...That's the Way It Is {LP}

Album three in the "Happy Hour Trilogy" that also includes Duit on Mon Dei and Sandman, this one's mostly covers but once again gets by on Harry's goofy charm, great session musicians, good songs, and a generous dollop of steel drum.

While I lament the choice of America's weepy ^"I Need You^", unearthing George Harrison's ^"That Is All^" was a great idea. Harry oversings Randy Newman's ^"Sail Away^" a bit, but it's still a fine cover and a nice reprise of his Nilsson Sings Newman phase. And whoever dug up, if you'll excuse the expression, the old 20's number ^"Zombie Jamboree (Back to Back)^" deserves a pat on the back. It's a clever, fun song and it's given a great treatment by Harry & co. ^"Moonshine Bandit^" is a great new original, co written with Dr. John.

So there's lots to like about ...That's the Way It Is, but in retrospect it's a bit sad because it was one more and out for Nilsson's recording career. This one's finally coming out on CD as well, and it's about time!

Certainly not a masterpiece, but in my opinion it is far better than the two albums that preceeded it. The album is uneven (especially as compared to his earlier work), but I always enjoyed listening to side two. Most of the songs are covers but done with a nice Nilsson sound. Two of the Nilsson originals are well worth a listen ^"Moonshine Bandit^" and ^"Daylight Has Caught Me^". The covers of George Harrison's ^"That Is All^" and Randy Newman's ^"Sail Away^" are really well done. Certainly this does not get close to matching any of his first five albums, but if you are in search of more Nilsson material, this is a good place to look.

This is probably the best of Nilsson's later albums, along with Knnillsson, but the cover on this one won't give you a headache. It's a pleasant, easy to listen to album. The best songs are ^"That Is All^", ^"Zombie Jamboree^", and ^"She Sits Down on Me^". Also amusing is the cover of ^"Baby I'm Yours^"/^"Thousand Miles Away^", where he has a guest singer hit the high notes in the bridge, and introduces him in the song! I can't wait for this to hit CD.

I agree with the other reviewer who said that this is the best of Nilsson's later works. The LP has a rich, full sound that didn't fully translate to the CD. ...That's the Way it Is is beautifully orchestrated and even Zombie Jamboree has a joyous haunting quality. Moonshine Bandit is at its best on this album -- rich, deep and otherworldly. This is why I still own my turntable folks: Harry's Music. Sometimes, it just sounds better played the old way...