Flash Harry (album)
Encyclopedia
Flash Harry is the sixteenth and final album by Harry Nilsson
. Originally released only in the UK
and Japan, it has never been released in the U.S.
. Aside from bootlegs the album has never been released on CD. When the album was originally released it received minimal support from Harry's label Mercury and disappeared without a trace shortly after release. Although there were a number of songs that might have been considered for a possible single Mercury never released a proper single from the album.
The album is most notable for Nilsson's own recording of "Old Dirt Road" which he had co-written and performed with John Lennon on Lennon's last album Walls and Bridges(1974)which was Lennon's last collection of original songs before his "retirement". Flash Harry was released in 1980 the same year that Lennon had resumed his career and the same year he was assassinated.
Shortly after the release of this album, Nilsson retired from recording. Though he would subsequently reverse his decision and record various songs for film soundtracks in the 1980s and 1990s, he never issued another full album. (Literally hours before his 1994 death, Nilsson finished recording the final vocal tracks for a planned 'comeback' album, but it has yet to be released.)
Harry Nilsson
Harry Edward Nilsson III was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson...
. Originally released only in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Japan, it has never been released in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Aside from bootlegs the album has never been released on CD. When the album was originally released it received minimal support from Harry's label Mercury and disappeared without a trace shortly after release. Although there were a number of songs that might have been considered for a possible single Mercury never released a proper single from the album.
The album is most notable for Nilsson's own recording of "Old Dirt Road" which he had co-written and performed with John Lennon on Lennon's last album Walls and Bridges(1974)which was Lennon's last collection of original songs before his "retirement". Flash Harry was released in 1980 the same year that Lennon had resumed his career and the same year he was assassinated.
Shortly after the release of this album, Nilsson retired from recording. Though he would subsequently reverse his decision and record various songs for film soundtracks in the 1980s and 1990s, he never issued another full album. (Literally hours before his 1994 death, Nilsson finished recording the final vocal tracks for a planned 'comeback' album, but it has yet to be released.)
Track listing
- "Harry" (Eric IdleEric IdleEric Idle is an English comedian, actor, author, singer, writer, and comedic composer. He was as a member of the British comedy group Monty Python, a member of the The Rutles on Saturday Night Live and author of the play, Spamalot....
) – 2:22 (this track produced by Eric Idle, Trevor JonesTrevor JonesTrevor Jones may refer to:*Trevor Jones , Australian Deputy Chief of Navy *Trevor Jones , South African orchestral film score composer*Trevor Jones , English cricketer for Somerset...
, and Andre Jacquemin and sung by Eric Idle and Charlie DoreCharlie DoreCharlie Dore is an English singer-songwriter and actress.-Career:Although best known as one of the UK's most respected singer-songwriters, Dore has a multi-faceted career that includes acting in film, TV and radio, comedy-improvisation and composition for film and TV...
) - "Cheek to Cheek" (Lowell GeorgeLowell GeorgeLowell Thomas George was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, who was the main guitarist and songwriter for the rock band Little Feat.- Early years :...
, Van Dyke ParksVan Dyke ParksVan Dyke Parks is an American composer, arranger, producer, musician, singer, author and actor. Parks is perhaps best known for his contributions as a lyricist on the Beach Boys album Smile....
, Martin Fydor Kibbee) – 2:30 - "Best Move" (Nilsson, Parks, Michael Hazlewood) – 4:04
- "Old Dirt Road" (Nilsson, John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
) – 4:26 - "I Don't Need YouI Don't Need You"I Don't Need You" is the title of a song written by Rick Christian and recorded by American country artist Kenny Rogers. It was released in June 1981 as the lead single from Rogers album Share Your Love....
" (Rick L. Christian) – 3:49 - "Rain" (Nilsson) – 3:51
- "I've Got It!" (Nilsson, Perry Botkin, Jr.Perry Botkin, Jr.Perry Botkin, Jr. is an American composer, producer, arranger, and musician. He had a successful career in music for over forty years. As an arranger, he worked with Bobby Darin, Harry Nilsson, The Lettermen, Ed Ames, and Harpers Bizarre, among others...
) – 3:42 - "It's So Easy" (Nilsson, Paul Stallworth) – 4:43
- "How Long Can Disco On" (Nilsson, Ringo StarrRingo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
) – 2:54 - "Bright Side of LifeAlways Look on the Bright Side of Life"Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" is a popular song written by Eric Idle that was originally featured in the 1979 film Monty Python's Life of Brian and has gone on to become a common singalong at public events such as football matches as well as funerals.-History:Whilst trying to come up...
" (Idle) – 4:12