Randy Newman, new record coming

[Osgood]

An advance. He seems to be in good shape

[...]

Saw him in Dublin last year and he did this song. He was great/

[jimboo]

Pixar are making a movie about Putin ?

[Sneelock]

great interview!
http://www.vulture.com/2017/07/randy-ne ... album.html

"...playing in time is hard for me. I would like the feeling of being in a band. It sounds like fun. But I just can’t do it."

[Charlie O.]

Yeah, it is a good one. (Though most of his are, I think!)

We were all watching the announcement backstage on a monitor. I could barely see what was going on. It was me, Faith Hill, Sting, and Paul McCartney, maybe. They announced the winner and Faith Hill said, “You won.” I said, “I did?” And she said, “Yeah, go on up.” So I went out there and I looked down and the orchestra musicians were standing up. I was so touched by that I thought I was gonna cry. Then I thought, Jesus Christ! You can’t cry at this third-rate vaudeville show here. Seeing that the orchestra respected what I do was one of the nicest things that’s happened in my life. Coming up as a kid — I never believed in God, but the orchestra musicians were the high people.

That's sweet. His Oscar acceptance speeches are both great, of course.

[Sneelock]

LOL. What a character.

[Davey the Fat Boy]

I kind of gave up talking about Newman here, because there were some posters in the past who seemed to have an antipathy for the guy. But he's been as important to me as any artist. He's like a genre all to himself.

His last several albums have been spotty - but they've all had one or two new "Randy Newman songs" to get excited about. I'll take that any day.

[Tactful Cactus]

Its very much more of the same, but still...a song about Sonny Boy Williamson

[Jimbo]

Really wonderful interview. A good part for me was when he was discussing how hard is is for drummers to play a shuffle.

[zoomboogity]

Just thought it was worth mentioning (for those who didn't already know) that his uncle, Alfred Newman, composed this:

[...]

Just thought it was worth mentioning (for those who didn't already know) that his uncle, Alfred Newman, composed this:

Quite a few of his past and present family members were or are in the movie soundtrack business.

His nephew apparently did the most recent James Bond film.

[Davey the Fat Boy]

Just got tickets to see him. They apparently come with an album for each ticket sold. Amazing how devalued albums are now, but I'm looking forward to having this one.

I'm also looking forward to seeing him again. With so many of the greats from his generation being either dead or of diminished abilities - it will be nice to see one of them who can still do what he always did. I guess it's a function of him not having been a real singer. There's no real degradation of his performance abilities to distract from things. At least, not from the recentish filmed performances I've seen.

We are fast approaching a day in which the folks who mattered pre-punk won't be there to be seen anymore. So I'm taking the opportunity to see the ones like Newman and The Zombies who still have something to give.

[Tactful Cactus]

There's no real degradation of his performance abilities to distract from things

Really? I think you're a bit blinded by the light Davey. His voice has become very froggy and pitchless compared to the 70's/80's period - seeing him live (around 2005) was a good experience but I'd put him in the same category as Dylan for performance degradation.

[Davey the Fat Boy]

i don't know TC. Compare "Putin" to 70d Newman. Now compare a track from Dylan's latest to prime Dylan.

[Tactful Cactus]

I'm talking more live performance, the studio covers alot. When I saw him he sang flat throughout the show which was disappointing.

[Davey the Fat Boy]

My point was essentially, his vocal abilty isn't really the key to his performance style.

[Tactful Cactus]

He's no Aretha Franklin, but you certainly can't have a Randy Newman performance without some vocal ability.

[...]

I'd agree with Davey here. Saw him do the first of two solo nights at Vicar Street in Dublin a couple of years ago and he was great

[Sneelock]

Judging entirely from his "songbook" series I think both views have merit. In that interview with Marc Maron he's more aware of his limitations than anybody. He's sure got a lot of character. Sometimes that will get you half way there.

He talks about Faust in the interview. I haven't heard it since it was new. I don't remember being too crazy about it. Might give it another go.

[Sneelock]

I think "Putin" is a great track. It's like "mr sheep". It's Tuney and funny. Putin doesn't like the Pootie Girls! LOL.