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<h1>Cuddly Toy</h1><p>song by Nilsson</p><p><br></p><h2><strong>Learn about this topic</strong> in these articles:</h2><h3>discussed in biography</h3><p><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/65/251765-050-AE7F0D86/Harry-Nilsson-1972.jpg?w=300" alt="Harry Nilsson"></p><p>In <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Harry-Nilsson#ref1321996" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Harry Nilsson: Fame as songwriter and singer</a></p><p><br></p><h2>Fame as songwriter and singer</h2><p>One of Nilsson’s first breaks in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/music" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">music</a> industry came when he <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collaborated" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">collaborated</a> on the writing of three songs with famed record producer <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Phil-Spector" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Phil Spector</a>. One of them was recorded (but not released) by the Modern Folk Quartet, the other two by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/the-Ronettes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ronettes</a>. The first <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/song" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">song</a> penned by Nilsson to become a hit was “Cuddly Toy,” which was released by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/the-Monkees-American-music-group" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Monkees</a> in 1967. That year Nilsson signed a recording contract with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/RCA-Corporation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RCA</a> and released his debut album, <em>The Pandemonium Shadow Show</em>. Although the album was not a commercial success, it won praise from critics. Already in evidence was Nilsson’s remarkable velvety voice (singer-songwriter <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jimmy-Webb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jimmy Webb</a> called Nilsson the best singer of their generation), which could be both warm and edgy as well as soar in high register. Using overdubbing techniques, Nilsson provided rich harmony backing himself. The album also made clear that Nilsson was an accomplished lyricist and master of melody.</p><p><br></p><p>(Cuddly toy-1967)</p>