The American Cinematheque screened the documentary “Who Is Harry Nilsson?” last week and we can’t get it out of our mind. Nilsson was a haunting singer/ musician in the 60’s and 70’s who was so cool the Beatles were fans of his. (His song “Everybody’s Talkin’ ” was the theme for the movie Midnight Cowboy.) The documentary has amazing footage of Harry and John Lennon and Ringo and his various famous friends, thirty or forty years ago. Lotsa drugs and booze. Some of my favorite movie moments featured his record producer Richard Perry flaunting astonishing early 70’s clothes – skintight velvet or plaid jackets with pagoda shoulders, shirts with huge dog ear collars, and tiny V neck sweaters with platform shoes. If you love this musical era like we do- see this film.
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I was just reading about Richard Perry (who produced my fave Diana Ross album “Baby It’s Me”) in Julia Phillips “You’ll Never Eat Lunch” last night. Julia goes up to Barbra’s W. 96th St. apt. and Perry’s there playing a mix of “Stoney End”. Always loved him and thought he was sexy. A new version of the oft-covered Nilsson classic “Without You” is included on Clay Gayken’s new CD. I don’t think the songs for “Midnight Cowboy” have aged well. “I Guess The Lord Must Be in NYC”
Went on the website for this and forget Nilsson did “Jump Into the Fire” and “Coconut” which prove he’s a varied songwriter. He and John Lennon together drunk were a lethal combo. I want to see this doc, is it playing in New York? “Cuddly Toy” by The Monkees grew on me, too. He’s very London East End Theatre, Tin Pan Alley-influenced.
Thank you for highlighting this. I hope the movie plays in Toronto, although it doesn’t appear to be part of this year’s Festival. Harry Nilsson was a marvelous musical oddity, sweet and sour…total smultz and total piss artist! A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night is still wonderful and Everybody’s Talkin’ played on the radio all summer in 1969, my first year in the United States.
Everybody’s Talkin’ is an awesome song. Thanks for bringing this documentary to my attention – would love to see it.
I’d really be even more interested in a documentary on Richard Perry’s career. He worked with everyone in the 70s (Carly Simon, The Pointer Sisters, Ringo Starr, Diana Ross, Art Garfunkel) and started Planet Records which had one of my fave new wave bands The Cretones.
What about “Me & My Arrow” from “The Point” an animated t.v. movie that got great ratings back in the 70’s?
Sometimes people just want to freak out and do crazy things and act certain ways and just be creepy and weird and strange but all in all…It is all about living life and being crazy in the moment.
That was the fashion and style and it is apart of History and people often act that way and dressed that way…..So walking back in time is like traveing back to the pass.