Randys, Randy’s

Dropping the needle down on an album, there are a rare few artists who you know are going to kill it. The closer you listen, the more you are bound to be moved. Leonard Cohen does this, Dylan does this, Neil Young does this when he chooses, Tom Waits– well, brace yourself. Randy Newman performs the magic every time.

“You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from the Toy Story franchise is a loveable, warm, huggable song. That is the Newman tune most people are familiar with. Midway through his career, Randy took on writing for movies, following in the footsteps of his hugely successful uncles. With scores to “The Natural,” “Ragtime,” “Avalon,” and a slew of Pixar movies, he put together an impressive portfolio.

Before all that (and since), there are provocative releases unlike anything else. As quoted at the opening, Bob Dylan mused, “Sadness and cynicism, it’s a strange combination but Randy always manages to pull it off.... King of the mountain, that’s who he is and always was.” With “Short People,” “Mama Told Me Not to Come,” and “I Love L.A” among his most played tunes– the list also includes heartbreakers like “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today,” “Living Without You,” “Baltimore,” and “Marie.”

Just as you are seduced by the lush orchestration and Americana promise of “Sail Away,” you realize this comes from a slave trader, as tempting as any timeshare pitch. “Rednecks” is, of course, an indictment of a racist southerner… and then the table is turned to expose the very real northern hypocrisy. Randy wrote “Louisiana 1927” in 1974 about The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 which killed 500 people and left 700,000 homeless. Lyrics including “Louisiana… They’re trying to wash us away,” struck a deep chord more than 30 years later when Katrina’s disaster swept the song center stage– the New York Times tabbed it as “Louisiana’s unofficial anthem in the wake of the 2005 tragedy.”

Author Robert Hilburn was the LA Times chief music critic for over 30 years and has written biographies of Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, and John Lennon. At 544 pages, this is an extensive study, with more revealed of Randy’s work than of the man himself. We do get background into the artist’s insecurities and lack of social ease, along with details of his processes, but there does not seem to be much more revealed than what you might already assume from the surface.

That he is a witty lyricist is obvious, but the book also emphasizes the complexities of his musical compositions. “A Few Words in Defense of Our Country” (the title of a brilliant song of his) is well worth the journey through the nuts and bolts of Randy’s catalog. Enjoy the latest installment of Monster’s Inc or Toy Story, but do not deprive yourself of his albums… that ain’t no way to have fun…

Thank you to Hachette Books and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

As a long time fan of Randy Newman's music and Robert Hilburn's writing, I had high expectations for this book and was excited when they were exceeded. I am predominately a fiction reader and I find nonfiction usually takes me a lot longer to read (I guess because there isn't a mysterious plot line to discover.) In this biography of Randy Newman, Robert HIlburn writes such an engaging book that I blew through it in two days. Focusing on the music, lyrics, and Newman's writing process, the book covers every song, album and soundtrack throughout his fifty plus year career. With full access to Randy Newman, his family, friends and colleagues, Hilburn takes the reader behind the scenes of his life. Cue up the playlist and delve into the music of one of America's greatest songwriter. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Books for an advanced reader copy.

My thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Books for an advance copy of this biography and study of one of the most overlooked musical songwriters, known more for novelty songs, and a soundtracks, a performer popular both with his peers, and more importantly music critics.

The music industry is a strange place, where one-hit wonders, novelty acts and bands without original members can be famous or even more famous than people who know their craft, craft great songs, and yet their touring riders don't even offer craft services. Chuck Berry is a giant in rock, with a reputation both good and bad to prove it. Cited by many as an influence his biggest song is a dirty little ditty that I used to listen to on the back of the bus years ago. Randy Newman is one of these artists. Known throughout the industry for his skillful songwriting, his artful lyrics, and his anger at the status quo Newman is more known for his songs dealing with, and reminiscing with people much smaller and younger than himself. Newman's catalog of songs have been unfairly ignored by the public, but enjoyed by performers and those in the know for years. With this book, more people might be in the know. A Few Words in Defense of Our Country: The Biography of Randy Newman written by journalist and music critic Robert Hilburn is a biography and look at the oeuvre of this talented man, with a career full of songs that touch on social, political and issues of the heart.

The biography is written chronologically, with input from both the subject, friends, critics, fans and others. Each chapter has quotes from others about Newman dealing with the time the chapter is writing about. Randy Newman was born into a family that had music in the blood, especially film music. Four of Newman's uncles worked in the movie business creating soundtracks for various studios. Newman's father was pushed away from music, and into a medical career, one which his father was quite skilled at, but music was still his first love. Something that might have caused friction as Newman entered the music industry. Newman was a child who took to things, stats for baseball, piano, and being by himself. Though his best friend Lenny Waronker was quite helpful in getting Newman's foot into the door of the music industry. Newman went to college for music, but found classical harder than he felt like dealing with at the time. Slowly with the help of his friend Lenny he began to write songs, songs that people thought were good, but not really recordable. Slowly Newman worked on his songs, and began to trust in his own voice, becoming more comfortable writing songs that looked at the world with a different point of view. And though his first albums were never high on Billboard charts, others began to pay attention.

Working in music stores I knew Randy Newman from his songs "Short People" and "I Love L.A>", which seemed to be in every fish out of water story set in California movie ever. Also his songs for Pixar's Toy Story. I knew little about his earlier works, works that looks at racism, the rising gaps in economies, and other songs. Songs that other singers swore by, even covered, but never seemed to give Randy Newman that edge in fame or on the radio. This is a really excellent book, a perfect introduction for a person like myself, or a great study for fans who have known the work that Newman was up to. The book starts right at the beginning, and when entering the musical career devotes entire chapters to the album, the songs and the recording. Working with Newman allows for better insight from both the subject and his associates, with a great mix of stories, a little bit of tall tales, and strangely enough a lot of truth. Which can be rare in music books. Hilburn is a very skilled writer, able to write about the music, the scene and the man equally, a story that never drags, or gets bogged down like many music biographies do after a certain point.

A book for fans of this underrated musician, and for people like myself who knew little, but now have a whole lot of catching up to do. A very well-written study of a complicated man and the art that he created.

Robert Hilburn’s A Few Words in Defense of Our Country is a meticulously crafted biography that shines a much-deserved spotlight on one of America’s most revered songwriters, Randy Newman. Through Hilburn’s expert storytelling, readers are offered an in-depth exploration of Newman’s life, from his beginnings in a family steeped in Hollywood’s musical traditions to his emergence as a unique voice in American songwriting.

A Journey Through Newman’s Life and Work

The biography, written with Newman’s full cooperation, follows a chronological path that begins with his early life in a family of accomplished film composers. Hilburn does a remarkable job of weaving together Newman’s personal history with the evolution of his music, creating a narrative that is both informative and deeply engaging. Each of Newman’s major albums and film scores is given its own chapter, allowing readers to appreciate the breadth and depth of his work over the decades.

The Heart of Newman’s Legacy

While many may recognize Randy Newman for his beloved contribution to Toy Story, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” this biography makes it clear that Newman’s legacy is far more expansive. Hilburn highlights the profound social commentary embedded in Newman’s songs, such as “Sail Away” and “Short People,” which offer poignant critiques of issues like racism and class inequality. The book doesn’t just document Newman’s achievements; it situates him as a critical observer of American culture, whose work has both reflected and challenged the nation’s values.

Insightful Contributions from Key Figures

One of the strengths of this biography is the array of voices that Hilburn brings into the narrative. Contributions from music legends like Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt, and Bonnie Raitt, as well as insights from Pulitzer-winning columnists like Thomas Friedman and Wesley Morris, add layers of perspective to the story. These voices not only enrich the reader’s understanding of Newman’s work but also affirm his influence on the broader musical landscape.

A Widescreen Appreciation

Hilburn’s writing is clear and approachable, making the book accessible to both die-hard fans of Newman and those new to his work. The biography doesn’t delve into technical details about the making of Newman’s songs, but instead focuses on the emotional and intellectual processes that shaped his music. This approach allows readers to connect more deeply with Newman’s creative journey and the insecurities that drove him to produce a body of work marked by consistent excellence.

A Tribute to a Musical Giant

The Few Words in Defense of Our Country is more than just a biography; it’s an invitation to re-examine Randy Newman’s vast catalog with a renewed sense of appreciation. As Hilburn eloquently demonstrates, Newman is far more than the sum of his most popular songs—he is a master storyteller whose music captures the complexities and contradictions of the American experience.

For anyone curious about why Randy Newman is held in such high regard by fellow musicians and critics alike, this biography offers an excellent starting point. As you read, be sure to listen along to Newman’s albums—you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the man behind the music and the enduring impact of his work.

Rating: 5 stars

Many thanks to Hatchett and NetGalley for the advance review copy.

This is a simply phenomenal overview of the peerless career of Randy Newman, written by author Hilburn with the full cooperation of Newman, his family, friends and admirers.

This biography is simple, in many respects - starting with Newman's famous family of film composers, we then follow Newman's life and work chronologically up to early 2024. Each major album or film score has its own chapter, and Hilburn's long tenure in the field has given him access to key participants, all of whom contribute their own insight to fleshing out the story. (I'm shocked but pleased that critic Robert Christgau provided an open-hearted pocket appreciation to open one of the book's sections (as do many other luminaries.)

Don't come to this book if you want inside-baseball details on what equipment was used or how a particular song evolved. But this will give you true insight into how Newman's insecurities battled with his world-class skills to create a catalog of consistent excellence.

There have been a few artists in my life that expanded my notion of creativity, all in my early-to-mid teens.. Martin Scorsese taught me that film had a vocabulary of its own - it wasn't just photographed stories. Hunter S. Thompson showed me the violence you could do with the written word. And Randy Newman - via my first exposure, a concert broadcast I stumbled onto on FM radio - exploded the idea of what you could write about and how much history, humor and heart music could hold.

Like many recording artists whose vast catalog is distilled for modern audiences to a single song (Aretha is more than "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" and Al Green is more than "Let's Stay Together"), to the uninitiated, Randy Newman is "Short People" (and to little people, "You Got a Friend in Me"). Hilburn's thoughtful and thorough biography is a widescreen appreciation of a catalog that needs to be heard to take the true measure of Newman's greatness.

If you're wondering why Randy Newman is considered a giant by every songwriter you care about, start with this wonderful book and listen along to his albums while you do.

Many thanks to Hatchett and NetGalley for the advance reviewers copy.