Long ago, far away…life was clear, close your eyes…Remember is a place from long ago, remember, filled with everything you know…remember, when you’re sad and feeling down…

When you’re sad and feeling down, a sure cure-all is the music of Harry Nilsson.  Sweet and sincere or withering and witty, Nilsson had a song for every occasion.  Even when his own vocal cords deserted him, his sure sense of songcraft never did.  Between 1967 and 1977, Nilsson recorded a remarkable series of albums for the RCA label, dissecting, celebrating and subverting every convention of the pop and rock genres.  Now, the long-rumored box set bringing together all fourteen of those RCA albums is finally here from Legacy Recordings as The RCA Albums Collection.  Even better, this comprehensive 17-CD set compiles the various bonus tracks released on past CD reissues and anthologies, throws in rare mono mixes of Nilsson’s first two albums, and adds more than 50 previously unreleased tracks.  Are you salivating yet?  The treasure chest breaks down as follows:

1. Pandemonium Shadow Show (Mono & Stereo) (1967)
2. Aerial Ballet (Mono & Stereo) (1968)
3. Harry (1969)
4. Nilsson Sings Newman (1970)
5. The Point! (1971)
6. Aerial Pandemonium Ballet (1971)
7. Nilsson Schmilsson (1971)
8. Son of Schmilsson (1972)
9. A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night (1973)
10. Pussy Cats (1974)
11. Duit on Mon Dei (1975)
12. Sandman (1976)
13. . . . That's The Way It Is (1976)
14. Knnillssonn (1977)
15. Nilsson Sessions 1967-1968
16. Nilsson Sessions 1968-1971
17. Nilsson Sessions 1971-1974

Remastered versions of Nilsson’s fourteen RCA solo albums (including The Point! but not Son of Dracula or Skidoo, although Harry’s unique tracks from that latter soundtrack are present) are included as CDs 1-14 of the new box set.  1967’s Pandemonium Shadow Show (with Harry’s ultimate Beatles tribute of “You Can’t Do That” plus the beautifully pensive “Without Her,” baroque “1941” and thunderous “River Deep-Mountain High”) and 1968’s Aerial Ballet (with the quirky “Good Old Desk,” vaudevillian “Daddy’s Song,” breezy “Wailing of the Willow” and immortal “Everybody’s Talkin’”) are both included in mono and stereo versions.  (Aerial Ballet even adds one previously unreleased track, a radio spot.)  Bonus tracks, either new, old or a blend of the two, are present on each and every album in the box set.  There’s a particular wealth of material on 1971’s Aerial Pandemonium Ballet, a reworked distillation of those first two albums; the Aerial Pandemonium disc here includes four Italian versions, six live-at-the-BBC tracks, plus a remix and a radio spot.  Elsewhere you’ll find alternates (Pussy Cats, Duit on Mon Dei), outtakes (Sandman) and demos (Knnillssonn).  The Knnillssonn disc also premieres four performances with Dr. John of standards like “Sweet Lorraine” and “Shuffle Off to Buffalo.”

After the jump: what else will you find on the box set?  We have more details, plus a pre-order link and a full track listing with discography!

Even more treasure is to be found on the three chronologically-assembled discs entitled Nilsson Sessions (CDs 15-17).  There are demos, alternates, unreleased mixes, foreign language recordings, soundtrack performances (including those Skidoo songs) and true odds and ends, like Harry’s recording of Stephen Sondheim’s “Marry Me a Little.”  The song – also recorded but originally unreleased by Barry Manilow – was written for Sondheim’s 1970 musical Company but ultimately replaced by “Being Alive.”  “Marry Me” eventually found its way into revivals of Company, but its composer liked the song so much that he commissioned Harry to record it as a Christmas present for director/producer Hal Prince’s wife Judy.  That once-private recording is included here.  Other Sessions highlights include five demos made for The Monkees ("1941," "Cuddly Toy," "World," "Signs" and "This Could Be the Night"), covers of The Coasters ("Searchin'"), The Addrisi Brothers ("She's Just Laughing at Me") and Procol Harum ("She Wandered Through the Garden Fence"), and a very Nilsson spoof on Richard Nixon entitled "Also Sprach Schmilsson Schmixon."

Every side of Harry Nilsson makes an appearance on The RCA Albums Collection.  Following his departure from RCA, Nilsson only sporadically recorded.  When he did enter the studio, it was for projects like 1980’s as-yet-unreleased-in-America album Flash Harry, some soundtrack performances, cuts for tribute albums, a single from Yoko Ono’s musical New York Rock, and a still-unreleased album, portions of which have been released on a publishing promo CD.  Harry Nilsson died in 1994, aged just 52.  But if he crammed many lifetimes into his all-too-short one, he can also be said to have crammed a career’s worth of music into his ten years at RCA.    The joys and sorrows, ups and downs of that career can be found on The RCA Albums Collection.

The new box set arrives in stores on July 30 from Legacy Recordings, and follows the July 18 release from Oxford University Press of the first full-length biography of the artist, Alyn Shipton's Nilsson: The Life of a Singer-Songwriter.  You can pre-order below!

Nilsson, The RCA Albums Collection (RCA/Legacy 88697 91550-2, 2013) (Amazon U.K.)

Disc 1: Pandemonium Shadow Show (originally released as RCA Victor LSP/LPM 3874, 1967)

1. Ten Little Indians
2. 1941
3. Cuddly Toy
4. She Sang Hymns Out of Tune
5. You Can't Do That
6. Sleep Late, My Lady Friend
7. She's Leaving Home
8. There Will Never Be
9. Without Her
10. Freckles
11. It's Been So Long
12. River Deep - Mountain High
13. Ten Little Indians
14. 1941
15. Cuddly Toy
16. She Sang Hymns Out of Tune
17. You Can't Do That
18. Sleep Late, My Lady Friend
19. She's Leaving Home
20. There Will Never Be
21. Without Her
22. Freckles
23. It's Been So Long
24. River Deep - Mountain High

Tracks 1-12 in stereo. Tracks 13-24 in mono. **

Disc 2: Aerial Ballet (originally released as RCA Victor LSP/LPM 3956, 1968)

1. Daddy's Song
2. Good Old Desk
3. Don't Leave Me
4. Mr. Richland's Favorite Song
5. Little Cowboy
6. Together
7. Everybody's Talkin'
8. I Said Goodbye to Me
9. Little Cowboy
10. Mr. Tinker
11. One
12. The Wailing of the Willow
13. Bath
14. Daddy's Song
15. Good Old Desk
16. Don't Leave Me
17. Mr. Richland's Favorite Song
18. Little Cowboy
19. Together
20. Everybody's Talkin'
21. I Said Goodbye to Me
22. Little Cowboy
23. Mr. Tinker
24. One
25. The Wailing of the Willow
26. Bath
27. Aerial Ballet Radio Spot *

Tracks 1-13 in stereo. Tracks 14-26 in mono. **

Disc 3: Harry (originally released as RCA Victor LSP 4197, 1968)

1. The Puppy Song
2. Nobody Cares About the Railroads Anymore
3. Open Your Window
4. Mother Nature's Son
5. Fairfax Rag
6. City Life
7. Mournin' Glory Story
8. Maybe
9. Marchin' Down Broadway
10. I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City
11. Rainmaker
12. Mr. Bojangles
13. Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear
14. I Will Take You There (Single Mix) (RCA Victor single A-side 47-9675, 1968)
15. Waiting (from the Motion Picture Jenny) (RCA Victor single 74-0310, 1969)
16. Rainmaker (Single Mix) (RCA Victor single B-side 47-9675, 1968)
17. Mournin' Glory Story (Single Mix) (RCA Victor single 1765 (U.K.), 1969) **
18. Garbage Can Ballet (Alternate Version) *
19. Harry Radio Spot *
20. Voices of Vista Radio Spots *

Disc 4: Nilsson Sings Newman (originally released as RCA Victor LSP 4289, 1970)

1. Vine St.
2. Love Story
3. Yellow Man
4. Caroline
5. Cowboy
6. The Beehive State
7. I'll Be Home
8. Living Without You
9. Dayton, Ohio 1903
10. So Long Dad
11. Snow
12. Love Story (Alternate)
13. Cowboy (Alternate)
14. I'll Be Home (Alternate)
15. Living Without You (Alternate)

Tracks 11-15 released on Buddha Records CD 74465 99703-2, 2000

Disc 5: The Point! (originally released as RCA Victor LSPX-1003, 1971)

1. Everything's Got 'Em
2. The Town (Narration)
3. Me and My Arrow
4. The Game (Narration)
5. Poli High
6. The Trial & Banishment (Narration)
7. Think About Your Troubles
8. The Pointed Man (Narration)
9. Life Line
10. The Birds (Narration)
11. P.O.V. Waltz
12. The Clearing in the Woods (Narration)
13. Are You Sleeping?
14. Oblio's Return (Narration)
15. Think About Your Troubles (Alternate)
16. Life Line (Alternate)
17. Down to the Valley (Alternate Mix with Extended Ending)
18. I'll Never Leave You
19. The Point Travel Brochure Radio Spot with Bill Martin

Tracks 15-18 released on BMG Heritage CD 08763 65128-2, 2000

Disc 6: Aerial Pandemonium Ballet (originally released as RCA Victor LSP 4543, 1971)

1. Introduction
2. 1941 (Slowed Down Track & Remixed)
3. Daddy's Song (New Vocal, Guitar/Piano Out of Sync)
4. Mr. Richland's Favorite Song (New Background Vocal)
5. Good Old Desk (Slowed Down Track & Remixed)
6. Everybody's Talkin' (Dumped Second Voice & Remixed)
7. Bath (Re-EQ'd)
8. River Deep - Mountain High (New Vocal/Remix)
9. Sleep Late, My Lady Friend (Remix)
10. Don't Leave Me (Remix)
11. Without Her (New Vocal/Remix)
12. Together (New Vocal/Edited Bridge/Remix)
13. One (Remix)
14. Closing
15. You Can't Do That (Remix) (from Buddha Records CD 74465 99704-2, 2000)
16. It's Been So Long (Italian Version) *
17. Sleep Late, My Lady Friend (Italian Version) *
18. Without Her (Italian Version) *
19. Cuddly Toy (Italian Version) *
20. You Can't Do That (Italian Version) *
21. Introduction by Brian Matthew  (Live on BBC's Saturday Club - 11/5/1968) *
22. 1941 (Live on BBC's Saturday Club - 11/5/1968) *
23. Mr. Richland's Favorite Song (Live on BBC's Saturday Club - 11/5/1968) *
24. Interview with Brian Matthew (Live on BBC's Saturday Club - 11/5/1968) *
25. Together (Live on BBC's Saturday Club - 11/5/1968) *
26. Good Old Desk (Live on BBC's Saturday Club - 11/5/1968) *
27. Aerial Pandemonium Ballet Radio Spot *

Disc 7: Nilsson Schmilsson (originally released as RCA Victor LSP 4515, 1971)

1. Gotta Get Up
2. Driving Along
3. Early in the Morning
4. The Moonbeam Song
5. Down
6. Without You
7. Coconut
8. Let the Good Times Roll
9. Jump Into the Fire
10. I'll Never Leave You
11. Si No Estas Tu ("Without You" Spanish Version) (from RCA Victor Spanish single 3-10693, 1971)
12. How Can I Be Sure of You
13. The Moonbeam Song (Demo)
14. Lamaze
15. Old Forgotten Soldier (Demo)
16. Gotta Get Up (Alternate)
17. Nilsson Schmilsson Radio Spots

Tracks 12-17 released on RCA/BMG Heritage CD 82876 57265-2, 2004

Disc 8: Son of Schmilsson (originally released as RCA Victor LSP 4717, 1972)

1. Take 54
2. Remember (Christmas)
3. Joy
4. Turn On Your Radio
5. You're Breakin' My Heart
6. Spaceman
7. The Lottery Song
8. At My Front Door
9. Ambush
10. I'd Rather Be Dead
11. The Most Beautiful World in the World
12. What's Your Sign?
13. Take 54 (Alternate)
14. Campo de Encino
15. Daybreak (Single Version) (RCA Victor single A-side APBO-0246, 1973)
16. It Had to Be You/I'd Rather Be Dead
17. Son of Schmilsson Radio Spot *

Tracks 12-14 and 16 released on RCA/Legacy CD 82876 78249-2, 2006

Disc 9: A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night (originally released as RCA Victor APL1-0097, 1973)

1. Lazy Moon
2. For Me and My Gal
3. It Had to Be You
4. Always
5. Makin' Whoopee!
6. You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want To)
7. Lullaby in Ragtime
8. I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
9. What'll I Do
10. Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You)
11. This is All I Ask
12. As Time Goes By
13. I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
14. Make Believe
15. Trust in Me
16. It's Only a Paper Moon
17. Thanks for the Memory
18. Over the Rainbow

Tracks 13-18 from RCA/Legacy CD 82876 78428-2, 2006

Disc 10: Pussy Cats (originally released as RCA Victor CPL1-0570, 1974)

1. Many Rivers to Cross
2. Subterranean Homesick Blues
3. Don't Forget Me
4. All My Life
5. Old Forgotten Soldier
6. Save the Last Dance for Me
7. Mucho Mungo/Mt. Elga
8. Loop De Loop
9. Black Sails
10. Rock Around the Clock
11. Down by the Sea
12. The Flying Saucer Song
13. Turn Out the Light
14. Save the Last Dance for Me (Alternate)
15. Don't Forget Me (Alternate) *
16. Black Sails (Alternate) *
17. Pussy Cats Radio Spots with Eddie Lawrence *

Tracks 11-14 released on Buddha Records CD 74465 99815-2, 1999

Disc 11: Duit on Mon Dei (originally released as RCA APL1-0817, 1975)

1. Jesus Christ You're Tall
2. It's a Jungle Out There
3. Down by the Sea
4. Kojak Columbo
5. Easier for Me
6. Turn Out the Light
7. Salmon Falls
8. Puget Sound
9. What's Your Sign
10. Home
11. Good for God
12. Goin' Down (Alternate) *

Disc 12: Sandman (originally released as RCA Victor APL1-1031, 1976)

1. I'll Take a Tango
2. Something True
3. Pretty Soon There'll Be Nothing Left for Everybody
4. The Ivy Covered Walls
5. Thursday (Here's Why I Did Not Go to Work Today)
6. The Flying Saucer Song
7. How to Write a Song
8. Jesus Christ You're Tall
9. Will She Miss Me
10. A Tree Out in the Yard (Central Park) *

Disc 13: ...That's the Way It Is (originally released as RCA Victor APL1-1119, 1976)

1. That is All
2. Just One Look/Baby I'm Yours
3. Moonshine Bandit
4. I Need You
5. A Thousand Miles Away
6. Sail Away
7. She Sits Down on Me
8. Daylight Has Caught Me
9. Zombie Jamboree (Back to Back)
10. That is All (Reprise)
11. ...That's the Way It Is Radio Spot *

Disc 14: Knnillssonn (originally released as RCA Victor AFL1-2276, 1977)

1. All I Think About is You
2. I Never Thought I'd Get This Lonely
3. Who Done It?
4. Lean on Me
5. Goin' Down
6. Old Bones
7. Sweet Surrender
8. Blanket for a Sail
9. Laughin' Man
10. Perfect Day
11. Ain’t It Kinda Wonderful (from The World’s Greatest Lover, a Twentieth Century-Fox Picture) (from RCA Red Seal LP ABL1-2709, 1978)
12. Sweet Lorraine (with Dr. John) *
13. Shuffle Off to Buffalo (with Dr. John) *
14. Ballin' the Jack (with Dr. John) *
15. All I Think About is You (Demo - with Dr. John) *
16. Knnillssonn Radio Spot *

Disc 15: Nilsson Sessions 1967-1968

1. 1941 (Demo) *
2. World (Demo) *
3. Signs (Demo) *
4. Cuddly Toy (Demo) *
5. This Could Be the Night (Demo) (from Perfect Day - The Songs of Harry Nilsson 1971-1993 - Retro Active promo #RA-006, 2006) 
6. As I Wander Lonely (from Personal Best: The Harry Nilsson Anthology - RCA CD 07863 66354 2, 1995)
7. The Family *
8. Miss Butters' Lament (from Personal Best: The Harry Nilsson Anthology - RCA CD 07863 66354 2, 1995)
9. Mr. Tinker (Alternate) *
10. Leggenda (from RCA Victor Italian single N 1658, 1968) **
11. Sister Marie (Unreleased Stereo Remix) (original mono mix from RCA Victor single 47-9462, 1968)
12. She Wandered Through the Garden Fence *
13. One (Alternate) *
14. I Said Goodbye to Me (Alternate) *
15. Searchin' *
16. She's Just Laughing at Me *
17. Together (Alternate) *
18. Bath (Alternate) *

Disc 16: Nilsson Sessions 1968-1971

1. You Are Here *
2. The Cast and Crew (from Skidoo - Original Soundtrack Recording - RCA Victor LSO-1152, 1968)
3. Garbage Can Ballet (from Skidoo - Original Soundtrack Recording - RCA Victor LSO-1152, 1968)
4. I Will Take You There (from Skidoo - Original Soundtrack Recording - RCA Victor LSO-1152, 1968)
5. Girlfriend (from Personal Best: The Harry Nilsson Anthology - RCA CD 07863 66354 2, 1995)
6. Wasting My Time (Alternate Mix) (original mix from Personal Best: The Harry Nilsson Anthology - RCA CD 07863 66354 2, 1995)
7. Rainmaker (Alternate) *
8. Open Your Window (Alternate) *
9. Postcard *
10. Think About Your Troubles (Alternate) *
11. Marry Me a Little *
12. Ballin' the Jack *
13. Gotta Get Up (Demo) *
14. Down to the Valley (Single Mix) (RCA Victor single A-side 74-0362, 1970)
15. Buy My Album (Single Mix) (RCA Victor single A-side 74-0362, 1970)
16. Joy (Alternate) (from Aerial Pandemonium Ballet - Buddha Records CD 74465 99704-2, 2000)
17. Blackbird *
18. Paradise *
19. Lucille *
20. Early in the Morning (Alternate) (from Aerial Pandemonium Ballet - Buddha Records CD 74465 99704-2, 2000)

Disc 17: Nilsson Sessions 1971-1974

1. Walk Right Back (from Aerial Pandemonium Ballet - Buddha Records CD 74465 99704-2, 2000)
2. Jump Into the Fire (Alternate) *
3. Isolation (from Aerial Pandemonium Ballet - Buddha Records CD 74465 99704-2, 2000)
4. Without You (Demo)
5. Driving Along (Demo)
6. Gotta Get Up (Demo)
7. Coconut (Demo)
8. Old Forgotten Soldier (Alternate Demo)
9. Down (Demo)
10. The Moonbeam Song (Demo)
11. Jump Into the Fire (Single Version) (RCA Victor single A-side 74-0673, 1972)
12. Per Chi ("Without You" Italian Version) (from RCA Victor single N 1658 (IT), 1972) **
13. Joy (Guitar Demo)
14. Joy (Piano Demo)
15. You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want To) (Alternate)
16. Lullaby in Ragtime (Alternate)
17. Alway (Alternate)
18. It Had to Be You (Alternate)
19. I Want You to Sit on My Face *
20. A Souvenir: Also Sprach Schmilsson Schmixon *

Tracks 4-10 from Nilsson Schmilsson - Camden Deluxe CD 74321 75742-2 (U.K.), 2000
Tracks 13-14 from Son of Schmilsson - Camden Deluxe CD 74321 75746-2 (U.K.), 2000
Tracks 15-18 from A Touch More Schmilsson in the Night - BMG PD 90251, 1988

* denotes previously unreleased track
** denotes track previously unreleased on CD