Track Listing

1. My Country
2. Shame
3. I'm Dead (But I Don't Know It)
4. Every Time It Rains
5. The Great Nations Of Europe
6. The One You Love
7. The World Isn't Fair
8. Big Hat, No Cattle
9. Better Off Dead
10. I Miss You
11. Going Home
12. I Want Everyone To Like Me

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26565 in Music
• Released on: 1999-06-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds
• Running time: 45 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Three songs into Bad Love, Randy Newman lobs a smart bomb into the bunker of classic rock, impersonating a boomer-aged rocker just going through the motions, "Each record that [he's] making ... like a record that [he's] made--just not as good." Giving the punch line added snap is the happy irony of Newman's own music at midlife, which proves as perceptive, funny, and, yes, moving as any he's recorded. Comparisons to past triumphs are inevitable here, and mostly favourable, starting with the mock piety of "My Country", an anthem to America's virtual family life entranced by television, "having other people's voices fill our minds." Elsewhere, he grins through a new geopolitical patter song ("The Great Nations of Europe"), undertakes his own dialectic on materialism with the ghost of Karl Marx ("The World Isn't Fair"), and, in the album's mordant zenith, conjures the sputtering jealousy and lust of an elderly New Orleans burgher smitten by a sweet young thing. That song, "Shame", embellishes a piano blues that might have fit snugly on 12 Songs, with choral and instrumental flourishes that are apt and hilarious--mocking female singers repeat the title in frank emulation of Sylvia Robinson's venerable disco hit, while elsewhere Newman's arrangements suggest Carl Stalling's vivid Looney Tunes scores. --Sam Sutherland

CD Description
Not counting orchestral soundtrack albums and the guest-filled theatre piece FAUST, BAD LOVE was the first album of Randy Newman songs in over a decade. As he moved into the '80s,Newman often blunted his lyrical wit with glossy L.A. overproduction, but with the help of '90s uberproducer Mitchell Froom, he's back on track here. Froom harnesses the power of Newman's piano and a full orchestra (who share the spotlightwith a small band) for a sound that recalls Newman's early-'70s glory days.
Newman's famous irony and sarcasm are honed to a fine point here, but pointed more often at the singer than at the outside targets that filled his early albums.Newman's ironic streak is such that the listener becomes uneasy wondering how much distance exists between the composerand the unpleasant characters he portrays. On "Shame", he'sa wealthy older man whose pleas to a younger, kept woman turn violent. "The World Isn't Fair" addresses Karl Marx directly in an attempt to reconcile the fall of socialist ideals with the prosperity of a liberal capitalist. Newman's lyrical prestidigitation would be for naught without his well-developed sense of humor and Gershwinesque melodic sensibility, which help make BAD LOVE such a powerful work.

Customer Reviews

Worth the wait
It's been over ten years since Randy Newman released his last studio album. But I've got to say that it has been well worth the wait, 'Bad Love' is a fantastic piece of work that deserves to be in your collection. The songs are an eclectic mix; some are funny, some are sad but all are clever and sung in Randy's distinctive voice. Buy this album and you won't be disappointed.

Still On Form
Newman's albums come along infrequently and are always anxiously awaited by those of us who love his special brand of music. One day perhaps he will disappoint us, but not here. Age has not smoothed any of the edges from his talent and a string of successful film scores have not depleted his musical imagination.
This album is nigh on perfect.
'This Is My Country' which opens the album is an incisive and strangely moving picture of family life based around a tv set. It is a classic. Other highlights are the interplay of lead voice and backing vocals in 'Shame' (sung by one of Newman's most loathsome characters), the beautiful melody of 'Every Time It Rains' (ripe for covering),the bite of 'The World Isn't Fair' and 'Great Nations of Europe' which display a more political dimension to the satire ( can I hear a Gilbert and Sullivan influence on these numbers?). If there is nothing as strong as, say 'Sail Away' here,it is as good an album as Newman has made since 'Good Old Boys' at least.

Perhaps it is too late for Newman to win even a fraction of the audience he deserves, but for those willing to listen and lucky enough to stumble across this album they will find a 12 step lesson in classic songwriting.

Another stunning album
I can't praise this album high enough. Randy Newman returns with another brilliant recording. As an example of song-writing and performing skills this will take some beating.

There are tear jerkers like 'Every Time It Rains' ironic songs like 'The World Isn't Fair' all arranged and performed with Newmans distinctive southern drawl and under-rated Piano playing. This album also has a band and occasionally orchestral arrangements.

For me this is up there with his best work, perhaps not quite as good as Sail Away, but its very close. These days Randy Newman doesn't produce that many albums, and performs even less frequently, so get this album to remind yourself just how good he really is.