Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Son of Schmilsson

 
Album Review: Son of Schmilsson

  • Artist: Harry Nilsson
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: 1972 07
  • Total Time: 39:07
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Emboldened by a huge hit and hanging with Lennon and Ringo, Harry Nilsson was ready to let it all go when it came time to record a follow-up to Nilsson Schmilsson. The very title of Son of Schmilsson implies that it's a de facto sequel to its smash predecessor but, as always with Nilsson, don't take everything at face value. Yes, he's back with producer Richard Perry and he's working from the same gleefully melodic, polished pop/rock territory as before, but this is an incredibly schizoid record, an album by an enormously gifted musician deciding that, since he's already going unhinged, he might as well indulge himself while he's at it. And, wow, are the results ever worth it. Opening with a song to a groupie -- he sang his balls off, baby, he nearly broke the microphone -- and ending with an ode to "The Most Beautiful World in the World," this record careens all over the place, bouncing from one idea to another, punctuated with B-horror movie sound effects, bizarre humor, profanity, and belches. There are song parodies, seemingly straight piano ballads, vulgar hard rock, lovely love songs, and a cheerful singalong with retirees at an old folks home who all proclaim, "I'd rather be dead than wet my bed." The sheer perversity of it all would be fascinating, yet if that's all it had to offer, it'd merely be a curiosity, the way his post-Pussy Cats records are. Instead, this is all married to a fantastic set of songs that illustrate what a skilled, versatile songsmith Nilsson was. No, it may not be the easiest album to warm to -- and it's just about the weirdest record to reach number 12 and go gold -- but if you appreciate Nilsson's musicality and weirdo humor, he never got any better. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Take 54 (Lyrics) Harry Nilsson Harry Nilsson (4:19)
Remember Christmas (Lyrics) Harry Nilsson Harry Nilsson (4:06)
Joy (Lyrics) Harry Nilsson Harry Nilsson (3:42)
Turn on Your Radio (Lyrics) Harry Nilsson Harry Nilsson (2:43)
You're Breaking My Heart (Lyrics) Harry Nilsson Harry Nilsson (3:10)
Spaceman (Lyrics) Harry Nilsson Harry Nilsson (3:34)
The Lottery Song Harry Nilsson Harry Nilsson (2:25)
At My Front Door John Moore, Ewart Abner Harry Nilsson (3:02)
Ambush (Lyrics) Harry Nilsson Harry Nilsson (5:21)
I'd Rather Be Dead (Lyrics) Harry Nilsson Harry Nilsson (3:20)
The Most Beautiful World in the World Harry Nilsson Harry Nilsson (3:40)
Joy [Demo Version: Guitar][#] Harry Nilsson Harry Nilsson (1:58)
Joy [Demo Version: Piano][#] Harry Nilsson Harry Nilsson (:55)

Credits

Robin Geoffrey Cable (Mixing), Del Newman (Arranger), Klaus Voormann (Rhythm Section), Jim Price (Horn), Milt Holland (Percussion), Del Newman (Orchestration), Nicky Hopkins (Piano), Henry Krein (Accordion), Jim Price (Trombone), Paul Buckmaster (Orchestral Arrangements), Richard Perry (Arranger), Peter Frampton (Guitar (Electric)), William Harris (Project Coordinator), Peter Frampton (Guitar), Tony Arnold (Editing), Paul Keough (Guitar), Paul Buckmaster (Arranger), Phil MacDonald (Engineer), Les Thatcher (Guitar), Pop Arts String Quartet (String Quartet), Klaus Voormann (Horn), Harry Nilsson (Guitar (Acoustic)), Peter Frampton (Guitar (Acoustic)), Harry Nilsson (Performer), Michael Putland (Photography), Bobby Keys (Sax (Tenor)), Richard Perry (Percussion), John Uribe (Guitar (Acoustic)), Lowell George (Guitar), Tony Arnold (Engineer), Klaus Voormann (Guitar (Electric)), Ray Cooper (Tambourine), Chick Crumpacker (Digital Producer), Klaus Voormann (Bass), Keith Munro (Project Coordinator), Harry Nilsson (Piano (Electric)), Bobby Keys (Horn), Richard Perry (Conductor), Jim Price (Arranger), Chris Spedding (Guitar), Harry Nilsson (Vocals), Barry Morgan (Drums), Jim Price (Horn Arrangements), Chris Spedding (Guitar (Electric)), John Uribe (Guitar), Red Rhodes (Pedal Steel), Ken Scott (Balance Engineer), Robin Geoffrey Cable (Conga), Kirby Johnson (Arranger), Phill Brown (Engineer), Red Rhodes (Guitar (Steel)), Ray Cooper (Conga), Chris Spedding (Bouzouki), Richie Snare (Drums), Paul Misso (Photography), Ray Cooper (Percussion), Peter Agapiou (Lettering), Acy Lehman (Coordination), Joe Lopes (Remastering), Peter Agapiou (Graphic Design), Richard Perry (Choir Conductor), Curtis Armstrong (Liner Notes), Tom Hanley (Photography), Tony Arnold (Producer), Chris Spedding (Guitar (Acoustic)), Kirby Johnson (Horn Arrangements), Jim Price (Trumpet), Tony Arnold (Mixing), George Harrysong (Slide Guitar), Richard Perry (Producer), Bobby Keys (Saxophone), Paul Buckmaster (Conductor), Robin Geoffrey Cable (Engineer), Bobby Keys (Soloist)
Search unanswered questions...
Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics
Wikipedia: Son of Schmilsson
Top
Son of Schmilsson
Studio album by Harry Nilsson
Released July 1972
Recorded March-April 1972, Trident Studios, London
Genre Pop Music
Length 39:07
Label RCA
Producer Richard Perry
Professional reviews
Harry Nilsson chronology
Nilsson Schmilsson
(1971)
Son of Schmilsson
(1972)
A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night
(1973)

Son of Schmilsson is an album by Harry Nilsson. Nilsson was being pressured to produce a follow-up album similar to his 1971 breakthrough, Nilsson Schmilsson, but, instead, he cut a more eccentric album.

Most of the recording sessions for this album were extensively filmed on the request of Nilsson. They were to be edited for a planned documentary called, "Did Somebody Drop His Mouse?" which was never released commercially.

The album was remastered and released on CD with two bonus tracks in 2000 and with five bonus tracks in 2006.

Contents

Track listing

All tracks written by Harry Nilsson except where noted.

  1. "Take 54" – 4:22
  2. "Remember (Christmas)"– 4:07
  3. "Joy" – 3:42
  4. "Turn on Your Radio" – 2:42
  5. "You're Breakin' My Heart" – 3:10
  6. "Spaceman" – 3:33
  7. "The Lottery Song" – 2:24
  8. "At My Front Door" (Ewart B. Abner, John C. Moore) – 2:46
  9. "Ambush" – 5:35
  10. "I'd Rather Be Dead" (Nilsson, Richard Perry) – 3:20
  11. "The Most Beautiful World in the World" – 3:33

Bonus tracks (2000 Reissue)

  1. "Joy" (demo version: guitar) – 1:57
  2. "Joy" (demo version: piano) – 0:55

Bonus tracks (2006 Reissue)

  1. "What's Your Sign?" (Alternate Version) – 3:08
  2. "Take 54" (Alternate Take) – 3:39
  3. "Campo de Encino" (Jimmy Webb) – 4:54
  4. "Daybreak" (Single Version) – 3:06
  5. "It Had To Be You" (Jam Session) – 2:34 (Hidden track)

Personnel

Additional Personnel

Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
1972 Billboard Pop Albums 12

Single

Year Single Chart Position
1972 "Spaceman" Billboard Pop Singles 23
1974 "Daybreak" Billboard Pop Singles 39

Certifications

Organization Level Date
RIAA - USA Gold December 30, 1972

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Son of Schmilsson" Read more