There may be a cultural difference at work here. The English instinct is more for understatement, which we find more subtly powerful than what we might perceive as histrionic over emotionalism or sentimentality. Not that Nilsson goes that far, but the original does capture a sense of the parents being unable to express their emotions. They aren't stuck up so much as locked in to very grey, routine, conventional and unimaginative lives. This comes across as underlining the downside of that phlegmatic English temperament. They meant no harm ("we didn't know it was wrong"), and even in the crisis of her leaving, they can only express their feelings in a kind of wistful sadness. McCartney probably saw the song as another way of dealing with the generational divide between parents in a drab, militarised and exhausted post-War Britain, and their 1960s children who longed for colour, excitement and adventure.

George Martin is said to have praised Paul's arrangement for this song as being The Beatles best constructed song. For me any cover is going to come up short, although Harry's voice is fantastic, not so much in this cover but his very powerful and emotional 'Without You'.

Harry Nilsson was a genius in the studio and a great friend of John Lennon. One of his greatest songs was "Without You" , which was also a cover, of a song by the group Badfinger (also very close ties to The Beatles). Might be a good episode for your great covers survey. My favorite Nilsson song is "Remember" from the LP Son Of Schmilsson.

@EddieReischl

2 ай бұрын

I'm definitely on board with that, a great song. I like both versions. Pete Ham and Tom Evans are sorely missed.

Harry's Jump Into the Fire is one of the most iconic rock songs ever, I highly recommend it

@nellgwenn

2 ай бұрын

Just ask Martin Scorsese.

I didn't find it as soulful as the Beatles' version but agree this is much better produced. I love Nilsson's 'Without You', which is very emotional, never get tired of hearing it.

Many here have mentioned, with good reason, Harry's cover of Badfinger's WITHOUT YOU. Three Dog Night had a hit with Harry's song ONE, but I do really like Harry's version too. Nilsson also wrote a great TV theme song to a 60s/70s show with Bill Bixby called THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIES FATHER: "People, let me tell you 'bout my best friend - He's a warm-hearted person who'll love me to the end - People let me tell you 'bout my best friend - He's a one-boy, cuddly toy - My up, my down, my pride and joy = People, let me tell you 'bout him, he's so much fun - Whether we're talkin' man to man - Or whether we're talkin' son to son - 'Cause he's my best friend -Yeah, he's my best friend."

I loved that song .❤ So glad you're covering Nilsson 👍 you can hear the Beatles all over this one 👍

@jenscee7679

2 ай бұрын

It is a direct copy really, but as the original is so good I don’t mind.

Harry Nillson was an amazing tortured artist. He left the realm far too early. Ah the trappings of fame and fortune. At least he left us with some fantastic songs. Got to get up and without you are my faves ❤

@lynby6231

2 ай бұрын

Fun façt John Lennon and Harry Nielsson were best friends

@johnbyrnes7912

Ай бұрын

​@@lynby6231certainly booze buddies ! 🤡

Harry is the only one that really nails beatles covers. Just proves his friendship with them

I don't recall hearing this before, so I just took a dive into Harrys recordings: Though being a songwriter his two greatest hits are both covers. Without You (Badfiinger). Everybody's Talkin' (Fred Neil): Besides better recording and a nicer instrumental arrangement Harry inserts his "WAAUUHM", where the original just repeats "No I won't let you leave my love behind". Waauuhm nice.

The little odd tapping made me think of time passing as in a clock ticking...time drags out the sadness, one tick at a time. Thanks Amy!

Baby comes first, always, that`s just the way it is. Its a very nice twist on a lovely song. As your doing movies , you should do ` Midnight Cowboy` which features the wonderful , unforgettable Toots Thieleman`s harmonica, theme and Harry Nilsson`s `Everybody`s Talking` which is one of the best songs ever recorded. It also won Oscars galore. As for covers may i suggest original `Mad World` by Tears for fears and the beautiful cover by Adam Lambert ( of Queen fame) , the songs title is also amazingly apt for these very scary times.

@johnsilva9139

2 ай бұрын

Nillson's "Everybody's Talking" is a cover of a Fred Neal song.

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

EVERYBODY'S TALKING is a truly iconic song from a great movie. "Hey! I'm walking here!" - Dustin Hoffman, as he crosses a busy NYC avenue. He lso did the very funny COCONUT SONG, "Put the lime in the coconut - and drink it all up. I called DOCTOR, won't you please help me - he said, "take two aspirin and call me in the morning," ha ha ha.

Hearing an artist perform a cover song and make it their very own is one of the most interesting things in music. NINA SIMONES cover of the BeeGees " To Love Somebody" is an amazing example. FRED NEILS cover of DAVE VON RONKS "Green Green Rocky Road" is another. And JOE COCKERS performance of "With A Little Help From My Friends", at Woodstock another. It would be cool to play the original then the cover to hear the difference.

have you considered the cover of the beatles with a little help from my friends by joe cocker

@simchabaruch7023

2 ай бұрын

There is a lot to be learned and heard on Joes cover, BUT without being familiar with the original for context the shocking genius of the performance is not as evident.

I believe Without You was first recorded by Bad Finger, but when Harry sang it, it became one of his biggest hits… His voice is full of emotion….

@Gizzlefitz

6 күн бұрын

Maybe they were hoping someone would pay to have the original done. 85 people have paid for requests, (it now costs $250), so that might be why you see commonly requested songs ignored, while songs nobody asked for are being done all the time.

I think you would enjoy some of Harry's music. He really took chances -- not all successes -- but a tremendously talented musician/songwriter.

Looking forward to this because the first episode of your show I listened to was The Beatles She' Leaving Home.

I'm very delighted that you react to this cover version. Of course, I remember very well when you reacted to this Beatles song the first time. That is how I discovered you. And I remember how you graded the song then which I found very amusing 😅 But it hooked me and since then I never miss any of your Beatles covers, always great to hear your thoughts 👍😃

I believe this was recorded _very_ shortly after the release of Sgt Pepper. I'd be surprised if Harry wasn't recording on eight-track tape; Pepper was recorded on four-track. That is probably the most significant difference in the technology (and I am only guessing). I think he's using tabla for the percussion, which might be a nod to other tracks on Pepper. Much as I love Harry, this one doesn't quite work for me. One problem is that The Beatles had Lennon giving voice to the parents in the chorus ("What did we do that was wrong?" etc), which made it clearer whose voice we were listening to. Here we just have Harry singing everything. And while The Beatles' version probably comes down on the side of the daughter in the end, McCartney retains an objective detatchment up to that point. And really, you don't need to be told that "Daddy, our baby's gone" is one of the saddest lines in any song ever. Finally, I think the orchestral arrangement here is simply... nice. Whereas the arrangement on the original provides a kind of emotional commentary, reacting to the events as McCartney dispassionately narrates them.

@Schef61

6 күн бұрын

Yes it was on the Pandemonium Shadow show Album in 1967

I just saw a girl who said she saw John Lennon walking down the street in New York wearing a button that said, "I love Paul.” She asked him: “Why are you wearing an 'I love Paul' button?”, and he said: “Because I love Paul. Harry Nilsson quotes

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

I remember that quote. Quite nice!

the percussion tapping actually mimics the pattern of the strings on the original

The instrumentation, including the harpsichord read as very, very 1960's orchestral accompaniment to rock and pop songs of the era and for that reason it sounds much more dated than the Beatles song. I can appreciate it as music of its time. I do like Nilsson's voice and loved his hits of the day. I don't know that Nilsson really interprets the song in any better way. I do prefer McCartney's singing,,

Harry Nillson's voice is a marvel. The emotion you hear in this cover is just a small taste of what he was able to put into all of his vocal performances. From my perspective, the most intense emotion comes across in his masterpiece "Without You" (which, ironically, is also a cover of the far less emotional original version). I highly recommend it to you for analysis!

There's another cover by Harry Nilsson that you might like to listen to. It's called Without You and is a cover of a song by the English group Badfinger who the Beatles signed to their Apple record label. Nilsson's version was a smash hit all over the world and his most famous song.

Harry Nilsson covered this song in 1967. On the Pandemonium Shadow Show album.

The wonderful thing about cover songs ( especially live) is when played, the artist has less ego involved and is just sharing a song they obviously like. When the audience likes it too, the artist and audience become one, all enjoying a song together.

Very nice analysis, Amy!

It's surprising to me that descriptions of Harry talk more about being a singer songwriter--for most of my remembrance he was lauded for his impeccable voice. He was one of the best vocalists of all time, even tho in this tune you just heard you don't get much of a sense of that. Some people are recommending you listen to his biggest hit, "Without You", to hear what his voice can do, but I love his performance in "Coconut" (plus it is a very fun song) but he has several other songs where he shows off his vocal chops.

It took a long time for me to warm to the Beatles' version of this. I thought it a bit maudlin. But eventually I appreciated that Paul presented what could be maudlin in a restrained way. To me the Nillson version (which I'd not heard before) tips more into the sentimental realm. It's largely his singing style. It sounds like something from a Broadway musical. Others are likely to disagree, but it's my reaction.

@strathman7501

2 ай бұрын

Spot on.

Harry Nilsson also recorded a very interesting version of The Beatle's You Can't Do That.

I always get a kick out of Harry Nilsson's cover of the Beatles' "You Can't Do That." It's filled with musical quotations from a ton of Beatles songs, making it an homage to the band as a whole. You have a few more albums to go before you will have heard all the songs he references though.

Harry Nilsson was known as either the American Beatle or the 5th Beatle. Not because he did Beatles covers or tried to imitate or emulate them. it's because they all liked his singing and songwriting. They also hung out together. John recorded with him. That brass section is a direct reference to Penny Lane which you will eventually get to. At Harry's funeral they all wanted to sing one of his songs. George Harrison said that his favorite Nilsson was You're Breaking My Heart. So that's the song they sang. I know that doesn't mean much to you now. But if you dig deeper into Harry's discography you'll come across it. There is a good documentary about Nilsson entitled Who Is Harry Nilsson And Why Is Everyone Talking About Him? It's worth a watch. When you read about Harry getting into Caribbean music I think they were talking about the song Lime in the Coconut. I always like it, but it's a quirky fun song. It kind of sounded like George Harrison was doing a background vocal. It sure did sound like George to me.

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

I saw that documentary. Very interesting. Love Harry!

I prefer when a musician takes a whole new approach to a song. A great example is Joe Cocker's reworking of With a Little Help from My Friends.

@Gizzlefitz

6 күн бұрын

Yes,that's fantastic. One poor example is probably Cats In The Cradle by an unknown group that scored big with their near exact copy of that song. Strange how this channel decided to listen to that version instead of the original. Possibly because they were hoping someone would pay to have the original done. Or maybe Vlad is just of a generation that thinks the cover is better than the original.

I feel that the Beatles' version of "She's Leaving Home" was somewhat satirical. So often, the news media takes a human-interest story and dramatizes it by attempting to express the emotions of the subject of a story. The result is usually maudlin but quite addictive to some audience segments. When I worked in television news, our news director would say, "Just tell the story, state the facts and the possible repercussions. Don't dramatize it." I feel that Nilsson's interpretation of the lyrics is excessively theatrical... and maudlin.

This was released in 1967.. Nilsson crushes me.

Emmylou Harris has amazing versions of “Here, There, and Everywhere” and “For No One.” Alison Krauss does a good “I Will.”

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE is such a wonderful song. One of Paul's very best. I still think it doesn't get the recognition that it deserves, according to the comments that I have read. BRAVO that you like it!

As always, very enjoyable and insightful. Thanks. Isn't the line about the "man from the motor trade" something of a raised eyebrow on the part of the worldly young men who wrote the song? Sure, she's leaving home and getting free. But she's also stepping out into a world which is potentially cold and uncaring. See "Eleanor Rigby". Which explains the flourish introduced by Nilsson here. It's hollow laughter. A flash of a signpost to a likely reality, the ending of a dream as much as the start of a new life.

Nicknamed the American Beatle.

@nellgwenn

2 ай бұрын

Or the 5th. Beatle.

Would love you to review Radiohead’s Ok Computer album in full sometime. 😊

@jlc7841

2 ай бұрын

Also their beautiful Pyramid Song.❤

My Favorite Channel! Peace

Harry was enamoured by the Beatles. He even became a great mate of John Lennon. Many of his songs have been covered by other artists but I always like Harry's version best. For instance, '1941' covered by Blood Sweat and Tears. A couple of my favs are 'Early In The Morning' and 'One' both with minimalist instrumentals, more relying on his vocals to carry the song. Love is vocals. Thanks Amy ✌

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

You're one of the only commentators here who have mentioned Harry's song ONE. I agree with you... it's a super good song.

I also liked it, except for the percussion. But I prefer the version of The Beatles for sure.

I might be the only one who says this but I find Harry version to be less serious than the Beatles version. I think John's retort to Paul was spot on and the Beatles instrumentation more mature and serious. I thought Harry's instruments are more of a circus but that is just me. I love Harry. Listen to "Without You".

Nilsson is a fantastic cover artist; his biggest hit, Without You, was a cover. The only other Nilsson song I remember is 'Coconut' which is a stupid novelty, lyrically. However it has a catchy tune and really interesting tropical rhythms which more than compensate for the silliness of the words. I hadn't previously heard his She's Leaving Home.

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

"Put the lime in the coconut, and drink it all up. I called DOCTOR... DOCTORRRRRR!!!" Such a great song!

I think I might like this better than the original. It makes it feel all fresh and new (after all, I have been hearing the original since 1967). I agree with your analysis and I love the brass arrangement - very rich but not overdone.

Wonderful analysis, of a great singer, thank you guys!...Also, It is time for a first listen to The Beach Boys ' God Only Knows'

Cool singer Harry Nilsson

Your video of She's Leaving Home by The Beatles is no longer available. That's too bad because I so wanted to see it. Oh well. Why has it been removed?

If you are even going to lean or glance at Nilsson, his "Most Beautiful Word in the World," is all he did in one performance.

I dont like that people always recommend Harry Nilssons "Without you" i can assure you nilsson didnt care for that song too much its a hit for sure. But all his albums have something fantastic about it, songs like "Perfect Day", "Jump Into the Fire" the whole pandemonium Album, The Point album ! Much much more

That laugh moment at the end is the (french horn?) moment from Penny Lane.

I'm glad you enjoyed this one Amy. It was recorded in 1967, which was the same year the Beatles original came out. I like all the instrumentation, except the percussion, which tainted it a little for me. While the percussion is interesting and grabs my attention, it just feels a bit out of place, which may have been the intent. Interesting commentary on the vocal aspect of the original vs this one, particularly regarding the emotional impact.

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

Hey Lee - I'm sure you know Three Dog Night's version of Harry's song, ONE, but have your heard the original? His voice is so sweet in it. Also, since you and I seem to have shared the same cultural entertainment from back in the day, I will hereby venture to guess that you liked THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIE'S FATHER starring Bill Bixby from the early 1070s, which Nilsson wrote. Bixby also starred in a show called THE MAGICIAN, and he drove a white '72 Corvette with the very first vanity plate I ever saw, and still is the best one: it said SPIRIT. (I used to live in Sonoma CA where someone had BAGEND1 - my second favorite. And do you remember this one? The California DMV granted and then revoked the following plate: IVNIK8. That's SO insane - because anyone smart enough to decode those hieroglyphs is certainly mature enough to not be upset by what it translates into...don't you agree with me? ;)

@LeeKennison

2 ай бұрын

@@splitimage137. Hey Split. Wow, I had no idea that Harry Nilsson did the original for "One". I loved Three Dog Night, and this song. I just listened to the Harry Nilsson original and it is great. Love the string orchestration with those repeated piano chords throughout, and Harry's vocals are amazing. I would even recommend this for a Great Covers, since I would love for Amy to do Three Dog Night, and "One" is a great song. Unfortunately, I don't think Harry Nilsson's popularity has held up over the years, as reflected in the low views this one gets. I rarely ever see anyone reacting to him. Not sure why, since he was fairly well known back in the day. I know he is someone I rarely think about anymore, I guess he just gets lost among all the other greats of that time. Yeah I remember "Courtship of Eddy's Father", and before that you had the somewhat similar "Family Affair" with Brian Keith. Both regulars on daytime TV after I got home from school. Didn't know that Harry wrote the theme song to Courtship.

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

@@LeeKennison Well, WITHOUT YOU is one of the truly great performances of a good song. Most everyone who has heard of Nilsson will have heard that song. And, it sure does show off his vocal abilities.

@LeeKennison

2 ай бұрын

@@splitimage137. Yeah, he had some great songs. A very talented guy.

Great analysis. For me, this sounds like it was recorded for a Christmas album. The cello playing the bass line is conspicuously absent for me. Generally, I like harpsichord, but I don't really like it here. I also miss the dissonant notes from the strings in the last chorus of the Beatles version. This instrumentation would work better for a scene in a ballet. The feeling I get from the Beatles version is more of world-weariness, "Oh look, in the paper, something's happened to the neighbor's child from across the street, I guess she's run away, the world just isn't what it used to be anymore.". Then, they set it to a waltz, which is not the sort of song you would think the topic would go with, and you don't want to dance to it because of the lyrics, so you have to sit and listen to it. It's such a unique thing, it's almost subversive, to put a topic no one wants to talk about into an easy to listen to lullaby-type song.

I would strongly reccomend listening to Harry Nilsson's "I'll Never Leave You" or "Remember".

'Remember' 🌲 & 'The Moonbeam Song' 🌃

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

What a beautiful song! I'm glad you mentioned it!

I prefer the original due to the differences in instrumentation. I really like the song, but the lyric "fun is the one thing that money can't buy" seems like a mistake. Fun (especially short-term fun) is one of the things money CAN buy. Maybe love is something money can't buy, but fun?

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

Maybe you're not occupying the mind of that particular girl. But, maybe, neither were the BEATLES... who knows for sure, except the girl in question...

John Lennon called him his favorite song stylist. The opposite emotion is in his “You’re Breaking My Heart”, hatred over a relationship gone wrong.

@nellgwenn

2 ай бұрын

One of my favorite Nilsson songs. Nilsson was going through s divorce at the time. And because of George's sense of humor that's the song they chose to sing at Harry's funeral. It's quite fitting for Harry.

In the Beatles version, Lennon’s voice is so thin, like ghosts crying in pain at the loss of their daughter from their home. I like that more than this. Nevertheless, I still love Harry’s version a lot!

Now it would be good to analyze the version of Harry Nilson's best hit, Everyboody's Talking, which was also the soundtrack of a cinematographic gem, Midnight Cawboy with Dustin Hofman and Jon Voight. There are a thousand versions of Everyboody's Talking but for me the most surprising is the one made by Yggy Pop.

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

"Yggy PoP" ???!? I Haven't heard that one before. I love his LUST FOR LIFE and NIGHTCLUBBING, both produced by David Bowie and featured in the movie TRAINSPOTTING.

@jaumepiquebernaus1853

2 ай бұрын

Yes, Iggy Pop released an album in 2012 titled Aprés. You can listen to iggy covering classic songs, many of them performed in French. !!! Funny but such especial !!!

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

@@jaumepiquebernaus1853 I was mostly replying to your spelling Yggy - never saw that spelling before. Is that how they do it in Europe or something? Did Iggy ever spell his name this way - I really don't know - it's an honest question. Iggy sings in French??? Hilarious. About 20 years ago I thought to learn the language, but gave up pretty quickly. Those, French... they have a different word for EVERYTHING! (Steve Martin on his second album.)

@jaumepiquebernaus1853

2 ай бұрын

I so sorry for the mistake , as i post before not Yggy , yes Iggy. I'm 62 from Barcelona and my english is not perfect. Anyway I' m great Bowie's and Iggy fan for many years. Just check down Google Iggy Pop everyboodys talking . That's all folks

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

@@jaumepiquebernaus1853 Hey! That's cool. I just turned 62 last Sunday and would choose Barcelona as my first European city to visit - if ever a bunch of money comes my way. Pictures of the old Latin Quarter (?) with its narrow cobblestone streets and 5 story buildings looks so very interesting. And there's all those crazy buildings by that wonderful old artist/architect Gaudi. Too cool! And your English seems fine to me.

Beatles used a chamber quartet arrangement, which inspired the Baroque Rock movement.Nilsson didn't follow suite.

Great channel. Please do some stuff by Epica. Epica is a great Symphonic metal group. First recommendation: Epica - Kingdom of Heaven prt3

Composer Ned Rorem once described "She's Leaving Home" as "equal to any song that Schubert ever wrote" In one of the few non-laudatory contemporary reviews of Sgt. Pepper, Richard Goldstein, writing in The New York Times, cited the song as an example of the album's reliance on production over quality songwriting. Goldstein said: "'She's Leaving Home' preserves all the orchestrated grandeur of 'Eleanor Rigby', but its framework is emaciated ... Where 'Eleanor Rigby' compressed tragedy into poignant detail, 'She's Leaving Home' is uninspired narrative, and nothing more. I thought that one of Harry's back up singers sounded like John Lennon who was a great friend of Nilssons, but as it was recorded on the same year as the original Beatles release, I don't think Lennon would have been living in the US at that time.

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

What piece of Shubert reminds you of this song? If you answer me, I promise to check out whatever you suggest!

It's a brilliant invention by The Beatles...two conflicting narratives, skilfully interwoven into a single, moving whole.. Much as I like Harry Nielson, I much prefer the original, which I think is more sympathetic to the subject matter.

Great channel. But I can't find the react on the Beatles original song... 😢

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

It's there...

@olivierclaverie6722

2 ай бұрын

@@splitimage137. I see no link in your message...

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

@@olivierclaverie6722 Yeah, okay. You see, I DID download SHE'S LEAVING HOME from VIRGIN ROCK back when she published it on KZread, but, now it seems to have been deleted. The only thing left, it seems, on KZread, is her harp cover of the song. So, I guess things have changed, and I regret giving you outdated information. However, you can to to her PATREON channel and find it, unless it's been deleted from there too, but I doubt it. Sorry to you for the outdated misinformation.

@olivierclaverie6722

2 ай бұрын

@@splitimage137. thank you for your answer, don't fill sorry of anything. I thought I was a little bit crazy because I do not see the link in her video, or in your message , but the simple explanation is that it has been deleted.

Harry was the best male pop vocalist of the late 60s and early 70s, IMO, in voice quality anyway. His pitch, tone, and controlled vibrato were always spot-on. Always thought it would have been fabulous if he'd duetted with Karen Carpenter.

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

A VERY interesting combination of voices. Wouldn't it have been great if they had dueted on a MIDNIGHT SPECIAL TV show?

It's not the original (duh) but it's really good. I love Harry's version.

It should be noted that the Beatles LOVED Nilsson and his work. Sadly he was also a serious drinking buddy of Lennon.

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

Sadly? Who knows for sure? Perhaps that's exactly what Lennon needed in those particular years of his "lost weekend."

Nilsson's adaptation of this Beatles song is, in my opinion, is a great argument against people doing covers of other people's work. The notes, and the song in this cover are all the same. The only difference is the synthesization of the instruments, and synthesizing of the singing. This is a complete waste of effort and my time to listen to it. Why listen to something this artificially done when you can actually listen to the real thing. Obviously, there are times when a cover can take a song to the next level. This is not one of these moments. A good example of a cover done right is Johnny Cash's version of Nine Inch Nails song "Hurt". That would be a great cover for Amy to look at. Harry Nilsson has also approached any song he's done with that artificial quality of doing music. In other words, he's always "covering" a song and has no personal stake in what he's performing even if he wrote the song. He sings and plays all the notes right, but misses the point. My point, in short, is why listen to elevator music when you can go to a concert and hear the real thing.

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

I think you have a quite interesting take on cover songs, and, I tend you agree with you if the cover in question is not significantly different from the original. But, let me ask you this question: Consider Elton John's cover of LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS, where he changed the vibe from Psychedelia to Reggae... And John himself played guitar on the track as Winston O'Boogie....?

@terrykennedy-lares8840

2 ай бұрын

@@splitimage137. Yes, If you are going to do a cover, it should be significantly different than the original like Elton John's re-do of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. I had never heard EJ's version before so I pulled them up and compared them. In this case, the original is still the gold standard. Although, EJ's is interesting and well done, It doesn't convey the Psychedelic quality of the song, and that truly is what the song was about, tripping. In EJ's version I didn't feel like it took me anywhere truly different than playing it a bit more "rocky", and I didn't get a real Reggae feel out of it.

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

@@terrykennedy-lares8840 Well, yes, I'm all for psychedelia. It's my favorite genre. But, I'm not alone in my reggae idea: Elton John‘s “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” features a baffling reggae breakdown. John Lennon added that section to “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” himself. In an interview, the former Beatle discussed why he worked with the “Your Song” singer. Shockingly, the aforementioned cover of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” was a much bigger hit than The Beatles’ version. Why John Lennon played on Elton John’s cover of ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” is many things, but it doesn’t have much of a Caribbean vibe. That’s why adding a reggae section to the track feels so incongruous. It’s even stranger when you learn it was the “Imagine” singer’s idea. During a 1975 interview with Rolling Stone, John discussed his work on the cover of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. “I heard he was doing ‘Lucy’ and I heard from a friend - ’cause he was shy - would I be there when he cut ‘Lucy?'” he recalled. “Maybe play on it but just be there? So I went along. “And I sang in the chorus and contributed the reggae in the middle,” he added. “And then, again through a mutual friend, he asked if it got to be No. 1, would I appear onstage with him, and I said sure, not thinkin’ in a million years it was gonna get to No. 1. Al Coury or no Al Coury, the promotion man at Capitol. And there I was. Onstage.”

For me, Nilsson really didn’t stray very far from the original, he merely copied it. IMO, that’s not the mark of a great cover.

Please listen to LITTLE ITALY with STEPHEN BISHOP & CHAKA KHAN

John Lennon seriously considered replacing Paul McCartney with Nilsson. You need to compare Your Song, Elton John (original) vs Ewan McGregor

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

I have never heard of this rumor before. Do you have a source?

@BigSky1

2 ай бұрын

@@splitimage137.complete fabrication.

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

@@BigSky1 My thought on the matter too. But, I figured to give surferless589 a chance to back up his/her claim. Still waiting...

@BigSky1

2 ай бұрын

@@splitimage137. We will be waiting a ‘Long, Long, Long time’.

@johnbyrnes7912

Ай бұрын

​@@BigSky1Well if he did back it up you on your form would go ballistic bigsly! 🤡

You know I never really thought about it but if her parents were such bleak and grim people that they didn't acknowledge their daughter's need for joy while she was living with them, as the narrow fulcrum of their joyless love, think of how much more dour they are likely to become after her secret departure! Not that she can NEVER go home again, but the likelihood that her parents would learn their lesson and embrace liveliness without her is nil.

"more advanced recording technology" Seriously? Can I please recommend you listen again to the tasteful neo-classical string arrangemernt of the original and the restrained vocal delivery. This feels like a detailed parody.

Sorry !! Iggy Pop

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

WHAT?? Iggy Pop? Of LUST FOR LIFE and NIGHTCLUBBING fame? Please explain what you mean... I think what you wrote is pretty cryptic.

@jaumepiquebernaus1853

2 ай бұрын

@@splitimage137. Yes, Iggy Pop released an album in 2012 titled Aprés. You can listen to iggy covering classic songs, many of them performed in French.

This won a Patreon vote?? This is end-of-pier amateur night. Stick to the original.

@solidsimon3501

2 ай бұрын

Nilsson and Lennon were good friends in the 70's so I guess Lennon didn't mind.

@theresaschmidt1183

2 ай бұрын

Wow Sharon. Amateur? A different style for sure. Would fit in the musical theater genre perhaps. Reminds me of many acts from Ed Sullivan or a variety show but far from amateur! Just a different style. You limit yourself when you are too critical and snobbish. Glad Amy's appreciation is more diverse.

@sharonsnail2954

2 ай бұрын

@@theresaschmidt1183 Succinct more than "too critical and snobbish". The arrangement by George Tipton merely lifts that of Mike Leander from the original and replaces strings with brass. By the very nature of the instruments involved, that substitution means that the track is more aggressive. Nilsson's vocal delivery also is stronger than McCartney's. The recording is sparse and clinical (especially compared to The Beatles). So it sounds like a group of friends trying their best to recreate one of their favourite songs (I mean where does that rat-a-tat drum come from?). Therefore, end-of-the-pier amateur [see also "River Deep - Mountain High" from the same "Pandemonium Shadow Show" album] The whole effect of Nilsson's cover is to remove the song from a wistful, sad, contemplative, claustrophobic, somewhat introspective piece and make it a middling ballad. There are other covers of this song which do it disservice too.

@splitimage137.

2 ай бұрын

@@sharonsnail2954 Well, Sharon, you certainly have a well reasoned explanation of your opinion. That's great. I, personally, don't agree with you, but, hey, isn't that okay?

@sharonsnail2954

2 ай бұрын

@@splitimage137. That's cool 🙂

Mamma mia, il paese dei campanelli! Si parla di una ragazzina che scappa di casa e di genitori che rimangono basiti e increduli, non di una allegra polka alla fiera del paese. Non mi piace.

Since you're reacting to Harry Nilsson covering a Beatles song, you might want to listen to his own song Without You, and Mariah Carey's cover of it. They're both really good. He was a fantastic songwriter and good friend of John Lennon, and his songs have been featured in quite a few movies, like Midnight Cowboy, Goodfellas, You've Got Mail and The Farewell.

@kovie9162

2 ай бұрын

Oops, a correction. Without You was in fact written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger, some of whose songs various Beatles and their top people helped produce, not Nilsson--who in turn was friends with the Beatles, the music industry is kind of like that. But most people of my generation associate the song with him, whose version I view as the best one.