Sandman is the twelfth studio album by American singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson, released in January 1976 on RCA Victor.

Sandman
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 1976
RecordedLate 1975
GenrePop
Length35:07
LabelRCA Victor
ProducerHarry Nilsson
Nilsson chronology
Duit on Mon Dei
(1975)
Sandman
(1976)
…That's the Way It Is
(1976)
Singles from Sandman
  1. "Something True" / "Pretty Soon There'll Be Nothing Left for Everybody"
    Released: January 16, 1976 (UK)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideB−[2]
The Essential Rock Discography4/10[3]

Track listing

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All music and lyrics by Harry Nilsson, except where noted.

  1. "I'll Take a Tango" (Alex Harvey) – 2:58
  2. "Something True" (Nilsson, Perry Botkin, Jr.) – 2:54
  3. "Pretty Soon There'll Be Nothing Left for Everybody" – 2:50
  4. "The Ivy Covered Walls" – 3:15
  5. "Here's Why I Did Not Go to Work Today" (Nilsson, Danny Kortchmar) – 4:05
  6. "The Flying Saucer Song" – 6:40
  7. "How to Write a Song" – 3:12
  8. "Jesus Christ You're Tall" – 4:08
  9. "Will She Miss Me" – 4:43

Personnel

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Production and technical personnel
  • Perry Botkin Jr.arrangements on "Something True", "The Ivy Covered Walls" and "Will She Miss Me"
  • Richie Schmitt – recording engineer, associate producer
  • Pete Abbott, Artie Torgersen, Mike Moran – second engineers
  • Gribbitt – design and graphics
  • Klaus Voormann – inside artwork
  • Mal "The Pal" Evans – cover photography
  • Marge Meoli – A&R coordination

Charts

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Chart (1976) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200 111

The Flying Saucer Song

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Many people think they recognize one of the main voices in Harry Nilsson's "The Flying Saucer Song" as Joe Cocker. But the voices are all Nilsson using three distinct voice inflections. The gruff background vocals, however, are provided by Joe Cocker, whose coarse delivery is similar to Nilsson's.

"I don't think there's that much of a similarity," Nilsson remarked, "It's just that we both can occasionally muster up a brandy tone. We're whiskey-throated tenors. The Orson Welles type of guy from Citizen Kane."

"The Flying Saucer Song" was written for, and originally recorded, during the Pussy Cats sessions but was not released until Sandman.[4]

References

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  1. ^ link
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: N". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 8, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2006). The Essential Rock Discography. Edinburgh, UK: Canongate. p. 758. ISBN 978-1-84195-827-9.
  4. ^ "nilssonschmilsson.com Harry Nilsson, A Little Touch of Schmilsson on the Net".