I just heard about this. It's Newman's first album of new music since Bad Love, which came out in 1999. I'm a Randy Newman fan from way back, so, like Larry Grosnic, I have to take issue with the "new" label. Several of these songs -- including "Dance and Be Happy," "Feels Like Home," and "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country" -- have been released before. "Country" was even a Times editorial.
But these are minor things, because "Home" was recorded for Faust by Bonnie Raitt and there's a live Newman version on the Guilty box (where "Happy" appears as a demo for 'Cats Don't Dance') that will break your heart. So I'm glad he's recording it himself, again. And since one of the joys of Newman albums are the arrangements, I'm looking forward to this one.
But these are minor things, because "Home" was recorded for Faust by Bonnie Raitt and there's a live Newman version on the Guilty box (where "Happy" appears as a demo for 'Cats Don't Dance') that will break your heart. So I'm glad he's recording it himself, again. And since one of the joys of Newman albums are the arrangements, I'm looking forward to this one.
