Harry Nilsson Nilsson Sings Newman LP

While Harry Nilsson began coming into his own at the beginning of the 1970s, Randy Newman was virtually unknown to anyone outside the world of music publishing and almost nonexistent as a performer. The critical appeal that both would eventually (and rightfully) attain makes this artistic summit all the more poignant.

Famously named "Record of the Year" by Stereo Review magazine, Nilsson's Nilsson Sings Newman stands well outside the mainstream of other LPs of this period — with Newman's piano providing the sole accompaniment to the multi-tracked army of Nilsson harmonies and overdubs. It is also the first album where Nilsson acted as his own producer. Part of the album's charm can be heard in the studio talkback that Nilsson chose to include in between his vocal harmonies to help achieve the final product. Stunning from start to finish, fan favorites include "Vine St.," "Love Story" and "Living Without You."

A masterpiece is what this is, albeit a subtle, graceful masterpiece where the pleasure is in the grace notes, small gestures, and in-jokes. For an album that introduced a songwriter as idiosyncratic as Newman, it's only appropriate that Nilsson's interpretations are every bit as original as the songs. His clear intonation and sweet, high voice are more palatable than Randy's slurred, bluesy growl, but the wild thing is, these versions demand that the listeners surrender to Nilsson's own terms. He's created gentle, intricate arrangements of tuneful yet clever songs, and as such, the album may be as much an acquired taste as Newman. Once you've acquired that taste, this is as sweet as honey.