I finally got my hands on a copy of “Nilsson Sings Newman” (I’ve been meaning to for about three years now) a couple of months ago, however I didn’t get the chance to give it a close listen until today. That said, I’ve listened to it three times and counting since this morning. It’s excellent. Maybe not as immediately gripping as other classic pop/rock albums of the late 60s/early 70s, but just as rewarding. It’s as intimate as Brian Wilson’s piano and vocal arrangement of “Surf’s Up”:
but also as loose and organic sounding as the best songs from The Band’s “Music from Big Pink”:
It’s worth checking out. As are Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman’s various solo records from the late 60s/early 70s, (e.g. “Nilsson Schmilsson,” “Good Old Boys,” etc.)
Since it’s almost Valentine’s Day, here is one of the sweeter songs from the record:
