Pandemonium Shadow Show / Aerial Ballet / Aerial Pandemonium Ballet [Original recording remastered, Extra tracks]

Harry Nilsson,s debut album "Pandemonium Shadow Show" was released in 1967 on RCA ,the same year as The Beatles "Sgt Pepper" - a great album though a tad over rated( "Pandemonium Shadow Show " even includes a cover of "She's Leaving Home", recorded only ten days after The Beatles album was released )As if to prove that studio sorcery wasn't just the province of the fab four and their producer, RCA engineer Dick Bogert was able to assist Nilsson,s more creative ideas by syncing two four track machines together to in effect create an eight track recording system.

That's the thing about "Pandemonium", it's so chock full of all the ideas and musical influences that Nilsson had assimilated over the years that's it's some what daunting to listen to at first so eclectic are it's multi faceted surfaces. This may explain why it was somewhat over looked at the time, but there is no doubt that while it lacks the sheer song writing brio of The Beatles, or indeed The Beach Boys it's pushing the boundaries of pop every bit as far as those two leading lights. Having said that I personally find some of the album a little too florid, decorous and twee. It's saved by some cracking songs-"Cuddly Toy" , "You Can't Do That" "Sleep Late My Lady Friend ", Without Her","It,s Been So Long" and Nilsson's fantastic vocals .

"Aerial Ballet" is more reflective and restrained and is the better of the two albums for me. It contains the massive hit "Everybody's Talkin" made famous by the movie "Midnight Cowboy" but there are other excellent songs of enshrined pop magnificence. After the jaunty and rather annoying openers Daddys Song" and "Good Old Desk" the string led "Don, t Leave Me" ushers in a surge of quality. Other tracks like "Together", "I Said Goodbye To Me" , "Mr Tinker"( which sounds like it could have come off a Luke Haines album) and "One" showcase an artist engaging the audience with more subtlety and poise.

In 1971 after winning a Grammy with "Everybody, s Talkin" Nilsson, now unhappy with the first two albums, returned to the studio to rework many of the tracks, thus creating "Aerial Pandemonium Ballet". Some of the tracks were slowed down to match his increasingly deeper vocal timbre and he culled others of their excessive horn arrangements. Some of the songs definitely benefit from this approach "1941" is richer, less aggravating, and the same is true for "Good Old Desk" which is given added poignancy by a flattering string arrangement.

There are four bonus tracks. "As I Wander Lonely" is cello accompanied but prosaically morbid while "Miss Butters Lament" is another perversely vaudeville pop confection. "Sister Marie" originally a B-side to "One" has a psychedelic ambience and "Wasting My Time" is gentle piano led amble .This album outsold the previous two, the showcase for an ever evolving , under rated musician and singer who even now does,nt receive the plaudits he deserves.

Nilsson's first two albums (along with the bonus disc of later remixes) make an extremely welcome little package. These cds show what pop music might have been capable of if "Rock" had not got in the way, drawing effortlessly on soul, jazz and vaudeville influences. Nilsson records all the vocals on these albums layering his 3 octave voice again and again to stunning effect - and all this was recorded in the primitive days of four track analogue recording.
The albums sound light and poppy, but a thread of intelligence runs throughout. "1941" sounds autobiographical and is deeply thoughtful, "Cuddly Toy" is misogynistic but irresistable and "Sleep Late My Lady Friend" is just plain gorgeous. These three are from "Pandemonium Shadow Show" an album I was given by a friend some twenty five years ago and which has always occupied a special place in my record collection - to this day the thrilling version of "River Deep, Mountain High" reminds me why I rushed out to buy "Aerial Ballet" when I finally found a copy ( no Amazon then!).
I was slightly disappointed. "One" was a dazzling vocal performance of course and "Mr Richland's Favourite Song" was in the great Nilsson tradition telling the story of a singer slowly ageing and how his relationship with his audience changes.
It was true that the album not only contained the hit single "Everybody's Talking" but also "I Said Goodbye To Me" a haunting number about suicide and the infectious paean to losing one's virginity "Bath", but I felt slightly short changed.
The release of this cd makes up for that feeling with the inclusion of the marvellous "Daddy's Song" which had been pulled from the album by the time I bought it. This song makes me cry. It is wonderful. And if Nilsson's version is slightly fussy compared with the Monkees' cover, it benefits enormously from his tremendous voice. These albums still sound great and should be better known.
The bonus cd is fascinating, but ultimately the better versions are almost always those on the first cd.

Mid-period Beatles are a heavy influence on this release, but Nilsson has a magical touch that is all his own. The best tracks are those from Aerial Ballet, which is a mix of acidic Eleanor Rigbyesque vignettes (Mr Richland's Favourite Song), orchestrated and polished love songs that cast a jaundiced eye over romance (One) and quirky good-humoured singalongs (Bath).

For sheer infectuous sunshine music that will have you capering around the room, try Freckles or Cuddly Toy from Pandemonium Shadow Show.

All in all a splendid time is guaranteed for all.