Harry Nilsson - Aerial Ballet (1968) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist
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01. Daddy's Song
02. Good Old Desk
03. Don't Leave Me
04. Mr. Richland's Favorite Song
05. Little Cowboy
06. Together
07. Everybody's Talkin' (From "Midnight Cowboy")
08. I Said Goodbye to Me
09. Little Cowboy (Reprise)
10. Mr. Tinker
11. One
12. The Wailing of the Willow
13. Bath


As "Good Old Desk" opens Aerial Ballet with a cheerful saunter, it's clear that Harry Nilsson decided to pick up where he left off with his debut, offering another round of effervescent, devilishly clever pop, equal parts lite psychedelia, pretty ballads, and music hall cabaret. It's not a carbon copy, however. In one sense, he entrenches himself a little bit, emphasizing his lighter edges and humor, writing songs so cheerfully lightweight - a love song about his mom and dad, an ode to his favorite desk, an address or two to a "Little Cowboy" -- that it may be a little too cloying for some tastes, even for fans of Pandemonium Shadow Show. Those are balanced by a couple major steps forward, namely "Everybody's Talkin'" and "One." The former finds Nilsson adopting a rolling folk-pop backing for a Fred Neil song, making it into an instant, Grammy-winning classic. The latter was the greatest song he had written to date, a haunting tale of loneliness reminiscent of McCartney, yet with its own voice. These are the songs anchoring an album that may be a little lightweight, but it's engagingly, deliberately lightweight. If it's a bit dated, it wears its old charms well. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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