Month: March 2021

After compiling Volume 2 earlier, this month, I found that I had enough songs to complete another set. Like Volume 2, this kicks off with a cover of “Gotta Get Up’. After that, there is a mix of songs Nilsson wrote but didn’t always record a version of himself. These include songs from before he signed his contract with RCA such as ‘A Travellin’ Man’ and ‘Paradise’ as wells many recorded afterwards. There is the other side of the single that Kenny Everett released (with the first being included on Vol.2) as well as more performances by The Turtles and Jimmy Cross. George Tipton, Nilsson’s arranger on his early records makes another appearance but there is also room for a novelty recording such as the version of ‘Without Her’ by Telly Savalas. The disc finishes with a special bonus in that it contains the song ‘Little More Rain’ from the ‘New Nilsson Songs’ demo album. As of now, no one has been able to find out who the singer is.

Once again, unlike Ace Record, I do not have access to the original tapes so some of these have been taken from vinyl transfers, so please excuse the pops etc. The sleeve is similar in style to the Ace Records volume. The differences being that I could not match the original font and there are no dates under the title. I decided that that was unnecessary as this was meant to highlight Nilsson songs throughout the years. Its not really the covers you are here for though, but the music. Well, that is top notch. Enjoy!

1. Gotta Get Up – Marty Finkel
2. Everybody Philly – The Citations
3. Maybe – Labi Siffre
4. 1941 – Joel Grey
5. It’s Been So Long – Kenny Everett
6. Me & My Arrow – Davy Jones
7. Wailing Of The Willow – Liza Minnelli
8. Remember (Christmas) – Johnny Mathis
9. Countin’ – Mike Clifford
10. Don’t Leave Me – Robert John
11. I Guess The Lord Must be In New York City – The New Yorkers
12. Chicken Track – Jimmie Cross
13. The Story Of Rock ’n’ Roll – The Turtles
14. The Puppy Song – David Cassidy
15. Open Your Window – George Tipton
16. One – Chris Clark
17. All My Life – The Walkmen (feat. Allesanora Mario)
18. Easy For Me – Ringo Starr
19. Without Her – Telly Savalas
20. Together – Clodagh Rodgers
21. Paradise – Jean King
22. A Travellin’ Man – The New Christine Minstrels
23. Little Cowboy – The Buffoons
24. Little More Rain – Unknown

Back in 2017, Ace Records released a wonderful collection dedicated to Harry Nilsson, the songwriter, not the performer. The collection was a curious mix of the well known (The Monkees), the family member (his daughter Annie Nilsson) and the down right obscure (Jimmie Cross). The album sleeve said that all of the songs came from 1965-1972, and then opened with a song recorded in 2013. Oh well. That is a bit of nit picking on my part, but Ace Records did a really good job with this compilation as it made some of the pre fame singles that I had only ever heard on scratchy vinyl transfer, available in crystal clear sound for what could have been the first time.

As Nilsson has had his songs covered by a myriad of artists that were not covered by this compilation, I thought I would see if there was enough material to make a volume 2. What I found is there was indeed enough for not only a second volume, but a third as well. I decided to try and follow the template of the original compilation as close as I can, starting the disc with a cover of the song ‘Gotta Get Up’. This is not one of Nilsson’s most covered songs but luckily there were two additional covers I could use. Both discs contain 24 songs and once again, they feature a mix of well known artists as well as the obscure. These include Hugo Montenegros’s rather bizarre cover of ‘Me & My Arrow’; a song from The Walkman, who decided to cover the entire ‘Pussy Cats’ album and are a couple of novelty covers from The Muppets and British DJ Kenny Everett (who on this occasion, plays it quite straight).

Unlike Ace Record, I do not have access to the original tapes so some of these have been taken from vinyl transfers, so please excuse the pops etc. The sleeve is similar in style to the Ace Records volume. The differences being that I could not match the original font and there are no dates under the title. I decided that that was unnecessary as this was meant to highlight Nilsson songs throughout the years. Its not really the covers you are here for though, but the music. Well, that is top notch. Enjoy!

1. Gotta Get Up – Davy Jones & Mickey Dolenz
2. Rainmaker – Bobbie Gentry
3. All For The Beatles (Stand Up & Holler) – The Originals
4. The Battle Of The Bands – The Turtles
5. Daddy’s Song – The Casuals
6. Baby, It’s Over – Debbie Burton
7. Wailing Of The Willow – Astrid Gilberto
8. Me & My Arrow – Hugo Montenegro
9. Super-Dupa Man – Jimmie Cross
10. Nobody Cares About The Railroads Anymore – George Tipton
11. Sister Sue – The Soul Men
12. So Proud Of You – Vivian Roberts
13. I’d Do It All Again – Dore Alpert
14. Readin’ Ridin’ & Racin’ – The Super Stocks
15. Open Your Window – Ella Fitzgerald
16. Don’t Leave Me – Griffin
17. One – Three Dog Night
18. Coconut – The Muppets
19. Without Her – Kenny Everett
20. Maybe – Barbra Streisand
21. Chicago – The Citations
22. Headlines – The Sunday Funnies
23. Paradise – The Ronettes
24. I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City – Sagittarius

Here on the second volume of my Under The Influence Series, the theme is 60’s soul with a smattering of songs that would later become known as Northern Soul. 

Disc 1

1. Seven Days Too Long – Chuck Wood
2. Sliced Tomatoes – Just Brothers
3. Tainted Love – Gloria Jones
4. Losing Boy – Eddie Giles
5. Wade In The Water – Ramsey Lewis Trio
6. Bring Your Love Back – Linda Lyndell
7. Sister Lee – Sam Ward
8. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher – Jackie Wilson
9. Do You Love Me – The Contours
10. Money (That’s What I Want) – Barrett Strong
11. You Keep Me Hanging On – The Supremes
12. The Girl Across The Street – Moses Smith
13. Nothing Can Help You Now – Lenny Curtis
14. I’ll Do Anything (He Wants Me To) – Doris Troy
15. Jimmy Mack – Martha & The Vandellas
16. This Old Heart of Mine – The Isley Brothers
17. Try It Baby – Marvin Gaye
18. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love – Soloman Burke
19. Helpless – Kim Weston
20. Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder
21. Leaving Here – Eddie Holland
22. Cool Jerk – The Capitols
23. Lonely, Lonely Girl Am I – The Velvelettes
24. Going To A Go-Go – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
25. How Sweet IS It To Be Loved by You – Jr. Walker & The All Stars
26. Put Yourself In My Place – The Elgins
27. Every Little Bit Hurts – Brenda Holloway
28. Time Is On My Side – Irma Thomas

Disc 2

1. Moonlight, Music & You – Laura Greene
2. Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – Frank Wilson
3. Soul Time – Shirley Ellis
4. The Snake – Al Wilson
5. Bari Track – Doni Burdick
6. Out On The Floor – Dobie Gray
7. You Don’t Love Me – Epitome Of Sound
8. Just A Little Misunderstanding – The Contours
9. A Lot Of Love – Homer Banks
10. Long After Tonight Is All Over – Jimmy Radcliffe
11. Time Will Pass You By – Tobi Legend
12. Lonely For You Baby –Sam Dees
13. Come On Train – Don Thomas
14. Girls Are Out To Get You – The Fascinations
15. You Shook Me Up – Roy Hamilton
16. Get Ready – The Miracles
17. Landslide – Tony Clarke
18. Hit & Run – Rose Batiste
19. Breakin’ Down The Walls Of Heartache – The Bandwagon
20. Looking For You – Garnet Mimms
21. Here I Go Again – Archie Bell & The Drells
22. 1-2-3 – Len Barry
23. He Was Really Saying Something – The Velvelettes
24. Come See About Me – The Supremes
25. There’s Nothing Else To Say – The Incredibles
26. Get Out Of Life Woman – Lee Dorsey
27. Whatcha Gonna Do About It – Doris Troy
28. Cry Baby – Garnet Mimms & The Encharters
29. Big Bird – Eddie Floyd
30. Everything’s Gonna Be Alright – P.P. Arnold

A playlist for this complication could not be produced due to one or more songs not being available on Spotify.