Track Listing

1. Love Story
2. Living Without You
3. I Think It's Going To Rain Today
4. Mama Told Me Not To Come
5. Sail Away
6. Simon Smith And The Amazing Dancing Bear
7. Political Science
8. God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind)
9. Rednecks
10. Birmingham
11. Louisiana 1927
12. Marie
13. Baltimore
14. Jolly Coppers Of Parade
15. Rider In The Rain
16. Short People
17. I Love LA
18. Lonely At The Top
19. My Life Is Good
20. In Germany Before The War
21. Christmas In Capetown
22. My Old Kentucky Home

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6561 in Music
• Released on: 1987-05-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Customer Reviews

This is not Toy Story
This is just about the best introduction available to one of the best songwriters in the world today. It is a better selection than the more up to date (and far more expensive) Rhino "Best Of" and is better suited to the curious newcomer than the fan oriented box set.
So what is so special about Randy Newman? He is a songwriting craftsman to rank with Carole King or Lieber and Stoller and his song have been covered by (amongst others) Judy Collins, Harry Nilsson, Tom Jones, Nina Simone, UB40, Peggy Lee and Dusty Springfield. But what sets him apart is his subtle irony and the skewed humanity of his songs. More often than not these are narrated by some unpalateable characters - "In Germany Before The War" for example, though the narrative changes from third person to first, is told from the point of view of the Dusseldorf child murderer. The grim subject matter hides behind a delicate melody and a beautiful string arrangement.
The cd begins with three tracks from Newman's first quirkily orchestrated album the best of which is "Love Story" which with economy and wit encapsulates the emptiness of two lives. "Mama Told Me Not to Come" one of only two tracks from "12 Songs" moves into rock'n'roll territory.
The four tracks from "Sail Away" give a good idea of the different strains in Randy Newman songs. "Sail Away" itself sounds like a big ballad with a beguiling melody and a haunting piano figure, yet the lyrics portray a slave trader enticing negroes aboard his ship with promises of a wonderful life in America. The song becomes a criticism not only of slavery and racism but of American values as a whole. "Simon Smith" is a jaunty piece of fun with a sting in the tail - you could sing this catchy song for years without appreciating the satire. "Political Science" sums up american foreign policy with the line "let's drop the big one now", the song is enormously funny (and quite scary when you think of George W Bush) but is essentially a crowd pleaser without the ambivalence or subtlety which characterises the best tracks on this cd. "God's Song" is a brave attempt to discuss religion in a popular song with God speaking in the first person - Newman often tries to confront big issues and religion crops up again and again in his work.
Newman's next three albums are represented generously here the highlights being "Louisiana 1927" a gorgeous ballad about the Mississippi floods, "Baltimore" and "My Life is Good" a twisted little number narrated by one of Newman's most loathsome characters - called Randy- which name drops Bruce Springsteen to great comic effect.
The cd closes with Newman singing "Lonely at the Top" to an audience which sounds as though it is in single figures (yes,that IS ironic Alana)
Nobody else touches Newman's subject matter, nobody writes with his unsentimental intelligence, beautifully judged irony and unfailing humanity. He is a true great and if you are not moving straight to your shopping basket, I hope it is because you are going to buy all the original albums instead.

Magic
This is a fabulous collection. If you can get it cheap its an essential purchase, even if you have got all his original albums. The range of music on offer here is amazing. The early tracks like 'Love Story' have a Phil Spector like feel to them. Big orchestral arrangements, contrast wonderfully with Newmans southern drawl and simple Piano parts. Later tracks perhaps, better show the true talent of this great songwriter. From beautiful ballads like 'I think its going to rain today' to various degrees of satire and wit (take your pick from many songs). Randy Newman wrote numerous hits for other people so 'Mama told me not to come' is better known as a Three Dog Night Hit. 'Simon Smith....' was a hit for Alan Price.

Picking favourite tracks is difficult, but upon recently listening to 'Political Science' again, its relevance today is the same as it was in 1972 when I think Nixon was President of the U.S. "South America stole our name, lets drop the big one they'll be no-one left to blame us". However 'My Life is Good.' remains my favourite for his indignant delivery "My Life is good you old bag". A splendid reference to Bruce Springsteen follows later in the song "Rand I'm tired how would you like to be the boss for a while" - cue a Clarence Clemons like Sax solo...

Randy Newman is a criminally under-rated musician and songwriter. Get this collection and find out what you've been missing. Better still if you ever get a chance to catch one of his rare concerts see him live. To that end the last track on the album is probably the best 'Lonely at the Top' (which I believe he wrote with Sinatra in mind), which captures Newman in concert alone at the Piano in 1970. Its just magical.

After a slow start
This is irreverant genius, funny off the wall but still profund and moving in places, a unique artist
STAND OUT TRACKS

SHORT PEOPLE
I LOVE LA
MY LIFE IS GOOD
I THINK IT'S GOING TO RAIN