Music history is full of weird little accidents, and honestly, Remember (Christmas) is one of the biggest ones. People hear the title and think it's just another holiday carol to throw on a Spotify playlist between Mariah Carey and Bing Crosby. It isn't. Not even close.
Harry Nilsson was a man of absolute contradictions. He was the guy who wrote "Coconut"—that goofy song about putting the lime in the fruit—but he was also the man who could break your heart with a single, high-tenor note. By 1972, he was a superstar. He’d just come off the massive success of Nilsson Schmilsson and the world-shaking hit "Without You." So, what does a guy do when he's at the top?
He goes to London and records a follow-up album called Son of Schmilsson that basically tries to sabotage his own career with jokes, swearing, and some of the most beautiful, depressing music ever recorded.
Why Remember Christmas Still Matters Today
Most people assume this is a song about "remembering Christmas." It’s actually a song about memory itself. The "Christmas" part is parenthetical in the title for a reason. It’s a placeholder. It represents that feeling of looking back at a time when things were simple, even if that simplicity was a total lie.
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Nilsson had a rough life. His dad walked out on the family when Harry was just three years old. You can hear that abandonment in almost everything he wrote. When he sings "Long ago, far away / Life was clear," he’s not just being nostalgic. He's trying to find a version of his childhood that didn't feel like a disaster.
The song serves as the second track on Son of Schmilsson, sandwiched between a raucous rocker called "Take 54" and a country parody called "Joy." It feels like a ghost entering the room.
The Nicky Hopkins Connection
You can't talk about this track without mentioning the piano. That’s Nicky Hopkins playing. If you don't know the name, you know his hands; he played with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who. His piano work on this track is delicate, almost fragile.
- Piano: Nicky Hopkins (The "Sixth Stone")
- Strings: The Pop-Arts String Quartet
- Bouzouki: Chris Spedding
- Producer: Richard Perry
The arrangement is sparse. It doesn't have the big, bombastic production of "Without You." Instead, it feels like Harry is sitting right next to you, whispering about how life is just a memory. It’s haunting.
What Really Happened During the Recording Sessions
The sessions for Son of Schmilsson were legendary for all the wrong reasons. Harry was hanging out with Ringo Starr and George Harrison. There was a lot of drinking. A lot. Richard Perry, the producer, was reportedly pulling his hair out because Harry wanted to record jokes instead of hits.
But then, in the middle of all that chaos, he’d sit down and deliver something like Remember (Christmas).
It’s a masterclass in vocal control. Harry had a three-and-a-half octave range, and he uses it here to convey a sense of drifting. He’s not "belting" it. He’s floating. The lyrics are incredibly simple—almost like a nursery rhyme—but the way he delivers them makes you feel like you’re losing something you never even had.
Honestly, the "Christmas" bit feels like an afterthought. Some people think it was added just to give the song a shot at holiday radio play. If that was the plan, it kinda failed, because the song is too sad for a shopping mall. It’s a "staring out the window at 2 AM" kind of song.
The Lyrics: A Breakdown of the Melancholy
Look at the lines:
"Remember, when you're sad and feeling down / Remember, turn around."
That sounds like a greeting card, right? But in Nilsson's hands, it’s a warning. He’s saying that the only way to escape the present is to retreat into a past that is "just a memory." It’s a bit bleak. He’s basically telling us that "life is never as it seems" and that our dreams are the only thing we actually own.
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The Legacy of a "Non-Christmas" Christmas Song
Is it a Christmas song? Technically, yes. It was released as a single in December 1972. It’s on almost every Nilsson "best of" compilation. But it occupies this weird space in pop culture.
It hasn't been overplayed to death like "Last Christmas." It remains a secret for people who like their holidays with a side of existential dread.
If you’re building a holiday playlist and you want to actually feel something besides the urge to buy a Lexus, this is the track. It’s the antithesis of the modern, over-produced holiday hit. It’s just a man, a piano, and a lot of baggage.
Actionable Insights for Music Lovers
If you want to truly appreciate this era of Harry's work, don't just stop at this song.
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- Listen to the full album: Son of Schmilsson is a chaotic masterpiece. You'll hear Ringo Starr on drums and George Harrison (under the name George Harrysong) on slide guitar.
- Watch the documentary: "Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?)" is essential viewing. It explains the trauma that fueled songs like this.
- Compare the versions: Check out the original 1972 vinyl mix versus the remastered versions on The Essential Nilsson. The 1972 mix has a warmth that digital sometimes loses.
- Analyze the "points": If you like this vibe, go back to Harry's 1970 album The Point!. It’s a fable about a boy named Oblio, and it carries that same bittersweet, "childlike but wise" energy.
The best way to experience Remember (Christmas) is to wait until the house is quiet, turn off the lights, and just let Nicky Hopkins' piano intro wash over you. It’s a reminder that even in the middle of a career being fueled by brandy and celebrity mischief, Harry Nilsson was one of the greatest poets we ever had. He knew that the most important things in life aren't the things we have, but the things we remember.
Grab a copy of Son of Schmilsson on vinyl if you can find it. The gatefold art alone—with Harry dressed as a vampire in a bathrobe—is worth the price of admission. It perfectly captures the "I'm a genius but also a complete mess" vibe of the whole project.