Randy Newman (album)

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


Released = 1968
Recorded = 1968
Genre = Rock/Singer-Songwriter
Length = 24:58
Label = Reprise Records
Producer = Lenny Waronker and Van Dyke Parks
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ln59kept7q7z link]
* "Rolling Stone" Album Guide (1992) Rating|3|5
Last album =
This album = "Randy Newman"
(1968)
Next album = "12 Songs"
(1970)

"Randy Newman" (unofficial title, "Randy Newman Creates Something New Under The Sun") is the debut recording by Randy Newman, released in 1968 (see 1968 in music). Unlike his later albums which featured Newman and his piano backed by guitar, bass guitar and drums, "Randy Newman" was highly orchestral and aimed to blend the orchestra with Newman's voice and piano.

"Randy Newman" never dented the "Billboard" Top 200 and was not received as well by critics as Newman's acclaimed 1970s albums "12 Songs", "Sail Away" and "Good Old Boys". In fact, "Randy Newman" was out of print for over fifteen years until it made its appearance on CD in 1995. It has also not been remastered with "Sail Away" and "Good Old Boys" in 2002.

However, "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" has been covered by Bette Midler (on the Beaches soundtrack), Nina Simone, Judy Collins, Dusty Springfield, Dave Van Ronk, Joe Cocker, and more recently by Katie Melua. Even the reggae-band UB40 sometimes sang this song in live performances.

Track listing

All songs written, arranged and composed by Randy Newman

#"Love Story (You and Me)" – 3:20
#"Bet No One Ever Hurt This Bad" – 2:00
#"Living Without You" – 2:25
#"So Long Dad" – 2:02
#"I Think He's Hiding" – 3:04
#"Linda" – 2:27
#"Laughing Boy – 1:55
#"Cowboy" – 2:36
#"Beehive State" – 1:50
#"I Think it's Going to Rain Today" – 2:55
#"Davy the Fat Boy" – 2:50

Personnel

*Randy Newman - vocals, piano
*Anthony Terran - trumpet
*Herb Ellis - guitar
*Jim Horn - saxophone
*Plas Johnson - saxophone
*Larry Knechtel - guitar, bass
*Carol Kaye - bass
*Al Casey - guitar
*Milton Bernhardt
*Mike Deasy - guitar
*Ron Elliot - guitar
*Lyle Ritz - bass
*Jim Gordon - drums
*Tommy Morgan - harmonica