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72 of 72 found the following review helpful:
 Finally, a definitive version! Sep 01, 2004
By Jamie Tate
This beautiful album has not recieved the love and affection it deserves throughout the years. There have been numerous CD releases and all (except for the $30 Mobile Fidelity gold CD) have woefully inadequate fidelity due to incompetent mastering jobs and/or poor source material.
The Camden import CD series were taken from cassette quality tape dubs and mastered for that "You aren't there" sound. The recent Japan remasters sound fine but have that very annoying digital hiss removal which destroyed the transients and made things sound like MP3's. Grrrrr!
This CD version was mastered from the original tapes by Vic Anesini. Vic's name is usually the mark of quality. You can buy with confindence when you see his name. He's made this album sound right... finally. It's not as top ended as the MFSL gold CD but that disc was sourced from Richard Perry's personal tapes and not the original masters. Vic has made some wise EQ choices and things sound smooth, natural and pleasing.
The bonus tracks are nice although all have been released before on various discs.
Again, buy with confidence. This is a wonderful album needing a place in everyone's music library.
36 of 37 found the following review helpful:
Harry Nilsson's Classic Finally Gets Remastered! Jan 19, 2004
By highway_star
In 1971, singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson released the album entitled "Nilsson Schmilsson", and what many consider to be his best work. The smash hit "Without You" (written by Pete Ham & Tom Evans of Badfinger) was the album's first hit and it went straight to number one on the pop and adult contemperary charts. But the album also spawned several other hits as well with the reggaeish tune "Coconut" and the frantic rocker "Jump Into The Fire". The musicians on "Nilsson Schmilsson" are first rate with artists such as Jim Gordon (drummer for Derek & The Dominos), Klaus Voorman (played bass guitar on John Lennon's "Imagine" album), Chris Spedding (an accomplished guitarist) and Gary Wright (keyboardist for Spooky Tooth) all adding their two bits on this excellent album. The songs are full of pop tunes such as "Gotta Get Up", "Driving Along", "Coconut" and the seven minute rock classic "Jump Into The Fire". You've got ballads here such as the above mentioned "Without You" and "I'll Never Leave You". There are also six bonus tracks included in this newly remastered version such as "Si No Estas Tu" (Spanish Version Of "Without You"), "How Can I Be Sure", "The Moonbeam Song (Demo Version)", "Lamaze", "Old Forgotten Soldier (Demo Version" and "Gotta Get Up (Demo Version)". The remastering is excellent and certainly surpasses the non-remastered version with increased mid-range, bass and extended output. Ranked in the Top 100 albums of all time, "Nilsson Schmilsson" certainly has earned it's rightful place and is an album all lovers of seventies music should have in their collection.
13 of 13 found the following review helpful:
You can jump into the fire..... Sep 27, 2000
By WTDK
"If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.-Albert Einstein"
Nilsson. An underappreciated artist to say the least. Unfortunately his best work hasn't been available on CD or has had inferior sound until now. One of Nilsson's best albums receives the royal treatment with excellent notes by Curtis Armstrong (yeah, the guy from Revenge of the Nerds and Moonlighting). The selection of bonus tracks definitely enhances this package. We get the demos for a number of songs that made (and one that didn't) the album. The Without You demo is of particular interest as you can actually hear Harry working out the arrangement as he performs it solo on piano.The sound quality is top notch (although it would have been nice if they had used the HDCD format or 24 bit remastering for that extra detail and warmth). There is a noticable difference between the domestic version of NS and this fine import. Rumor has it (Buddah Records wouldn't confirm it but I hear they are working on the masters as we speak) that Buddah Records will be reissuing Son of Dracula next year with a number of previously unreleased bonus tracks. While SOD wasn't Harry's best album (it did feature the terrific Daybreak though), the opportunity to hear unreleased tracks makes me water at the mouth. Finally the guy is getting his due. Harry we miss you!
14 of 16 found the following review helpful:
 Romantic Sentimentality with a Rock�n�Roll Veneer Jul 16, 2000
By dev1
Nilsson Schmilsson is quite a departure for Harry Nilsson. Harry turns out some pretty hot rockers, and let's his normally subdued "soul" soar. The rock'n'roll veneer may be the result of a conscious change in style, or the association with musicians such as bassist Klaus Voorman and guitarist Chris Spedding. Klaus was a member of John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band, and Chris has played with everyone from John Cale to Elton John. Drummers Jim Keltner and Jim Gordon are stylist mentors. Also, Richard Perry is an often sought producer responsible for the work of dozens of popular music artists. Nilsson was so pleased with the results of Nilsson Shmilsson, that he asked Perry to produce three more albums. Written while Nilsson was in Africa, the CD is abundant with forceful rhythms. Quick, who wrote `Without You'? Although the song was written by Badfinger, Nilsson's rendition is the definitive version. It's also the emotional core of Nilsson Schmilsson. Nilsson's pained and lonesome delivery and soaring vocals are unforgettable. In contrast to `Without You,' the most vigorous rocker is `Jump In The Fire.' Klaus Voorman's out-of tune bass lines thunder through Nilsson's impassioned singing. `Early In The Morning' is such a convincing blues number, it's easy to forget that Nilsson is singing. `Down' is a majestic acoustic ballad reminiscent of Nilsson's light and whimsical material. Nilsson's love and respect for Randy Newman is clear on the piano-based `I'll Never Leave You.' The vocal harmonies are tearful. Harry Nilsson was one of several singer/songwriters of the early nineteen-seventies who defied the trend toward hard rock, and instead centered his vision on romantic sentimentality. Despite the passing of the gifted artist who gave us `Without You,' we don't have to live without Harry Nilsson: his music will continue to charm undying romantics for decades to come. Thanks Harry.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Perfect Songs, Perfect Recording, Perfect Voice Jun 20, 2001
By Martin A Hogan
"Marty From SF"
This being Harry Nilsson's most popular album (garnering three major hits), is Harry's most entertaining album. Every song is upbeat containing romantic, rock, silly and torch songs filling your ears. "Down" pushes the envelope of reckless rythym and blues abandon, while "Jump Into The Fire" showcases the same frantic voice working a drum/bass line that never lets up. "Without You" is his most known song, a true tear-jerker and "Coconut" will make you laugh or drive you nuts. Finishing off with the romantic "I'll Never Leave You", Harry Nilsson pulls on your heart strings. Richard Perry did a marvelous job of production; probably one of his best and for the perfect voice.
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