this feels so important to the whole darnielle mythos i cant believe i didnt know it til last month
― and what, Wednesday, 2 April 2008 12:45 (sixteen years ago) link
its like the part in ed wood when ed wood meets orson welles
All great songs. There's a great reggae version of "Baltimore", can't remember who recorded it. I voted for "Louisiana 1927"
― Tom D., Wednesday, 2 April 2008 13:23 (sixteen years ago) link
Went with "Louisiana," but "Living Without You" is my favorite non-ironic Newman song.
― Jazzbo, Wednesday, 2 April 2008 13:32 (sixteen years ago) link
There's a great reggae version of "Baltimore", can't remember who recorded it. The Tamlins, I believe.
― Jazzbo, Wednesday, 2 April 2008 13:33 (sixteen years ago) link
Ah right, yeah, great singing on that track
― Tom D., Wednesday, 2 April 2008 13:34 (sixteen years ago) link
yeah dude posted a link to it upthread.... the live version is pretty great but the studio one jacks nina simones pretty hardcore
― and what, Wednesday, 2 April 2008 13:34 (sixteen years ago) link
there ought to be a comp of old cover versions of newman like that nina simone version of "baltimore". i really want to hear that etta james "god's song" you mentioned on the other thread.
great look at early newman songs as recorded by others here - http://www.randynewman.info/biography/index.html there are mentions of songs cut by irma thomas, erma franklin (and r&b singers not named irma or erma) that sound amazing
― fritz, Wednesday, 2 April 2008 15:32 (sixteen years ago) link
when i get home i'll post the mp3 of god's song & the jeezy track that samples it ('thatz who i am')
― and what, Wednesday, 2 April 2008 15:48 (sixteen years ago) link
"Louisiana 1927."
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 2 April 2008 15:50 (sixteen years ago) link
nina version of baltimore is mindblowing
― deej, Wednesday, 2 April 2008 15:52 (sixteen years ago) link
i forget is the sly and robbie song 'baltimore' a cover of this also?
― deej, Wednesday, 2 April 2008 15:53 (sixteen years ago) link
yeah, i think the tamlins version is just credited to them on some records
― fritz, Wednesday, 2 April 2008 16:27 (sixteen years ago) link
covers are def the best way to get into randy newman.... i finally broke down & copped good old boys after playing nilsson sings newman about 500 times but always thinking i hated randy newmans voice (!!??!!) and now its my fav record ever & i mostly prefer randys o.g. versions now. theres a list of all of them on wikipedia & ive only heard like a dozen of them, have been trying to slsk ray charles doing sail away for months now
― and what, Wednesday, 2 April 2008 16:42 (sixteen years ago) link
* "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)" - Irma Thomas * "Baltimore" - Nina Simone * "Biggest Night Of Her Life" - The Alan Price Set * "Come And Dance With Me" - The Alan Price Set * "Friday Night" - The O'Jays * "God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind)" - Etta James * "Happy Land" - The Alan Price Set * "I Don't Wanna Hear It Anymore" - Jerry Butler, Dusty Springfield * "I'll Be Home" - Cass Elliot, Mina, Harry Nilsson, Scott Walker * "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" - Judy Collins, Rick Nelson, Bobby Darin, Walter Jackson, Nina Simone, Dusty Springfield, Joe Cocker, UB40, Katie Melua, Bette Midler, Melanie Safka * "I Wonder Why" - Ella Fitzgerald * "I've Been Wrong Before" - Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield * "Just One Smile" - Gene Pitney, Dusty Springfield, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Walter Jackson * "Let's Burn Down The Cornfield" - Lou Rawls, Etta James * "Living Without You" - The Alan Price Set, Harry Nilsson * "Lonely At the Top" - Kitty Margolis * "Louisiana 1927" - Aaron Neville (Asleep at the Wheel) * "Love Story" - Alan Price, Harry Nilsson * "Mama Told Me Not To Come" - Three Dog Night Eric Burdon and the Animals * "My Old Kentucky Home" - Alan Price * "Naked Man" - Keith Moon * "No One Ever Hurt So Bad" - The Alan Price Set * "Nobody Needs Your Love" - Jerry Butler, Gene Pitney * "Sail Away" - Etta James, Gladys Knight, Linda Ronstadt * "Same Girl" - Holly Cole * "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear" - The Alan Price Set, Harry Nilsson * "Tickle Me" - The Alan Price Set * "Yellow Man" - Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Nilsson * "(You Can) Leave Your Hat On" - Etta James, Joe Cocker, Tom Jones
― and what, Wednesday, 2 April 2008 16:44 (sixteen years ago) link
* "Friday Night" - The O'Jays
gotta hear this
― deej, Wednesday, 2 April 2008 16:46 (sixteen years ago) link
stuff i really wanna hear if anybody can zshare it in this thread
* "Friday Night" - The O'Jays * "My Old Kentucky Home" - Alan Price * "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" - Nina Simone, Dusty Springfield * "Sail Away" - Etta James, Gladys Knight * "Let's Burn Down The Cornfield" - Lou Rawls, Etta James * "I've Been Wrong Before" - Dusty Springfield * "Just One Smile" - Gene Pitney, Dusty Springfield
― and what, Wednesday, 2 April 2008 16:58 (sixteen years ago) link
It's not totally devastating like "Louisiana," but I always loved the bit from "burn on":
the Lord can make you tumble the Lord can make you turn the Lord can make you overflow... but the Lord can't make you burn
― clotpoll, Wednesday, 2 April 2008 18:33 (sixteen years ago) link
burn on is gonna be in my next poll, i love it
this is pretty great http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OldToIF5ZGs
― and what, Thursday, 3 April 2008 02:12 (sixteen years ago) link
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aP4z0LSGaQ4&feature=related
― gabbneb, Thursday, 3 April 2008 02:25 (sixteen years ago) link
you might check for a song from Bad Love called "The Great Nations of Europe," one of his best & most caustic American history tunes - Bad Love wasn't great but it had some gems for sure
The great nations of Europe were gathered on the shore. They'd conquered what was behind them and now they wanted more. So they took to the mighty ocean, and they took to the western sea, the great nations of Europe in the 16th century.
Hide your wives and daughters, hide the groceries too. Great nations of Europe comin' through.
― J0hn D., Thursday, 3 April 2008 03:07 (sixteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― ILX System, Sunday, 13 April 2008 23:01 (sixteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― ILX System, Monday, 14 April 2008 23:01 (sixteen years ago) link
Haven't heard the original or the Nillson version, but (INDIE ROCK ALERT) Neko Case pal Kelly Hogan covered "Living Without You" on (her last? album) Because It Feel Good w/ (INDIE ROCK ALERT) Andrew Bird providing accompanyment on strings, and it's gorgeous (tho I'm guessing the way she chooses to end it is different than how RN ended it -- she's fragile and vulnerable throughout until the very end when she just lets rip on her final "it's so hard" with this reverb-soaked cathartic yell that gives me goosebumps every time I hear it).
― David R., Thursday, 1 May 2008 20:41 (sixteen years ago) link
-- and what, Wednesday, April 2, 2008 11:48 AM (1 month ago) Bookmark Link
etta james - god's song http://www.zshare.net/audio/11578866cbb3b4f0/
young jeezy - thatz who i am http://www.zshare.net/audio/115788183451ed68/
― and what, Monday, 5 May 2008 18:45 (sixteen years ago) link
sorry for that wait, another small randy newman poll thread homies
― and what, Monday, 5 May 2008 18:46 (sixteen years ago) link
I linked to this way toward the top of this thread, fwiw
― xhuxk, Monday, 5 May 2008 19:11 (sixteen years ago) link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT9BrimwgRw
BBC program from '89 with the first verse of "Roll With the Punches" and the entirety of "I Just Want You to Hurt Like I Do," both underpraised Newman songs
― J0hn D., Monday, 5 May 2008 19:30 (sixteen years ago) link
hey ethan, do you want me to make you a copy of the Guilty box set? or at least the disc of demos + otherwise unreleased shit?
― fritz, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 02:06 (fifteen years ago) link
would love it man i only have good ol boys + sail away + little criminals + a greatest hits~!!
― and what, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 02:23 (fifteen years ago) link
ok, send me an email with your address
― fritz, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 02:43 (fifteen years ago) link
Dude ethan thanks for the d/ls! I want to hear Etta's version of "Sail Away." :O
Randy Newman is the main and only and best and truest thing I've been listening to this year.
― Abbott, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 02:52 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae_N75S8Duk
bobby darin sings "sail away"
― and what, Thursday, 26 June 2008 20:09 (fifteen years ago) link
DoowahDiatribe (2 months ago) Show Hide +1 Poor comment Good comment
No, he sings just the opposite...just listen again. Remember that the song is about living in America. Mr. Newman sings, there ain't no lion or tiger or mamba snake...just sweet watermelon and a buckwheat cake. And he also sings that this is because America is lucky enough to not have the jungles where those bad animals hang out. If you listen to all the words you will see why millions of people think this is a wonderful song.
seans10 (2 months ago) Show Hide +1 Poor comment Good comment Marked as spam Reply | Spam It is great to be an American. Personally, I love it.
― and what, Thursday, 26 June 2008 20:16 (fifteen years ago) link
can someone find a randy newman video on youtube that doesnt have comments about fucking family guy
― and what, Thursday, 26 June 2008 20:19 (fifteen years ago) link
i would go out tomorrow if i could borrow a coat to wear
― PappaWheelie V, Thursday, 26 June 2008 20:20 (fifteen years ago) link
If you listen to all the words you will see why millions of people think this is a wonderful song.
― and what, Tuesday, 26 August 2008 18:00 (fifteen years ago) link
edwardscissorhands7 (2 months ago) Show Hide 0 Poor comment Good comment Marked as spam Reply | Spam the south park verson is better.. no offense to randy newman lovers and all, i love randy newman. hes my hero.... he wrote you've got a friend in me!!
― and what, Tuesday, 26 August 2008 18:04 (fifteen years ago) link
*smh*
nina simones baltimore is heartbreaking - i just listened to it this morning!
― ice crӕm, Tuesday, 26 August 2008 18:05 (fifteen years ago) link
the Lord can make you tumblethe Lord can make you turnthe Lord can make you overflow...but the Lord can't make you burn
― clotpoll, Wednesday, April 2, 2008 2:33 PM (10 months ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
cosign tatted on my chest
― and what, Sunday, 1 March 2009 05:43 (fifteen years ago) link
is there any version of "when she loved me" sung by randy newman
― and what, Sunday, 1 March 2009 20:41 (fifteen years ago) link
I really like the hard-rockish version of "Baltimore" on Nils Lofgren's Nils LP from 1979 (which I never heard until this month).
― xhuxk, Saturday, 24 October 2009 15:48 (fourteen years ago) link
i'm drunk right now babybut i've got to beor i never could tell youwhat you meant to me
― Ward Fowler, Thursday, 14 July 2011 20:25 (twelve years ago) link
you know, you know how it is with me babyyou know, i just can't stand myselfand it takes a whole lot of medicinefor me to pretend that i'm somebody else
― Ward Fowler, Thursday, 14 July 2011 20:27 (twelve years ago) link
marie is maybe a top 100 song by *anyone* *ever*
― Dominique, Thursday, 14 July 2011 21:16 (twelve years ago) link
"but I love you/and I loved you the first time I saw you" is newman at his most merciless, marie is completely beyond criticism
― pathos of the unwarranted encore (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Thursday, 14 July 2011 21:36 (twelve years ago) link
Everyone otm basically
― JoeStork, Friday, 24 February 2017 02:32 (seven years ago) link
Marie is a thing of unfathomable beauty. Good Old Boys/Sail Away are masterpieces.
I love the dichotomy of GOB's two side closers "Guilty" & "Rollin'", they feel like inverted versions of one another. "Rollin'" really captures the feeling of sitting in the sun on a lovely day off with a gentle breeze and a nice drink, the kind of day that is so nice that even when you close your eyes, the deep red of your eyelids and the warmth of the sun is intoxicating. Effortlessly floating off to heaven.
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 24 February 2017 16:59 (seven years ago) link
the song that the trees sing when the wind blowsyou're a flower, you're a river, you're a rainbow
― the raindrops and drop tops of lived, earned experience (BradNelson), Friday, 24 February 2017 21:42 (seven years ago) link
Yeah I can't listen to Marie too often unless I'm ready to stare into space for a while.
― JoeStork, Friday, 24 February 2017 22:14 (seven years ago) link
the police can't stop me!
― Ludo, Monday, 21 May 2018 15:55 (five years ago) link
(from posting in this technically 'wrong' thread)
― Ludo, Monday, 21 May 2018 15:59 (five years ago) link
Ugh, I wish I'd read this thread before assembling this list.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 8 January 2020 11:01 (four years ago) link
There's hundreds of Randy Newman covers, lots of good ones too.
― Frozen Mug (Tom D.), Wednesday, 8 January 2020 11:30 (four years ago) link