THE LOST WEEKEND, WALKING ON THE OLD DIRT ROAD AND BEYOND:
Nineteen Seventy-three and nineteen seventy-four was a time where the pressures of Beatles fans expectations of John Lennon were to contribute to problems in his marriage with Yoko Ono. John could seemingly not fathom why he was struggling so much with commercial success in his album releases. Many fans blamed Yoko for this decline in John’s commercial appeal. Yoko was certainly fully aware of what was going on, and she suggested that she and John should separate to relieve some of the public pressure they were experiencing. Yoko suggested and tried to persuade their assistant May Pang to watch over John during their separation. Little did she know that watching over would become a much deeper emotional tie.
During this time John and May travelled to the West Coast to record an oldies album with Phil Spector. The story behind that album and what happened during those sessions is legendary. The actual material was not to be officially released until 1975 with John’s Rock ‘n’ Roll album, rushed to release because of the illegal release of Roots issued by the late music publisher, Morris Levy! John was not satisfied with the quality of many of the Spector tracks and made new recordings to finish the album officially on Apple Records!
For a great book about this story please seek out this wonderful book by Jay Bergen:
Lennon, the Mobster & the Lawyer: The Untold Story: Bergen, Jay, Gruen, Bob: 9781942531425: Amazon.com: Books
Check out this fascinating YouTube interview with John Lennon’s former lawyer, Jay Bergen!
Fab 4 Free 4 All Episode 244 – ‘Roots’ of John Lennon’s ‘Rock and Roll’ Lawsuit (with Jay Bergen)
AS THE YEARS GO BY- I CONTINUE TO COME ACROSS ITEMS OF INTEREST LIKE THIS: A HARRY NILSSON 45 OF A SONG HE CO-WROTE WITH JOHN LENNON WITH A PICTURE SLEEVE BY KLAUS VOORMANN:
Recently, I purchased the following 45 on eBay of this rare picture sleeve from Spain. It is a recording that Harry Nilsson had co-written with John Lennon which originally appeared on John’s 1974 album Walls and Bridges. Ironically, Nilsson’s cover of the Old Dirt Road track appeared on his Flash Harry LP released in 1980, John’s final year on the planet
HARRY NILSSON
Ultra Rare 7″ SPANISH (“MADE IN SPAIN”) SINGLE VINYL:
A side:
OLD DIRT ROAD (co-written by JOHN LENNON)
B side: RAIN (NOT THE BEATLES SONG)-This Rain song is a Nilsson composition!
This RARE 7″ SPANISH SINGLE is ONLY issued in SPAIN and very few copies pressed
The sketch of Harry Nilsson that appears on the cover of this 45 was by Beatles associate and friend, Klaus Voormann and you can read the credit to Klaus above the title of the song on the picture sleeve!
Harry Nilsson – Old Dirt Road Harry Nilsson’s version from his Flash Harry LP
Old Dirt Road (Remastered 2010) John’s version from Walls and Bridges
Harry Nilsson – Old Dirt Road (Alternate Version) An alternate Nilsson version of the Flash Harry Track
A RARE BEATLE AND NILSSON NOVELTY RECORD: The record is called Stand Up & Holler under the group name of The Foto-Fi Four
As many of you are aware, Harry Nilsson loved the Beatles and the Beatles loved Harry Nilsson
Here is a rare Beatles novelty record and was one of Nilsson’s first recordings and this is one 45 with sleeve and accompanying film which I wish I had in my collection. The record is called Stand Up & Holler under the group name of The Foto-Fi Four
HARRY NILSSON Stand Up & Holler (All For The Beatles) The Foto-Fi Four
The 45 novelty record:
A description of the record:
John Lennon’s Breakdown: Meeting Harry Nilsson & Nat Weiss #shorts
Nilsson’s 1980 Flash Harry album:
The back cover of the Flash Harry LP which featured details the involvement of Eric Idle, Klaus Voormann, Bobby Keys, Jim Gordon, Jim Horn, Jim Keltner, Dr. John, Ringo Starr, Richie Zito, Steve Cropper, Daniel Kortchmarr and Van Dyke Parks who have all worked on various Beatles-related projects over the years!
Following John Lennon’s murder in 1980, Harry Nilsson became a spirited fighter against hand-gun sales and an advocate for gun control. He released the following record which he sold at several fest for Beatles Fans before his passing in the 90s. I was to acquire my signed copy at a convention in the early 90s in New Jersey. Fest For Beatles Fan organizer and founder Mark Lapidos was instrumental in having this recording made!
Harry Nilsson – With A Bullet
IN 1974:
The photo of the cover of the Lennon-produced Harry Nilsson Album called Pussy Cats. Notice the drug reference that the two artists put on the cover. On the bottom of the album are two blocks with the letter D and S positioned on either side of a small rug. D–rug-S. I am surprised that Nilsson’s recording company for the LP, RCA, allowed the reference to go out at that time or maybe they just looked the other way. The LP featured the Lennon/Nilsson co-composition “Mucho Mungo/Mt Elga.” Many legendary musicians on this record though the reviews were not good!
Many journalists laid blame on Lennon for Harry Nilsson blowing out his voice at the recording sessions as his voice would never be the same again. That criticism was extremely unfair and uncalled for numerous reasons!
Harry Nilsson – Mucho Mungo / Mt. Elga (Audio)
Listen to this difference in this quadrophonic mix of the album on YouTube. On the first track Many Rivers to Cross, you will hear the string arrangement by Ken Ascher which helped inspire John to write #9 Dream on Walls and Bridges
Harry Nilsson – Pussy Cats Quadraphonic (Full Album – Quad Mix)
There are many bits you can hear on the quad mix that are not heard on the regular mix of the album! You will be amazed with the quad mix!
Track List:
Many Rivers To Cross 4:56
Subterranean Homesick Blues 3:17
Don’t Forget Me 3:37
All My Life 3:11
Old Forgotten Soldier 4:14
Save The Last Dance For Me 4:25
Mucho Mungo / Mt. Elga 3:43
Loop De Loop 3:27
Black Sails 3:15
Rock Around The Clock 3:12
A little after Pussy Cats was recorded, John’s Walls and Bridges album was recorded and released. It featured another co-written Lennon/Nilsson composition called “Old Dirt Road.”
Harry Nilsson passed away on January 15, 1994, from a combination of heart disease and diabetes.
NILSSON’S PROJECT WITH YOKO ONO IN THE 80s:
In the 1980s Harry Nilsson got involved in recording several cover versions of Yoko Ono songs. Three were chosen for Every Man Has A Woman release: Every Man Has a Woman is a tribute album to Yoko Ono for her 50th birthday.
Spotted this site on the Internet which featured the nine tracks that Harry Nilsson recorded for Yoko’s Every Man Has a Woman 1980s album:
Entertainment This Week – Harry Nilsson is Back
Nilsson Sings Ono : Oblio Arrow : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Nilsson Sings Ono
Also spotted a YouTube link:
Harry Nilsson – Nilsson Sings Yoko [FULL ALBUM]
Harry Nilsson sings his own versions of nine Yoko Ono songs in 1984.
Also included as bonus tracks are alternate takes, different mixes, undubbed and extended versions and sessions in progress:
1. Loneliness
2. Listen, The Snow Is Falling
3. Dream Love
4. Silver Horse
5. Yang Yang
6. Let The Tears Dry
7. Smile
8. Never Say Goodbye
9. Toy Boat
Bonus Tracks:
10. Loneliness (Long Version)
11. Listen, The Snow Is Falling (Alternate Mix)
12. Dream Love (Long Version)
13. Yang Yang (Sessions)
14. Smile (Different Vocal)
15. Never Say Goodbye (No Saxophone)
16. Toy Boat (Different Take)
This is Every Man Has a Woman LP featuring the following artists covering Yoko Ono songs: John Lennon, Elvis Costello, Eddie Money, Harry Nilsson, The Spirit Choir, Roseanne Cash, the Klaus Voormann produced group, Trio, Roberta Flack, Alternating Boxes and a young Sean Lennon! This release was designed to celebrate Yoko’s 50th birthday!
Three of the tracks that Nilsson recorded of Yoko’s material turned up on the album” Silver Horse, Dream Love, and Loneliness!
A NILSSON 8-TRACK RARITY ACQUIRED FROM CHARLES ROSENAY-SIGNED BY NILSSON:
The disturbing element of 8-track tapes are that longer songs because of time were often separated/split into different tracks and you would hear the clack as the track made the transition!
One of Harry’s final albums called Sandman featuring a photo cover by former Beatles roadie Mal Evans!
Harry Nilsson’s dedication to Beatles associate, Mal Evans on my reference copy of the Sandman LP:
Personnel
Harry Nilsson – vocals
Joe Cocker – vocals on “The Flying Saucer Song”
Doug Dillard – banjo
Klaus Voormann – bass
Jim Keltner – drums
Danny Kortchmar, Fred Tackett, Jesse Ed Davis – guitar
Jane Getz, Leon Russell, Van Dyke Parks – keyboards
Emil Richards, Emmett Kennedy, Gary Coleman, Joe DeAguero, Pat Murphy, Robert Greenidge – percussion
Bobby Keys, Gene Cipriano, Jay Migliori, Jim Horn, John Rotella, Trevor Lawrence – saxophone
Bobby Bruce, Ilene Novog, The Perry Botkin, Jr. Orchestra and Singers – strings
Production and technical personnel
Perry Botkin Jr. – arrangements on “Something True”, “The Ivy Covered Walls” and “Will She Miss Me”
Richie Schmitt – recording engineer, associate producer
Pete Abbott, Artie Torgersen, Mike Moran – second engineers
Gribbitt – design and graphics
Klaus Voormann – inside artwork
Mal “The Pal” Evans – cover photography
Marge Meoli – A&R coordination
Released January 1976
Recorded Late 1975
Genre Pop
Length 35:07
Label RCA Victor
Producer Harry Nilsson
SON OF DRACULA-HARRY NILSSON AND RINGO STARR:
Like John Lennon and Harry Nilsson, Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson became very close friends during that time frame and were involved with many musical projects together! This was one of those projects.
Apple films produced this movie featuring Harry Nilsson as Dracula and Ringo as Merlin the Magician. It got very poor reviews, but the soundtrack LP did a bit better!
The cover of the Soin of Dracula soundtrack LP:
Back cover of the Son of Dracula LP:
Look at the great list of musicians that appear on the LP!
TRACK LIST:
A1 It Is He Who Will Be King
Written-By – Buckmaster*
3:07
A2 Daybreak
Bass – Klaus Voormann*
Bouzouki – Chris Spedding*
Cowbell – George Harrison
Drums – Ringo Starr
Guitar – Peter Frampton
Horns – Gene Cipriano
Organ – Jim Price
Percussion – Ray Cooper
Producer – Harry Nilsson
Saxophone [High] – Bobby Keys
Vocals, Piano – Harry Nilsson
Written-By – Nilsson*
2:43
A3 At My Front Door
Bass – Klaus Voormann*
Congas – Ray Cooper
Drums – Ringo Starr
Electric Guitar – Chris Spedding, Peter Frampton Piano – Nicky Hopkins Producer – Richard Perry Tenor Saxophone – Bobby Keys Vocals – Harry Nilsson Written-By – Abner, Moore*
2:40
A4 Count Down Meets Merlin And Amber
Written-By – Buckmaster*
2:10
A5 The Moonbeam Song
Acoustic Guitar – John Uribe, Klaus Voormann*
Bass – Herbie Flowers
Producer – Richard Perry
Vocals, Mellotron – Harry Nilsson
Written-By – Nilsson*
3:20
A6 Perhaps This Is All A Dream
Written-By – Buckmaster*
0:47
A7 Remember Christmas
Arranged By [Pop Arts String Quartet] – Del Newman
Bouzouki – Chris Spedding*
Piano – Nicky Hopkins
Producer – Richard Perry
Strings – The Pop Arts String Quartet
Vocals – Harry Nilsson
Written-By – Nilsson*
4:09
B1 Intro; Without You
Acoustic Guitar – John Uribe
Arranged By [Strings And Horns], Conductor [Strings And Horns] – Paul Buckmaster
Bass – Klaus Voormann*
Drums – Jim Keltner
Piano – Gary Wright
Producer – Richard Perry
Vocals – Harry Nilsson
Written-By – Ham, Evans
3:47
B2 The Counts Vulnerability
Written-By – Buckmaster*
2:10
B3 Down
Arranged By [Horns] – Jim Price
Bass – Klaus Voorman*
Drums – Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner
Guitar – Chris Spedding*
Organ – Roger Coolan*
Piano, Vocals – Harry Nilsson
Producer – Richard Perry
Saxophone – Bobby Keys
Trumpet, Trombone – Jim Price
Written-By – Nilsson*
3:07
B4 Frankenstein, Merlin & The Operation
Written-By – Taverner*
3:20
B5 Jump Into The Fire
Bass – Herbie Flowers
Drums, Percussion – Jim Gordon
Lead Guitar – John Uribe
Piano [Acoustic] – Jim Webb*
Producer – Richard Perry
Rhythm Guitar – Chris Spedding, Klaus Voormann
Vocals, Electric Piano – Harry Nilsson
Written-By – Nilsson*
3:16
B6 The Abdication Of Count Down
Written-By – Buckmaster*
1:10
B7 The End (Moonbeam)
Written-By – Nilsson*
The cover of the excellent book by David Roberts and Neil Watson. Featuring the recollections of many fans and musicians about musician, harry Nilsson!
Harry & Me
AMAZON US:
Harry and Me: Memories of Harry Nilsson by the fans and musicians that loved him the most: Roberts, David, Watson, Neil: 9781838379872: Amazon.com: Books
AMAZON UK:
Harry & Me: 200 Memories of Harry Nilsson by the fans and musicians that loved him the most: Amazon.co.uk: David Roberts, Neil Watson: 9781838379872: Books
Authors David Roberts and Neil Watson in December of 2021 published this very interesting book of fan and musician recollections of meeting this great singer and artist. Published by “This Day In Music Books,” the book is entitled “Harry & Me.”
I was fortunate to be able to post my recollection of meeting Harry Nilsson back in 1991. Have included that recollection from the book below.
My little contribution to the book written when I administered the Facebook Group “The Beatles in Print-Together and Solo.”
Around the time of John’s Mind Games LP, John and Harry Nilsson had a contest of writing a song with the same title. John’s version appeared on the Mind Games LP. Not sure where the 70s version of Harry’s is?
However, the musician author of the book below cites the story of him being asked to be a backing musician on a song Harry told him he co-wrote with John Lennon called You are Here which Andy Cahan has posted on SoundCloud. That SoundCloud link has many fascinating stories:
Harry Nilsson – You Are Here
Stream The Andy & HARRY SHOW by Andy Cahan | Listen online for free on SoundCloud
John’s version of You Are Here:
John Lennon – You Are Here (Ultimate Mix) from Mind Games (The Ultimate Collection) Official Video
This book is highly recommended:
Andy Cahan’s book AMAZON US:
The Most Famous Musician You’ve Never Heard Of: A Rock And Roll Scrapbook Starring Hendrix, Ringo, Nilsson, The Turtles, Little Richard, Dr. John, … Ray Bolger, Grace Slick, Me and more!: Cahan, Andy, Tamarkin, Jeff: 9798605402114: Amazon.com: Books
Andy Cahan’s book AMAZON UK:
The Most Famous Musician You’ve Never Heard Of: A Rock And Roll Scrapbook Starring Hendrix, Ringo, Nilsson, The Turtles, Little Richard, Dr. John, … Ray Bolger, Grace Slick, Me and more!: Amazon.co.uk: Cahan, Andy, Tamarkin, Jeff: 9798605402114: Books
It is only fitting we close this post with John Lennon’s guide vocal to the song that the Platters had a great hit with called Only You. John Lennon suggested that Ringo record the song on his Goodnight Vienna LP and Ringo had a top ten hit with the record, Harry Nilsson sings backing vocals on the recordings of both John and Ringo.
Only You JOHN LENNON which appeared on the Lennon Anthology box set
Only You (And You Alone) Ringo’s version
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
