Thursday 8th August

Harry Nilsson was a brilliant vocalist, a competent song-writer, a superb interpreter of songs and a lousy drunk.  He also refused to ever sing live, preferring the anonymity and perfection of the recording studio.  He produced some incredible albums in the late sixties and early seventies and was one of the few artists the Beatles were in awe of.  His greatest success came in 1972 with Nillson Schmillson with its great single ‘Without You’.  This song and the album went to number one both here and in America.  It was as if everyone fell in love with the sentiment of the song, and Harry’s soaring voice, which almost wrenched at the heart-strings.

But the success of the song may have also been his downfall.  He now had enough money to do what he wanted; and it seems what he most wanted was to get drunk.  Along with Ringo and Keith Moon he was part of the eighteen month binge that became known as John Lennon’s ‘Lost Weekend’.

He continued recording, and there are some gems, but too many albums are ruined by poor song choice and a throw-away attitude.  He did record a superb album of standards and then almost his last album was nearly his best.  Titled Knillson (his album name choices and appalling covers are legendary) it just hit the spot, great songs and great voice – it makes you realise if he had stayed sober he could have been one of the greats.

His continued drinking led to ill-health and he died young.  But thank goodness he still left us the records.  If immortality is ever achievable (and who remembers Alexander the Great today) it may well be in artifacts such as books paintings and recordings.