Damita Jo

Description

Personnel includes Nilsson (vocals); Randy Newman (piano). Reissue producers: Rob Santos, Glenn Korman, Curtis Armstrong. Recorded at RCA's Music Center Of The World, Hollywood, California. Originally released on RCA (4289). Includes liner notes by Randy Newman, Curtis Armstrong, and Dean Torrence. Digitally remastered by Elliott Federman (SAJE Sound, New York, New York). Tributee: Randy Newman. Released in 1970, the same year as Randy Newman's acclaimed second album (12 SONGS), this outing finds Harry Nilsson applying his famed multi-octave vocal range to Newman's witty, finely crafted compositions. (Nilsson, a wonderful songwriter in his own right, had hinted at this collaboration with the inclusion of one Newman song on his previous record, HARRY.) While many of the tunes here would be performed by the more gruff-voiced Newman himself during the course of his first few albums, Nilsson's dynamic, nuanced singing portrays these highly melodic narratives in a much more delicate light. The two are perfectly suited for one another: with Newman accompanying Nilsson on piano, the singer offers an achingly sweet and funny take on "Love Story," saunters playfully through "Yellow Man," and belts out "The Beehive State" as a barroom ditty. Both artists would, of course, go on to greater recognition, but this charming collection stands as a fascinating snapshot of two quirky creative minds working together to wonderful effect.