Harry Nilsson-"Walk Right Back/Cathy's Clown/Let the Good Times Roll" (1971) (3/7)

Part 3 of Harry's BBC TV special from 1971, "The Music of Nilsson." This one is dedicated to all those music writers who ever dissed Harry for not giving proper credit to his "wonderful backup singers." He features his backup singers on this fun medley.

[@bookblogger9462]

This guy was a genius. I mean ..listen to his albums..the diversity is immense. My favourite is the Standards where he sings with an orchestra..it's sublime.❤️

[@darkprose]

Oh, that album is...yeah, sublime. That’s the word. That was right after _Nilsson Schmilsson_ wasn’t it? They didn’t want to him to do a standards album after such a big commercial hit. Thank God he did. His voice was never in better condition. And the live performance on video, which I think was a different take than the one on the album, was just as good. It was funny to see Nilsson there, smoking and drinking away, that gorgeous, lush orchestra behind him. Not sure the point when it happened, but I woke up one day and realized if someone asked me who my real favorite singer-songwriter is, some so special no one else can take their place, it was Nilsson. Never expected that. But it’s true.

[@ziahill1691]

Harry Nilsson is like a private joke, that no one else really gets. But to the few that do, it is truly wonderful.

[@AnthonySheaMovies]

Well said!

[@raymondkidd2346]

Exactly how I feel.👍👍👍👍👍

[@sthomasond]

I cant believe how accurate this is

[@dand3606]

harry was the man. very well said. those who are in the known completely get it

[@nanook8721]

That’s exactly how I feel. Somehow Harry is a part of my life and I don’t understand how other people don’t get it. Legendary.

[@joevokey1340]

Even messing around, Harry could sing circles around himself 🤣

[@MrAlsfan5]

One of the best voices this side of Roy Orbison.

[@vtbn53]

You have taste

[@cindycain1959]

I agree. I just downloaded some Roy too.

[@teacat55]

This man is his own party.

[@chrisbr1969]

Ha! Love it! Harry as 3 people, the nod to Stan Laurel, and only Harry clapping at the end! So great!

[@robjontay5052]

Underated, under appreciated, under a piano apparently...NILSSON SCHMILSSON...

[@melissagregoire9278]

Nilsson Schmilsson is one of my favorite vinyl moments of my life. I can't articulate the enjoyment I have received from playing this album over and over etc. since I swiped it out of my sister's room in 1971.' Without You' got me through a major heartache and the rest is just great sing along in the car (loud and unrestrained.)Oh! I wish I could tell you!!

[@sharonjheeta222]

Three Harry Nilssons? ... This must be Heaven!

[@Cronikeys]

Harry Nilsson... definitely one of the most under-appreciated musicians of all time.

[@mstep4553]

He always had that shy glint of good humor and boyish charm in his eyes.

[@tangogrrl]

This mock concert is one of my faves. At the time, he was too horrified to play in front of a live audience. The 3 part harmony/ round is cheery and sweet. You have to listen closely to hear 'Cathy's Clown' but it's there. 🙂 Ah, Harry.

[@davidmaynard1530]

There’s 3 of him here because 1 is the loneliest number.

[@jet727vans]

I was hooked the first time I heard Nilsson Schmilsson at my brother-in-law’s. He was ahead of his time !

[@michaelp.waller8834]

A genius who left us too soon

[@montydaniels1054]

Man, during a time when Led Zeppelin, The Who, were rocking & rolling, Harry Nilsson was able to work right into the rock & roll scene & top the charts. I truly miss this man...

[@retriever19golden55]

Me too.

[@montydaniels1054]

@@retriever19golden55 He was great, yea.... And needs to be inducted into the rock & roll HoF.....

[@kingsizerogerthebluewonder3852]

The third Harry sings it as a countermelody when he first pops up. Then he joins the other two in singing Walk Right Back, and on to Let The Good Times Roll.

[@tangogrrl]

Yes, and before that, he sings the first stanza of the Everly Brothers' hit 'Cathy's Clown' around 1:25

[@hawkeye9654]

I love me some Nilsson.❤

[@raymccraine2449]

Back in 1971 I became a huge Nilsson fan. Besides his magnificent voice and talent, we always knew he had a warped sense of humor. Which we love.

[@TheOwenstube]

Harry figured out the chord root and rhythmic elements that tied these three songs together, and luckily audio studio technology in the late '60s allowed him to pull it off. Now, the video tech, that was something daring for the early '70s. This clip is a keepsake.

[@just4music687]

YES thank you for this comment! I really enjoy learning more about his musicianship because it seems astounding to me, and to have someone explain re: the chord root, etc.; I love it! Makes me realize it's not "just me;" Harry was truly something else; what an ear!!! This reminds me of his Beatles Medley a.k.a. his version of "You Can't Do That" on Pandemonium Shadow Show

[@friguy4444]

Maybe you guys have heard it before but maybe not so if you love this type of thing make SURE you check out his song "You Can't Do That" and yes it's from his buddies John and Paul! But not the way they did it. Apparently the Beatles loved his version and this was (I'm pretty sure it was) before they started to hang out and became friends.

[@daithesaes]

No dislikes....says it all really. Absolute genius and far too under appreciated.

[@ChicagoBeaver]

I remember having the "Nilsson Schmilson" album at home as a kid. My favorite song from that album is "Jump into the Fire," wow, that one smokes!!!!

[@BogartandBacal]

Great harmonies. Harry accompany's Harry like nobody else.

[@billgallaher339]

I remember seeing "The Point" on when I was 10. The wonderful music and the quirky wisdom made a huge impression on me. We even named our cat Oblio.

[@thenormanreport7731]

The Cathy's Clown segment is unbelievable!

[@thenormanreport7731]

Flawless!

[@mhavlicek2]

Did anyone else laugh at hard as I did at the end of that! 3 Nilssons and only one person clapping ... and it’s Nilsson, hilarious!

[@raymccraine2449]

This is undoubtably one of the best videos ever recorded! 3 Nilsson's plus Harry in the audience clapping for a great show. RIP Harry!!

[@mccellen]

Multi talented..love him..

[@jimdartouzos2127]

Harry Nilsson was great...and very underrated. ...and apparently also had a cool sense of humor too.

[@caryl9393]

This performance has become my favorite and the piano...well it's just great.

[@quam0940]

this was harry proving who his "background" singers were

[@egbertsouce3895]

Background singers were Schmilsson & Wilsson

[@carladiciaccio8955]

I love what you said!

[@scootdaws25]

You're breaking my heart, you're tearing it apart...

[@GaryColemanNC]

He was a fucking angel...

[@fm3340]

Watching this just makes my day.

[@just4music687]

god I love him so much xoxo

[@nostalgiaramanny]

He was a truly beautiful songwriter.

[@raymccranie7872]

This is Freakin' amazing.

[@friguy4444]

HEY!! Three Schmilssons all together!! LOL. LOVE HARRY! !! WHAT A TREASURE GOD MADE WHEN HE MADE Mr Nilsson Schmilsson!

[@legaultmichelle1194]

I discovered Harry late in life from a CD from a Goodwill store. Now, I'm listening to many more tunes, interviews, radio shows. He probably needed some of the same medicine I'm on. I love he sang tunes of others, of the classics. His writing, phrasing, and voice ranging so sweet and humorous, dead serious, hauntingly beautiful and soft, hard. Harry needed comedy - maybe it may be to some that he was not as good. Sad and despair he knew better.

[@Christer364]

Legault Michelle It's never too late in life to hang out with Harry.

[@LazyIRanch]

Kind of how I discovered Nick Lowe back in the 1980's. Found a 99 cent cassette tape and lost my mind over him! I finally got to see him in a wonderful acoustic concert in 2002, met him and got an autograph and photo with him afterwards. I could have died happy right then. Never got to see Harry, though.

[@philiptucci2458]

Harry was phenomenal, great music & memories of life, standard of excellence

[@virginiawilson1836]

Love love Nilsson; magical voice

[@juditpozsonyi5469]

Super!!!

[@boonestead4812]

awesome its so vaudeville! a true performer hes clearly enjoying himself and its comes thru in the performance this must of been hard to do technically in the 70s its been said over and over but why do all the good ones leave us so early

[@juliacole5738]

truly my favorite artist of all time so talented and not appreciated. I wish I could’ve met him so bad.

[@79trabant]

Genius of Nilsson

[@JackTheSkunk]

Amazing....no wonder Lennon was enamored with him.

[@tornadojoegee]

Such a genius - what a crying shame...

[@raymondkidd2346]

The Beatles favourite group.Nilsson.wow.

[@seniorsurveyor]

Oh my gosh! I have never heard of this special. I grew up on Phil and Don...love this version. And Harry! What a vocalist, composer, performer. Thanks so much for posting.

[@sandylbc]

That voice still gives me goosebumps!

[@bigchuffa1]

Thanks for uploading, I've watched this so many times, its Nilsson at his best...probably my fav KZbin video of all time...what a talent this guy was...cheers

[@iamhereblossom1588]

Just brings a smile to my face

[@shelby8364]

same here

[@nunyanunya6398]

Me too. The entire show, it's gotta be one of my all time favs !

[@jerricocrittenden8311]

@@nunyanunya6398 mr richlands favorite song with a little bit of one in it was fantastic

[@kaitophile]

what a voice.

[@localoba2688]

TY!✌😎💕🎶 NILSSON WAS THE BEATLES FAVORITE AMERICAM BAND!! THEY SAY YA KNOW!😂

[@michaelgouda305]

Harry x 3. Yeah! Harry x 1000!

[@ruklick]

WOW! Never heard this first song before! Wonder who the one knucklehead is that gave this a thumbs down. Someone who does not know genius when they hear it. I can't wait to get my Nilsson box set in the mail!!!!!

[@ellenmurphy2150]

Stephens Answer

[@Petal300]

Just saw the ending, he's everywhere, he's everywhere!

[@CreamingDreamer]

Wish I was harry. Maybe one day I will be.

[@davemarx7856]

so much fun

[@TheJaynethepayne]

I always loved Harry Neilson for 'Without You', but this makes me realise he was a lot better than I knew. Missed out there. Thanks You Tube.

[@Chesterton7]

The best.

[@Catherine-hg8cs]

Oh my god - when midget Nilsson, on the right, pulled out the harmonica I almost spit a mouthful of beer onto my laptop. And the Stan Laurel head scratch at the end is priceless. Anybody else see the humor Andy Kaufmann got from Harry?

[@margaretgaskell4958]

Nothing like it in 2018 ….he was a great writer and artist

[@darkprose]

I love this man. All of him. Everyone of him. He’s become my favorite singer-songwriter. I never expected that to happen, but it did. Like falling in love, sometimes you’re surprised. The more time I spent with his music the more it got to me.

[@KieranGarland]

love. absolutely love

[@valeriepenny5823]

awesome awesome wonderful

[@gttdkt]

I love his backup singers JUST AS MUCH AS I LOVE HIM. hahahahah.

[@brucefultz2462]

God Bless you Harry.

[@kenmason1461]

sound effects by RCA loved you harry and miss you to this day

[@paulholmes8887]

Harry was a genius and I don't use that term lightly ,Brian Wilson? Lennon McCartney . But his voice , well he had the voice of an angel and a devil when he wanted it.

[@CapAnson12345]

When the third head popped up I just about fell on the floor laughing.

[@MrAlsfan5]

Brilliant. This is fantastic!

[@J_Ciner]

My favorite group

[@AndySalinger33]

Nilsson is just for us. Not intended for the sheep. He's a secret.

[@GaryColemanNC]

TRUTH...

[@AndySalinger33]

@@GaryColemanNC 🍈------->🥥

[@GaryColemanNC]

...and call me in the morning.

[@GaryColemanNC]

What you wanna' bet that not a single Drumph supporter has ever heard Harry's name?

[@AndySalinger33]

@@GaryColemanNC hahaha!!!! I am with you my friend.

[@stevesewall]

Wonderful, just wonderful!

[@1voyher1]

Brilliant ! when the head popped up - amazing

[@MayorMcSleaze]

Imagine what he'd do with today's technology....hee hee

[@Rocketjay12]

Or today's in 2019!

[@ultraviolettas]

Or AI sing-with-anybody tech! I hate it but he would be so fun with it

[@pachambers]

Cute song 🎶

[@barttheanorak]

Awesome!

[@legaultmichelle1194]

Yes, Thank you.

[@Petal300]

fab fun!

[@Premierblues]

This is so amazing

[@moondancer.n.8334]

memories....& FUNNY....

[@simonemueller7693]

Somehow I think about this song and I love him but it reminds me of red dwarf

[@sarahmahany3404]

I spent an evening with him many, many years ago. We ate hash and who knows what else we did.

[@howardjdownes]

Duh...we had blue screen. Love the homage to Stan Laurel.

[@blakenorman4697]

whats better than one harry nilsson singing>>>>

[@archiederham2103]

Blake Norman 3

[@captkirk8974]

jimi hendrix and 3 white chicks

[@MrAlsfan5]

No one is better than Harry.

[@McDoinky]

2 giant paint bubbles!

[@nancybcastner2313]

This is special..how did he do this??? He really was a super musician..

[@jdw99]

NANCY B CASTNER Here is how it was done: He sang the song 3 times, first as the "middle" Harry doing the main part of the song, then as the other two Harries singing harmony along to the first recording, just like he would overdub his own singing in the studio. Except for this part, he sat in front of a green screen so that they could merge the videos with the first video of him sitting at the piano.

[@carladiciaccio8955]

jdw99 ....Well said my friend. Harry liked to add humor to his creations. He was somewhat of a comedian. His personality was very welcoming and he had a lot of friends.

[@jamesjosephmoore5718]

Great version of 'Walk right back'. It's well known that Harry was a good friend of John Lennon's, strangely enough in this video he reminds me much of Paul McCartney especially when he smiles.

[@katmayful]

+James Joseph Moore I agree - , a look of McCartney when he smiles... his lyrics and melodies in his songs are on par with McCartney... his voice is stronger I think his voice is beautiful.. sorry he is no longer with us..

[@mitzykatt8754]

+James Joseph Moore Harry was friends with all 4 beatles, actually he was called the 5th Beatle more than once. Ringo was his best man, they all occasionally got drunk together~~

[@ronmiller576]

+Mitzy Katt smashed, you mean. :)

[@iamhereblossom1588]

They both have that whimsical fun feeling to the songs they write. You're right, they're very similar.

[@jakespivey3716]

@@katmayful I think of him of being more like McCartney than Lennon. He was a very good song writer but, not as good as McCartney. But, his musicality and ingenuity were on par or better than McCartney. I would have liked to hear what would happen if McCartney and HN hung out and jammed with each other and perhaps wrote a few songs together, that would have been very interesting and entertaining.

[@vazmo14850]

no better voice!

[@saintcruzin]

When writing a review of one of Nilssons early lps, the reviewer made the same mistake. He didn't realize Harry was his own back-up singers. It's why Lennon said Nilsson is my favorite group!!LOL

[@pamelabreeman2811]

He was a genius. The Beatles knew it, and revered him.

[@edwardpasby5237]

Sons of Nilsson

[@topsypart2880]

Edward Pasby I have that album

[@eacIipse1]

A round of Harry Nilsson

[@MrLeglamp]

I love little Harry. His head barely come over the top of the piano.

[@HALOMAN11]

This is excellent, thank you

[@monteyoung7126]

That was seriously hi tech for it's day! Well done 👍

[@hoarybat61]

His looks here remind me a little of Larry Bird. What a talent Harry was.

[@larrywildes2262]

Agreed 💯

[@Jessicaunarex]

Who are the 6 dummies who down voted this? Show yourselves.

[@joshuabidelspach9260]

Jessica S just thought the same thing! Total dolts for saying thumbs down..love Harry

[@clemdane]

We need to have compassion for the hearing impaired.

[@2degucitas]

Clemdane But, we can mock then behind their back.

[@samwickerboots590]

Thumbs down from those who don't see The Point.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

It was only two dummies (but their backup singers voted, too!)

[@Rockinfemdrum]

❤Harry❤

[@simonemueller7693]

Just want you to know it’s me and myself and I that makes the three of us

[@captkirk8974]

great

[@peterjohnroche8533]

John Lennon was one of the few...they were soul brothers in genius.