Pandemonium Shadow Show

Pandemonium Shadow Show
Studio album by Nilsson
Released	December 1967
Genre	Pop
Length	31:14
Label	RCA Victor
Producer	Rick Jarrard
Nilsson chronology
Spotlight on Nilsson (1966) Pandemonium Shadow Show (1967) Aerial Ballet (1968)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Essential Rock Discography	6/10[2]

Pandemonium Shadow Show is the second album by Harry Nilsson. It was the first product of his three-year, $50,000 recording contract with RCA Victor, and was recorded in their Hollywood studio. Unlike virtually all his earlier records, Show employed the full potential of Nilsson's voice in the recording studio, turning him into what was described as a "chorus of ninety-eight voices".

Nilsson had hoped to use the title Something Wicked This Way Comes, and had asked sci-fi author Ray Bradbury for permission. But approval hadn't come by the release date, so the lesser-known title was chosen (of a circus sideshow appearing in Bradbury's novel) instead.

As well as original songs by Nilsson, a number of covers were included on the album, including one by Phil Spector (who had earlier co-written a song with Nilsson), Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, "River Deep - Mountain High", and two by The Beatles; "She's Leaving Home" and "You Can't Do That", the latter in an arrangement that quoted lyrics from 17 other Beatles songs. Three other songs were written by Jesse Lee Kincaid, Botkin and Garfield, and Cliff Hess, Howard Johnson and Milton Ager.

The album debuted to little public attention in the US and England, although it was an immediate hit in Canada, where "You Can't Do That" was a top 10 hit. Beatles publicist Derek Taylor heard "1941" on his car radio waiting for his wife at the supermarket and, enjoying the track, ordered a case of copies, sending them out to various industry people he believed would be interested, including The Beatles, who later invited Nilsson to London and helped further his career.

A cover of "1941" by Canadian folk/rock artist Tom Northcott charted in both Canada and the US in 1968.

Fellow musician and earlier collaborator Chip Douglas introduced Nilsson to The Monkees whom he was producing. Nilsson gave an impromptu audition of his latest songs. The Monkees covered two of his songs -"Cuddly Toy" (which appeared on their fourth album), and later "Daddy's Song" (which appeared on Head (The Monkees album) - as well as becoming friends.

"Without Her" was covered by Blood, Sweat and Tears on Child Is Father to the Man and Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass on the album Warm.

His early work sold better after Nilsson had become better established through hits like "Without You" and albums like Nilsson Schmilsson. Nilsson revamped several tracks from his first two albums to produce one of the first remix albums, Aerial Pandemonium Ballet, in 1971.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Harry Nilsson; except where indicated

Side one

1. "Ten Little Indians" – 2:13
2. "1941" – 2:36
3. "Cuddly Toy" – 2:45
4. "She Sang Hymns Out of Tune" (Jesse Lee Kincaid) – 2:19
5. "You Can't Do That" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 2:16
6. "Sleep Late, My Lady Friend" – 2:41

Side two

1. "She's Leaving Home" (Lennon, McCartney) – 3:16
2. "There Will Never Be" (Perry Botkin, Jr., Garfield) – 2:27
3. "Without Her" – 2:18
4. "Freckles" (Cliff Hess, Howard Johnson, Milton Ager) – 2:21
5. "It's Been So Long" – 2:09
6. "River Deep - Mountain High" (Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich) – 3:53

References