Though he's best known for his versions of other people's songs (Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin'," Badfinger's "Without You," an entire album of Randy Newman songs), Nilsson was a skilled composer, and is recognized as a pop craftsman of the first order. As a songwriter, he placed tunes with the Monkees, the Yardbirds and others. As a singer he managed to wring greatly expressive range from his uniquely flexible voice, and is recognized as a pop craftsman of the first order.