Daughter of Schmilsson: Paige Stark Ranks Harry Nilsson

As it has been since his stint in Til Tuesday, any music project attributed to Jon Brion is well worth checking out.

And while the veteran producer of such classics as Fiona Apple’s When The Pawn…, Aimee Mann’s Bachelor No. 2 and Mac Miller’s Circles has kept a relatively low profile in the 2020s, the discovery that he’s produced the debut solo EP from Tashaki Miyaki frontwoman Paige Stark is no doubt most welcome news indeed.

“At first I asked him to help me finish one song,” Stark explains of Brion’s involvement in the EP. “It was the title track, ‘Good at Love.’ I recorded it as a demo during a Tashaki session. I had quickly recorded vocals, piano and a little drum machine I used to keep time. It was very raw, but I liked the vibe of it. I gave it to Jon and asked if he could help me finish it…I thought maybe he could add some keyboards. When I next heard it, I was floored. It made me cry. It was exactly how I always wanted my music to sound. And at that moment I asked if he would help me finish a few other things, and he said yes, and that’s the genesis of the EP. A couple things we started from scratch, a couple were started elsewhere and Jon brought them to their fully formed life.”

No doubt one key ingredient to this kismet had to do with their shared love of Harry Nilsson, whose Nilsson Schmilsson ballad “I’ll Never Leave You” is covered by Stark on the new EP, closing out the four-song set.

 

VIDEO: Paige Stark “I’ll Never Leave You”

“I was turned on to Harry Nilsson by my Dad around age 3,” she explains of her roots in Nilsson’s music. “He gave me an old VHS of The Point and watched it over and over. He also gave me the record on vinyl and I played it so many times on my little portable record player with its rickety needle, I wore it out and had to get a second copy. Harry kind of looks like my Dad – like they could be brothers – so he felt familiar in that way. I always loved his voice and melodies and the harmonies and arrangements – and what a singer and pianist! I really just adore him, and he was easy to like from the moment I heard him. Harry has remained a touchtone for me as an artist and musician.”

Ms. Stark was kind enough to make us a playlist of her favorite Harry tracks along with a little commentary behind each of her choices, which you can check out below.

The Good At Love EP is available now on all streaming services. Check it out immediately.

 

Paige Stark’s Harry Playlist:

1. “The Moonbeam Song”

“I love this song. A sweet and tender lullaby.”

 

2. “Gotta Get Up”

“I love to listen to this song while driving. It makes me feel like I’m inside a movie.”

 

3. “Life Line”

“This song moves me so much. The lyric “Won’t you throw me down a lifeline/ I’m so afraid of darkness and down here it’s just like nighttime”  kills me. I loved it a child but it has new meaning as an adult. I covered this one a few years back with my band Tashaki Miyaki…there’s a recording out there.”

 

4. “Are You Sleeping”

“This was one of my jams as a kid, and I still love it.”

 

5. “Think About Your Troubles”

“I think this is a perfect song. It’s so deep and beautiful. Similarly to “Lifeline”, it was one I loved as a kid but has a whole new meaning as an adult.”

 

6. “One”

“Growing up my mom was always listening to KRTH101. The L.A. people know. It was oldies radio. And this was on rotation. I always loved it. The lyrics are incredible and there’s spooky thing happening with the melody and arrangement. When I saw Magnolia as a teenager that version had a special place for me, too.”

 

7.”Over the Rainbow”

“This is one of my favorite songs of all time. I am enthralled with The Wizard of Oz, so naturally I love hearing another favorite singer do a version. I really love his voice with the arrangement. I’ve recorded a version of this song too…I think it lives on SoundCloud.”

 

8. “Perfect Day”

“This song is so pretty and puts me in a dreamy mood. I love all the vocal arrangements.”

 

9. “Many Rivers to Cross”

“What can I even say about Pussy Cats. These are two of my favorite guys in the history of music. I know Harry allegedly blew out his voice on these sessions, but this track is so incredible I still cry when I hear it. There’s so much passion in both he and John’s delivery. It makes me feel so many feelings when I listen to it even though I’ve heard it hundreds of times.  I love the drum feel. It’s really in my zone.” 

 

10. “Don’t Forget Me”

“This one also crushes. It makes me ache. The vocal performance is insane, it’s incredibly moving.”

 

11. “Turn on Your Radio”

“I love this sweet song and how tender Harry’s voice sounds on it.”

 

12. “Love Story (You and Me)”

“Nilsson sings Newman is one of my favorite records. The combo is soooooo good. Harry’s versions have their own life. His angelic vocals add so much emotion, it’s beautiful.”

 

13. “Living Without You”

“This is one of my favorite Randy Newman songs and again the performance on this by Harry is incredible. It floors me every time. A perfect recording. A perfect song.”

 

14. “I’ll Never Leave You”  (demo version)

“I first heard this on some bonus recordings  of The Point.  I love the Nilsson Schmilsson version, too, but this one is different emotionally. I love hearing Harry stripped down. When I did my cover with Jon, we tried to combine elements of both versions.” 

 

15.”Everybody’s Talkin’”

“Harry is so good at covers you forget they aren’t his own songs. This recording is iconic and maybe an obvious choice but I had to include it.”

 

16. “Jump into the Fire”

“Another track associated with a cinematic masterpiece. I can’t separate this song from its’ usage in Goodfellas. It is also special because it doesn’t really sound like other Harry tunes…it kind of sounds like a band that would’ve been at CBGBs like the Talking Heads or something.”