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Nilsson: The Life of a Singer-Songwriter
Paul McCartney and John Lennon described him as the Beatles' "favorite group," he won Grammy awards, wrote and recorded hit songs, and yet no figure in popular music is as much of a paradox, or as underrated, as Harry Nilsson. In this first ever full-length biography, Alyn Shipton traces Nilsson's life from his Brooklyn childhood to his Los Angeles adolescence and his gradual emergence as a uniquely talented singer-songwriter. With interviews from friends, family, and associates, and material drawn from an unfinished autobiography, Shipton probes beneath the enigma to discover the real Harry Nilsson. A major celebrity at a time when huge concerts and festivals were becoming the norm, Nilsson shunned live performance. His venue was the studio, his stage the dubbing booth, his greatest triumphs masterful examples of studio craft. He was a gifted composer of songs for a wide variety of performers, including the Ronettes, the Yardbirds, and the Monkees, yet Nilsson's own biggest hits were almost all written by other songwriters. He won two Grammy awards, in 1969 for "Everybody's Talkin'" (the theme song for Midnight Cowboy), and in 1972 for "Without You," had two top ten singles, numerous album successes, and wrote a number of songs--"Coconut" and "Jump into the Fire," to name just two--that still sound remarkably fresh and original today. He was once described by his producer Richard Perry as "the finest white male singer on the planet," but near the end of his life, Nilsson's career was marked by voice-damaging substance abuse and the infamous deaths of both Keith Moon and Mama Cass in his London flat. Drawing on exclusive access to Nilsson's papers, Alyn Shipton's biography offers readers an intimate portrait of a man who has seemed both famous and unknowable--until now.
355 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
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August 30, 2013Idol of my lonely teenage nights, subject of Book of the Week at BBC Radio 4:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b038xmch
"Paul McCartney and John Lennon described him as the Beatles' "favorite group," and yet no figure in popular music is as much of a paradox as Harry Nilsson. A major celebrity at a time when stadium rock was in its infancy and huge concerts and festivals were becoming the norm, Nilsson's instrument was the studio, his stage the dubbing booth, his greatest technical triumphs were masterful examples of studio craft, and he studiously avoided live performance.
He was a gifted composer of songs for a wide variety of performers, having created vivid flights of imagination for the Ronettes, the Yardbirds and the Monkees, yet Nilsson's own biggest hits were almost all written, ironically, by other composers and lyricists. He won two Grammies, had two top ten singles, and numerous album successes. Once described by his producer Richard Perry as "the finest white male singer on the planet," near the end of his life, his career was marked by voice-damaging substance abuse.
Kerry Shale reads extracts from this first ever full-length biography of Nilsson, in which author Alyn Shipton traces Nilsson's life from his Brooklyn childhood to his Los Angeles adolescence, and charts his gradual move into the spotlight as a talented songwriter. With interviews from Nilsson's friends, family and associates, and material drawn from an unfinished draft autobiography Nilsson was writing prior to his death, Shipton probes beneath the enigma and the paradox to discover the real Harry Nilsson, and reveals one of the most creative talents in 20th century popular music."
Credits:
NILSSON: THE LIFE OF A SINGER-SONGWRITER
BY ALYN SHIPTON
Read by Kerry Shale
Abridged by Libby Spurrier
Producer: JOANNA GREEN
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaHWCP...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=culC_w...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b038xmch
"Paul McCartney and John Lennon described him as the Beatles' "favorite group," and yet no figure in popular music is as much of a paradox as Harry Nilsson. A major celebrity at a time when stadium rock was in its infancy and huge concerts and festivals were becoming the norm, Nilsson's instrument was the studio, his stage the dubbing booth, his greatest technical triumphs were masterful examples of studio craft, and he studiously avoided live performance.
He was a gifted composer of songs for a wide variety of performers, having created vivid flights of imagination for the Ronettes, the Yardbirds and the Monkees, yet Nilsson's own biggest hits were almost all written, ironically, by other composers and lyricists. He won two Grammies, had two top ten singles, and numerous album successes. Once described by his producer Richard Perry as "the finest white male singer on the planet," near the end of his life, his career was marked by voice-damaging substance abuse.
Kerry Shale reads extracts from this first ever full-length biography of Nilsson, in which author Alyn Shipton traces Nilsson's life from his Brooklyn childhood to his Los Angeles adolescence, and charts his gradual move into the spotlight as a talented songwriter. With interviews from Nilsson's friends, family and associates, and material drawn from an unfinished draft autobiography Nilsson was writing prior to his death, Shipton probes beneath the enigma and the paradox to discover the real Harry Nilsson, and reveals one of the most creative talents in 20th century popular music."
Credits:
NILSSON: THE LIFE OF A SINGER-SONGWRITER
BY ALYN SHIPTON
Read by Kerry Shale
Abridged by Libby Spurrier
Producer: JOANNA GREEN
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaHWCP...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=culC_w...
July 23, 2013
Harry Nilsson is a fascinating music artist. For me, he was someone that was around, but never the focus on any scene. On one hand he had direct contact with The Beatles (who admired Harry's work greatly as well as a friend) and on the other he was very much in tuned with the pop music market. In one way he can be seen as the bridge between music underground and music 'overground. He was very much the professional music songwriter and yet on his solo recordings took great chances. And I think now because he did took those chances, he is much and greatly admired.
Born in Bushwick Brooklyn (one would think there should be a stature of him at the Bushwick station) from a troubled family family came a songwriter who wrote incredibly moving songs about the bonding of friendship and parent & child. "Me And My Arrow" is without a doubt one of the great songs about a human and his dog. And as they about the milkman whistling a tune, I do the same for this song whenever I take a walk around the neighborhood. That song works on so many levels. Alyn Shipton's biography captures the essense of this talented man, who it seems was loved by his friends and family, but had .... a hard life of sorts. With respect to drinking, that seems to me close to the glory years of Errol Flynn and WC Fields. Him and Ringo, Keith Moon, and others... being in the same room with them doesn't sound like it is good for one's health, but nevertheless a lot of fun. The fact that one meets Harry for lunch usually means they get back home about two days later, is all part of his incredible personality and sense of fun and wonder.
It is unusual for Oxford to do a biography on a contemporary music figure, but this is a superb book. A must for all Nilsson fans of course, but also for the causal curious music geek who wants to know what it was like to be in the center of the pop world during the late 1960's and '70's. The later years are kind of sad, but without a doubt he was a remarkable figure in American music as well as iconic in his stance as the ultimate party boy. But in the end one is left with the albums, and that is a great journey to go on. Make sure you have this book as you take that trip....
Born in Bushwick Brooklyn (one would think there should be a stature of him at the Bushwick station) from a troubled family family came a songwriter who wrote incredibly moving songs about the bonding of friendship and parent & child. "Me And My Arrow" is without a doubt one of the great songs about a human and his dog. And as they about the milkman whistling a tune, I do the same for this song whenever I take a walk around the neighborhood. That song works on so many levels. Alyn Shipton's biography captures the essense of this talented man, who it seems was loved by his friends and family, but had .... a hard life of sorts. With respect to drinking, that seems to me close to the glory years of Errol Flynn and WC Fields. Him and Ringo, Keith Moon, and others... being in the same room with them doesn't sound like it is good for one's health, but nevertheless a lot of fun. The fact that one meets Harry for lunch usually means they get back home about two days later, is all part of his incredible personality and sense of fun and wonder.
It is unusual for Oxford to do a biography on a contemporary music figure, but this is a superb book. A must for all Nilsson fans of course, but also for the causal curious music geek who wants to know what it was like to be in the center of the pop world during the late 1960's and '70's. The later years are kind of sad, but without a doubt he was a remarkable figure in American music as well as iconic in his stance as the ultimate party boy. But in the end one is left with the albums, and that is a great journey to go on. Make sure you have this book as you take that trip....
March 6, 2014
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2013
My View:
Let me preface my review with the statement – I am a big Harry Nilsson fan. And I thought I knew a lot about this musician, his music and his life. I have listened to and bought his music and have watched and enjoyed the documentary Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?) but in reality I knew nothing about this complex paradox of a man who inspired and was inspired by the world and what it had to offer. Nilsson produced so many more albums than I was aware of, he made movies, he acted, he wrote jingles for commercials, he wrote sound tracks for movies, he wrote musicals, he wrote kids books, he was a singer and a songwriter – he was prolific in output and somewhat manic in his behaviour. Nilsson worked hard and played even harder.
It took me a little while to get into this book – I was not aware of Harry’s childhood or upbringing, in fact I hardly knew Harry existed before “One ( Is the loneliest number)” or “Jump into the Fire” or “Without You”. There was so much more to Harry than I had glimpsed on the popular music charts. There a library of music out there that I must discover and Shipton has opened my eyes and ears to it! I was not aware of the influence and relationship Harry had with so many well known and respected artists - this is a side of Harry that was unknown to me.
Once I started reading about times and song material that I was familiar with I was mesmerised by this story of the good time boy who partied and partied and wanted work to be fun! (Dont we all wish that?) Harry wished it and Harry lived it- to excess. Even though I was very aware before I picked up this book that Harry Nilsson was dead I still felt saddened when his demise was revealed on these pages. Harry Nilsson was by all accounts a likable rogue, an entrepreneur, an intelligent artiste who could see and work “outside of the box” and when you look at the body of work that was his life time achievements, the depth of his talent cannot be ignored. He was a truly gifted narrator of the journey of life; his words and music moving, passionate or funny, ironic, sad, entertaining and his observations of life poignant. I very much enjoyed delving into the life and times of Harry Nilsson and I look forward to re discovering his talent from his beginnings to his classic hits.
Let me preface my review with the statement – I am a big Harry Nilsson fan. And I thought I knew a lot about this musician, his music and his life. I have listened to and bought his music and have watched and enjoyed the documentary Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?) but in reality I knew nothing about this complex paradox of a man who inspired and was inspired by the world and what it had to offer. Nilsson produced so many more albums than I was aware of, he made movies, he acted, he wrote jingles for commercials, he wrote sound tracks for movies, he wrote musicals, he wrote kids books, he was a singer and a songwriter – he was prolific in output and somewhat manic in his behaviour. Nilsson worked hard and played even harder.
It took me a little while to get into this book – I was not aware of Harry’s childhood or upbringing, in fact I hardly knew Harry existed before “One ( Is the loneliest number)” or “Jump into the Fire” or “Without You”. There was so much more to Harry than I had glimpsed on the popular music charts. There a library of music out there that I must discover and Shipton has opened my eyes and ears to it! I was not aware of the influence and relationship Harry had with so many well known and respected artists - this is a side of Harry that was unknown to me.
Once I started reading about times and song material that I was familiar with I was mesmerised by this story of the good time boy who partied and partied and wanted work to be fun! (Dont we all wish that?) Harry wished it and Harry lived it- to excess. Even though I was very aware before I picked up this book that Harry Nilsson was dead I still felt saddened when his demise was revealed on these pages. Harry Nilsson was by all accounts a likable rogue, an entrepreneur, an intelligent artiste who could see and work “outside of the box” and when you look at the body of work that was his life time achievements, the depth of his talent cannot be ignored. He was a truly gifted narrator of the journey of life; his words and music moving, passionate or funny, ironic, sad, entertaining and his observations of life poignant. I very much enjoyed delving into the life and times of Harry Nilsson and I look forward to re discovering his talent from his beginnings to his classic hits.
September 3, 2013
For a Nilsson obsessive, this is a great look into Harry's life -- including many great details in his young life, which illuminated new meaning in many of his songs. It's also ripe with stories of his later life, both from his notes for an autobiography and from his friends and drinking buddies, which just furthers that cult of personality thing that makes it hard to be anything less that a Nilsson super-fan. That said, if you're not a super-fan, you might be scratching your head at why at least half the book is focused on the last 15 to 20 years of Nilsson's life, where he squandered his talents making disappointing records and drinking himself to death. (I found it fascinating, but I already knew that every record after Pussy Cats is some varying degree of trainwreck.)
If anything, I wish Shipton had spent more time delving into analysis of some of Harry's best songs. He starts by picking apart some of his early work to establish , but once the timeline picks up Harry's record-a-year output from 1967 on, many of his finest works get passed by rather quickly. I was disappointed with the lack of critical analysis of "Nilsson Sings Newman" as a studio artifact, where so much can be said about the innovation that went into that record. Almost nothing was said about "I'll Never Leave You," beyond a remark that it doesn't really fit on Nilsson Schmilsson (true, but it's among his best performances). And the pages around "Son of Schmilsson" are mostly focused on how Harry was truly self-destructive during the recording process, but skipped opportunity to deeply analyze how all the corners of that beautiful mess of an album truly reflect it.
If anything, I wish Shipton had spent more time delving into analysis of some of Harry's best songs. He starts by picking apart some of his early work to establish , but once the timeline picks up Harry's record-a-year output from 1967 on, many of his finest works get passed by rather quickly. I was disappointed with the lack of critical analysis of "Nilsson Sings Newman" as a studio artifact, where so much can be said about the innovation that went into that record. Almost nothing was said about "I'll Never Leave You," beyond a remark that it doesn't really fit on Nilsson Schmilsson (true, but it's among his best performances). And the pages around "Son of Schmilsson" are mostly focused on how Harry was truly self-destructive during the recording process, but skipped opportunity to deeply analyze how all the corners of that beautiful mess of an album truly reflect it.
March 7, 2021
A phenomenal and in depth look at one of the greatest songwriters and singers that ever lived!
It was always strange to me how Harry Nilsson was both criminally underrated but with songs everyone in the world knows! (Everybody’s Talkin’, Without You, One). So after falling in love with his album ‘Aerial Ballet’, I wanted to get more into his discography knowing that he was both close friends with, as well as the “Favourite group”, of Paul McCartney’s and John Lennon’s.
It’s daunting when you see the body of work he did, especially as his songs vary from ‘Baroque-Pop’, to ‘swooning 20s style’ to just pure ‘Rock n’ Roll’, that this books ability to explain how and why Nilsson managed to be so unclassifiable was an accomplishment in and of itself, as well as revealing such wonderful treasures to me like ‘Salmon Falls, Mournin’ Glory Story, Will She Miss Me...the list goes on!)
If the songs weren’t enough, it adds that this man LIVED! Whether hitchhiking across the country to L.A, partying heavily with John Lennon, taking experimental treatment by having sheep placenta cells injected into his buttocks to fix his voice...it’s just a fun read!
This review really can’t do justice to the skill in which Alyn Shipton has perfectly taken account of the life of this very talented, very funny, very self-destructive but very child like, vulnerable man.
It was always strange to me how Harry Nilsson was both criminally underrated but with songs everyone in the world knows! (Everybody’s Talkin’, Without You, One). So after falling in love with his album ‘Aerial Ballet’, I wanted to get more into his discography knowing that he was both close friends with, as well as the “Favourite group”, of Paul McCartney’s and John Lennon’s.
It’s daunting when you see the body of work he did, especially as his songs vary from ‘Baroque-Pop’, to ‘swooning 20s style’ to just pure ‘Rock n’ Roll’, that this books ability to explain how and why Nilsson managed to be so unclassifiable was an accomplishment in and of itself, as well as revealing such wonderful treasures to me like ‘Salmon Falls, Mournin’ Glory Story, Will She Miss Me...the list goes on!)
If the songs weren’t enough, it adds that this man LIVED! Whether hitchhiking across the country to L.A, partying heavily with John Lennon, taking experimental treatment by having sheep placenta cells injected into his buttocks to fix his voice...it’s just a fun read!
This review really can’t do justice to the skill in which Alyn Shipton has perfectly taken account of the life of this very talented, very funny, very self-destructive but very child like, vulnerable man.
December 9, 2019
A versatile singer and songwriter in his day, Harry Nilsson is probably known to the general public as the singer of hits like “Everybody’s Talkin’” and “Without You” (neither of which he wrote), or they will recognize a couple of songs he did write, like “Coconut” or “One.” But his catalogue contains plenty more gems. His body of work touches on multiple genres and media, and from 1967 to 1973, he was at the top of his game, musically speaking.
Unfortunately, substance abuse diminished his voice as the 70s went on, and he eventually developed health problems. He found great happiness in the large family he started with his third wife, however.
Shipton gives a lot of attention to Nilsson’s music, which is my preference in musicians’ biographies. He captures the shape of Nilsson’s life, his family life, his interactions with friends and colleagues, etc., but the end result still feels more remote than it should. Nevertheless, this is likely to be the only Nilsson biography that we will get, so it’s worth reading.
Unfortunately, substance abuse diminished his voice as the 70s went on, and he eventually developed health problems. He found great happiness in the large family he started with his third wife, however.
Shipton gives a lot of attention to Nilsson’s music, which is my preference in musicians’ biographies. He captures the shape of Nilsson’s life, his family life, his interactions with friends and colleagues, etc., but the end result still feels more remote than it should. Nevertheless, this is likely to be the only Nilsson biography that we will get, so it’s worth reading.
March 18, 2023
En grundlig och otrolig genomgång av mannen, myten, legenden (och rösten) och hans personliga samt musikaliska karriär. Från banktjänsteman till topplistenamn hela vägen till kraschade företag och protesterna mot handeldvapen. Källorna är många och nästintill varenda låt som han spelade in behandlas. Harry uppträdde aldrig live och hans albumsläpp är spretiga som samling men man får ändå en förståelse, mellan röken och glasen, för vad han ville uppnå.
January 16, 2014
Well written and researched, this is a fantastic biography of an incredible talent that wisely and welcomely gives equal focus to Nilsson's early life, his writing, his musical collaborators, his rambunctious social life, and his idyllic family life. Unlike most of the biographies and memoirs I've come across recently, Alyn Shipton's Nilsson doesn't thin out or lose focus toward the end; just about every conceivable aspect of Harry's life and career is covered. If there's any complaint to be made -- and this admittedly is a somewhat specious one -- it's that Harry's own voice (well represented through extended quotes from interviews and from his own unfinished autobiography) is so singular and witty, I wish there were a way to get more of his life story in his own words. A must read for Nilsson fans.
July 14, 2013
Excellent. I disagree with the writer's point of view on some of Nilsson's work, especially the later stuff, but differences of opinion aside, this is a fascinating, sad, well-researched look at an artist who's long deserved the biography treatment.
September 30, 2024
If there is one thing that you can't accuse Alyn Shipton of, it's lack of detail. Indeed, as biographies go, his account of the life of one of, in my opinion, finest American voices of the 20th century is as extensive as one can bear. Nilsson: The Life of a Singer-Songwriter (2013) gives us the story of Harry Nilsson, famed singer of 'Everybody's Talkin' and 'Without You', from his birth to his early death. We learn of his splitting himself between working in a bank whilst trying to sell songs, his breakthrough, his life-long reluctance to sing live, his hellraising with John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Keith Moon (who died in Nilsson's London flat) and others, the loss of his voice, his campaign against handguns after the murder of Lennon and his legacy after dying at just 52 years of age. The book is well-written and although doesn't pull punches with regards to Nilsson's underachievement due to stubborness and addictions to alcohol and drugs, it certainly celebrates just how talented he was, his beautiful writing and otherworldly singing voice that glided so easily from baritone to falsetto. Whether you read this book or not, do yourself a favour and go down a rabbit hole of Nilsson's music. You won't regret it.
July 29, 2019
An honest and fascinating account of Harry Nilsson's life...genious, eccentric, alcoholic. It's incredible to understand that he was constantly in a struggle with producers over what his music should sound like until finally he decided to produce himself. Perhaps one of the most beautiful and versatile voices in pop/rock music, Nilsson had a three-and-a-half octave range. Years of smoking and vocal abuse sadly diminished that range near the end of his life, but his music continued to be brilliant. Almost all his albums are covered individually in their own chapter with in-depth information about how each track was produced. The best way to read this book is to listen to each album as you read the corresponding chapter. You will hear the songs in a whole new way. Promise. Do it... for the love of Harry.
July 19, 2025
This is an extremely well-researched biography, incorporating a wide variety of sources and many primary sources. This may be the only place you can find this much information about Nilsson's life in one place.
And it is no hagiography. All the man's foibles and failings are revealed, but stated as facts, in context, without judgment or salaciousness. And all of his successes are recounted, surprising because of his addictions and whatever hidden psychological difficulties drove him.
Although I don't idolize the man, he is my favorite singer-songwriter, and learning this much about his life is very sobering. Sometimes it's better not to know the person behind the songs you love, but I think reading this book will give the music even more depth and breadth of emotional reaction when listened to.
It took me so long to read because, although I have all but one of his regular-release albums, I had to stop and listen to pieces where the author explained details of the recordings and look up various commercials and events that I never knew about. Reading this was a very enjoyable experience.
If you've only ever heard of a few of his songs, you need to take a deeper dive with this book. Discover the interesting life of the man who uncompromisingly ran his career his way, for better or worse, and was a perfectionist in the studio in the one part of his life that he could control, and left us with an eclectic and inimitable catalog ranging from extreme pathos to sidesplitting humor -- often on the same album!
Samples of lyrics:
"Well in 1941 a happy father had a son And by 1944 the father walked right out the door And in '45 the mom and son were still alive But who could tell in '46 if the two were to survive"
"No is the saddest experience you'll ever know"
"If only I could find a place where smiling strangers knew our faces I would take you there"
"Do you have to look away when you pass by the diner Where the squad car stops for coffee?"
"You could take your teardrops And drop them in a teacup Take them down to the riverside"
"Life isn't easy When two are divided And one has decided to bring down the curtain"
"You can see all the people Who seem to have nothing to say to each other"
"You're a scary old place out there, world But I couldn't be happy without you And I swear all my thoughts are about you The most beautiful world in the world"
"Black sails in the moonlight Black patch on your eye You shiver your timbers, baby And I'll shiver mine"
"not until it crashes against the Earth Will a drop of rain have fallen Not until all men are dead
Will you die"
"Don't try to rhyme silver with anything yeah That goes for orange as well Now notice how cleverly
I just used them both And all I have to do Is rhyme well"
"I think you made a large mistake here First of all, I was in Colorado having breakfast with a nun"
"What am I? Some kind of barnacles on the dinghy of life?"
"He drives a gas hog like Attila the Hun And woe to the luckless pedestrian While she prefers bikes and bird-watching hikes And sailing and riding equestrian"
And it is no hagiography. All the man's foibles and failings are revealed, but stated as facts, in context, without judgment or salaciousness. And all of his successes are recounted, surprising because of his addictions and whatever hidden psychological difficulties drove him.
Although I don't idolize the man, he is my favorite singer-songwriter, and learning this much about his life is very sobering. Sometimes it's better not to know the person behind the songs you love, but I think reading this book will give the music even more depth and breadth of emotional reaction when listened to.
It took me so long to read because, although I have all but one of his regular-release albums, I had to stop and listen to pieces where the author explained details of the recordings and look up various commercials and events that I never knew about. Reading this was a very enjoyable experience.
If you've only ever heard of a few of his songs, you need to take a deeper dive with this book. Discover the interesting life of the man who uncompromisingly ran his career his way, for better or worse, and was a perfectionist in the studio in the one part of his life that he could control, and left us with an eclectic and inimitable catalog ranging from extreme pathos to sidesplitting humor -- often on the same album!
Samples of lyrics:
"Well in 1941 a happy father had a son And by 1944 the father walked right out the door And in '45 the mom and son were still alive But who could tell in '46 if the two were to survive"
"No is the saddest experience you'll ever know"
"If only I could find a place where smiling strangers knew our faces I would take you there"
"Do you have to look away when you pass by the diner Where the squad car stops for coffee?"
"You could take your teardrops And drop them in a teacup Take them down to the riverside"
"Life isn't easy When two are divided And one has decided to bring down the curtain"
"You can see all the people Who seem to have nothing to say to each other"
"You're a scary old place out there, world But I couldn't be happy without you And I swear all my thoughts are about you The most beautiful world in the world"
"Black sails in the moonlight Black patch on your eye You shiver your timbers, baby And I'll shiver mine"
"not until it crashes against the Earth Will a drop of rain have fallen Not until all men are dead
Will you die"
"Don't try to rhyme silver with anything yeah That goes for orange as well Now notice how cleverly
I just used them both And all I have to do Is rhyme well"
"I think you made a large mistake here First of all, I was in Colorado having breakfast with a nun"
"What am I? Some kind of barnacles on the dinghy of life?"
"He drives a gas hog like Attila the Hun And woe to the luckless pedestrian While she prefers bikes and bird-watching hikes And sailing and riding equestrian"
January 20, 2021
A great life, a decent book. While not breaking any new ground in the area of rock bios, this certainly does a great job of finally filling in the gaps in Harry's life. It's well-written, with a decent focus on the music and craftsmanship without being judgmental about Harry's times in the dark side of the R'n'R lifestyle. I have to confess, I found it a slow start and I struggled to be fully engaged until we arrived in the 1970s -- but that's more on me than the author. I particularly enjoyed learning more about the time between 1977 and 1994, when Harry had largely stopped making albums. As always, I wish the book (and life) were longer.
September 17, 2020
Life can be hard. But some people make it harder on themselves.
Enter Mr. Nilsson, stage right.
1) Attain success with your music
2) Use your $ to spend the rest of your life boozing and doing drugs to a massive extent
3) Continue to do music but do it completely off-the-cuff without much preparing and involve a lot of 2) in it
This book was mildly interesting, insofar as the descriptions of his music and methods are herein. But when the methods are generally predicated on massive amounts of brandy and cocaine, it gets a bit repetitive.
Enter Mr. Nilsson, stage right.
1) Attain success with your music
2) Use your $ to spend the rest of your life boozing and doing drugs to a massive extent
3) Continue to do music but do it completely off-the-cuff without much preparing and involve a lot of 2) in it
This book was mildly interesting, insofar as the descriptions of his music and methods are herein. But when the methods are generally predicated on massive amounts of brandy and cocaine, it gets a bit repetitive.
September 6, 2025
If you want to know every single person in the world who worked on a Nilsson LP or soundtrack or play or whatever, or if you want to know everyone who went on a drunken/drug binge with Nilsson (Ringo Starr figuring large in the list) then you will probably give this 5 *. I don't care about that, I only care about the tragic self-destructivness that drove this lovely person and incredible singing/song-writing talent to death at the age of 52. I love Nilsson. I will never stop listening to him.
August 18, 2020
I felt there was too much time spent bogging down on studio minutiae - at times, covering other artists - than what could have been spent elsewhere. Too many segments read like old rock magazine articles, which were fine in their format, just not a biography.
I would have enjoyed more Harry in Nilsson.
I would have enjoyed more Harry in Nilsson.
July 1, 2024
Extremely interesting about the mind behind one of the most genius and wild songwriter and human. Didn't know the extremely close connection with Ringo and The Beatles. The print was super small and there were so many long tangents about each of the songs he wrote it loses its linear track in story telling.
December 30, 2025
The best biography ever written purely because of the sheep placenta spa treatment quack doctor 2 day bender ending up with the man kicking a police officer and throwing up and pissing when the Valium finally wore off story. And at times a valid argument for cocaine (it gave us nilsson sings newman!). They don't make dudes like this anymore.
August 29, 2018
It is hard to separate a set of beautiful songs from what appears to be a rather shallow and unpleasant person based on this book. I guess I shouldn't mark the author by the content but when someone stops you wanting to listen to some good songs it is hard to be favourable - sorry
May 13, 2022
In depth voluminous biography of Harry Nilsson's life. Sooo much detail to weed through that I lost interest half way through and it took me years to finally finish it. It was so data/fact heavy - I wish the author had a better finesse with narrative because it may have been an easier read.
November 4, 2022
Harry is such a unique person and artist, he deserves better than this ... very ordinary fare here, mostly a blow-by-blow of every song and album, monotonous... some photos would have been cool ... still, we'll always be wild about Harry
April 17, 2023
A wonderful book, the kind of person you wish you had met in real life but could never have kept up with. The voice of an angel, "a fallen angel". I hope not. His songs bring joy and sadness and so did this biography.
September 9, 2018
Wel reserached, well written about one of my favourite artists. A great read.
August 23, 2022
Amazing life.
March 11, 2025
Really enjoyed this, I knew a bit about Nilsson but had no idea what a brilliant career he had. Got me looking up obscure video of him too…
December 29, 2025
A nice and detailed reading of Nilssons professional and personal life. If you are intrigued by Nilssons music and want to learn more about his inspirations and creative process behind his work, this is definitely a good book for you.
October 2, 2013
Harry's voice was considered by many (including the author) to be the greatest male tenor in the the 70s. This biography starts off very strong, and that's not often the case with biographies, even the good ones. It really surprised me that Harry Nilsson's life actually began in Bushwick, Brooklyn. There, it was tough going for Harry and family. The father basically abandoned them, and one day Harry and his mother got attacked by a gang of girls near their home. After that, the mother picked up and split, but Harry decided to stick it out a bit in Brooklyn, and then eventually traveled to California to meet up with mum and siblings. Having no money, he hitchhiked cross country. It's during those hard scrabble early years that the book really takes fire. Living a hand to mouth existence for quite a while, the reader experiences the full arc of a life truly ranging from rags to riches (and rags again.) No joke, Harry Nilsson was one self made man. For sure, no silver spoon or even the most basic support was ever provided to him. He did have an uncle in California that gave him a job however.
Nilsson was blessed with a keen mind, and there he was at the forefront of the computer revolution. He worked his way to the top at a bank where he specialized in computer systems, even though he didn't even have a high school diploma. Was even known to wash the windows at his job. And for quite a while, Harry hung onto this very position even though his songwriting career was taking off. His character's kind of nebulous and hard to pin down though, making it rather difficult for any biographer. Harry Nilsson lived below the radar, and the author emphasizes that he never played before a live audience. That's an overstatement because he did play short set(s) before a small crowd of people, but surely he never went on any kind of tour. And that's the way he wanted it, and that restriction kept a certain pressure at bay. Harry controlled his career, not the music industry. The surprise here are all the songs that I was very familiar with from the 1970s that were indeed Harry Nilsson's. Here's a tasty sample: "Everybody's Talking" (from film "Midnight Cowboy"), "The Lime in the Coconut," "Without You" and "Jump into the Fire" (utilized to great affect in Scorcese's "Goodfellas").
The story loses some momentum half way through, and then, as one would expect, things pick way up when Nilsson connects with the Beatles. Notoriously, Nilsson clicked immediately with John Lennon and also enjoyed a long friendship with Ringo Starr as well. Nilsson and Lennon's exploits in California are legendary, and most would agree that was an out of control part of Lennon's life. Drinking, drugging, smoking and most likely fornicating. You get the picture. Additionally, Harry bought a flat in London where he lived on and off for several years. He would lend out his place to his famous friends when he wasn't in town. Both Mama Cass and Keith Moon in fact died in that very apartment. In this same regard, Nilsson died way too young also, having suffered a major heart attack at 53. This happened a mere six months after losing his life savings via money mismanagement by a trusted associate.
Definitely a well written book that shines a light on a writer/performer who is somewhat forgotten, but whose songbook certainly deserves a revival.
Nilsson was blessed with a keen mind, and there he was at the forefront of the computer revolution. He worked his way to the top at a bank where he specialized in computer systems, even though he didn't even have a high school diploma. Was even known to wash the windows at his job. And for quite a while, Harry hung onto this very position even though his songwriting career was taking off. His character's kind of nebulous and hard to pin down though, making it rather difficult for any biographer. Harry Nilsson lived below the radar, and the author emphasizes that he never played before a live audience. That's an overstatement because he did play short set(s) before a small crowd of people, but surely he never went on any kind of tour. And that's the way he wanted it, and that restriction kept a certain pressure at bay. Harry controlled his career, not the music industry. The surprise here are all the songs that I was very familiar with from the 1970s that were indeed Harry Nilsson's. Here's a tasty sample: "Everybody's Talking" (from film "Midnight Cowboy"), "The Lime in the Coconut," "Without You" and "Jump into the Fire" (utilized to great affect in Scorcese's "Goodfellas").
The story loses some momentum half way through, and then, as one would expect, things pick way up when Nilsson connects with the Beatles. Notoriously, Nilsson clicked immediately with John Lennon and also enjoyed a long friendship with Ringo Starr as well. Nilsson and Lennon's exploits in California are legendary, and most would agree that was an out of control part of Lennon's life. Drinking, drugging, smoking and most likely fornicating. You get the picture. Additionally, Harry bought a flat in London where he lived on and off for several years. He would lend out his place to his famous friends when he wasn't in town. Both Mama Cass and Keith Moon in fact died in that very apartment. In this same regard, Nilsson died way too young also, having suffered a major heart attack at 53. This happened a mere six months after losing his life savings via money mismanagement by a trusted associate.
Definitely a well written book that shines a light on a writer/performer who is somewhat forgotten, but whose songbook certainly deserves a revival.
August 11, 2014
This was a solid, highly detailed story of Harry and his career. While the book begins with his rather difficult childhood, Shipton's main concern is the music. As Harry's music career begins, Shipton tells the story song by song. Shipton includes details on everything from who played each instrument to what inspired the tunes. As Harry's career takes flight, the story goes from parties in London with the Beatles to LA for sessions with his Laurel Canyon friends.
I am a bit surprised that such a detailed study would be published for a song writer who spent so much of his career on the periphery. I am a fan and am thrilled, but the book spend pages on single lines from single album tracks on albums that barely broke the top 200. Conversely, this level of detail was welcome and exciting when regarding tracks I love. There is a whole chapter on the London staging of The Point!
I believe that Harry is one of the great tragic stars of my generation. He may have had one of the best voices of the 70s and he clearly wrote some of my favorite songs of the period. Even if you'd never heard of Harry, the details of the inner workings of the 70s music industry is fascinating. But if you haven't heard of Harry, spend an hour on YouTube. One, Without You, Everybody's Talkin', Me And My Arrow, Coconut, I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City, 1941, Turn On Your Radio... The book is terrific and Nilsson is worth a listen.
I am a bit surprised that such a detailed study would be published for a song writer who spent so much of his career on the periphery. I am a fan and am thrilled, but the book spend pages on single lines from single album tracks on albums that barely broke the top 200. Conversely, this level of detail was welcome and exciting when regarding tracks I love. There is a whole chapter on the London staging of The Point!
I believe that Harry is one of the great tragic stars of my generation. He may have had one of the best voices of the 70s and he clearly wrote some of my favorite songs of the period. Even if you'd never heard of Harry, the details of the inner workings of the 70s music industry is fascinating. But if you haven't heard of Harry, spend an hour on YouTube. One, Without You, Everybody's Talkin', Me And My Arrow, Coconut, I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City, 1941, Turn On Your Radio... The book is terrific and Nilsson is worth a listen.
November 14, 2013
I actually finished reading this book a few months ago. I haven't read much in the time since, and this has been the longest I've gone without reading on a daily basis for a long, long time - probably about the last decade! I blame a combination of a change in jobs, plus no longer spending a few hours every day sitting on a train, plus just not really finding anything I felt a strong urge to read. It's been kind of nice, actually - sort of hitting the restart button.
Anyway, about the book: yeah, it's my favorite musician, getting the scholarly criticism he has long deserved, from no less than Oxford, so obviously, it was amazing. If you're a Nilsson superfan like me and you got your hands on the Complete RCA Albums box set as soon as it came out, this book is an essential counterpart.
Nilsson superfans likely have already devoured both the book and the box set by now, but if you're even slightly aware of Nilsson (or even if you have no clue about him), you won't be disappointed - the Nilsson story is one of the most unique in American recording history, and just to happens to involve some of the brightest lights in the last century of popular music - Phil Spector, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, etc. etc.
Anyway, about the book: yeah, it's my favorite musician, getting the scholarly criticism he has long deserved, from no less than Oxford, so obviously, it was amazing. If you're a Nilsson superfan like me and you got your hands on the Complete RCA Albums box set as soon as it came out, this book is an essential counterpart.
Nilsson superfans likely have already devoured both the book and the box set by now, but if you're even slightly aware of Nilsson (or even if you have no clue about him), you won't be disappointed - the Nilsson story is one of the most unique in American recording history, and just to happens to involve some of the brightest lights in the last century of popular music - Phil Spector, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, etc. etc.
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