354 - Randy Newman - 12 Songs

[csberry]

Randy Newman's niche is character profiles. The subjects of his songs may be annoying, ignorant, or enlightened, but they are rarely two-dimensional and boring. On his sophomore album, Randy created the blueprint for the rest of his 70's albums. There are songs here that both praise and criticize The South. There are tunes on the silliness of racism and the allure of nostalgia. But what makes this album different from the previous album of his on the Rolling Stone list is that there is a rawness and grit to these songs that was musically polished off of the other releases. When Randy and the band get bluesy on this album, you feel like you are in a dirty, hole-in-the-wall joint and not in a studio.

And these aren't songs that rely on Randy's Dixie/New Orleans bluesy sound. Tracks like "Have You Seen My Baby" and "Mama Told Me Not to Come" vary quite a bit from his original and the cover versions you probably heard.

Songs I knew I liked: I am familiar with the Three Dog Night cover of "Mama Told Me Not To Come," but was otherwise ignorant of these tracks.

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Have You Seen My Baby," "Lover's Prayer," "Yellow Man," and "Old Kentucky Home"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: "Let's Burn Down the Cornfield"