Without Nilsson: A Poll

Her.

i honestly have no idea which one I'd vote for... kinda love all of these.

for reference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpOZ4xffh7k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J42xEFB18n4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvJ9Yxef5zI

Without Her is a fantastic song which I discovered through Herb Alpert's version. I don't like Nilsson's studio version (or the version I've heard at least), since the violin puts me off. It works better in that live version tyler posted.

Voting for that, in any case.

yeah that BBC version is my fave too. the whole special is one of the best things harry ever did imo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaHWCPFP04o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=culC_wYHlj4

all beyond great. voting "without her" because "without nilsson," to quote the thread title, there would still be other great versions of the other two songs in the world but "without her" would not exist at all.

when is that "without you" video from? between the swept-back hair and the wear and tear showing in his face, he kinda sorta reminds me of charlie rich there. i wouldn't mind hearing charlie rich sing all of these songs.

i'm not sure -- late 80s/early 90s?
also not sure if he's actually singing there -- sounds like the album vocal at least (and i don't know if he could sing that well later in life)

[and obviously it's double tracked]

yeah that looks entirely lip-synced. young harry's voice coming out of old harry's mouth.

I discovered 'Without Her" thanks to Kenny Everett's version.

Yeah here it is..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wybv-O9vjKo

Without Her is a fantastic song which I discovered through Herb Alpert's version. I don't like Nilsson's studio version (or the version I've heard at least), since the violin puts me off. It works better in that live version tyler posted.

nope, the chamber-music strings/winds arrangement on the studio recording is amazing! Also love how the strings suddenly drop out in favor of a simpler guitar backing on the last verse.

Never heard that Everett version before, but his vox are fantastic.

I was introduced to it through this version by the Tijuana Brass. Alpert's vocals are more subdued and, truth be told, I'm thankful for the lack of violin, although I'm sure the crescendos on the TB version would cause aversion to many people (the sound difference between the vocal parts and the orchestral sections on the album version are eye-watering). Nevertheless, this mono mix for the single is a lot easier on the ears and demonstrates quite a nice version of Nilsson's little masterpiece).

Lee: I think it was because I heard the Alpert version a LOT before even discovering Nilsson had wrote the song, but that arrangement has always felt "wrong" to me. Nilsson' solely acoustic version from the BBC is sublime though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGA89QK2Spo

ah that alpert version is nice, i need to actually buy some of his albums the next time I see 10 of them in the thrift store bin.

"Without Her", just because I made a goofy sample out of it 150 years ago.

and the kenny everett version is great too. maybe i just really like this song.

This is a great poll, all three songs are wonderful in their own strange ways, despite having some similarities and being by the same artist. Nilsson aces the Newman song, and "Without Her" should have become more of a familiar standard - I have six or seven artists doing it, from Brazilian groups to Glen Campbell to Lulu (some of these as "Without Him) and they're all fab - proof of a good song. But I've got to got with "Without You," which is more masterful in Nilsson's version than anyone else's. The Badfinger original barely hints at the power and majesty possible within it (despite being an intrinsically strong composition) and many other covers (like Mariah Carey's) attempt this but come off as bombastic and without real emotion. It's tough to sing anything as powerfully as Nilsson does on this track and still convey fragility and hurt, and that's why this song is probably his best known (although "Everybody's Talking," another cover, is in contention) . . . and deservedly so. It gets my vote.

It's a great fucking tune.

tyler: I picked up a bunch of Alpert LPs pretty much for free from work, and they really are good. They're all very similar, but if you like the sound, then that's a plus. I have "Without Her" as the penultimate cut on side B of a greatest hits set. I played it over and over, never realizing it was Nilsson. But it generally is a brilliant song and an underrated/forgotten one among Nilsson's catalogue, I think.

I never even knew Herb Alpert covered this; wow his version is OTT. Kenny Everett's cover OTOH seems a pointless carbon copy of the original.

Have to go Without You.

Kenny's version was very much a case of promoting an artist he really liked, in the UK. That's fairly faithful, but the a-side (It's been so long) is more "Hiya, Kenny here with a big fab hiteroonie" type performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTq1XjOoYpU

Voted "Without You". Kind of agree with the criticisms of "Without Her" on this thread, I like it but it's far from being a favourite of mine.

his version of Without You is unbelievably good

Kenny's version was very much a case of promoting an artist he really liked, in the UK. That's fairly faithful, but the a-side (It's been so long) is more "Hiya, Kenny here with a big fab hiteroonie" type performance.

― Mark G, Friday, January 24, 2014 2:11 AM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yeah the A-side is better. I knew Kenny as a radio/television/comedy personality - often quite funny actually - but didn't know he also made semi-serious records, or that he was a big Nilsson fan which is apparent from his own style. I saw one clip where he invited Nilsson on his show to sing "Mourning Glory Story" only instead of providing the real backings of the song to sing along with, he just made some tape loops and strung them together, but Harry played along and improvised his melody and lyrics to fit the repeating tape loop.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Listened to some of the YouTube's ..

That Herb Alpert version was like if the Pixies had done it.

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

goddamnit i forgot to vote in my own poll! do i need to pay a fine or something.
anyway, throw another vote for "living without you" that on is so nice.