[2017-06-30] VA "Gotta Get Up! The Songs Of Harry Nilsson 1965-1972" (Ace UK)

Linda · **Posted:** Sat May 13, 2017 1:04 am

Description
It’s been said before, but it bears repeating: Harry Nilsson is quite a paradox. He was a Brooklynite who suffered an unstable upbringing (later immortalised in his song ‘1941’), yet whose early albums exude charm and winsomeness. He was a naturally gifted performer but rarely sang in front of an audience, and never toured. And – most famously – he was a singer-songwriter whose two biggest hits (‘Everybody’s Talkin’’ and ‘Without You’) were both covers. This new Ace compilation of Nilsson compositions recorded by others should help redress the songwriter-singer balance a little, but even if it doesn’t, it’s an essential gathering of baroque (and more) pop nuggets, collecting hits, misses and obscurities from his songbook.

Nilsson’s early years were plagued by false starts, marked by a run of 45s on Tower and a series of indie labels. While waiting for his recording career to gain traction, he had been shopping his songs around to other artists, placing titles with the Shangri-Las, Pat & André, Debbie Burton and others, and writing an all-time classic for the MFQ with the Phil Spector-produced ‘This Could Be The Night’, one of the greatest singles never released (eventually appearing on a 1976 Spector compilation). All these gems are included here.

Meanwhile, producer Rick Jarrard had been alerted to Nilsson’s own recordings and helped forge a deal with RCA, resulting in the LP “Pandemonium Shadow Show”. This and its follow-up, “Aerial Ballet”, were plundered for material for artists as diverse as the Yardbirds and José Feliciano, although perhaps most fruitfully by the Monkees – both ‘Daddy’s Song’ and ‘Cuddly Toy’ are present here. In total, 10 of the titles on this collection are taken from these two wonderful albums. Arguably as important to Nilsson’s career was a burgeoning friendship with the Beatles, the result of Derek Taylor hearing ‘1941’ on the radio and immediately despatching copies of “Pandemonium Shadow Show” to Lennon and co, who instantly sensed a kindred spirit and a super-talented singer.

It’s debatable if Nilsson’s career lived up to this early promise, but his subsequent long-players include many glorious moments, and his “Nilsson Sings Newman” is one of the most quietly affecting albums in all of pop music. New readings of his own compositions kept coming too – via Harpers Bizarre, Andy Williams, Al Kooper and the 5th Dimension, all included here. The mid-to-late 1970s were tough times for Nilsson, following a decline in commercial success and a troubled private life. Better, then, to remember him with this definitive package from his glory years, expertly compiled and annotated by Mick Patrick, David Young and Ian Johnston.

Tracklist
1. Gotta Get Up - Annie Nilsson
2. Daddy's Song - The Monkees
3. Mournin' Glory Story - Al Kooper
4. This Could Be The Night - The MFQ
5. 1941 - Tom Northcott
6. Cuddly Toy - The Monkees
7. Bath - Doris
8. Butters Lament (Miss Butters' Lament) - The Family Tree
9. Good Times - Alan Lake
10. The Story Of Rock And Roll - Collage
11. Ten Little Indians - The Yardbirds
12. Hey Little Girl (Do Ya Wanna Get Married) - Jimmie Cross
13. Best Friend (Girlfriend) - Puppet
14. Poly High - Harpers Bizarre
15. Open Your Window - The 5th Dimension
16. Sleep Late, My Lady Friend - José Feliciano
17. I Said Goodbye To Me - The Glass Menagerie
18. Paradise - The Shangri-Las
19. Let Me Go - Pat & André
20. The Next Day - Debbie Burton
21. Together - Sandie Shaw
22. Without Her - Blood, Sweat & Tears
23. One - George Tipton
24. Remember (Remember (Christmas)) - Andy Williams

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072F8XXB8/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B072F8XXB8/?tag=imwan-21

Linda · **Posted:** Mon Jul 17, 2017 9:06 pm

pobbard · 18 Jun 2007

I got this a few days ago and have been playing it incessantly. It's terrific!

These Ace compilations are just outstanding.

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

pobbard wrote:

I got this a few days ago and have been playing it incessantly. It's terrific!

These Ace compilations are just outstanding.

Agree pobbard, I have a good number in my collection and everyone is stellar. I'll be getting this as well since I love Harry.

Actually I have the 'Birth of Surf' in my car now. It's my 3rd volume in this excellent series.

phenri · 18 Dec 2007

I've been wanting to purchase this since it came out, but it is now only available for Amazon Prime members, and the Amazon Marketplace sellers offering reasonable prices are from overseas.

I'm having a hard time waiting for this to come available here in the states. I think I own every volume in the songwriters series from Ace.

tideshea · **Joined:** 27 Mar 2014 **Posts:** 225

You could just order it directly from Ace's Web site.

http://acerecords.co.uk/gotta-get-up-th ... -1965-1972

Momo · 22 Jun 2007

phenri wrote:

I've been wanting to purchase this since it came out, but it is now only available for Amazon Prime members, and the Amazon Marketplace sellers offering reasonable prices are from overseas.

I'm having a hard time waiting for this to come available here in the states. I think I own every volume in the songwriters series from Ace.

The Amazon listing does mark it as "Prime," but the CD should be available to anyone who wants to purchase it. The "Primie" designation just indicates that Amazon Prime members get free shipping on this product without needing to make a minimum amount purchase (currently $25, I think). However, the listing does currently say that it may take 1 to 4 weeks for shipment. The $11.99 price right now is a good one, though.

Linda · **Posted:** Tue Jul 18, 2017 8:30 pm

There are a few third party sellers at Amazon USA (a couple based in America, others in the UK) who are cheaper than ordering direct from Ace Records (who themselves are in the UK):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072F8XXB8/?tag=imwan-20

Momo · 22 Jun 2007

Momo wrote:

phenri wrote:

I've been wanting to purchase this since it came out, but it is now only available for Amazon Prime members, and the Amazon Marketplace sellers offering reasonable prices are from overseas.

I'm having a hard time waiting for this to come available here in the states. I think I own every volume in the songwriters series from Ace.

The Amazon listing does mark it as "Prime," but the CD should be available to anyone who wants to purchase it. The "Prime" designation just indicates that Amazon Prime members get free shipping on this product without needing to make a minimum amount purchase (currently $25, I think). However, the listing does currently say that it may take 1 to 4 weeks for shipment. The $11.99 price right now is a good one, though.

Hmm...I just took a closer look at the listening, and, of course, you're right about the "exclusively for Prime members" description. Sorry about my previous reply. I don't think I've ever noticed this designation before! Anyone know if this is something new with Amazon, or was I just blind to it as a Prime member myself?

Linda · **Posted:** Tue Jul 18, 2017 11:55 pm

Momo wrote:

phenri wrote:

I've been wanting to purchase this since it came out, but it is now only available for Amazon Prime members, and the Amazon Marketplace sellers offering reasonable prices are from overseas.

I'm having a hard time waiting for this to come available here in the states. I think I own every volume in the songwriters series from Ace.

The Amazon listing does mark it as "Prime," but the CD should be available to anyone who wants to purchase it. The "Prime" designation just indicates that Amazon Prime members get free shipping on this product without needing to make a minimum amount purchase (currently $25, I think). However, the listing does currently say that it may take 1 to 4 weeks for shipment. The $11.99 price right now is a good one, though.

Hmm...I just took a closer look at the listening, and, of course, you're right about the "exclusively for Prime members" description. Sorry about my previous reply. I don't think I've ever noticed this designation before! Anyone know if this is something new with Amazon, or was I just blind to it as a Prime member myself?

As a Prime member, you would just be clicking right through to checkout so it's not something that would have been really obvious. Amazon has been doing "Prime only" CDs randomly for a while. They usually don't last very long. This listing will most likely be open to all buyers again soon.

phenri · 18 Dec 2007

Thanks, Linda.

This is the first time a CD I wanted to purchase from Amazon was a Prime exclusive. I'll check it again next week and see if it will be available to a non-Prime member like myself. Amazon's price can't be beat so far.

[2017-06-30] VA "Gotta Get Up! The Songs Of Harry Nilsson 1965-1972" (Ace UK)

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