Back in 1971, Harry Nilsson scored a big hit with a fun little song simply called “Coconut.” If that’s not ringing any bells, the song’s catchphrase may help: “Put the lime in the coconut.” There’s not much more to the song – it has but one chord! However, the arrangement and Nilsson’s charm make it irresistible.
Nilsson was already a budding star before “Coconut.” Just a couple of years earlier, he broke through with his version of a song called “Everybody’s Talkin’.” It featured in a very popular movie, Midnight Cowboy. Nilsson sealed the deal in 1971 with his album Nilsson Schmilsson; “Coconut” was one of the key songs on it.
The “official” version of “Coconut” is of course the best known. It’s been used in a number of films including Reservoir Dogs, as well as numerous television shows like The Simpsons. Here’s a demo version with a video that Homer Simpson would applaud. The musical arrangement is even simpler than the official version, but that only highlights the strength of the writing, Nilsson’s amazing voice, his deliciously restrained piano licks and the mesmerizing sway of the song’s groove.
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posted by
Jon Siddall
on Jun 21, 2012