Andrew Bird Covers Harry Nilsson

First off, have you seen the documentary Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him?)? If not, you should get on that. This weekend the mailman delivered Songs From The Point, a collection of ‘indie’ artists each covering a track off the soundtrack to Nillson’s 1971 animated children’s story of the same name. The cast of characters includes: Andrew Bird, Devotchka, and Martha Wainwright among others.

Bird’s rendering of Nilsson’s “Think About Your Troubles” moves stylistically away from the original, and in typical Bird fashion, employs plucky orchestration. Interesting results for sure, but in comparison to the original ultimately loses some of its charm. Songs From The Point is due out October 27th via Amano Recordings.

Related: Nilsson :: The Point (Me And My Arrow) 1971

Download:
MP3: Andrew Bird :: Think About Your Troubles (cover)
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10 thoughts on “Andrew Bird Covers Harry Nilsson

  1. that’s great news! The point is a brilliant album, waiting to hear what Nada Surf did to Me and My Arrow

    thanks for that
    Yair
    p.s. and Bird’s version is great!

  2. Is there actually any way to see the documentary? It appears never to have been released on DVD, and doesn’t seem to be online either…

  3. Hmm. I can see what Bird is getting at here, and I suppose the stilted, self-healing meter and swirling psycha-sonic approach serve the original premise well. But I must admit I much prefer the more melodic versions from both the Nickel Creek-slash-Glen Phillips collaboration Mutual Admiration Society and the version by The Jellyfish from Nilsson tribute album For the Love of Harry: Everybody Sings Nilsson. Hope the rest of the album here proves more effective.

  4. Yeah, I’m a long time Nilsson devotee, and sans a trailer on Youtube, the film has remained in cinematic limbo for the past couple years. There’s no sign of a distributor picking up the film, hence no theatrical or DVD release in sight.

    I gotta say “Nilsson Schmilsson” and “Son Of Schmilsson” are stone cold classics, too.

  5. ack! I searched for the DVD…alas…not released…looks great…huge fan of Harry…IMdb says this: Up 18% in popularity this week…hmmmm! 🙂
    Did not love Bird’s version.

  6. This made me smile and hopefully after your last post it will do the same for you:

    If at first you don’t succeed, quit; don’t be a nut about success. 🙂

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