Back in ’74, John Lennon and Harry Nilsson went on a bender forever known as “the lost weekend,” a stretch of months starring booze, drugs, and the bars of LA. To commemorate their debauchery, Harry and John set a mix of originals and covers to tape, with Harry singing and John on production. Nilsson blew out his voice during the sessions, and his ruptured cords led many to dismiss the effort; years on, it’s gained in stature, and The Walkmen deem it a “band favorite.”
And so Hamilton & Co. recorded an affectionate, song-for-song cover of the album, calling it the “great ‘buddy’ record of the seventies.” Leithauser’s boozy croon is a good fit for blown-out Nilsson, and the record is worth a listen for “Many Rivers To Cross” alone. Hear it for yourself at the Pussy Cats listening party.
“Pussy Cats” Starring The Walkmen comes with a 20-minute, psychadelic, making-of-the-record documentary and some pretty weird cover art. And dontcha know it, we have a copy to give away.
Here are our Pussy-giveaway winner’s spoils:
The Walkmen – “Pussy Cats” Starring The Walkmen
Harry Nilsson / John Lennon – Original, out-of-print Pussy Cats
The Walkmen – A Hundred Miles Off
The Walkmen limited edition numbered silkscreened poster
And second place gets … nothing! It’s winner-take-all. To enter the Pussy Cats Giveaway, post a comment telling us what’s attractive about the prize albums (or about Hamilton’s caveman-in-furs getup). We’ll randomly select a winner on Tuesday 10/31 at 6PM EST.
“Pussy Cats” Starring The Walkmen is out 10/24.
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I don’t know how to enter the competition besides saying, i really want this swag. One of my favorite albums redone by one of my favorite bands. Don’t rip me off guys.
Records spawned from a month of binge-drinking are the best kind of records. I really look forward to hearing what the Walkmen do with these songs. So you should give it to me.
What Walkmen fan doesn’t have both A Hundred Miles off and the original Pussycats by now?
Pussy Cats is about friends, good times, a bit of debauchery, and musical passion. and that’s what life is all about.
Harry Nilsson is my friend on Myspace.
He told me to come here.
Beautiful.
Harry Nilsson is probably one of the most under rated artists of the past 50 years. It’s great that they redid this album true to the original.
There’s nothing attractive about the albums, save for the melodies stored inside of them.
I think the resale value of the albums is what’s attractive about the prize. I could use the profits to pick up Oasis’ Greatest Hits. I hear it’s not going to be that great, but I’d like to support Sony.
free is always intriguing. as is good music. i would even say it is…attractive.
i’m gonna have to say the yin-yang.
The game is on again
A lover or a friend
A big thing or a small
The winner takes it all
The pepperoni. It has always been about the pepperoni. Now send goodies.
the best thing about these records are:
1-two of them are by the walkmen, who piss down on the strokes from up on high.
2-they are potentially free.
What’s attractive about the prize? Another well-deserved “atta boy!” for wonderful, oft overlooked Harry!
… and the Walkmen, of course.
Cheers!
The Walkmen – “Pussy Cats” Starring The Walkmen
Attractive — letterboxed cover art
Harry Nilsson / John Lennon – Original, out-of-print Pussy Cats
Attractive — everything
The Walkmen – A Hundred Miles Off
Attractive — freeness
The Walkmen limited edition numbered silkscreened poster
Attractive — silkiness
I’ve decided that the best thing about this is the delicious batch of home-baked cookies I’ll send you if I win. Also, I really like free stuff, especially stuff involving The Walkmen and Harry Nilsson. But yeah, cookies. Oh hell, you know, I’ll even make them chocolate chip cookies.
David Beckham boning Posh Spice on silk sheets, in a sinfully red and black minimalist room, with SexyBack playing…might warm me up on a cold day.
These albums…put the fear of spontaneous combustion into me.
David Beckham boning Posh Spice on silk sheets, in a sinfully red and black minimalist room, with SexyBack playing…might warm me up on a cold day.
These albums…put the fear of spontaneous combustion into me.
Listening to Walkmen is like putting salt on a wound and having it be the best thing you’ve ever felt.
So I came home, concocted a few Brandy Alexanders, and then went and got thrown out of a few bars for being ridiculously obnoxious and wearing cool hats.
My life is a lost weekend.