Podcast #17: Who Is John Scheinfeld (And Why Are We Talkin’ About Harry Nilsson with Him?)

MusicFilmWeb: See It Loud

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Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him?) unravels the life and art of one of the most enigmatic pop stars of his day. Harry Nilsson was a New York kid who wound up in 1960s Los Angeles and rode omnivorous songwriting chops, a three-and-a-half octave vocal range, and a highly publicized endorsement from The Beatles to the top of the charts, then rode back down on the back of a heavy duty drinking problem and a series of self-defeating (if often artistically challenging) career moves.

By 1994, when he died of a heart attack at age 52, Nilsson was a largely forgotten cult figure, but he seemed to have left most of his demons behind along with a large, loving family and a string of show biz admirers, many of whom appear in the film to reminisce about his prodigious talent and taking “the Harry ride,” which usually involved a belt or two.

In this edition of See It Loud, Who Is Harry Nilsson director/writer John Scheinfeld talks to Andy Markowitz and Dave Watson about the complex character at the center of the film, why it took four years to get from festival debut to release, the perils of narration, and the threads that run through LA music docs.

Opening theme by Los Musicos de Jose provided by Mevio’s Music Alley.

Movies in this one:

Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him?)

The US vs. John Lennon

We Believe

Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile

When You’re Strange

The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector

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