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/ Reviews

Review: Harry Nilsson, "Losst and Founnd"

November 21, 2019 By Joe Marchese 5 Comments

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Welcome back, old friend. Omnivore Recordings has delivered one of the most hotly anticipated releases of the year with the first posthumous release from the late Harry Nilsson (1941-1994). Losst and Founnd premieres 43 minutes of "new" Nilsson music, and as the man himself sings on the title track, "what a miracle" it is. While longtime fans and collectors will be familiar with a handful of these recordings from their inclusion on a posthumous publishing promo and ubiquitous bootlegs of the sessions, it's safe to say that nobody's heard them sounding quite like this. Original producer Mark Hudson has spiffed up and completed these tracks in Nilsson's memory, enlisting a number of his old friends (such as Jimmy Webb, Van Dyke Parks, and Jim Keltner, as well as son Kiefo Nilsson) and creating his first new album since 1980's Flash Harry.

The opening title song is the obvious "single" here. The melodic "Lost and Found" is the slickest, most "produced" track on the LP with its shimmering guitars, horns, harmonies, and a big hook. It's a bit like what Nilsson might have sounded like fronting the Traveling Wilburys, and makes for an exciting opener to a low-key, amiable collection. Nilsson was crafting these recordings at the time of his death in 1994, after years of self-imposed exile from the studio.  It's clear that even with a voice diminished by time and cigarettes, his creative spark hadn't abandoned him at all.

"U.C.L.A.," one of two songs on the Perfect Day publishing promo, is quintessential Nilsson. The wistful, elegiac lament's melody accompanies a lyric that's both melancholy and dryly witty ("There's no one left to lie to/But my car") with trademark Nilsson wordplay. There's even a final glimpse of that famous Nilsson falsetto. Of course, Harry couldn't help but pay homage to his friends and musical heroes The Beatles: "There is no place like Penny Lane/There's no more yesterday/But something in the way you move me/Keeps me movin' on from day to day." Those references are set to corresponding instrumental flourishes, recalling the artist's clever reworking of the Fabs' "You Can't Do That" on his 1967 debut. The other song introduced on Perfect Day, "Animal Farm," has abundant charm. Nilsson's dry vocal almost calls Randy Newman to mind, while the woozy brass arrangement and "Give Peace a Chance" quote keep it happily idiosyncratic.

Losst and Founnd showcases the many sides of the always-eclectic artist, from humorous to earnest. From Nilsson the balladeer, there's the loping lament "Woman Oh Woman" with its Brian Wilson-esque arrangement featuring voices, sleigh bells, and brass, and Van Dyke Parks on colorful accordion; the sweetly touching, harmony-rich "Lullaby;" and the slow, dreamy anthem "Love Is the Answer." The latter was written with Perry Botkin, Jr. for their short-lived 1980 musical Zapata (another project worthy of re-evaluation). Those seeking Nilsson's more rock-oriented side won't be disappointed by the raucous if slight "Yo Dodger Blue," which deserves a play or three at Dodger Stadium. Nilsson cries "Rescue boy!" on "Lost and Found," and the "Rescue Boy" motif is later developed in a lively medley with the oldie "Hi-Heel Sneakers." It's certainly touching to hear the late-in-life Nilsson on the happily positive, bouncy admonition to "Try." There's more than a hint of "All You Need Is Love" in the sing-along melody ("There's no limit to the blue sky/All you gotta do is try, try, try") and a beautiful simplicity to the track.

A couple of well-chosen covers spotlight Nilsson as an interpretive singer, an area in which the vocalist always excelled. His rendition of Yoko Ono's "Listen, the Snow Is Falling" has a lo-fi appeal here. Nilsson's vocal is swathed in echo over the lightly grooving Asian motif. (Nilsson additionally recorded many of Ono's songs including three on the 1984 Ono tribute Every Man Has a Woman and "Never Say Goodbye" from her musical New York Rock.)  Even better still is the take on Jimmy Webb's "What Does a Woman See in a Man," originally recorded by Webb on his 1993 album Suspending Disbelief. The story goes that Nilsson was always bugging his close friend Webb, he of gorgeously sincere songs like "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and "Wichita Lineman," to write something funny. Well, here's Jimmy with an admittedly rare stab at humor which Nilsson surely savored. Webb has added ironically sensitive piano, while Jim Cox has provided a beautiful string arrangement. Of course, Webb being Webb, the melody can't help but being gorgeous. Nilsson, even with his voice in a rough state, sells the song with relish. It makes for the perfect closer to this affecting album.

Producer Hudson along with executive producers Brad Rosenberger and Lee Blackman has selected eleven fine cuts for Losst and Founnd. Greg Calbi has mastered for sublime sound throughout, and Hudson has supplied a heartfelt personal introduction. Not every track which has circulated from the Nilsson/Hudson sessions has made the cut here, with "245 Lb. Man," "It's All in the Mind," "Misery and Gin," "Strange Love," and a remake of "This Could Be the Night" all absent. So, while it's a tantalizing to consider that there may be further releases to come (Nilsson left behind volumes of excellent demos, as well), Losst and Founnd is all that fans could have hoped for and more over these past decades: a poignant last hurrah from a singular artist and soul. As Nilsson sings in "Lullaby," "There's nothing left to say but I love you." Indeed, we still love you too, Harry Nilsson.

Losst and Founnd will be available tomorrow at Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada!

Categories: Reviews Formats: CD, Digital Download, Digital Streaming Genre: Pop, Rock Tags: Harry Nilsson

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Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.

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Comments

  1. steve0 says

    November 22, 2019 at 9:36 pm

    The Amazon U.S. link shows no CD version available, but has the other formats. Any idea if this was somehow delayed?

    Reply
    • Avatar photoJoe Marchese says

      November 23, 2019 at 1:09 am

      The CD has been released, but Amazon has been experiencing some major (and very frustrating) supply issues for CDs recently. I would expect it to be back in stock shortly.

      Reply
      • steve0 says

        November 23, 2019 at 7:10 pm

        Thanks Joe!!

        Reply
        • Kenny says

          November 25, 2019 at 5:28 am

          Received e-mail from Amazon saying it was out on cd. Tried to order but then told it was not available. Had to order this on cd from Australia (live in UK). Enquired if it was actually being released on cd and assured it was.

          Reply
          • Larry Davis says

            November 26, 2019 at 2:53 pm

            I actually saw the CD at my local Newbiry Comics and will buy it next week ..

            Reply

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