She POLLed the Doctor, Woke Him Up: NILSSON SCHMILSSON

"Coconut" is great, but "Without You" is on my shortlist of "What did 1972 sound like?" songs. Don't know the rest of the album, even though I've had it for years.

Coconut.

Jump In The Fire is my favorite by far, it sounds like the end of the world.

Dude shredded his voice for us trying to get Without You just right. It'd be a crime to not vote for it.

I would have gone with "He'd come to town and he would POLL her for a couple of days".

Every time I've played this in the car, A&A have said "Ooh I like this one", so, that.

Amber's bf said it reminded him of Bugsy Malone, and to be fair I would say Paul Williams gets closer to Harry than most anyone else, but still...

"Gotta get up" is such a perfect opener

xp speaking of which, this song is so good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv9mbLR8m2c

It is. Tempted by it, but gotta go with "Fire" -- for the earthquaking bass and the bonkers reverb and the general frenzy.

xp -- I meant "Gotta Get Up" is so good. But so is that.

Very well. Let me be the one to suggest "Down." I can hear a Big Star cover.

I would have gone with "He'd come to town and he would POLL her for a couple of days".

― how's life, Saturday, May 30, 2015 5:43 AM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I'm rusty and struggled with this one, I admit! Yours is better for sure.

Not saying I'll vote for it, but "The Moonbeam Song" really deserves some attention. Just a lovely lovely melody/lyric, in a way the most Nilsson-y song on here, or as much as "Gotta Get Up." Speaking of the latter, this demo version is blowing my mind - don't know the history of it but it sounds so much more like his previous couple of records, way more twee and old-timey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QLh54hVjds

Oh, is it on the extras set from the boxset?

Some kinda bonus edition I guess? It's on Spotify also. I'd never bump the released version for it, but it's kinda neat, also suggests how much Richard Perry's production brought to the table in juicing it up. Woulda been kinda awesome if Aerial Pandemonium Ballet had been a total re-record with this fuller pop-rock sound.

Yup, it was a bonus track on the 30th Anniversary edition of the album (and bumped over to the extras disc in the box).

I love his voice on this record – it drove me nuts when there was a bit of revisionist "oh this was popular but a bit crap" history. It's a tour de force.

A lot of tempting choices here.

The "Gotta Get Up" demo is fascinating in a "what would this have sounded like if he'd released it on Harry" kinda way but the finished version is absolutely one of the most irresistible things he ever did.

Second "Moonbeam Song" which the demo reveals as more than a bit of a sequel to "Think About Your Troubles."

I'll place my bet for "I'll Never Leave You" – which I love for its demented circus orchestrations, vocal control and odd form. Perfect album-ender.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

not surprised altho I've always thought "Jump Into the Fire" is a real anomaly in his catalog

Great results imo, thanks everyone for voting. In hindsight it's kinda weird that he DOESN'T have any other JITFs up his sleeve - basically just a really revved up version of R&B revivals he did many times. He was just constitutionally resistant to chasing a hit with soundalikes, I guess.

always thought his take of "Subterranean Homesick Blues" on Pussy Cats fit that mold.

Results look about right.

Was always pleased to hear "Jump into the fire" on that advert on mornings a while back.

Somehow missed this poll, would have voted "Without You", no contest imo.

missed this poll! might've voted for the moonbeam song, i could listen to that one forever.

Thank you Russian Doll for introducing me to this

Lucky, Nilsson is an all-time classic

I have no memory of starting this thread, but thanks for the revive - am bumping this now while I straighten up.