Harry Nilsson - The Essential Nilsson 2CD (2013)

A missing element in Harry Nilsson's catalog is an excellent double-disc retrospective. That's precisely what the 2013 compilation Essential Harry Nilsson provides: two discs that tell his story from beginning to end, hitting all the high points along the way. The first disc concentrates on his '60s work, chronicling the rise of Nilsson the maverick interpreter and songwriter; his original versions of "Cuddly Toy," "I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City," and "One" are here, as are his breakthrough cover of Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin'" and several selections from the landmark Nilsson Sings Newman, plus such remarkable pieces of popcraft like "1941," "Good Old Desk," "Without Her," and "Me and My Arrow." The entire second disc is devoted to the '70s, beginning with the smash 1971 album Nilsson Schmilsson and its hits – "Without You," "Coconut," "Jump in the Fire" – plus the album-opener "Gotta Get Up." From there, hits, non-LP singles, and the occasional oddities pile up – "You're Breakin' My Heart," "Spaceman," "Daybreak," his straight version of "As Time Goes By," "Kojak Columbo" – tracing his majestic rise and being kind with his fall. Although this doesn't have every great song Nilsson made (a few absent favorites are "Driving Along," "The Lottery Song," "Take Fifty Four," "Jesus Christ You're Tall"), no other compilation has captured his peculiar genius as thoroughly as this, which does indeed make it something close to the Essential Harry Nilsson. Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

TRACKLIST

Disc: 1
1. 1941
2. Cuddly Toy
3. You Can't Do That
4. Without Her
5. Daddy's Song
6. Good Old Desk
7. Mr. Richland's Favorite Song
8. Together
9. Everybody's Talkin' (From "Midnight Cowboy")
10. One
11. Girlfriend (Remix)
12. I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City
13. Rainmaker
14. I Will Take You There
15. The Puppy Song
16. Vine Street
17. Living Without You
18. Life Line (Alternate Piano Take 13)
19. Me And My Arrow
20. Think About Your Troubles

Disc: 2
1. Gotta Get Up (Remastered 2004)
2. Without You (Remastered 2004)
3. Jump Into The Fire (Single Version)
4. Coconut (Remastered 2004)
5. I'll Never Leave You (Remastered 2004)
6. Old Forgotten Soldier (Previously unreleased version)
7. Remember (Christmas)
8. You're Breakin' My Heart
9. Spaceman
10. Daybreak (Single Version)
11. As Time Goes By
12. Many Rivers To Cross
13. Don't Forget Me
14. Black Sails
15. Kojak Columbo
16. Easier For Me (1994 Remastered)
17. (Thursday) Here's Why I Did Not Go To Work Today
18. Sail Away
19. All I Think About Is You
20. Perfect Day (1994 Remastered)