Born Harry Nilsson in 1941, he recorded under several different names, but never using the name Harry. In 1964 he recorded Baa Baa Blacksheep and Do You Wanna (Have Some Fun) as Bo Pete. He also recored Donna I Understand as Johnny Niles. In 1972 he recorded Joy as Buck Earle.
Most of his recordings though, he was known simply as Nilsson.
Nilsson was best known for his hits, “Lime in the Coconut”, ”Without You”, ”Everybody’s Talkin’” and for composing such hits as Three Dog Night’s “One”.
Later in life he did a lot of commission work for movies, and in 1985 set up a production company to oversee various movie, TV and multimedia projects. In 1990, the company, Hawkeye, produced only one movie before going broke, and Nilsson found himself in some serious financial trouble after it was discovered that his financial advisor had embezzled all of the money he had ever made as a recording artist.
Nilsson’s family wound up with a net worth of $300 and the stress was enough that he suffered a heart attack in 1993 and died of a massive heart attack a few months later.
Without You
“Without You” is a song originally recorded by Badfinger for their album No Dice (1970), and written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans. Its verse was composed by Ham, originally titled “If It’s Love”, but had lacked a strong chorus. Evans had written a chorus without a strong verse, so the duo fused the two sections together. The protagonist of this ballad lets a lover know that they “can’t live if living is without you”. Badfinger’s recording of the song, which is more brusque than its successors’ versions, languished as an obscure album track until it was noticed a year later by Harry Nilsson.
Nilsson heard Badfinger’s recording of “Without You” at a party, and took it to be a Beatles song. After realizing it was not, he decided to cover the song for his album Nilsson Schmilsson.
http://djallyn.org/media/harry_nilsson-without_you.flvNo, I can’t forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that’s just the way the story goes
You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes, it showsNo, I can’t forget tomorrorow
When I think of all my sorrows
When I had you there but then I let you go
And now it’s only fair that I should let you know
What you should knowI can’t live if living is without you
I can’t live, I can’t give any more
Can’t live if living is without you
I can’t give, I can’t give any moreNo, I can’t forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess that’s just the way the story goes
You always smile but in your eyes your sorrow shows
Yes, it showsCan’t live if living is without you
I can’t live, I can’t give anymore
I can’t live if living is without you
Can’t live, I can’t give anymore
(Living is without you)
- Audio from the 1971 Nilsson Schmilsson album:
Without You - Harry Nilsson (1971): 
September 16th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Hey burned out may be better than gone. I first heard Harry singing Coconut, over the radio, in a liquor store in Pomona Ca. My friend and I were both tingling and could only sit down on some boxes in the isle and laugh uncontrollably. Oh to be 16 again, no thanks. I find it warm and gooey that you state most people knew him as Nilsson, all the while I referred to him as Harry. I miss him so badly. I dream of a vocal coaching session with him. Best 10 bucks I’d ever spend goddangit!