- Playing
- The Trouble with Harry (Nilsson)
- From
- Jackson Braider
He's been dead since 1994; yet, between a new documentary film (Who Is Harry Nilsson and Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?) and a welter of CD re-issues, Harry Nilsson lives on. He's even survived on a much used old cassette that independent producer Jackson Braider recently found in his filing cabinet -- a recording of an interview Braider did with Nilsson in the fall of 1979.
Why it took the producer 27 years to get the story out -- who cares? Here's an unusual introduction to the singer/songwriter the Beatles called "their favorite group."
More from Jackson Braider
The 2009 Boston Handbell Festival
(05:40)
From: Jackson Braider
On May 19, 100 handbell ringers will descend on Old South Church in Boston. Independent producer Jackson Braider offers the skinny on what listeners might expect to hear.
Stravinsky @ 1-2-5: Three Glances at the Composer's Mirror
(01:00:25)
From: Jackson Braider
Three essays about different aspects of Stravinsky's life and work
#6: Igor Stravinsky: The End of the End
(17:29)
From: Jackson Braider
Igor Stravinsky's Requiem Canticles, from the beginning to the end
#5: Igor Stravinsky and the Art of the Miniature
(16:24)
From: Jackson Braider
Beloved for his full-length ballets, Stravinsky also created a surprising array of very short pieces for orchestra
#4: Toute Suite: Stravinsky, from the Ballet Theater to the Concert Hall
(13:53)
From: Jackson Braider
How -- and why -- Stravinsky revised theatrical pieces for the concert hall
#3: Hang Time with Igor at Post 43
(16:18)
From: Jackson Braider
The unusual setting where Igor Stravinsky conducted many of his recordings -- Hollywood Post 43 of the American Legion
#2: The Rite of Spring, or when Lenny met Igor
(13:16)
From: Jackson Braider
Few musical works have inspired so many stories as Stravinsky's 1913 hit, The Rite of Spring. These are just three or four of them.
#1: The Birth, Reversion, and Rebirth of "The Soldier's Tale"
(29:00)
From: Jackson Braider
The 46-year history behind a new release of Stravinsky's "The Soldier's Tale"
You Are Here: 1000 years of mapmaking history in one brief segment
(08:50)
From: Jackson Braider
A short introduction to the wonderful world of maps
Tales of an Irish M.D.
(59:03)
From: Jackson Braider
A collection of diverse tales told in 1962 by a Dublin heart doctor.
Related Pieces
Piece Description
He's been dead since 1994; yet, between a new documentary film (Who Is Harry Nilsson and Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?) and a welter of CD re-issues, Harry Nilsson lives on. He's even survived on a much used old cassette that independent producer Jackson Braider recently found in his filing cabinet -- a recording of an interview Braider did with Nilsson in the fall of 1979. Why it took the producer 27 years to get the story out -- who cares? Here's an unusual introduction to the singer/songwriter the Beatles called "their favorite group."
3 Comments
|
Review of The Trouble with Harry (Nilsson)A rare treasure of an interview! ....Sheds a bit more light on the puzzle that was Harry Nilsson who was taken from us much too soon...The man who wrote, produced, and performed songs that sound as fresh today as they did when recorded...You just don't hear productions like his anymore....Real strings, mixing a wide array of exotic instruments like steel drums, gargling while singing and multi-layered vocal harmonys....He was a genius. |
|
|
Review of The Trouble with Harry (Nilsson)Great interview from the past and a really nice intro to a reissue that everyone should purchase. Sounds like it should be on NPR. Great tone, professional, really interesting. The only quibble I have is that his name should be pronounced "NIL-sson" and not "Nielson". But other that that, I really enjoyed this. The interviewer obviously likes the subject a lot, but it doesn't get in the way of getting some good quotes, and all the music is incorporated really well. Thanks for this. I'll listen to it again. I'm very happy you were able to use those old tapes. It all goes to reinforce the notion that you shouldn't throw stuff out! Ted. |
Transcript
THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY
Host intro:
Harry Nilsson would have become a senior citizen in June, on the 15th, in fact. Among the enthusiasms of this 70s pop star, a fondness for the undead ? manifested in Son of Dracula, a film he made with Ringo Starr, in which he played the title role of Count Downe.
While the movie never made it to the local cineplex ? by all accounts, it was a terrible film ? un-dying remains a feature in Nilsson's universe. The singer/songwriter passed in 1994; still, his songs make their way into film ? most recently The Girl Next Door from 2004. Three of his albums have just been reissued, and now a full-length documentary ? Who Is Harry Nilsson and Why is everybody talkin' about him? -- written and directed by John Scheinfeld, is being shown at film festivals across the country.
And then there's this: 27 years ago, a graduate student from UCLA intervie...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
Host intro:
Harry Nilsson would have become a senior citizen in June, on the 15th, in fact. Among the enthusiasms of this 70s pop star, a fondness for the undead ? manifested in Son of Dracula, a film he made with Ringo Starr, in which he played the title role of Count Downe.
While the movie never made it to the local cineplex ? by all accounts, it was a terrible film ? un-dying remains a feature in Nilsson's universe. The singer/songwriter passed in 1994; still, his songs make their way into film ? most recently The Girl Next Door from 2004. Three of his albums have just been reissued, and now a full-length documentary ? Who Is Harry Nilsson and Why is everybody talkin' about him? -- written and directed by John Scheinfeld, is being shown at film festivals across the country.
And then there's this: 27 years ago, a graduate student from UCLA interviewed Nilsson in his Bel Air home. Now an independent radio producer, Jackson Braider recently uncovered the cassette of his conversation with the man the Beatles called their favorite group.
A warning to listeners: a portion of this story deals with obscenity.
Outro: (may start over musical coda, c10:45 in the piece)
Jackson Braider, an independent radio producer from Boston, has written CD liner notes for Sony/BMG Music, Harry Nilsson's record company. Proiduction of this story was supported in part by PRX. To hear other original voices in the radio world, please visit the Public Radio Exchange, prx.org.
Musical Works
The Coconut Song, Harry Nilsson, Nilsson Schmilsson, RCA, 1971, 1:35
Marching Down Broadway Again, Harry Nilsson, Harry, RCA 1969, 1:00
The Most Beautiful World in the World, Harry Nilsson, Son of Schmilsson, RCA, 1972 1:30
You're Breaking My Heart, Harry Nilsson, Son of Schmilsson, RCA, 1972 1:30
Remember, Harry Nilsson, Harry Nilsson, Son of Schmilsson, RCA, 1972 1:00
excerpts from The Point, Harry Nilsson, The Point, RCA, 1971, 1:00
Additional Files
- Host and promo copy for "The Trouble with Harry" (nilssonstationcopy.doc)
Related Website
Emon Hassan
Posted on August 05, 2006 at 10:28 AM | Permalink
Review of The Trouble with Harry (Nilsson)
Short glimpse of a man who primarily thought of himself as a songwriter. Excerpts of an interview, that took place some 27 years ago, are placed throughout the piece, sometimes next to famous Nilsson songs. Whereas singers and songwriters spend an awful lot of time showering with stage lights, flash bulbs, and celluloid, Nilsson has never given a concert. Why? His answer is so simple that you'd think he's crazy. Maybe he is crazy...but in a Werner Herzog way.