Harry Nilsson
"Harry Nilsson" by Octoberman
Octoberman released "Harry Nilsson" on August 13, 2025, as both a single and video in advance of Chutes, their seventh full-length album.
The song is described as "a shimmering blend of jangle-pop and wistful storytelling" inspired by Nilsson's take on "Without You."
Gary Nilsson Dies
It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Gary Nilsson.
Gary was a supporter of this website, providing photographs, news articles, and personal anecdotes about his half-brother, Harry Nilsson. Gary was a fan of popular music and Harry's music in particular. His Facebook page is full of photos of him with pop stars from the 1960s and '70s. As a featured guest at Harryfest 2002 he shared stories of growing up as both a fan and relative of Harry Nilsson and about his, and Harry's, father who shared Harry's love of baseball and was once a scout for the Cincinnati Reds.
But, beyond all of that, Gary was a friend. He will be missed.
Newly-Released Film of Harry Nilsson and Ringo Starr at the Son Of Dracula Premiere
A newly-released film shows Harry Nilsson and Ringo Starr attending the premiere of Son of Dracula.
Harry Nilsson and Ringo Starr at the Son Of Dracula Premiere
Richard Perry Has Died
Richard Perry, producer of Harry Nilsson's Nilsson Schmilsson has died. Perry died at age 82 on December 24, 2024.
Harris/Waltz Advertisement Uses "Best Friend"
On September 19, 2024, the Kamala Harris presidential campaign released a video showing clips of rival Donald Trump praising Mark Robinson a gubernatorial candidate under scrutiny for posting inflammatory comments on a pornography website. Nilsson's "Best Friend" plays throughout the short video.
Best friends ❤️ pic.twitter.com/baS5sRfzIo
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) September 19, 2024
The video was posted on X (Twitter) but later superceded by a longer TV commercial without Nilsson's song.
Paul Williams recorded the short song "Nilsson Sings Newman" which mentions both Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman:
You don't like Schumann
Or Randy Newman
And Nilsson's not your cup of tea
You say Van Heusen is the shirt worth choosin'
But you're still undecided about me ....
We went to England to do a television show, Kenny was a member of my band. And when we got there, there was a problem with the work permits. So the guys in my band couldn't play. I had to use local musicians. So, Kenny's sitting around with nothing to do in a hotel in London. So, we're sitting there, and we're having a few drinks, because that's what I did in those days. I'm 17 years sober. [But] in those days I drank. We're sitting around and we're talking about writers, and we all love Cole Porter and a certain kind of writer and all. And we started talking about Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman. I loved Harry, but every time I tried to tell Harry how much I loved his songs, he would always tell me, 'No, here's the great writer,' and he'd play me Randy Newman, who I also loved.
So, Kenny and I wrote this little song, 'Do you love me, babe, do you love me not? Let's decide in the morning, not now. Boy, you don't like Shuman, or Randy Newman, Nilsson ain't your cup of tea. You think Van Heusen is a shirt worth choosin', but you're still undecided 'bout me. Bo-wo do you love me, babe, do you love me not, let's decide in the morning, not now.' It was really kind of a cute little song.
-- Paul Williams (2007) [1]
On June 15, 2001, the Loser's Lounge presented a "Tribute to Paul Williams" concert in New York. Williams himself appeared in the show and performed "Nilsson Sings Newman." As the short singer finished the short song, he said "That's too high a key. That's not the key I usually do it in. In the spirit of losers everywhere I did it in the wrong key. We've never, ever performed this song, ever, on stage before."
(June 15 was, is, of course, Harry Nilsson's birthday.)
Williams wrote the song with Kenny Ascher. It was released on Williams' Here Comes Inspiration album.
"Nilsson Sings Newman" by Paul Williams
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