I saw Harry Nilsson at the Puddle Dock Theatre in London, England in the 1970's. He was in the theater lobby during the intermission of his musical "The Point". I walked up to him and talked with me for the duration on the intermission as if I was the only person. What a wonderful memory of time spent with a wonderful, lovely person.
Harry Nilsson's talent is still underrated. Not only did he write and sing memorable and beautiful songs, but he made hits of other people's songs while other people made hits of his songs... like a big creative orgy. Recordings "One" by Three Dog Night and "Without You" by Nilsson will always be a part of my life's sound-track. It's heart-breaking that he was left broke in his later years by an embezzling employee. Greed sucks.
Great vid. Brings back memories of this band I was in and we were TERRIBLE. It got me to thinking...'Hey, I've got to find a tune that will inspire everyone in this band (whom my wife lovingly named, 'Chitty Chitty Band Band.') Then, a revelation came to me...what about the best one-chord-song in the world? Well...we learned it in a jif and we sounded great doing it (I sang lead with the same delay setting as Harry used) and because of that, we only did much more simpler (yet creative) tunes like, 'Jump Into The Fire,' which is the very tune I toast to this day.
As a 85 year old romantic i just finished playing "can't live without you" for my newly found soul mate from God to express my love and devotion to her.. This emotional song has such meaning that it brought her to tears of joy. Thank you Nilsson, in heaven, for composing and writing this outstanding song using your 3 octave voice to reach that beautiful sound. Newton Muldoon.
H. Nilsson A true talent. Fantastic songwriter and singer. Very sad that he destroyed himself. He was right up there with the Beatles and the very best in the world. A fabulous talent
True, and I nearly skipped watching it. But the comment " the life of a devil " rightly or wrongly was a jarring statement which nearly undid the otherwise good production.
I honestly didn't know he sang that until I watched this all these years later. I can't imagine any other voice doing justice to that song; it was so memorable in that film when it came out.
@@glennlopez6772 re " the comment " the life of a devil " rightly or wrongly was a jarring statement " Indeed ! certainly seems he was a victim from this presentation - his childhood, the deaths of Cass and Keith in his apartment ! and his very good friend John murdered ....how could u not be haunted after these events !
Right year, 1994 but the great Harry Nilsson did not die on his birthday in June. Harry Nilsson died on January 15, 1994. Since the mid 70s I have been a Nilsson fan collecting as much music of his that I can (I think I have everything?). His style is hard to pin down and his success - without EVER touring - is mind blowing. As it is written on the stone at his grave, “Remember” - I will always.
His music had a sort of circus influence to it. If you listen to his piano playing it is very like what you would hear in a circus - very unique influence. I belive he was related to circus performers as well which is probably where it comes from.
As I'm sure your aware he wrote a song titled Remember Christmas but it was another song he wrote released on the same album Turn On Your Radio that should have made it into the headstone. Since you collect his albums do you have the alternate art work cover for Nilsson Schmilsson?
I had no idea he was gone ! Where the heck have I been ??? I have adored his music for decades and I am shocked to discover that he died so long ago. His voice and talent was amazing !! Sounds like he was a party animal -- go Harry !! This is very very sad . I did not know he wrote One -- great song. What a loss for the music world.
I barely knew anything of this man. I did know several of his songs. Between the theme song to, "Courtship of Eddie's Father," and him dying so young, I am inspired to spend more time with my own children, and my own beautiful wife. I am so very blessed, and so very lucky, to have them in my life. This made me very emotionally moved.
In the late 1970s-early 1980s, radio station KRLD 1080 AM in Dallas had a very popular sports talk show called Sports Central, hosted by Brad Sham (who went on to be the announcer of the Dallas Cowboys radio broadcasts). Sham used a clip of the opening bass line from "Jump Into the Fire" as the theme music for his show. He fielded many questions about the artist behind it.
that song would have been a massive hit if it had a more conventional format. I think he got a little caught up and being the eccentric and flying in the face of convention when some of those rules are there for good reason. but who am I to say, it’s an amazing song the first 2 1/2 -three minutes of that song are as good as most of the Beatles catalog
First time i heard Harry Nilsson i was a kid and loved his melodies right away. ''All i think about is you'', ''Remember (Christmas)'' and many more. Thank You Harry!
Jim Gordon on drums, was a great session drummer and was in Derek and the Dominos along with Eric Clapton. He played with Joe Cocker, Steely Dan and others.
Even with the accolades Harry is still the picture of underrated. Such talent and a great body of work. Had a dude that runs a newly opened record store ask me "who is he?" as I picked up a couple lps. If there was a license required for record sales I would have questioned whether he had one. Rest In Dear Harry!!
This seems as good a place to leave a memento as any. Harry was an occasional drinking buddy of mine in the mid-to-late '80s. I was part of a half-dozen eccentric regulars at the Westwood Marquis bar; he'd drop in more or less monthly. A few times after that bar closed, some of us went with him to his house nearby in the foothills to keep chatting and to play with his favorite newfangled technology, digital audio, which he already had installed in his car. The rest of us were still using cassettes and eight-tracks. Harry struck me as unassuming, mildly lonesome, and essentially decent. He never wanted to sing for us. He told us that most of his money came from real-estate investments. In the words of Zaphod Beeblebrox's psychotherapist, "He's just this guy, you know?" And it needs to be said that, even though we all met at the Westwood Marquis, I never saw Harry get stumble-drunk. He was always measured and thoughtful even when mildly inebriated. Not like those louts O'Toole and Harris. QEPD
Mychael Pierce “l can’t live, if living is without you”. One of my all time favourite songs. When he hits those high notes it gives me goose pimples. He sang with such emotion. A truely great voice and artist.
@@juneshannon8074 Absolutely. That classic tune Without You was written by the English group Badfinger. Nilsson's version was phenomenal! It's a shame he let hard living adversely effect his life.
While the tag line "... lived the life of a devil but sang with the voice of an angel" is cute and memorable, it is only half correct -- it's also half wrong. Harry had a sweet voice and he had soul and was loved by many. Nothing "devilish" about his life. He wrote and sang many memorable tunes and he loved his wife and his kids. He partied, but who doesn't? I do! There is Bourbon in my coffee right now! I'm no devil. Sheesh! (ahem) Harry Nilsson deserves to be remembered for his gift to the world: his good natured music.
For some reason I thought he died back in the early 70's. Glad to know we had him a bit longer than that. Love his music. He does belong in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame; but we know how that goes. There will not be another like him.
My aunt had the album, *'The Point",* and I nearly wore it out - lol. My favorite Nilsson song became *_"You're breaking my heart"._* I cranked that up during a few breakups of my youth - lol. But I think much of what Nilsson did, is perfection.
@@stj971 It's been a long time since I've watched the cartoon, and even then, I was stoned. I looked it up on Amazon. They have it on DVD, but they are going to release it on Blu Ray, February 18, 2020. What a coincidence.
Those were the days… the few the best… Gossamer wings humming… gently brushing our ears and our hearts… with the echos of your mind… so glad to have been fortunate enough, to have experienced your energy. Thank you, b.
During the early seventies if a party was dragging on to long in our student flat, on the stereo would go Nilssons Little Arrows everyone would soon be gone worked every-time. Thank you Harry. An amazing musician and person to-boot. R.I.P
Nilsson also composed the songs in the Robert Altman "Popeye" movie from 1981 starring Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall. There were some really great songs there like "SweetHaven", "He's Large" and "I Yam What I Yam".
10/07/2020: Thank you for this overview of this genious singer/songwriter. I have been a fan of his forever and wasn't aware that he had died! RIP Harry.
I had no idea he did the song "Me and my Arrow" from The Point - that song still enters my mind, as well as the theme song from Courtship of Eddie's Father. Those two songs give me fond memories from my youth.
Good job narrating his auto biography great musician the baby boomers loved him ❤💙 so much i always like the best friend song my little girl use to swing and sing it so sweet
Vicki K I’m proud to say I have owned Son of Schmilsson on vinyl, 8 track, cassette, CD, and now digital. To this day The Lottery Song is right at the top of my list of favorite songs.
thankyou so very much for the short but very nicely detailed history of Harry`s life...so talented but unfortunately a life too short..full time musicians don`t live long ....smoking and drinking and eating junk plus drugs and no fitness...your body starts talkin to yuh in your 50`s if not sooner....what goes round comes round for most...not all but most..without you is a beautiful song one of my favourites...a great simple song......he moved amongst the giants in the music business......dark cloud poet singer songwriter.....01/2021......canada
One of the most diverse, underrated musicians and humans in history... God bless you... many great memories!
May God bless all of you wonderful people for remembering Harry Nilsson.
I saw Harry Nilsson at the Puddle Dock Theatre in London, England in the 1970's. He was in the theater lobby during the intermission of his musical "The Point". I walked up to him and talked with me for the duration on the intermission as if I was the only person. What a wonderful memory of time spent with a wonderful, lovely person.
Harry was a creative musical genius…RIP
One of the most moving and awesome voices ever.
Nilsson belongs in the Rock and Roll hall of fame.
Not
R&R HoF sucks.
Yes, yes, and yes!
Without any doubt at all.
@Bill Cooper yeah its a disgrace, its all politics with that crap. There are some very mediocre songwriters in that place.
A great voice. A man gone too soon.
Probably the most underrated singer/songwriter ever. God bless 'em.
Son of Schmilsson (1972) is a gem that needs to be dug up again for anyone to have a listen to and learn how to write and make music .
glad someone here is talking about nilsson. i love him.
voice like an angel I think was a great description.
yep.....me too.
Yeah he "sang his balls off for us baby" and was a "Joy to the World".
Me too, great dedication to him, an honor. Peace Harry.
I agree. A terrific talent.
One of the best to ever do it, a true musical genius. Gone too soon.
The world still misses Harry
Harry Nilsson's talent is still underrated. Not only did he write and sing memorable and beautiful songs, but he made hits of other people's songs while other people made hits of his songs... like a big creative orgy. Recordings "One" by Three Dog Night and "Without You" by Nilsson will always be a part of my life's sound-track. It's heart-breaking that he was left broke in his later years by an embezzling employee. Greed sucks.
Great vid. Brings back memories of this band I was in and we were TERRIBLE. It got me to thinking...'Hey, I've got to find a tune that will inspire everyone in this band (whom my wife lovingly named, 'Chitty Chitty Band Band.') Then, a revelation came to me...what about the best one-chord-song in the world? Well...we learned it in a jif and we sounded great doing it (I sang lead with the same delay setting as Harry used) and because of that, we only did much more simpler (yet creative) tunes like, 'Jump Into The Fire,' which is the very tune I toast to this day.
@@Kazyman Jump into the Fire is an awesome anthem!
@@Kazyman uni
As a 85 year old romantic i just finished playing "can't live without you" for my newly found soul mate from God to express my love and devotion to her.. This emotional song has such meaning that it brought her to tears of joy. Thank you Nilsson, in heaven, for composing and writing this outstanding song using your 3 octave voice to reach that beautiful sound. Newton Muldoon.
JITF is my fav tune by Nilsson and he is my fav American singer / songwriter to this very day.
H. Nilsson A true talent. Fantastic songwriter and singer. Very sad that he destroyed himself. He was right up there with the Beatles and the very best in the world.
A fabulous talent
A wonderful tribute, thank you.
I didn't realise but now I know that I am a hardcore Harry Nillson fan because he had a great voice.......
Without you one of the prettiest songs ever written and sung.
Lennon and Nilsson showed up, by surprise, to a Central Park concert about 44 years ago when I was 16. It was an epic moment!
Holy crap! You were actually there! That is epic!
panama_rose what a gift
We're they drunk?
That's special.
WOW!
Great singer very underrated
A very nice tribute. You can see he loved people and life. Hoffman looked very moved when he announced Nilsson's passing.
He has the voice of an angel...
I really think "Without you" is one of the most beautiful songs, I have ever heard,god bless. I love that song.......
Laura Bonavico Badfinger wrote it
Brings back good memories for me to.
Nah, I think "You're Breaking My Heart" is ten times better, lol.
Me too
@@LabelBob More specifically Pete Ham
I suggest the documentary "Who is Harry Nilson and why is everybody talking about him". It is by far one of the best Doc's I have ever watched.
MrYendor65 thanks. I’ve saved it to my watch later list.
True, and I nearly skipped watching it.
But the comment " the life of a devil " rightly or wrongly was a jarring statement which nearly undid the otherwise good production.
Thanks Brother ! Watching it as i type. 👍
I honestly didn't know he sang that until I watched this all these years later. I can't imagine any other voice doing justice to that song; it was so memorable in that film when it came out.
@@glennlopez6772 re " the comment " the life of a devil " rightly or wrongly was a jarring statement "
Indeed ! certainly seems he was a victim from this presentation - his childhood, the deaths of Cass and Keith in his apartment !
and his very good friend John murdered ....how could u not be haunted after these events !
Right year, 1994 but the great Harry Nilsson did not die on his birthday in June.
Harry Nilsson died on January 15, 1994.
Since the mid 70s I have been a Nilsson fan collecting as much music of his that I can (I think I have everything?). His style is hard to pin down and his success - without EVER touring - is mind blowing.
As it is written on the stone at his grave, “Remember” - I will always.
His music had a sort of circus influence to it. If you listen to his piano playing it is very like what you would hear in a circus - very unique influence. I belive he was related to circus performers as well which is probably where it comes from.
As I'm sure your aware he wrote a song titled Remember Christmas but it was another song he wrote released on the same album Turn On Your Radio that should have made it into the headstone. Since you collect his albums do you have the alternate art work cover for Nilsson Schmilsson?
"Without You" my utmost favourite song ever. Yes EVER. Awesome voice ❤❤❤
I loved him in the '70s and his music and voice still give me goose bumps. Long live Nilsson.
“Had everything going for me but me”...pretty much sums it up.
Sadly this sounds like a lot of people... Nilsson was a great voice...
RIP Mr. Nilsson, I grew up listening to your music and I wish you were still here. Blessings to you, wherever you are 🙏👧💕🙏😇🥥
I had no idea he was gone ! Where the heck have I been ??? I have adored his music for decades and I am shocked to discover that he died so long ago. His voice and talent was amazing !! Sounds like he was a party animal -- go Harry !! This is very very sad . I did not know he wrote One -- great song. What a loss for the music world.
Z
Wow... He was not some one hit wonder... That is a collection of hits anyone could be proud of.
I loved his voice. Sad he died so young.
Harry is my all-time favorite songwriter. He was an incredibly creative genius and some of his best songs are only known by the most diehard fans.
Joy
I barely knew anything of this man. I did know several of his songs. Between the theme song to, "Courtship of Eddie's Father," and him dying so young, I am inspired to spend more time with my own children, and my own beautiful wife. I am so very blessed, and so very lucky, to have them in my life. This made me very emotionally moved.
"Jump Into The Fire" is one of my favorite songs, definitely not in the same vein of his hits.
In the late 1970s-early 1980s, radio station KRLD 1080 AM in Dallas had a very popular sports talk show called Sports Central, hosted by Brad Sham (who went on to be the announcer of the Dallas Cowboys radio broadcasts). Sham used a clip of the opening bass line from "Jump Into the Fire" as the theme music for his show. He fielded many questions about the artist behind it.
I'm with you on that Brian. One of my all time favorates from High School days. That de-tuned bass riff is epic.
I listen to that song almost every morning.
I always though that Inxs should have covered this song. Great use of it toward the end of Goodfellas.
that song would have been a massive hit if it had a more conventional format. I think he got a little caught up and being the eccentric and flying in the face of convention when some of those rules are there for good reason.
but who am I to say, it’s an amazing song the first 2 1/2 -three minutes of that song are as good as most of the Beatles catalog
First time i heard Harry Nilsson i was a kid and loved his melodies right away. ''All i think about is you'', ''Remember (Christmas)'' and many more. Thank You Harry!
This guy is brilliant!
Nilsson's song Without you is amazing and I still listen to it- thanks to RUclips
He was a great singer very underrated still have several albums on vinyl
What a beautiful voice and talented singer and the best drum solo ever ! Jump into the fire !!!
Jim Gordon on drums, was a great session drummer and was in Derek and the Dominos along with Eric Clapton. He played with Joe Cocker, Steely Dan and others.
Best rock'n'roll voice ever! My whole family loved Nilsson. We played some of his music at my mom's memorial service.
Best voice in pop music! 💟
Without you is a great song but still tears me up of the lost love in the 70’s . He had a great list of song all sung with feeling
Without you is an all time favorite for me 😭
Nilsson was a genius.
Really...like a real genius.
OMG, yes this man deserves to be in the HOF.
Me and my Arrow...........such a huge part of my young years, just loved him. Everybody’s talking at me....still mak s me cry
Harry, you sang the soundtrack of childhood ...Thanks, man.
Love this short bio . . . happy and sad, but glad I got to know the composer of songs I just love!
Even with the accolades Harry is still the picture of underrated. Such talent and a great body of work. Had a dude that runs a newly opened record store ask me "who is he?" as I picked up a couple lps. If there was a license required for record sales I would have questioned whether he had one. Rest In Dear Harry!!
His music was pure magic ❤️❣️♥️😍
Long live Harry. A sing for every emotion and mood
He had lived longer if he hadn't smoked so much. He was an incredible artist and we needed more of his music.
God Bless his Soul and God Bless Harry and his Family. May he Rest In Peace.
Ruth Jesse He had soul& he was indeed blessed 🌍
I could never ever think of Nilsson living the life of the devil... he had a beautiful mind ❤️
An amazingly versatile writer and singer! Who knew that he had a three and a half octave range?
I did but he also had control like most singers only wish they had...
...and the greatest break-up song ever, "You're Breaking My Heart".
This seems as good a place to leave a memento as any.
Harry was an occasional drinking buddy of mine in the mid-to-late '80s. I was part of a half-dozen eccentric regulars at the Westwood Marquis bar; he'd drop in more or less monthly. A few times after that bar closed, some of us went with him to his house nearby in the foothills to keep chatting and to play with his favorite newfangled technology, digital audio, which he already had installed in his car. The rest of us were still using cassettes and eight-tracks.
Harry struck me as unassuming, mildly lonesome, and essentially decent. He never wanted to sing for us. He told us that most of his money came from real-estate investments. In the words of Zaphod Beeblebrox's psychotherapist, "He's just this guy, you know?" And it needs to be said that, even though we all met at the Westwood Marquis, I never saw Harry get stumble-drunk. He was always measured and thoughtful even when mildly inebriated. Not like those louts O'Toole and Harris.
QEPD
This guy was one of the most gifted singers in American popular music history.
Mychael Pierce facts and then some !
Mychael Pierce “l can’t live, if living is without you”. One of my all time favourite songs. When he hits those high notes it gives me goose pimples. He sang with such emotion. A truely great voice and artist.
@@juneshannon8074 Absolutely. That classic tune Without You was written by the English group Badfinger. Nilsson's version was phenomenal! It's a shame he let hard living adversely effect his life.
And to think Harry's Uncle who was a mechanic and had a shop in Riverside,Ca took Harry under his wing and taught Harry how to sing.
Great artist and voice!
While the tag line "... lived the life of a devil but sang with the voice of an angel" is cute and memorable, it is only half correct -- it's also half wrong. Harry had a sweet voice and he had soul and was loved by many. Nothing "devilish" about his life. He wrote and sang many memorable tunes and he loved his wife and his kids. He partied, but who doesn't? I do! There is Bourbon in my coffee right now! I'm no devil. Sheesh! (ahem) Harry Nilsson deserves to be remembered for his gift to the world: his good natured music.
Ppl can over-do it though: his lifestyle was very likely the major contributor to his very early death
It was a touching story About Harry Nilsson .......he created many great classic songs !
I AM CRYING WITH EMOTION!!! The Golden Age for me being a child surrounded by
The Puppy Song and Without You...my favorites! But loved his music🎼🎵🎶
Thank you for the lovely post. Harry was a great and underrated artist. Thanks for keeping the memory alive.
Great singer loved his voice ill miss him so sad ending
There were some songs I just heard that I didn't even know he sang! He was talented. So sad he passed so young.
If Harry had only ever recorded Without You, that would have been more than enough.
For some reason I thought he died back in the early 70's. Glad to know we had him a bit longer than that. Love his music. He does belong in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame; but we know how that goes. There will not be another like him.
My aunt had the album, *'The Point",* and I nearly wore it out - lol. My favorite Nilsson song became *_"You're breaking my heart"._* I cranked that up during a few breakups of my youth - lol. But I think much of what Nilsson did, is perfection.
Me and my arrow and the teacup song are my favs.....i love the cartoon...its so obscure, too bad
Both me and my arrow and you’re breaking my heart are in the movie breakfast on Pluto, you might enjoy it !
Have it on VHS
@@keeptyrannyfromamerica8519 I have it on LP I need to get a new turntable
@@stj971 It's been a long time since I've watched the cartoon, and even then, I was stoned. I looked it up on Amazon. They have it on DVD, but they are going to release it on Blu Ray, February 18, 2020. What a coincidence.
Those were the days… the few the best… Gossamer wings humming… gently brushing our ears and our hearts… with the echos of your mind… so glad to have been fortunate enough, to have experienced your energy. Thank you, b.
During the early seventies if a party was dragging on to long in our student flat, on the stereo would go Nilssons Little Arrows everyone would soon be gone worked every-time.
Thank you Harry. An amazing musician and person to-boot. R.I.P
Without a doubt, so great. His songs bring great memories of great times RIP
I was absolutely not aware of how much I love this man. Good lookin out.
One hell of a talent, he surely will and is missed.
His music still be playing he's Legendary. RIP
Just listened to Jump Into The Fire last week. Reminds me of cruising in my 66 mustang back in the early to mid 70's..
The '66 was s much better than th ePinto-derived Mustang II's of the mid 70's.
Gorgeous music- a legend
He put the lime in the coconut
When I first heard this line I thought he sang “ put the lion in the coconut”
Yeah, but then he called the doctor and woke him up. The whole thing went sideways. He didn't have any medicine for his stomach ache.
he had a good Doctor
I found him when the Old Gods of Asgard requested Alan to play Harry Nilsson's Coconut in the game Alan Wake
@Werewolf O. London, Esq. i do!!
Love his song can’t live without you!
God bless Harry. You are always missed.
Every song on The Point is great, especially Think About Your Troubles.
Stan Schurman that’s probably the single album I’ve listened to the most number of times in my life.
I need to buy more Nilsson albums such a great talent
He was one in a million. Literally. Rest in peace where you can sing to the Angels.
'Without You' - brings it all back ❤️👍
Love and miss you Harry. Thanks for your music and inspiration. I am carrying on your dream of stopping the senseless gun violence.
Nilsson also composed the songs in the Robert Altman "Popeye" movie from 1981 starring Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall. There were some really great songs there like "SweetHaven", "He's Large" and "I Yam What I Yam".
Rest in peace Harry. Thanks. 💖
10/07/2020: Thank you for this overview of this genious singer/songwriter. I have been a fan of his forever and wasn't aware that he had died! RIP Harry.
I had no idea he did the song "Me and my Arrow" from The Point - that song still enters my mind, as well as the theme song from Courtship of Eddie's Father.
Those two songs give me fond memories from my youth.
So tragic....
I remember listening to his songs and my favorite, by far, is "Without You." His vocals!! RIP Harry.... 🙏🙏
Good job narrating his auto biography great musician the baby boomers loved him ❤💙 so much i always like the best friend song my little girl use to swing and sing it so sweet
Thank you for this great video about this most gifted artist. My heart is broken to find that he is gone. He was a treasure.
The magic of his feelings in the melody of 🎵 ANY SONG!!!
I WORE OUT Son of Smillshon (spelling) in the late 70's. He was the soundtrack to my late teens.
Vicki K I’m proud to say I have owned Son of Schmilsson on vinyl, 8 track, cassette, CD, and now digital. To this day The Lottery Song is right at the top of my list of favorite songs.
Never knew the guy who wrote and performed so many great familiar songs. I appreciate his contribution to music
God bless Harry now u r with John making great music
Absolutely, what a beautiful thought!❤️
thankyou so very much for the short but very nicely detailed history of Harry`s life...so talented but unfortunately a life too short..full time musicians don`t live long ....smoking and drinking and eating junk plus drugs and no fitness...your body starts talkin to yuh in your 50`s if not sooner....what goes round comes round for most...not all but most..without you is a beautiful song one of my favourites...a great simple song......he moved amongst the giants in the music business......dark cloud poet singer songwriter.....01/2021......canada
He also did the soundtrack to the movie "Popeye", which is one of the good things about that movie
My favorite cover/ arrangement of “Save The Last Dance For Me”. God bless him.
Everything body's talking' love that song, enough said :))
Bravo 🕊⚘ Music lives forever. Peace