TVD Remembers Hilly Kristal

NEW YORK, Aug. 29 It is with deep sadness and regret that we inform you of the death of Hilly Kristal, who died on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 from complications from Lung Cancer. Kristal, 75, founded the legendary rock club CBGB and ran the club for 33 years. A singer and songwriter himself, Kristal opened the club to showcase "Country Bluegrass and Blues"; instead the club became a breeding ground for Punk rock. Among the many acts that called CBGB home were Blondie, the Talking Heads, Television, Living Color, Patti Smith and the Ramones. The club closed in October 2006, but CBGB continues, with a retail store in New York City and worldwide merchandise sales; in addition, there currently are plans to open new CBGB clubs in several locations.

Kristal is survived by his daughter, Lisa Kristal Burgman, son, Mark Dana Kristal, son-in-law Ger Burgman, grandchildren Jenny and Adam Burgman, CBGB, and the thousands of artists and musicians who played the club.

A private memorial service is planned. A public memorial will be held at a later date. Contributions in Hilly's honor may be made in his name to the American Cancer Society or to the Hilly Kristal Foundation for Musicians and Artists (168 Second Avenue, PMB 207, New York, NY 10003).
(Source CBGB)

TVD'S MORNING WAX - 8/29/07
(Four from Norway's Even Johansen aka: Magnet)
Magnet - Heaviest Heart (Mp3)
Magnet - Little Miss More Or Less (Mp3)
Magnet - I'll Come Along (Mp3)
Magnet - Duracellia (Mp3)

TVD'S AM Gems - 8/28/07
The Raspberries - Go All The Way (Mp3)
Ringo Starr - Photograph (Mp3)
ELO - Telephone Line (Mp3)
Paul McCartney & Wings - Jet (Mp3)
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band - Whatever Gets You Thru the Night (Mp3)

TVD'S MORNING WAX - 8/28/07
(Now bundled together in one download. Give us some feedback if this is preferable or not - thanks!)
Soft Cell - What (Mp3)
Soft Cell - So (Mp3)
Soft Cell - Kitchen Sink Drama (Mp3)
Soft Cell - Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go (12" mix) (Mp3)
Soft Cell - Say Hello, Wave Goodbye [Extended Version] (Mp3)
...guitar free...

TVD'S MORNING WAX - 8/27/07
(Now bundled together in one download!)
The Lotus Eaters - The First Picture of You (Mp3)
Depeche Mode - Somebody (Mp3)
China Crisis - Wishful Thinking (Mp3)
Vitamin Z - Burning Flame (Mp3)
The Bible - Honey Be Good (Acoustic) (Mp3)
(Twee Monday)

Springsteen's "Magic" Gets Vinyl Release Week Before CD

Bruce Springsteen's new album, "Magic," is expected to be released on vinyl a week before its CD version hits stores in order to qualify it for 2007 Grammy consideration. The vinyl is due Sept. 25 via Columbia, while the CD will arrive Oct. 2; Sept. 30 is the cut-off for Grammy eligibility.

A handful of major releases have appeared on vinyl prior to CD; Pearl Jam released its 1994 album, "Vitalogy," on vinyl two weeks early, prompting a premature No. 55 debut on The Billboard 200.

The first single from "Magic," the driving rocker "Radio Nowhere," is due to hit U.S. radio outlets on Sept. 4 but has begun making the rounds online in the past 24 hours.
Springsteen and the E Street Band are widely expected to play some live shows in the U.S. around the album's release, but dates have yet to be announced.
(via Billboard)

Third World - 96 Degrees in the Shade (Mp3)
Jimmy Cliff - Johnny Too Bad (Mp3)
Lee 'Scratch' Perry - Black Panta (Mp3)
Musical Youth - Pass the Duchie (12 Inch Version) (Mp3)
Steel Pulse - Handsworth Revolution (Mp3)
Peter Tosh - Coming in Hot (Mp3)
Bob Marley - Punky Reggae Party (Mp3)
Bunny Wailer - Rise And Shine (Mp3)
Toots and the Maytals - 54-46 Was My Number (Mp3)
Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come (Mp3)
(...weekend spliff edition. shh.)

...and so brings a close to Nilsson Week. Thanks for hanging in (if you did!) and indulging us. Thanks must go again to harrynilsson.com and For the Love of Harry for the background info and for filling in some blanks. Tell 'em we sent ya'.

Along the way we were accused of riding the coattails of the aforementioned sites and I politely have to disagree with that notion. They have their audience and we have ours -- and it's one that may have missed Nilsson along the way. We hope we've broadened the horizons of the uninitiated and encouraged some new folks to seek out Harry's catalog. They'll be well rewarded.

Let it not be said however that we're against any critique or criticism, cuz we ain't! Let us know how you feel in any regard...more of this, less of that - we're all ears. Chime in and participate...and thanks!

LP
RCA
CPL1-0570
1974
Harry Nilsson - Many Rivers To Cross (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Don't Forget Me (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Old Forgotten Soldier (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - All My Life (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Save The Last Dance For Me (Mp3)

Famously produced by John Lennon during his "Lost Weekend" period in 1974, Pussy Cats is often regarded as one of Nilsson's weaker albums, but it turns out to be one of my favorites. Just imagine, behind the drum kit alone for all the tracks on the LP are Ringo Starr, Keith Moon and Jim Keltner. Klaus Voorman shows up on bass. Jesse Ed Davis, Danny Kootch, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Jim Horn and Bobby Keyes all sneak in there too.

And oh, yea -- Harry's on vocals. But if you've been following along all week, you'll note a distinct change in those vocals. Harry injured his vocal cords during the recording sessions which give some of these tunes an extra special resonance...gone is the sugar coating, in place of a whiskey-soaked rasp. And it was to stay that way for the rest of his recording career. A lost weekend, indeed.

Australia
LP
Starcall
APL1-0097
Harry Nilsson - I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - What'll I Do (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You) (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - This Is All I Ask (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - As Time Goes By (Mp3)

"About two years ago [circa 1971], Harry and I were talking about songs, swapping titles, and testing memories. You know that game? Who wrote 'Miss Otis' and what year did Al Jolson die, and what else besides 'As Time Goes By' did Herman Hupfeld ... write? We found a lot of marvelous songs with fine words. And what melodies! 'You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want To Do It),' 'I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now.' Brilliant stuff, constructed with style and flair. ... One day Harry suggested 'Why don't we do an album of the old songs?' and it was the best idea I'd heard since God only knows when. 'You produce and I'll sing,' he said. And two years later - it's November 1972 - he says it again, and this time it's on." -- Derek Taylor

LP
RCA
1971
Harry Nilsson - Gotta Get Up (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Early In The Morning (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - The Moonbeam Song (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Without You (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - I'll Never Leave You (Mp3)

"Nilsson Schmilsson" is Harry Nilsson's best-selling album. It spent nearly one year on the charts, reaching #3, and going gold. The album's name comes from a discussion Harry had with some of the musicians about possible titles. One of them said it didn't matter much what you called it ... "Nilsson ... Schmilsson."
(And the greatest wake-and-bake cover ever? Could be...)

Harry's pre-Harry days ('63-'64).
Harry Nilsson (as Johnny Niles) - Donna (I Understand) (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson (as Johnny Niles) - Wig Job (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson (as Bo-Pete) - Do You Wanna (Have Some Fun) (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson (as Bo-Pete) - Groovy Little Suzie (Mp3)
Thanks again to FTLOH!

Three. Part. Harmony.

LP
RCA
LSP-4197
1969
Harry Nilsson - City Life (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Open Your Window (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Maybe (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Waiting (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Nobody Cares About The Railroads Anymore (Mp3)

"Harry" was Harry Nilsson's first album to break into Billboard's Top 200 album chart. It hit #120 and remained on the chart for 15 weeks.

The Monkees Demos
Harry Nilsson - Cuddly Toy (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Hey Little Girl (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Counting (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - The Story Of Rock And Roll (Mp3)
Recorded on March 17, 1967 while auditioning material for The Monkees and their producer Chip Douglas. (Thanks to For The Love Of Harry!)

The guy did get around.

LP
RCA
LSP-4289
1970
Harry Nilsson - Caroline (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - I'll Be Home (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Living Without You (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - Dayton Ohio 1903 (Mp3)
Harry Nilsson - So Long Dad (Mp3)

"Randy was tired of the album when we were finishing making it, because for him it was just doing piano and voice, piano and voice, over and over and over. But I needed that practice because I needed to learn the songs inside and out the way that he knew them, but do it my way so that it (stylistically) matched both of us. Once I got the take down, I knew what I was going to do with it later. He didn't." - Harry

Or, How 10 CD's for a Penny Could Change Your Life
I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for a deal. Send me ten DVD's for 5 bucks? I'm there. Netflix? Done deal. Peapod? Sure -- bring the grocs right to the front door. I think I've even joined Columbia House and BMG Music Clubs about 5 times each -- immediately completing the terms of the deal and canceling. I mean, fair's fair, right? I take them up on their offer, I get my CDs and move on to the proverbial next town.

But there's an odd downside to this transient Club joining, at least in the musical arena...eventually you kinda have what ya want in the ole LP/CD collection. It forces your hand to look to things you might perhaps just half like, or hell, even hear for the first time.

And that's how I found Harry Nilsson...rolling the dice for a penny and pulling the lever for The Best of Harry Nilsson. And I had every reason for optimism given previous successes of this sort with T-Rex and Thin Lizzy. (Two bands I'll STILL champion to this day - don't start with me...)

What I didn't expect was the sheer pervasive genius of the songwriting, the character of the vocals, the wit, humor, melancholy and longing wrapped up in one performer. How could I have missed this? No wonder John and Paul pronounced Nilsson their favorite in '68...hell it was all there...the 'American Beatle.' And then came that familiar feeling...that buzz...the knowledge that there's a wealth of material out there that's "new." Well, at least it was to me, then.

And now it's ten or more years on from that moment and I still feel the same way, reviewing my LPs and CDs for this week's tribute to Harry. There's plenty to be said about the man and his music, but as I noted in this week's teaser, there are quite a few online doing it already and who have done a wonderful job of covering each and every base. My thanks go out to the very fine harrynilsson.com as well as For The Love Of Harry -- wonderful sites that can fill in the blanks for the curious as well as the converted.

So, timely? Probably not. Timeless? For certain. Sit back, relax, and download...and indeed, run out and purchase.

"Long ago, and far away..."

All next week at TVD...

...with great appreciation to some friends on the net.

Classics - on the Rocks
Van Halen - Dance The Night Away (Mp3)
Judas Priest - Living After Midnight (Mp3)
Blue Oyster Cult - Burnin' For You (Mp3)
Foreigner - Blue Morning, Blue Day (Live) (Mp3)
Led Zeppelin - Fool in the Rain (Mp3)