Harry Nilsson  

From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

Related e

Wikipedia Wiktionary Shop Featured: Rhombicuboctahedron by Leonardo da Vinci

Harry Edward Nilsson III (June 15, 1941 – January 15, 1994) was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson. He is known for the hit singles "Everybody's Talkin'" (1969), "Without You" (1971), and "Coconut" (1972). Nilsson's career is also notable for the fact that he was one of the few major pop-rock recording artists of his era to achieve significant commercial success without ever performing major public concerts or undertaking regular tours.

He was awarded Grammys for two of his recordings; best male contemporary vocal in 1969 for "Everybody's Talkin'", a prominent song in the Academy Award-winning movie Midnight Cowboy, and best male pop vocal in 1972 for "Without You."

Filmography

Note: this section is for songs Nilsson recorded specifically for film and television projects, as well as his few acting roles. Later use of Nilsson recordings are listed in the next section.

• Skidoo (1968) songs written and performed, soundtrack music composer, actor (bit role)
• The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (1969 TV Series) acted and sang – He appeared in the episode "The Music Maker", and his character name was Tim Seagirt. He sang "Without Her" and "If Only I Could Touch Your Hand."
• The Courtship of Eddie's Father (TV series, 1969–1972) theme song written and performed, incidental music
• Midnight Cowboy (1969) new version of "Everybody's Talkin'" performed
• Jenny (1970) song "Waiting" written and performed
• The Point! (1971) story, all songs written and performed
• Son of Dracula (1974) actor (lead role), all songs performed
• The World's Greatest Lover (1978) song "Ain't It Kinda Wonderful" performed
• In God We Tru$t (1980) new version of "Good For God" performed
• Popeye (1980) all songs written, except "I'm Popeye the Sailor Man"
• Handgun (1983) song "Lay Down Your Arms" written and performed
• First Impressions, (TV series, 1988) theme song co-written, performed
• Camp Candy (TV series, animated, 1989–1991) theme song written, and performed with John Candy
• The Fisher King (1991) song "How About You" performed
• Me, Myself, and I (1992) song "Me, Myself and I" written and performed

In film and television

• The Monkees (1967, 2nd season) – "Cuddly Toy" (cover version by The Monkees)
• Head (1968) – "Daddy's Song" (cover version by The Monkees)
• The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (TV series) 1969 – "Without Her" and fragments of other songs
• Midnight Cowboy (1969) – "Everybody's Talkin'"
• Dusty and Sweets McGee (1971) – "Don't Leave Me"
• La Mortadella (1971) – "I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City"
• The Muppet Show (1979, episode 410) – "Coconut"
• All That Jazz (1979) – "Perfect Day"
• Real Life (1979) – "Jump Into the Fire"
• Porridge (film version, 1979) – "Without You"
• Popeye (1980) – Soundtrack – all songs
• Ziggy's Gift (1982) – "Ziggy's Gift"
• Only Fools and Horses The Jolly Boys' Outing (1989) – "Everybody's Talkin'"
• Private School for Girls (1983) – "You're Breakin' My Heart"
• Goodfellas (1990) – "Jump Into the Fire"
• Reservoir Dogs (1992) – "Coconut"
• Caroline (animated short, 1993) – "Caroline"
• Forrest Gump (1994) – "Everybody's Talkin'"
• Duckman (1994 episode) – "Best Friend"
• Casino (1995) – "Without You"
• Seinfeld (1995 episode) – "Everybody's Talkin'"
• Beverly Hills, 90210 (1995 episode) – "Remember"
• The Craft (1996) – "Jump Into The Fire"(covered by Tripping Daisy)
• Angel on My Shoulder (1997)
• Contact (1997) – "Spaceman"
• Ellen Foster (1997) – "Remember"
• The Ice Storm (1997) – "Coconut"
• Practical Magic (1998) – "Coconut"
• You've Got Mail (1998) – "I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City", "Remember", "The Puppy Song", "Over The Rainbow"
• Dick (1999) – "Coconut"
• Futurama – Brannigan Begin Again (1999) – "Everybody's Talkin"
• Magnolia (1999) – "One" (Aimee Mann's cover version opens with a sample from Cuddly Toy)
• High Fidelity (2000) – "The Moonbeam Song"
• Bridget Jones' Diary (2001) – "Without You"
• Riding in Cars with Boys (2001) – "Everything's Got 'Em", "Me And My Arrow"
• Black Books – "Everybody's Talkin'"
• Punch-Drunk Love (2002) – "He Needs Me" (Shelley Duvall's version from Popeye)
• The Rules of Attraction (2002) – "Without You"
• Shanghai Knights (2003) – "One"
• Good Boy! (2003) – "The Puppy Song"
• Daddy Day Care (2003) – Jeff Garlin entertains the kids with "Coconut"
• That '70s Show (2004) – "Best Friend"
• Around the Bend (2004) – "Daddy's Song"
• The Girl Next Door (2004) – "Jump Into the Fire"
• House (2004) – "One"
• Max & Paddy's Road To Nowhere (UK) (2004, Series 1, episode 2) – "Everybody's Talkin'"
• Coke with Lime Ad (2005) – altered version of "Coconut"
• Breakfast on Pluto (2005) – "Me And My Arrow", "You're Breakin' My Heart", "The Moonbeam Song"
• Beyond Our Control (1967–1986) – "Remember" Closing theme for the series
• Little Man (2006) – "Best Friend"
• Crank (2006) – "Everybody's Talkin'"
• Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006) – "Everybody's Talkin'"
• Rob & Big (2006) – "Best Friend"
• American Dad (2006 episode 2.08) – "Everybody's Talkin'"
• A Good Year (2007) – "How Can I Be Sure Of You" "Jump Into The Fire", "Gotta Get Up"
• Unison TV Advert (2007) – "One"
• DigitalUK TV Advert (2007) – "Everybody's Talkin'"
• My Name is Earl (2008 episode) – "Me And My Arrow"
• Life on Mars (2008 episode) – "Spaceman"
• Confessions Of A Shopaholic (2009) – "Don't Forget Me" (covered by Macy Gray)
• 44 Inch Chest (2009) – "Without You"
• You Don't Know Jack (film) (2010) – "Early in the Morning"
• Bones (TV series), 2011) – "Coconut"
• Red Dog (film), 2011) – "Jump Into The Fire"
• Wilfred (2011) – "The Puppy Song"
• SimpsonsTo Cur with Love (2012) - "Me and my Arrow"