Jump Into The Fire - Harry Nilsson

[corinpills]

I’m a really big Nilsson fan and was lucky enough to speak to him on the phone a couple of times- he sure could tell a story! Not bass related, as there isn’t any, but the Nilsson Sings Newman album (Harry singing Randy Newman songs) is one of my very favorite albums.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Lennon felt he could really party well too!

I remember reading an article many many years ago that mentioned that John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Keith Moon, and (I think?) Bobby Keyes* were a formidable foursome of debauchery during that whole "Lost Weekend" period...always the last guys to leave the bar, and rarely ever under their own power.



*I may be conflating some rock'n'roll lore here; I do also remember reading a quote by Keith Richards where he said something to the effect of "people are always worried about how much drugs and alcohol I'm ingesting, but they should really be worried about Bobby Keyes! I'm a lightweight compared to him"

 

[Indiedog]

I’m a really big Nilsson fan and was lucky enough to speak to him on the phone a couple of times- he sure could tell a story! Not bass related, as there isn’t any, but the Nilsson Sings Newman album (Harry singing Randy Newman songs) is one of my very favorite albums.

How did those chats come about?

 

[jerry]

The credits I read for that track show that Herbie Flowers played bass on that song while Klaus Voorman played rhythm guitar. I love that bassline.

In the new book on drummer Jim Gordon they confirm it was Voorman de-tuning his bass.

 

[P. Aaron]

In the new book on drummer Jim Gordon they confirm it was Voorman de-tuning his bass.

I've heard from a former WRIF DJ that it's also Klaus Voorman playing bass on and doing that intro on Carly Simon's You're So Vain.

Looks like Klaus has hijacked Harry's thread.

 

[SharpCat]

Nice bass on that track, but not captivating like this one, IMHO.

 

[corinpills]

How did those chats come about?

I was supposed to do a brief interview about “Pussycats” for the Hear Music Catalog (a cool early 90s publication/ retail hybrid that later got bought by Starbucks). He was already at his “office”- the bar of the Beverly Hills Hotel- for the afternoon and he got on a roll. He told me to call him back at the same number some time, so I did. This was before cell phones. It was the phone at the at the bar. I was on a pay phone in Boston.

 

[lunarpollen]

The trick is nailing the tuning twisting it back up to pitch and jumping up the fretboard again. Really fun song!

I know it's an old post I'm replying to, but the secret to the trick is that even though he started out with the string tuned to a standard E, after the detuning, he only tuned it back up to D

 

[bassdude51]

Great song! I have it on Lp. It has always reflected the crazy, insane, chaotic world that we live it! I actually get emotional and a bit teary eyed when I listen to...Jump Into The Fire

 

[Mark from Boston]

Under the "Notepad" tab on Herbie Flowers' website is a charming "a truncated history about me to put you in the picture" by Herbie.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Samples:

"Passed 11+ to go to Tiffins Boys school. Posh dump. The prefects were allowed to give you the slipper. Joined the school band on tuba. Mr George Spriggs was maths teacher and bandmaster. You saved my mental bacon, George - thank you."

"1955 - national service. Cardington, saw Stan Kenton band, out of this world. Did square bashing at West Kirby. Wanted to be a fighter pilot. Failed officer selection (not officer material they said). Applied to be a bandsman instead. Sent to RAF Uxbridge for audition on tuba. Passed. Signed on for nine years. Spent six months in the school of music."

"Bought my double bass for £40. I've still got it."

"Recorded a solo album 'Plant Life'. Sold 299. End of solo aspirations."