Instead of re-issuing his first 2 albums at a time when they were out of print, Nilsson went back into the studio, remixed a selection of tracks from both albums, and released it as this mashed-up product. Perfectly in line with the artist's aesthetic, but pleasant enough to appeal a wide range of listeners as well.

Nilsson's second release is an odd yet engaging mix of standards-based music and modern singer-songwriter material. And very substantial, too, as "One" and "Everybody's Talkin" will attest.

The standards album that was so hip it came out 20 years before standards albums were considered to be hip again.

Well, just about everything that the previous album was, this album is a laughable parody of it. Or at least it comes out sounding that way. The intention was to capitalize on Nilsson Schmilsson's success, but Harry had other ideas. Right from the first track ("Take 54") it's clear he's in a bawdy, reactive mood ("I sang my balls off for you baby!"). Oh yes, there is also "You're Breaking My Heart" which contains the classic line - "you're breaking my heart/you're tearing it apart/so fuck you!" Most of the other songs just feel fragmented, or ramble on the same goofy note ("The Lottery Song"). Nilsson's wacky personality is about the only good sell here, otherwise, this was quite the interesting flop as far as flop albums went.

This should have been the launching point for a superstar run of albums to the end of the decade. Instead, Nilsson Schmilsson stands as the idiosyncratic peak in the reluctant career of a pop star who seemed to wallow in self-sabotage far more than most in this line of work. That same trait is nothing more than an charming undercurrent to the more composed mainstream notes that Nilsson consistently hits throughout. "Without You" and "Coconut" were deserved international hits; both presenting the extremes within the artist - the sheer talent and sensitivity vs. a sense of humor gregarious enough for three people. The trap really springs shut once you get to "Jump Into The Fire", which is nothing more than a vamp, but oh what a vamp. There is still a bit of an outsider feel which is not going to connect with everyone, but out of all of the Nilsson albums this is the one where talent, songcraft, production, etc - all come together to form a very serious and solid record.