This was from a special Harry did for the BBC. One thing I didn't realize before watching the Nilsson documentary was that he was, for the most part, his own set of background vocalists. It seems obvious to me now that I relisten, but I'd never thought about it before.

Walk Right Back/Cathy's Clown/Let The Good Times Roll Medley

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Last Night I watched Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)?, a behind the music type documentary about Nilsson which is currently available as a free online preview. Today, thanks to the movie, I've been listening to Nilsson all day. It's easy to forget at this remove how talented he was both as a singer and a songwriter. ( Read more... )

Last weekend I joined my friend Tom Z on his annual pilgrimage to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. I'd never been before, despite it being no more than 15 miles from my brothers' farm. Tom goes every year for a F2F with his online fantasy baseball buddies. Now I know how civilians feel at b.org gatherings ( Read more... )

Pete Quaife, original bassist for the Kinks, passed away over the summer. I just found out tonight whilst looking up some videos for a friend of Ray performing with the Crouch End Chorus. Ray dedicated this set at this year's Glastonbury Festival to Pete. Rest in peace.

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That's Tennessee Thomas on drums behind Elvis, daughter of Costello's long-time drummer, Pete Thomas, who's also there. You don't usually see female drummers backing iconic male rock stars. Daddy taught her well.

...for once again showing me something that I did not know ( Read more... )

For the Cub fans out there, one of the finest baseball songs ever written, Steve Goodman's "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request":

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The Dodgers polished off the Cubs last night, 3-1, sweeping the series. Because the media was so invested in the Cubs as a team with a hundred year-old destiny, most of the stories about the series are going to be about how ( Read more... )

Raining a lot outside.

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Apart from some individual songs, I wasn't much into glam back in the day. Or even much today, but I do like this one, "Ballroom Blitz" by the Sweet. There's some nifty drumming, and it's got the over the top vocal bridge by the bass player. I mostly remember the Sweet for one of the worst songs ever inflicted on me back in ( Read more... )

Violinist falls, fracturing million-dollar fiddle.

Seems like everyone's doing it tonight. You know the drill...

"You were chained to a girl that would kill you with a look
It's a nice way to die she's so easy on the eye"
"White Collar Boy", Belle and Sebastian

"Sometimes I wish I knew you well,
Then I could speak my mind and tell you
Maybe you'd understand"
"I Want to Tell You", the Beatles, by debg ( Read more... )