Harry Nilsson – Pandemonium Shadow Show (1967)

Well, what do you say about Nilsson?  He was an incredible singer, a pretty good songwriter but a very rare live performer, and a pretty self-destructive personality.  Oh, but his records were sublime.  He was a very early computer engineer but was more interested in music.  He had an early album which is largely unavailable now, then he signed for RCA and released this one.  He used multi-tracking and orchestral backing and wrote most of the songs (one by Spector, two by The Beatles – and they referenced him when asked by reporters for artists they liked).  Harry would go on to have chart success with ‘Everybody’s Talkin’ and ‘Without You’.  He later released an album of classic American songs and one produced by Lennon.  He sadly died in 1994 aged just 53.  On this superb debut my favourites are ‘Sleep Late My Lady Friend’, ‘1941’ and ‘Cuddly Toy’. Playing Nilsson always makes me smile.