Sail Away (Randy Newman album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Sail Away
Type = Album
Artist = Randy Newman


Background = orange
Released = May 1972
Recorded = Amigo Studios, Western Studios, Poppi Studios, Los Angelos
Genre = Piano Rock
Length = 30:07
Label = Reprise Records
Producer = Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hekxikc6bbf9 link]
* Robert Christgau (A-) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=randy+newman link]
*"Rolling Stone" (favorable) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/randynewman/albums/album/112637/review/6067735/sail_away link]
Last album = "Randy Newman Live"
(1971)
This album = "Sail Away"
(1972)
Next album = "Good Old Boys"
(1974)

"Sail Away" is a 1972 album by Randy Newman. RS500|321

The album stands as a prime example of Newman's ability with musical satire. The title track takes the form of a pitch from a slave trader in Africa. "Political Science" foresees America making the world a better place through the nuclear annihilation of almost everyone else. "God's Song" uses gospel forms to question the idea of a benevolent creator. "He Gives Us All His Love" is a bittersweet and sparsely-arranged hymn about religious faith which may be earnest or tongue-in-cheek.

The song "Burn On" was used in the introduction to the film "Major League".

Brian Wilson has said that this album profoundly affected him at the time of its release, briefly keeping him from sliding further into depression and mental illness.

The album was reissued by Rhino Records in 2002, with several previously unreleased bonus tracks.

LP track listing

All songs arranged and written by Randy Newman

ide one

# "Sail Away"
# "Lonely at the Top"
# "He Gives Us All His Love"
# "Last Night I Had a Dream"
# "Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear"
# "Old Man"

ide two

# "Political Science"
# "Burn On"
# "Memo to My Son"
# "Dayton, Ohio - 1903"
# "You Can Leave Your Hat On"
# "God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind)"

Bonus tracks

# "Let It Shine"
# "Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong" (studio version)
# "Dayton, Ohio - 1903" (early version)
# "You Can Leave Your Hat On" (demo version)
# "Sail Away" (early version)

Personnel

* Randy Newman - piano, arranger
* Ry Cooder - guitars on "Last Night I Had a Dream" & "You Can Leave Your Hat On"
* Russ Titelman - guitars
* Jim Keltner - drums
* Gene Parsons - drums
* Earl Palmer - drums
* Chris Ethridge - bass
* Wilton Felder - bass
* Jimmy Bond - bass
* Milt Holland - percussion
* Abe Most - alto saxophone on "Lonely at the Top"