Okay - it's not horrible... but it's not great either... what it IS, it's the last time Harry Nilsson ever sang LIVE onstage - at a full fledged concert backed by Ringo Starr and his band at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, September 1992.
Performing LIVE was something Harry didn't do.
Some people will tell you it was because Harry, in spite of his bawdy reputation for hard drinking and partying, was really a painfully shy man. Others will tell you that the choice not to perform live was primarily a technical one - Harry's multi-octave, at times heavily multi-tracked singing was something that would not (could not) translate well to the stage. Add to that, and it's no secret, everyone knows Harry's voice was arguably not up to par in later years.
But there was a time - this time - where Ringo Starr (a long-time friend of Harry's) had convinced Harry to do so. Todd Rundgren, who was one of Ringo's All-Star band members at the time, sang along with Harry, filling out the high notes. And wouldn't you know it - Harry picked the most difficult of all the songs in his catalogue - the #1 chart topper of his career, "Without You".
There's no VIDEO... just audio... apparently this is all that exists out there to date of his last performance. A few months after this Harry suffered a heart attack - and then about a year after that he suffered another - this time fatal. So take it for what it's worth... it's not Harry in his hey-day at the top of his game (it's anything but) however, it IS something VERY rare - - and special. It's still, after all, Harry...
---
---
Meeting Harry
I met Harry at an autograph table at one of those Beatlefest Conventions back in the mid 80s. Harry used to do Beatlefests back then as a way to increase awareness about the dangers of handgun violence. As everyone knows, Harry (and the world) lost John Lennon earlier that decade when a disturbed young man with a gun took his life outside The Dakota building, where the Lennon's had lived since 1973. Harry (who at one time was nicknamed "the fifth Beatle") took Lennon's death particularly hard, and spent the rest of his life supporting the National Coalition To Ban Handguns.
Someone (perhaps Harry himself?) had placed a sign on the wall behind him that read "KISSES FOR SALE - $1.00". (I opted for a signature.) I also gave him a cartoon drawing I did of him - and surprisingly, right there on the spot - he drew a caricature of himself that he gave to me! My buddy Lloyd held out a dollar and said "how 'bout you sing a couple of lines?" and he snatched the dollar out of his hand (and sang) "couple of lines!!" Harry obviously had a great sense of humor!
But after all, this was an autograph table encounter and everyone's supposed to move it along after a moment or two - so as great as that was, I had an even more memorable Harry encounter later that night.
Back To The Point
With my Beatlefest goodie-bag and film schedule in hand I was making my way down one of the hallways when all of a sudden, coming up fast behind me, was Harry - as he was being carried through the hallway by a small entourage, big red glass of something in one hand (his other around someone's neck) and I would swear his feet weren't even touching the ground. His "support" group was taking him towards the elevator, perhaps to go to his room, and at one point I found myself right along side of him. I figured, well - while Harry's right here let me say hello. So I did - and I asked him if he had ever planned on doing a sequel for "The Point" - an album and an animated cartoon that had changed my life forever.
For a brief moment he broke from his multiple conversations he was having with his group and looked me right in the eye. He seemed to be genuinely touched that I had asked that - and he answered, with a hint of forlorn, "...you know... I DID!!... although at the time no one was particularly interested enough, so it was dropped... I wanted to call it "Back To The Point". Then someone with him cut in and said something to the effect of "now let's get back to OUR point!" - whatever THAT was supposed to mean. It sounded like some thinly veiled reference to whatever they were planning to do once out of sight. Before I could say anything else to Harry they had already whisked him inside the elevator - and they were gone.
I turned around and headed back to the Dealer's room - with mixed emotions... glad I got to speak to Harry, but somewhat saddened by what he said - or more accurately how he sounded when he said it. There was also a nagging feeling that I was witnessing a kind of self-destruction - the very thing, the very same subject matter - that if you dig deep enough - you keep coming across whenever you read or see anything on Harry's career. There's always the mention that Harry had it in him to be great (and yes, he was) but he also had his demons. Enablers seemed to be everywhere.
But that night with Ringo was different - maybe THAT'S what makes it so special. It was Harry trying his best - and that's all anybody could've hoped for.
Miss you Harry.
:-))))
ReplyDelete