It seems lately I’ve capped my nights with about an hour or so of Wikipediaing. Yesterday’s topic was on various Marvel Comics characters and plots; today’s subject was Harry Nilsson. One surprising fact I learned was that Nilsson wrote one of my favorite Monkeys tracks, “Cuddly Toy.” After Youtubing around for a sample of it, I found this cover of the same track by Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard. Ben does an absolutely fantastic version of it and makes those closing “la la la’s” convey more emotion than most singers can do with an entire verse of the most heartfelt lyrics.

Another Nilsson fact that will no doubt be depressing to other fans of his: he died deep in debt. Nilsson’s lifelong fear of financial instability came true shortly before his death in 1994 when his business manager took almost all of his money. It’s a real harsh dash of reality to find out that one of your favorite musicians can receive such a kick to the emotional stomach shortly before his death. And if you need a pick-me-up after all that, watch this nine minute video of a young Nilsson performing and chatting on the Smothers Brothers show — ironically the same group he and Lennon would get tossed out of a bar for heckling years later.