Harry – Harry Nilsson (1969)

“Harry is the fourth studio album by Harry Nilsson, released August 1969 on RCA. It was his first album to get onto Billboard Magazine‘s Billboard 200 chart, remaining there for 15 weeks and reaching #120. Harry features jazz saxophonist Tom Scott, pianist Mike Melvoin, flutist Jim Horn, session drummer Jim Gordon, Larry Knechtel on bass, and David Cohen and Howard Roberts on guitars. The album has not one distinctive style but ranges over ballads, show tunes, nostalgic Americana, and tin pan alley-like soft shoe numbers. William E. Martin, who wrote the songs ‘Fairfax Rag’ and ‘City Life’ that Harry covered on Harry, and who collaborated with Nilsson on the song ‘Rainmaker,’ appears in a picture inside the gatefold version of the album wearing a bear suit that was made of an actual bear. The Puppy Song: Nilsson wrote this song at Paul McCartney‘s request for Mary Hopkin, an 18-year-old singer that McCartney had signed to Apple records and whose first album, Post Card, would feature her version of Nilsson’s song. … Open Your Window: Ella Fitzgerald covered this song on her album Ella, released in 1969, the same year as Harry. She also performed it live on Ella Fitzgerald in Budapest, recorded in May 1970. … Mournin’ Glory Story: This song, about a homeless woman’s confusion and misery, has been covered by Melanie Safka, Bobby Graham, Jennifer Trynin, Jiffipop, and Al Kooper. … Marchin’ Down Broadway: This song is based on a song written by Bette Nilsson, Harry’s mother. I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City: Nilsson wrote this song for the film Midnight Cowboy. Director John Schlesinger had been using Nilsson’s cover of Fred Neil’s ‘Everybody’s Talkin’ as an example of the kind of song he wanted on the final soundtrack but then decided not to replace it. … Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear: This is a cover of a song written by Randy Newman and popularized by the Alan Price Set. …”
Wikipedia
Deconstructing Harry
Discogs
YouTube: Harry (Full Album) 42:38