekend morning making pancakes" rotation.
I feel like I’ve heard a bunch of these songs before, but somehow never heard the name of the singer. Fantastic album front to back.
Fun! Some definite bops in there.
Very 70s, experimentally Awsome
Great album. Full of bangers with occasional dips into sappy 60’s style love songs that just aren’t my thing.
Actually have to say this a really nice album Doing this project has made me realise how many songs I do actually like. I appreciate an album that you can just vibe with that is suitable for all times of day I can see why Harry Nilsson is called the American beatle it’s deffo gave me that vibe. This album had a nice loose feel about it. Stand out tracks: Driving Along, Without You.
Original vinyl listen! Would listen again, so guess that ought to be a 4. More of a 3.5. But enjoyable easy 70s pop listening.
I honestly enjoy this album. It's pretty much what making music is all about. It's witty, passionate and with a glint of greatness.
Good! Enjoyed it quite a lot.
Oo, most of that was pretty fun!
Playful, eccentric, and catchy songwriting. Dabbles into some psychedelic rock for good measure, too. Easy to see the Beatles comparisons.
Loved it despite myself. I could have just seen the album cover and loved it.
Previously I've only heard about him because of John Lennon and his lost weekend in 1974. Well this album was a pleasant surprise to me. It is well written, really well produced and arranged, it reminded me of some of the later Beatles songs (perhaps it's no surprise Nilsson is named the American Beatle). There are songs on it from varied styles - pop, rock, ballad etc - and Nilsson shows a wide range of emotions on this album. I've found the first side + Without You and Coconut stronger than the last few songs but overall it's a really solid album.
Gotta get up is awesome ! Great way to start this listening experience. Loved the album !
Fun, solid, consistently good. Jump Into The Fire and Without You are my favorite tracks on this album.
Not what I expected and surprised with the number of songs I recognized i.e. Coconut. Reminds me of Lennon solo albums a bit. I like it.
4/5 Heavy Beatles influence. Good lyrics and happy mood album.