Martin P Nilsson

Released in February 1970, 'Nilsson Sings Newman' is an album where singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson performs songs written by Randy Newman. Recorded over six weeks in late 1969, the album is characterized by Nilsson's multi-tracked vocals, creating rich layers of harmony, supported by Newman's piano accompaniment. The arrangements are generally sparse, allowing Nilsson's vocal performance to take center stage.

While not a commercial triumph, the album garnered critical acclaim, including a "Record of the Year" award from Stereo Review magazine in 1970. The creation process involved extensive vocal overdubbing by Nilsson, sometimes with him directing the engineer from the control room. The album also features subtle instrumentation and occasional musical references, such as a quote from the 'Midnight Cowboy' theme. Despite Newman's eventual weariness with the project, he expressed honor that a vocalist of Nilsson's caliber would interpret his work, noting Nilsson's virtuosity as a singer.

The concept for 'Nilsson Sings Newman' may have roots in Ricky Nelson's 1968 album 'Perspective,' which incorporated songs by both Newman and Nilsson. Nilsson himself had previously included a Randy Newman song, "Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear," on his 1969 album 'Harry.' Nilsson expressed profound admiration for Newman's songwriting, feeling that Newman's compositions surpassed his own. This admiration fueled the desire to dedicate an entire album to Newman's work, showcasing Nilsson's interpretive vocal talents.

The recording sessions for 'Nilsson Sings Newman' commenced in August 1969. Nilsson dedicated six weeks to meticulously overdubbing his voice, building up to 118 vocal layers on a single track. This intensive process allowed him to craft intricate harmonies and vocal textures. Notably, Nilsson's presence in the control room is audible on several tracks, where he can be heard giving instructions for vocal effects like echo or requesting specific vocal takes. This direct involvement highlights his meticulous approach to shaping the final sound and his unique performance style, even breaking the fourth wall with self-correction during takes.

Upon its release, 'Nilsson Sings Newman' received mixed commercial results, with some speculating the idiosyncratic nature of the ballads and a lack of reviews contributed to its underwhelming sales. However, critics recognized its artistic merit. Robert Christgau awarded it a B+, praising Nilsson's interpretations. Stereo Review magazine named it their album of the year, and Cue magazine commended Nilsson's ability to focus purely on his performance, free from the personal complexities found in his own material. The album's legacy includes influencing subsequent artists, with Weezer's 2021 album 'OK Human' notably drawing inspiration from it. Randy Newman later planned a reciprocal album of Nilsson's songs, which evolved into a memorial project after Nilsson's passing.

“Nilsson told Paul Zollo that he was in awe of Newman writing so many songs, ones he thought were better than his own.”

“Nilsson softly asks for "more first voice."”

“Louder, he counters himself by saying "actually I need more current voice. Forget the one that's saying 'more first voice.'"”

“According to Nilsson, Newman was "tired of the album when we were finished making it. ... For him it was just doing piano and voice ... over and over."”

“He explained that "once I got the take down, I knew what I was going to do with it later. He didn't."”