Nilsson Sings Newman
| Nilsson Sings Newman | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Nilsson | ||||
| Released | February 1970 | |||
| Recorded | August–October 1969 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 25:17 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Producer | Harry Nilsson | |||
| Nilsson chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Robert Christgau | B+ |
| The Essential Rock Discography | 7/10 |
Nilsson Sings Newman is the fifth studio album by American singer Harry Nilsson, released in 1970 on RCA Victor, and featuring compositions written by Randy Newman. Recorded over six weeks in late 1969, the album showcases Nilsson's voice multi-tracked in layers of tone and harmony. Its arrangements are otherwise spare, with most of the instrumentation provided by Newman on piano. The record was not a great commercial success, but won a 1970 "Record of the Year" award from Stereo Review magazine. The LP record cover art was illustrated by Dean Torrence.
In 1969, Nilsson's album Harry ended with one of Newman's songs: "Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear". Years later, Nilsson told Paul Zollo that he was in awe of Newman writing so many songs, ones he thought were better than his own.
In 1968, Ricky Nelson released his concept album Perspective, a move to expand his musical horizons. The album included songs by Newman, Nilsson and others woven together to tell the story of the interactions of a famous family; author Kevin Courrier writes that this album may have been part of the inspiration for Nilsson Sings Newman.
On August 20, 1969, Nilsson and Newman began to record the album. After basic tracks were laid down, Nilsson spent six weeks overdubbing his voice to create layers and harmonies, line by line. As many as 118 overdubs were laid down for a single song.
Nilsson often reminds the listener that he is listening to the recording of a studio album. Nilsson's voice in the control room is heard on several songs, instructing the recording engineer to add more echo or remove a voice. On the album's final song "So Long Dad", amid a multi-Nilsson chorus of voices, Nilsson softly asks for "more first voice." Louder, he counters himself by saying "actually I need more current voice. Forget the one that's saying 'more first voice.'"
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Wikipedia