Son of Schmilsson

Son of Schmilsson is the eighth album by American singer Harry Nilsson, released in 1972 by RCA Records.

Son of Schmilsson
Studio album by Nilsson
Released	10 July 1972 (US) 28 July 1972 (UK)
Recorded	March–April 1972
Studio	Trident Studios and Apple Studio, London, England; "The Most Beautiful World in the World" recorded at CTS Studios, London
Genre	Pop
Length	39:07
Label	RCA Victor
Producer	Richard Perry
Nilsson chronology
Nilsson Schmilsson (1971) Son of Schmilsson (1972) A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night (1973)
Singles from Son of Schmilsson
"Spaceman" / "Turn on Your Radio" Released: 4 September 1972 (US); 14 September 1972 (UK) "Remember (Christmas)" / "The Lottery Song" Released: December 1972

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Austin Chronicle	[2]
Christgau's Record Guide	B+[3]
The Essential Rock Discography	6/10[4]
MusicHound	2/5[5]
Pitchfork Media	6.5/10[6]
PopMatters	[7]
Q	[8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[9]

Background

Nilsson was being pressured to produce a follow-up album similar to his 1971 breakthrough, Nilsson Schmilsson, but instead, he created a more eccentric work. The album was produced by Richard Perry and features musical contributions from former Beatles Ringo Starr and George Harrison. Other musicians on the recording include Nicky Hopkins, Klaus Voormann, Bobby Keys and Peter Frampton.^[7] Among the album's tracks are "You're Breakin' My Heart" and the US hit "Spaceman".

Most of the sessions were extensively filmed, at the request of Nilsson. The footage was to be used for a planned documentary, titled Did Somebody Drop His Mouse?, but the film was never released.

The album cover features a photograph of Nilsson (dressed as a Dracula-like vampire) taken by Michael Putland at George Harrison’s home Friar Park.^[2] The album was remastered and released on CD with two bonus tracks in 2000 and with five bonus tracks in 2006.

Track listing

All tracks written by Harry Nilsson except where noted.

Side one (LP)

1. "Take 54" – 4:22
2. "Remember (Christmas)"– 4:07
3. "Joy" – 3:42
4. "Turn on Your Radio" – 2:42
5. "You're Breakin' My Heart" – 3:10

Side two (LP)

6. "Spaceman" – 3:33
7. "The Lottery Song" – 2:24
8. "At My Front Door" (Ewart G. Abner, John C. Moore) – 2:46
9. "Ambush" – 5:35
10. "I'd Rather Be Dead" (Nilsson, Richard Perry) – 3:20
11. "The Most Beautiful World in the World" – 3:33

Bonus tracks (2000 reissue)

12. "Joy" (demo version: guitar) – 1:57
13. "Joy" (demo version: piano) – 0:55

Bonus tracks (2006 reissue)

12. "What's Your Sign?" (Alternate version) – 3:08
13. "Take 54" (Alternate take) – 3:39
14. "Campo de Encino" (Jimmy Webb) – 4:54
15. "Daybreak" (Single version) – 3:06
16. "It Had to Be You" (Jam session) – 2:34 (Hidden track)

Charts

Chart (1972)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10]	13
United States (Billboard 200)	12

Personnel

• Harry Nilsson – vocals, electric piano (tracks 1, 5, 6, 9), acoustic guitar (4)
• Nicky Hopkins – piano (tracks 1–8, 11)
• Klaus Voormann – bass guitar (tracks 1, 3–6, 8, 11), saxophone (1, 5), electric guitar (7)
• Ringo Starr (credited as Richie Snare) – drums (tracks 1, 6, 8, 9, 11)^[11]
• Peter Frampton – electric guitar (tracks 3–5, 8, 9), acoustic guitar (6, 7)
• Chris Spedding – bouzouki (track 2), electric guitar (8, 9), acoustic guitar (6, 7)
• Milt Holland – percussion (tracks 1, 7)
• Jim Price – trumpet (tracks 1, 5, 9), trombone (9), horn arrangement (9)
• Bobby Keys – saxophone (tracks 1, 5, 8, 9)
• Lowell George – guitar (track 1)
• Del Newman – string arrangements (track 2, 11)
• Pop Arts String Quartet - strings (track 2)
• John Uribe – acoustic guitar (tracks 3, 6, 7), electric guitar (track 9)
• Red Rhodes – pedal steel guitar (track 3)
• Ray Cooper – percussion (tracks 3, 7, 11), congas (8), tambourine (9)
• Kirby Johnson – horn arrangements (tracks 4, 11)
• Richard Mackey – tuben/French horn (track 4)
• Vincent DeRosa – tuben/French horn (track 4)
• David Duke – tuben/French horn (track 4)
• George Harrison (credited as George Harrysong) – slide guitar (track 5)^[11]
• Barry Morgan – drums (tracks 3,^[12] 5)
• Paul Buckmaster – orchestral arrangement (track 6)
• "Moxie" – bass harmonica (track 6)^[13]
• Richard Perry – percussion (tracks 6, 11), arrangements (11)
• Senior Citizens of the Stepney & Pinner Choir Club No. 6, London, England – choir (track 10)
• The Henry Krein Quartet with Klaus Voormann – rhythm section (track 10)
• Henry Krein – accordion (track 10)
• Paul Keogh – guitar (track 11)
• Les Thatcher – guitar (track 11)

Technical

• Ken Scott, Robin Geoffrey Cable, Phil McDonald - engineer
• Michael Putland - cover photography

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1972	Billboard Pop Albums	12

Single

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1972	"Spaceman"	Billboard Pop Singles	23

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[14]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Harry Nilsson Son of Schmilsson". AllMusic. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
2. Schroeder, Audra (August 25, 2006). "Son of Schmilsson, A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night, Everybody's Talkin': The Best of Harry Nilsson". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
3. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: N". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 8, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
4. Strong, Martin C. (2006). The Essential Rock Discography. Edinburgh, UK: Canongate. p. 758. ISBN 978-1-84195-827-9.
5. Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds) (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 815. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
6. Leone, Dominique (June 9, 2006). "Harry Nilsson: Son of Schmilsson / A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
7. Horning, Bob (May 16, 2006). "Harry Nilsson: Son of Schmilsson / A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night". PopMatters. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
8. "Harry Nilsson – Son of Schmilsson CD Album". CD Universe/Muze. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
9. Randall, Mac; Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds) (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th edn). New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. p. 586. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 218. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
11. Castleman, Harry; Podrazik, Walter J. (1977). All Together Now: The First Complete Beatles Discography 1961–1975 (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Ballantine Books. p. 115. ISBN 0-345-25680-8.
12. record
13. Armstrong, Curtis (February 2006). Son of Schmilsson remastered re-release liner notes, page 13. Quoting Paul Buckmaster.
14. "American album certifications – Nilsson – Son of Schmilsson". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 24 October 2023.