Harry Nilsson - Love Story (Randy Newman)

Harry Nilsson performing the great Randy Newman's "Love Story", featuring Newman himself on the piano, 1970.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Harry
• Nilsson
• Randy
• Newman
• Love
• Story
• Sings

[onvose]

When I was about 21, one beautiful afternoon I was laying on the couch listening to the radio, and on came one of the songs off this album. After the song, I immediately got into the car, drove to the music store (which is no longer there) in Van Nuys, California, and purchased the album. To this day, it is one of my very favorites. Makes me long for the "good ol' days".

[dicsballer9]

beautiful, that.

[JacquesBrel11]

It's sort of the same as Newman's version? This is a disappointing follow-up to your amazing Andy Warhol video.

[dicsballer9]

hah, sorry you dont like it as much as i :) i think nilsson's voice and interpretation goes beautifully with newman's brilliant songwriting.

thanks for the warhol praises :) cheers.

[narrowarrows]

I love Newman as much as the next guy, but I gotta say Nilsson's voice really does these songs justice. It's difficult pulling out the Newman versions after listening to this...

[freudastaire]

sorry but Newman's original from 1968 > Nilsson cover. But Nilsson's alright, 8 in 10. 

[Longtack55]

Oh for Krissake guys! Music is always an interpretation - just like painting. There are no rules, and trying to impose your values, or whatever else you call subjectivity, on others in art-forms is ridiculous. It's not a machine. It doesn't have to work or be efficient or look "pretty." It's there to be presented then enjoyed if you like it. If you don't then just say so, and leave it at that.

[LadyEdgar]

This version certainly needs to be listened all the way through to be fully appreciated. It's sparse instrumentally, but Nilsson gently pushes you to focus on the story and the emotion tht drives it. The "you and me, you and me, you and me, baby" part gets me every time.

[loamysoil]

Oversung but underorchestrated. Original Newman's version is a lot better.

[gmdinformation]

@naughtyboymessiah I think maybe you had Newman in mind with your orginal comment, and you also have a point there. Sometimes Newman's quirky voice works on a song better than anyone else could do. A lot of people have done versions of "I Think It's Going To Rain Today", and many of those people are much better singers than he is, but the song just doesn't sound right with anyone else singing it.

[naughtyboymessiah]

@gmdinformation you make a very good point. and i do agree. but i would re emphaise that my opinion just that - a personal opinion. i wasn't trying to persuade anyone to change their mind nor stating subjective opinion as objective fact...... but yes i do agree with you. you definitely have a good point.

[gmdinformation]

@naughtyboymessiah I don't see how it's true even subjectively. I agree that most of the time the original is better with recordings, but I can think of several people who took songs that were mediocre and made them much better with new arrangments. Even the members of Bad Finger admitted that Harry's own version of "Without You" was miles ahead of theirs. As one of them put it, "Harry took our little song and turned it into a movie"! I can think of several lackluster songs Elvis made better.

[naughtyboymessiah]

@gmdinformation  firstly you completely missed the 'subjectly speaking' addage, and secondly i wasn't aware personal opinions needed to be justified.

[gmdinformation]

@naughtyboymessiah How?

[FlipAl68]

Beautifully sung version. I also like The Peddlers' version on 'Three For All' 1970