Harry Nilsson - Aerial Ballet (1968/2017) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

To define in a nutshell the music of Harry Nilsson in accordance with his personality can easily become a fiasco. The American singer-songwriter might well share his reputation as a multi-talented eccentric with a number of other musicians. However, his highly unusual style and his "satirical catchy pop songs [composed] with the sparkling eye of a cynic and the tearful eye of a nostalgic" (rororo Rock Lexicon) cannot be pigeonholed. Nilsson packaged derisive lines, spiced with a pinch of self-irony, in suspiciously pleasing yet carefully selected tunes. His cultivated and astonishingly supple voice basked to the full in bittersweet phrases, aided by elaborate, melting, slushy arrangements with strings and winds. Several of the wonderfully fresh numbers from "Aerial Ballet" reached top places in the charts. "Everybody’s Talkin’" became world-famous through its use in the film Asphalt Cowboy and brought Nilsson his first Grammy award. The song "One" soared to the top ten of the charts. The other light and airy songs now invite you to create your very own hit list. Every single number makes great listening!

„As "Good Old Desk" opens Aerial Ballet with a cheerful saunter, it's clear that Harry Nilsson decided to pick up where he left off with his debut, offering another round of effervescent, devilishly clever pop, equal parts lite psychedelia, pretty ballads, and music hall cabaret. It's not a carbon copy, however. In one sense, he entrenches himself a little bit, emphasizing his lighter edges and humor, writing songs so cheerfully lightweight – a love song about his mom and dad, an ode to his favorite desk, an address or two to a "Little Cowboy" – that it may be a little too cloying for some tastes, even for fans of Pandemonium Shadow Show. Those are balanced by a couple major steps forward, namely "Everybody's Talkin'" and "One." The former finds Nilsson adopting a rolling folk-pop backing for a Fred Neil song, making it into an instant, Grammy-winning classic. The latter was the greatest song he had written to date, a haunting tale of loneliness reminiscent of McCartney, yet with its own voice. These are the songs anchoring an album that may be a little lightweight, but it's engagingly, deliberately lightweight. If it's a bit dated, it wears its old charms well.“ (Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AMG)

Tracklist:
1 Daddy's Song 02:44
2 Good Old Desk 02:22
3 Don't Leave Me 02:18
4 Mr. Richland's Favorite Song 02:12
5 Little Cowboy 01:20
6 Together 02:08
7 Everybody's Talkin' (From "Midnight Cowboy") 02:43
8 I Said Goodbye to Me 02:13
9 Little Cowboy (Reprise) 00:49
10 Mr. Tinker 02:41
11 One 02:53
12 The Wailing of the Willow 01:59
13 Bath 02:23

Personnel:
Harry Nilsson, guitar, vocals, harmonica, keyboards
Dennis Budimir, guitar
Al Casey, guitar
Michael Melvoin, piano
Larry Knechtel, piano
Michael Melvoin, harpsichord, omgaan, piano
Plas Johnson, woodwind
Ray Kelly, cello
Jim Gordon, drums
Milt Holland, percussion

Recorded 1967 and 1968 at RCA Victor's Music Center of The World, Hollywood
Produced by Rick Jarrard

Digitally remastered