Paul McCartney and John Lennon described him as the Beatles "favorite group;" he won Grammy awards; wrote and recorded hit songs; and yet no figure in popular music is as much of a paradox; or as underrated; as Harry Nilsson.In this first ever full-length biography; Alyn Shipton traces Nilssons life from his Brooklyn childhood to his Los Angeles adolescence and his gradual emergence as a uniquely talented singer-songwriter. With interviews from friends; family; and associates; and material drawn from an unfinished autobiography; Shipton probes beneath the enigma to discover the real Harry Nilsson. A major celebrity at a time when huge concerts and festivals were becoming the norm; Nilsson shunned live performance. His venue was the studio; his stage the dubbing booth; his greatest triumphs masterful examples of studio craft. He was a gifted composer of songs for a wide variety of performers; including the Ronettes; the Yardbirds; and the Monkees; yet Nilssons own biggest hits were almost all written by other songwriters. He won two Grammy awards; in 1969 for "Everybodys Talkin" (the theme song for Midnight Cowboy); and in 1972 for "Without You;" had two top ten singles; numerous album successes; and wrote a number of songs--"Coconut" and "Jump into the Fire;" to name just two--that still sound remarkably fresh and original today. He was once described by his producer Richard Perry as "the finest white male singer on the planet;" but near the end of his life; Nilssons career was marked by voice-damaging substance abuse and the infamous deaths of both Keith Moon and Mama Cass in his London flat.Drawing on exclusive access to Nilssons papers; Alyn Shiptons biography offers readers an intimate portrait of a man who has seemed both famous and unknowable--until now.
#2537866 in eBooks 2013-08-01 2013-08-01File Name: B00E0KQT7Y
Review
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Ugh.By caliboyWe love Mark Ravenhill.We are thrilled by Mark Ravenhill.SOME EXPLICIT POLAROIDS remains one of the most effective things I have ever seen.We are happy that he has forged a real career as a playwright.I love queer voices. Im queer.(pool) no water aint it. Nope. No way. No how.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Brilliant and macabre challange for a troop to perform; and an interesting read even when not performedBy Edward HintzeI have a deep affection for this play; having been in a production of it some time ago now. What is extraordinary about this piece is how it tackles the jealousy and malice that can be harboured in a small community - regardless of espoused liberal values. And yet; its formatting as a play - paragraphs; and no easily defined voices of characters makes this a powerful piece to perform. It becomes powerful because the cast must cut the piece into shape; define who speaks when; and who your character is. You can fight for lines; and justify why you and only you would say this - a true test for a troop. The piece originally developed for Frantic Assembly of London means that this extra ordinary tale of reclamation and a twisted view of art therapy is physical; and abstract on account of its origins. Pool (no water) is as fascinating as it it is macabre; a must read.