Randy Newman: The Best Of Randy Newman CD Track Listing

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Randy Newman The Best Of Randy Newman (2001)
Originally Released September 18, 2001\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Randy Newman has been beloved of critics, record geeks, and music fans for years, so much so that Rhino's 2001 compilation The Best of Randy Newman may seem like a case of preaching to the converted, at least to those who worship Newman. After all, anybody who's been paying attention realizes his sly genius, not just as a songwriter, but as a musician and record-maker -- 12 Songs, Sail Away, Good Old Boys, and Trouble in Paradise are hailed as masterpieces because the records are as carefully constructed and engaging as the songs. Proof of that sentiment arrives immediately with the collection's opening cut, "Mama Told Me Not to Come," which may be better known in Three Dog Night's bombastic rendition, but is better and funnier in this wry telling. That's also true for other Newman songs that have become standards -- "You Can Leave Your Hat On," "Sail Away," "Louisiana 1927," and "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" are enhanced by Newman's delivery, which emphasizes not just his humor but also the underlying emotion of his songs. Then there are the songs that the general public associates with Randy Newman -- the novelty tune "Short People," the cynical faux-anthem "I Love L.A.," the reaffirming Toy Story theme "You've Got a Friend in Me." These two sides prove that Randy Newman is a songwriter of exceptional talent and that he can reach a wide audience, but the wonderful, bewildering thing about him is that his recordings obstinately fall between these two extremes -- he's simply too willful to play to a mass audience but, even at his most obscure and ornery, his music is open and accessible. Because of this mercurial talent, it can be hard for a neophyte to get a handle on his recordings, which is why a collection like The Best of Randy Newman isn't simply welcome, it's necessary. This may not be every longtime fan's choice for the very best of Randy Newman, but it does give a good sense of his genius and how far-reaching it is by featuring all those previously mentioned songs, along with many others that confirm the depth of his talent -- "Political Science," "Rednecks," "Marie," "Miami," and "Dixie Flyer," among others. There are certainly other songs in his catalog that could have easily been showcased here, and 12 Songs and Sail Away certainly had their own logic that, in their own way, make them a more effective introduction. But as a far-reaching sampler for neophytes and casual fans, this does the job handsomely. -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nVery Good Newman Sampler, February 4, 2003 \nReviewer: judgesam from Lincoln, Nebraska \nAs a huge fan of Randy Newman's work I think this CD is representative of some of his best vocal work. The selections range from the wistful emotional "Marie" to the uptempo "I Love to See You Smile", from the soundtrack to the film Parenthood. On a personal level, I would like to have seen "In Germany Before the War" and "Rider in the Rain" from the Little Criminals album included here, and the failure to include two of Newman's most poignant songs, "Guilty", and "I'll Be There" is almost unforgiveable. Nevertheless, there's still a lot to like here.\n\nIf you like this CD I humbly suggest you also explore some of Newman's film score work, for which he received a long overdue Oscar last year. The "Guilty" box set is a good place to start, but I strongly recommend the scores to Ragtime and Avalon (both sadly out of print) as well as Pleasantville, which is still available. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nHis songs are delightful; his voice is better than it sounds, January 7, 2003 \nReviewer: Tim Smith from Bonney Lake, WA United States \nI have been a Randy Newman fan since I heard him sing "Political Science" on The Tonight Show in 1973. I promptly went out and bought all his released albums and his new ones as soon as they were released.\n\nI saw Randy live at the Paramount Theater in Seattle in 1975 or 1976. If memory serves, Jethro Burns was playing mandolin! Randy, if you're reading this, I was the guy from the balcony loges who shouted out "Simon Smith" when you paused and tried to decide what to play next. You said, "OK" and played it. That made my decade.\n\nThere are only two kinds of Randy Newman songs: the good ones and the masterpieces. The only quibble I have with this collection is that "Bad News from Home" from Land of Dreams is excluded. This song is without question the most beautiful and evocative pop song of the last 40 years (rivaled only by Van Morrison's "Tupelo Honey"). Don't take just my word for it, though. No less a luminary than Mark Knopfler says so, too (Knopfler played guitar on that track).\n\nThis is an excellent but deadly introduction to the wonderful music of Randy Newman. Deadly because once you've heard one of Randy's discs you will want to buy more and more. Part of the wonder of Randy's music is the "oddities", the quirky but delightfully uncommercial little songs on each album. One of my favorites is "Sigmund Freud's Impersonation of Albert Einstein in America" from Little Criminals. That's not on this disc either, but I hope now you will want to hear it.\n\nTo sum up: this disc gets 5 stars. For the newcomer, this is a good place to start, then go to "Sail Away" and "Good Old Boys". Proceed directly to "Land of Dreams" then to "12 Songs". After that, you will know what to do, I promise. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nEssential thinking-person's pop, November 16, 2002 \nReviewer: Gena Richelle Chereck from Omaha, Ne, USA \nSimply put, Randy Newman is one of our best, most versatile pop songwriters. Leave it to the good people at Rhino to display (almost) his full range of talent on just one disc that stands as a perfect introduction for Newman newcomers like myself. I bought it primarily for the hilarious (and often misunderstood) hit singles "Short People" and "I Love L.A.," but I was blown away by his emotional range. \n\nAnother old favorite, "You've Got a Friend in Me" from the 1995 animated comedy Toy Story, shows his rare, sweet-and-playful side (although the movie itself fortunately transcends typical "kiddie fare"). "Mama Told Me Not to Come," which became a hit for Three Dog Night, is a wry comment on the hippie lifestyle; the laugh-out-loud funny "Rednecks" takes on, well, rednecks. "Take Me Back" and "Dixie Flyer" are semi-autobiographical charmers. "Political Science" is a disturbingly catchy ode to blowing up other countries ("Let's drop the big one, and see what happens"). "Little Criminals," "It's Money That I Love," and the seductive "You Can Leave Your Hat On" (which was made famous by Joe Cocker) are fun tracks, as well. He seems more at home with the ballads, though, which better showcase his classical-pop sensibilities. (He's also well-known for writing movie scores.) In "Sail Away," he assumes the voice of a recruiter for the slave trade, and in another track, he tells the story of a flood that occurred in Louisiana in 1927. In beautiful songs like "I Think it's Gonna Rain Today," "Marie," and "Feels Like Home," he drops the jokes and social satire to reveal a more sensitive side. \n\nThis dichotomy is best expressed in the two most recent tracks (from 1999's acclaimed Bad Love): "Shame," about a dirty old man trying to hang onto a pretty young thing while denying his obvious neediness and rage ("A man of my experience in life don't expect a beautful young woman like yourself to come on over here every day, have some old dude bangin' on ya like a gypsy on a tambourine..."), and "I Miss You," Newman's love letter to an ex-wife ("I wanna thank you for the good years, and apologize for the rough ones"). Newman is a pop songwriter for thinking people, and the songs on this best-of are catchy and clever whether they make you laugh or not. (I must also mention his track-by-track liner notes, which are brief but still insightful.) \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nA few minor quibbles aside...., September 24, 2001 \nReviewer: Thomas C. Lane from Marina, CA USA \nAlbum artists like Randy Newman, who didn't have many hit singles, are tough to anthologize. Their albums are of a piece, and most of Newman's Warner albums are worth owning. Rhino does its best to give you a sample of his work. While Newman fans will already own the 4CD box set, this is geared more towards the newcomer. All but one of his Warner albums is covered (1971's "Live"). But 2 songs from his 1999 Dreamworks release, "Bad Love", and "You've Got A Friend In Me (solo)" from Toy Story are included. As with any artist of Newman's stature, one could complain: only 1 song from 1970's 12 Songs (how about Have You Seen My Baby?), 4 songs from 1983's "Trouble In Paradise", but only 1 from 1988's "Land of Dreams" (where's It's Money That Matters, or I Want You To Hurt Like I Do). Outside of that this serves its purpose. The only liner notes provided are track-by-track notes by Newman, but nothing else. If you like what you hear then go get the albums. Start with Good Old Boys, 12 Songs, Sail Away, Land of Dreams and Bad Love. The other albums in his catalog (including his numerous Movie Soundtracks won't disappoint, but those are the best for beginners. \n\nHalf.com Album Credits\nBob Seger & Silver Bullet Band, Contributing Artist\nDon Henley, Contributing Artist\nGlenn Frey, Contributing Artist\nJoe Walsh, Contributing Artist\nMark Knopfler, Contributing Artist\nRickie Lee Jones, Contributing Artist\nRy Cooder, Contributing Artist\n\nAlbum Notes\nPersonnel includes: Randy Newman (vocals, piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Ry Cooder (guitar, slide guitar); Dean Parks, Mark Knopfler (guitar, mandolin); Glenn Frey (guitar, background vocals); Waddy Wacthel, Steve Lukather (guitar); Joe Walsh (slide guitar); Al Perkins (pedal steel guitar); Chuck Findley, Tom Scott (horns); David Paich (Fender Rhodes piano, Farfisa organ); Michael Boddiker (synthesizer); Jimmy Bond, Russ Titelman, Red Callender, Klaus Voormann, David Shields, Nathan East (bass); Jim Keltner, Jeff Porcaro (drums); Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, Stephen Bishop, Valerie Carter, Rickie Lee Jones, Don Henley, Bob Seger (background vocals).\n\nProducers include: Lenny Waronker, Russ Titleman, Van Dyke Parks, Mark Knopfler, Peter Asher.\n\nCompilation producers: Randy Newman, David McLees.\nIncludes liner notes by Randy Newman.\nDigitally remastered by Keith Blake (Warner Brothers).
This rock cd contains 21 tracks and runs 69min 33sec.
Freedb: 2d104b15
Buy: from Amazon.com

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