''Spotlight on Nilsson'' is the debut album by
Harry Nilsson
Harry Edward Nilsson III (June 15, 1941 – January 15, 1994), sometimes credited as Nilsson, was an American singer-songwriter who reached the peak of his success in the early 1970s. His work is characterized by pioneering vocal overdub experi ...
. It is essentially a compilation of all four of the singles (and their respective B-Sides) that were released during his tenure on the
Tower
A tower is a tall Nonbuilding structure, structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from guyed mast, masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting ...
label (1964–1966), plus two previously unreleased tracks. It has been re-issued numerous times over the years with different sleeves, attempting to capitalize on his later success at
RCA Records
RCA Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside Columbia Records (its former longtime rival), Arista Records and Epic R ...
. It was released in 1969 on 8-track on
Pickwick as ''Rock 'N' Roll'', without "The Path That Leads to Trouble", and in the UK on EMI's One-Up label in 1972 as ''Early Years'', with the original tracklisting.
The track "Good Times" would be later covered by
the Monkees
The Monkees were an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s. The band consisted of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones (musician), Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork. Spurred by the success of ''The Monkees (TV series), Th ...
as the title track for
their 2016 reunion album.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Harry Nilsson; except where indicated
#"The Path That Leads to Trouble" (Johnny Cole) – 2:08 - with The New Salvation Singers
#"Good Times" – 1:50 - with The New Salvation Singers
#"So You Think You've Got Troubles" (
Marvin Rainwater
Marvin Karlton Rainwater (July 2, 1925 – September 17, 2013) was an American country and rockabilly singer and songwriter who had several hits during the late 1950s, including the self-penned " Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" and " Whole Lotta Woman, ...
) – 2:20
#"I'm Gonna Lose My Mind" (Johnny Cole) – 2:06
#"She's Yours" (Nilsson,
J.R. Shanklin) – 2:02
#"
Sixteen Tons
"Sixteen Tons" is a song written by Merle Travis about a coal miner, based on life in the mines of Rosewood, Kentucky. Travis first recorded the song at the Radio Recorders Studio B in Hollywood, California, on August 8, 1946. Cliffie Stone ...
" (
Merle Travis
Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Born in Rosewood, Kentucky, his songs' lyrics were often about the lives and the economic exploitation of Ameri ...
) – 2:29
#"Born in Grenada" (Nilsson,
John Marascalco
John S. Marascalco (March 27, 1931 – July 5, 2020) was an American songwriter most noted for the songs he wrote for Little Richard. He was born in Grenada, Mississippi and died in Los Angeles, California.
Career
Marascalco co-wrote several o ...
) – 2:16
#"You Can't Take Your Love (Away from Me)" – 2:20
#"Growin' Up" – 2:48
#"Do You Believe" – 2:20
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spotlight On Nilsson
Harry Nilsson albums
1966 debut albums
Albums arranged by George Tipton
Tower Records albums