Members LCK Posted March 11, 2012 Members Share Posted March 11, 2012 The 1968 film Midnight Cowboy was one of the first X-rated Hollywood films. (It would probably get a PG-13 now.) It won an Oscar, and had a great soundtrack, and a great "title" song, "Everybody's Talkin,'" sung by Harry Nilsson. The actual theme for the film was written by Hollywood film composer John Barry, and played by jazz harmonica legend Toots Thielemans. [video=youtube;ZGORPUzLxtU] Nilsson submitted a song of his own, but it was rejected. It was used much later in You've Got Mail. [video=youtube;qQRHUp5_tyE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQRHUp5_tyE Randy Newman also submitted a song, "Cowboy." Like Harry's tune, it too was rejected. It has been described by some people as one of the saddest songs ever written. [video=youtube;_nfsCim_zFU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nfsCim_zFU Meanwhile, Fred Neil had written and recorded "Everybody's Talkin'" in 1966, at the last minute, to finish an album he was working on. Nilsson recorded it for his 1969 LP, Aerial Ballet (Nilsson's parents were Swedish circus performers; Harry was born in Brooklyn). It ended up being chosen for the soundtrack. And anyone who's seen the movie will tell you, the film wouldn't be the same without Harry Nilsson's haunting version of the tune. Here's the original. [video=youtube;M-Ql1284QLw] LCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LCK Posted March 11, 2012 Members Share Posted March 11, 2012 I saw them do this on Letterman. Pretty amazing. LCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LCK Posted March 11, 2012 Members Share Posted March 11, 2012 I used to have this Fred Neil LP. It has some amazing songs on it. And what a voice! "A Little Bit of Rain." [video=youtube;fYl5v5OV_y8] You can hear a bit of the Lovin' Spoonful in this next tune, "Blues on the Ceiling" (or rather you can hear Fred Neil's influence on John Sebastian's songwriting; he was a big influence on Sebastian, David Crosby, and even Bob Dylan, who accompanied him on harmonica at a few live gigs). [video=youtube;jaUHv89OpuM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaUHv89OpuM Fred Neil played guitar on Bobby Darin's hit "Dream Lover," worked at the Brill Building, writing rockabilly songs for the likes of Buddy Holly ("Come Back, Baby") and Roy Orbison ("Candy Man.") After the success of Nilsson's version of "Everybody's Talkin,'" Neil retired, and spent the last 30 years of his life working to protect and preserve the lives and habitats of wild dolphins. [video=youtube;OduBGRHVEJo] LCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted March 11, 2012 Author Moderators Share Posted March 11, 2012 LCK I've never heard that or of him. That's really good. And yeah, the Toots theme of Midnight Cowboy is just great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stickboymusic Posted March 11, 2012 Members Share Posted March 11, 2012 I've never heard that or of him. That's really good. And yeah, the Toots theme of Midnight Cowboy is just great. I'm surprised no one has heard of these people!? how about this guy? What a song!! [video=youtube;keDcE0_R4Zc] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LCK Posted March 11, 2012 Members Share Posted March 11, 2012 I almost forgot. Fred Neil also wrote "The Other Side of This Life," recorded by Jefferson Airplane, The Youngbloods, and The Lovin' Spoonful. [video=youtube;ZcmLpHykVKE] LCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LCK Posted March 11, 2012 Members Share Posted March 11, 2012 Oh, and "A Little Bit of Rain" has been covered as well. By Amos Lee & (much earlier) by Karen Dalton. [video=youtube;19mu57sd4Mg] [video=youtube;K-oILgxq0Bc] Does anybody but me remember Karen Dalton? Have you ever heard of her? [video=youtube;CsYHN7eCCtU] Apparently The Black Keys remember Karen Dalton: [video=youtube;qvQ-x4marxU] [video=youtube;raLXnnlPI_I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raLXnnlPI_I [video=youtube;NKikxyfZzrw] LCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted March 11, 2012 Author Moderators Share Posted March 11, 2012 It warms my heart to see how much a lot of you dig Nilsson. He must have been a pain in the ass for record execs. He seemed to have this attitude that he'll do what ever he wants. Right when he's expected to follow up his biggest success, Nilsson Schmilsson (Without You, Coconut) he releases Son of Schmilsson, with an awesome cover... singing "I sang my balls off for you baby" and a song that beat Cee Lo Green to the punch by forty effing years!!!! Born trouble maker. I love him. [video=youtube;0quXtf-RXis] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LCK Posted March 11, 2012 Members Share Posted March 11, 2012 "You're breakin' my heart, you're tearin' it apart, so {censored} you!" Yeah, I remember that song. My buddies and I loved it, but it didn't get a lot of airplay. LCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LCK Posted March 11, 2012 Members Share Posted March 11, 2012 My folkie reminisences (Fred Neil, Karen Dalton), reminds me the one true cat in that category. Greg Brown writes songs the way the rest of us breathe. [video=youtube;a46QO7PsNzU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a46QO7PsNzU&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLF5925EB72306841C LCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dingoist Posted March 11, 2012 Members Share Posted March 11, 2012 "You're breakin' my heart, you're tearin' it apart, so {censored} you!" Yeah, I remember that song. My buddies and I loved it, but it didn't get a lot of airplay. LCK Funny, Friday I was listening to slacker radio at work (on headphones) and this song came I on. I loved it, and was trying to remember the name to post as my Friday influence which it turns out a lot of people have been influenced by Nilsson this week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bee3 Posted March 12, 2012 Members Share Posted March 12, 2012 I just signed on to do some shows with this guy. Really enjoy his stuff... and he's got the perfect attitude towards writing and performing. [video=youtube;8NBpmv9qrhc] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Oswlek Posted March 12, 2012 Members Share Posted March 12, 2012 This is a "friend" of mine (as close as can be over the web) and he just blows me away. For a teenager he wields such depth and maturity. [video=youtube;hgVCNawSVWk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgVCNawSVWk [video=youtube;i0UlCFrGsXs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0UlCFrGsXs&feature=plcp&context=C40b1a26VDvjVQa1PpcFO6aP-cpADaRPr0Jt19B5sT9hAm4O4mJy4= Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Oswlek Posted March 12, 2012 Members Share Posted March 12, 2012 I'm not sure that he'd take this as a compliment, but this sounds like something I'd write. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Oswlek Posted March 12, 2012 Members Share Posted March 12, 2012 I spent some time today digging through The Civil War's catalog, and while it is good, nothing blew me away nearly as much as "Falling". Given the choice, I'd prefer this duo's collection. "World Spins Madly" enchants me just as much as "Falling" but The Weepies have a lot more songs I'd rate almost as high. [video=youtube;ZWGfzu6yE2Q] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mark Blackburn Posted March 14, 2012 Members Share Posted March 14, 2012 I happened on one of the soft and gentle (Beatles influenced) songs by Harry Nilsson. Hadn't heard it in 40 years. It is still as beautiful and evocative today. And since a shared love of Harry spurred this Friday Influences to a record "views" total, I'd like this to be the 'end note' (if that's how it turns out). Good thread Lee Knight! [video=youtube;zS-jue4Yqt0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS-jue4Yqt0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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