One of my favorite concerts was an outdoor summer performance by Newman at a local zoo 20-plus years ago. My wife and I attended and noticed there were quite a few families with kids - presumably to hear his Pixar songs. Newman played to that crowd, but also to us middle-aged misanthropes. So we heard "You Got a Friend in Me" and "In Germany Before the War" in close proximity. He was in great form, even if he seemed a little inebriated and didn't shy away from profanity during his between-song banter. Of course, he didn't play "Old Man" but did gripe about a recent argument he had with his dad.
Still think Good Old Boys is a titanic achievement that took colossal guts to put out. And the only singer/songwriter in his league aesthetically and thematically is, to my ears and brain, Nellie McKay.
I remember Joe Boyd saying he thought Richard Thompson (who probably wouldn’t agree) had the best career in popular music - huge reputation, decent income and no one bugs you in Sainsbury’s. The tiny handful of Newman’s peers that can match his quality and reputation are far more likely to be stalked or accosted in the street than he is. I wonder if any of them (cough! Dylan) look at his remarkable career with a touch of envy.
I always hear Randy Newman's writing in the same context as Lou Reed, Warren Zevon, & Richard Thompson. I suspect you would not hear those guys as his peers, but that's just the group it hits me with. Oh, I saw Randy at the Newport Folk Fest one year just ahead of the Indigo Girls, boy did their fans not like him at all! Major earnest/sarcastic split there. Thanks for the writeup, I will definitely read this book.
Sure they're his peers. whether or not you and I think they're quite as good as he is. They all have their own approaches to what in the end are closely related artistic goals.
I had also started reading the book just before this post. So far I am enjoying it immensely.
For whatever reason, I am reminded of a Bill James statistical metric he invented in the 1980s. I read the Bill James Baseball Abstract for a dozen or so years. By comparing player statistics, he developed a "similarity score" for major leaguers, where a score of 1000 would be a player with an identical career. Do you remember that?
Whose musical career is most similar to Randy Newman? Thanks for your list of candidates, by the way. He's kind of out on his own island; his life story is so unusual. Only all-time greats should be considered as peers. The names that come to mind are Carole King, George & Ira Gershwin and maybe Chuck Berry.
It is always sad to read of ancient old heroes who cannot just retire. Intent on relieving old glory. Sir Paul subjects huge audiences to his faded voice.
Geriatric rock stars who can barely move all wrapped in tight leather.
Born Again was my gateway, being a teenybopper at the time and to that point only knowing him as the "Short People" guy. I recently relistened and heartily endorse that upward regrade.
Looking forward to digging into this book. I have fond memories of an early-‘90s interview at the New Orleans Jazz Fest at which Randy reminisced about his Crescent City roots and the inescapable influence of its shuffle beat on his work.
First off, just discovered "Dark Matter " was your top pick in 2017—I don’t remember it making many lists back then, so it made me happy to read that. I loved that album and thought it was one of his best.
I get kinda annoyed when some box him in as solely a "Satiric Songwriter" (with a satiric chaser).
When I listen to "Dark Matter", I first think of “the little caboose" ("Wandering Boy") or of "...planting tomatoes in the yard" ("Lost Without You") and it just wrecks me (and I think the protaganists in both songs would be pretty pissed off if that were so). I also loved the title track, it was like going to a great musical but not leaving the house.
Yeah, I guess some could describe that one and “Lost Without You” and “Brothers” theatrical", but if most songs had that combination of original artistry and feeling, the term wouldn’t so often carry a negative connotation.
And while "On the Beach" has humor, satire? "She Chose Me"? Sarcastic? Political? Unreliable? Oh, and din’t get me started on this cynical kneeslapper of a lyric:
“When you're young, and there's time, to forget the past..."
Here's to the future and his health and more great work down the (burning) river.
Thanks for the heads up, starting with the first A-plus.
One of my favorite concerts was an outdoor summer performance by Newman at a local zoo 20-plus years ago. My wife and I attended and noticed there were quite a few families with kids - presumably to hear his Pixar songs. Newman played to that crowd, but also to us middle-aged misanthropes. So we heard "You Got a Friend in Me" and "In Germany Before the War" in close proximity. He was in great form, even if he seemed a little inebriated and didn't shy away from profanity during his between-song banter. Of course, he didn't play "Old Man" but did gripe about a recent argument he had with his dad.
Still think Good Old Boys is a titanic achievement that took colossal guts to put out. And the only singer/songwriter in his league aesthetically and thematically is, to my ears and brain, Nellie McKay.
I remember Joe Boyd saying he thought Richard Thompson (who probably wouldn’t agree) had the best career in popular music - huge reputation, decent income and no one bugs you in Sainsbury’s. The tiny handful of Newman’s peers that can match his quality and reputation are far more likely to be stalked or accosted in the street than he is. I wonder if any of them (cough! Dylan) look at his remarkable career with a touch of envy.
I always hear Randy Newman's writing in the same context as Lou Reed, Warren Zevon, & Richard Thompson. I suspect you would not hear those guys as his peers, but that's just the group it hits me with. Oh, I saw Randy at the Newport Folk Fest one year just ahead of the Indigo Girls, boy did their fans not like him at all! Major earnest/sarcastic split there. Thanks for the writeup, I will definitely read this book.
Sure they're his peers. whether or not you and I think they're quite as good as he is. They all have their own approaches to what in the end are closely related artistic goals.
Thank you for this! I love Randy Newman and he never gets the respect he so richly deserves. I am excited to read this biography.
I had also started reading the book just before this post. So far I am enjoying it immensely.
For whatever reason, I am reminded of a Bill James statistical metric he invented in the 1980s. I read the Bill James Baseball Abstract for a dozen or so years. By comparing player statistics, he developed a "similarity score" for major leaguers, where a score of 1000 would be a player with an identical career. Do you remember that?
Whose musical career is most similar to Randy Newman? Thanks for your list of candidates, by the way. He's kind of out on his own island; his life story is so unusual. Only all-time greats should be considered as peers. The names that come to mind are Carole King, George & Ira Gershwin and maybe Chuck Berry.
Anyway, another baseball fan here. Thanks.
Newman is a colossal bore. Music for dweebs. "Family Guy" pegged him perfectly.
Louisiana 1927 always floors me. The version with the horns. Newman writes hymns for America
It is always sad to read of ancient old heroes who cannot just retire. Intent on relieving old glory. Sir Paul subjects huge audiences to his faded voice.
Geriatric rock stars who can barely move all wrapped in tight leather.
Great book I’m reading it now
Born Again was my gateway, being a teenybopper at the time and to that point only knowing him as the "Short People" guy. I recently relistened and heartily endorse that upward regrade.
Looking forward to digging into this book. I have fond memories of an early-‘90s interview at the New Orleans Jazz Fest at which Randy reminisced about his Crescent City roots and the inescapable influence of its shuffle beat on his work.
First off, just discovered "Dark Matter " was your top pick in 2017—I don’t remember it making many lists back then, so it made me happy to read that. I loved that album and thought it was one of his best.
I get kinda annoyed when some box him in as solely a "Satiric Songwriter" (with a satiric chaser).
When I listen to "Dark Matter", I first think of “the little caboose" ("Wandering Boy") or of "...planting tomatoes in the yard" ("Lost Without You") and it just wrecks me (and I think the protaganists in both songs would be pretty pissed off if that were so). I also loved the title track, it was like going to a great musical but not leaving the house.
Yeah, I guess some could describe that one and “Lost Without You” and “Brothers” theatrical", but if most songs had that combination of original artistry and feeling, the term wouldn’t so often carry a negative connotation.
And while "On the Beach" has humor, satire? "She Chose Me"? Sarcastic? Political? Unreliable? Oh, and din’t get me started on this cynical kneeslapper of a lyric:
“When you're young, and there's time, to forget the past..."
Here's to the future and his health and more great work down the (burning) river.
Thanks for the heads up, starting with the first A-plus.