Harry Nilsson - Son of Schmilsson (2LP, 45RPM)
Harry Nilsson – vocals, electric piano (A1, B3, C1, D1), acoustic guitar (B2) [click here to see more vinyl featuring Harry Nilsson]
Nicky Hopkins – piano (A1–C3, D3)
Klaus Voormann – bass guitar (A1, B1–C1, C3, D3), saxophone (A1, B3), electric guitar (C2)
Ringo Starr (credited as Richie Snare) – drums (A1, C1, C3, D1,D3) [click here to see more vinyl featuring Ringo Starr]
Peter Frampton – electric guitar (B1-3, C3, D1), acoustic guitar (C1-2)
Chris Spedding – bouzouki (A2), electric guitar (C3, D1), acoustic guitar (C1-2)
Milt Holland – percussion (A1,C2)
Jim Price – trumpet (A1, B3, D1), trombone (D1), horn arrangement (D1)
Bobby Keys – saxophone (A1, B3, C3, D1)
Lowell George – guitar (A1) [click here to see more vinyl featuring Lowell George]
Del Newman – string arrangements (A2, D3)
Pop Arts String Quartet - strings (A2)
John Uribe – acoustic guitar (B1, C1-2), electric guitar (track D1)
Red Rhodes – pedal steel guitar (B1)
Ray Cooper – percussion (B1, C2, D3), congas (C3), tambourine (D1)
Kirby Johnson – horn arrangements (B2, D3)
Richard Mackey – tuben/French horn (B2)
Vincent DeRosa – tuben/French horn (B2)
David Duke – tuben/French horn (B2)
George Harrison – slide guitar (B3) [click here to see more vinyl featuring George Harrison]
Barry Morgan – drums (B1, B3)
Paul Buckmaster – orchestral arrangement (C1)
"Moxie" – bass harmonica (C1)
Richard Perry – percussion (C1, D3), arrangements (D3)
Senior Citizens of the Stepney & Pinner Choir Club No. 6, London, England – choir (D2)
The Henry Krein Quartet with Klaus Voormann – rhythm section (D2)
Henry Krein – accordion (D2)
Paul Keogh – guitar (D3)
Les Thatcher – guitar (D3)
2 LPs, gatefold
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 45RPM
Size : 12”
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : RTI
Label : MOFI
Original Label : RCA Victor
Recorded March–April 1972 in Trident Studios and Apple Studio, London, England; "The Most Beautiful World in the World" recorded at CTS Studios, London
Engineered & mixed by Ken Scott
Produced by Richard Perry
Remastered by Krieg Wunderlich
Originally released in 1972
Reissued in 2021
Tracks:
Side A:
- Take 54
- Remember Christmas
Side B:
- Joy
- Turn On Your Radio
- You're Breakin' My Heart
Side C:
- Spaceman
- The Lottery Song
- At My Front Door
Side D:
- Ambush
- I'd Rather Be Dead
- The Most Beautiful World In The World
Reviews :
"Emboldened by a huge hit and hanging with Lennon and Ringo, Harry Nilsson was ready to let it all go when it came time to record a follow-up to Nilsson Schmilsson. The very title of Son of Schmilsson implies that it's a de facto sequel to its smash predecessor but, as always with Nilsson, don't take everything at face value. Yes, he's back with producer Richard Perry and he's working from the same gleefully melodic, polished pop/rock territory as before, but this is an incredibly schizoid record, an album by an enormously gifted musician deciding that, since he's already going unhinged, he might as well indulge himself while he's at it. And, wow, are the results ever worth it. Opening with a song to a groupie -- he sang his balls off, baby, he nearly broke the microphone -- and ending with an ode to "The Most Beautiful World in the World," this record careens all over the place, bouncing from one idea to another, punctuated with B-horror movie sound effects, bizarre humor, profanity, and belches. There are song parodies, seemingly straight piano ballads, vulgar hard rock, lovely love songs, and a cheerful singalong with retirees at an old folks home who all proclaim, "I'd rather be dead than wet my bed." The sheer perversity of it all would be fascinating, yet if that's all it had to offer, it'd merely be a curiosity, the way his post-Pussy Cats records are. Instead, this is all married to a fantastic set of songs that illustrate what a skilled, versatile songsmith Nilsson was. No, it may not be the easiest album to warm to -- and it's just about the weirdest record to reach number 12 and go gold -- but if you appreciate Nilsson's musicality and weirdo humor, he never got any better." AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4,03 / 5 , Discogs : 4,5 / 5