Bad Love (Randy Newman album)
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| Bad Love | |||||
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| Studio album by Randy Newman | |||||
| Released | July 1, 1999 | ||||
| Recorded | Recorded at Sunset Sound Factory & Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California | ||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Label | Dreamworks | ||||
| Producer | Mitchell Froom Tchad Blake |
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| Professional reviews | |||||
| Randy Newman chronology | |||||
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Bad Love is the tenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Randy Newman released 1999. It was Newman's first solo album since 1988s Land of Dreams and followed an 11 year hiatus during which Newman had focused on film soundtracks, receiving several Academy Award nominations.
Whilst warmly received by critics, it was felt that it was not quite a return to form. Scott Manzler stated "Bad Love ultimately falls short of Newman's early '70s masterworks"[1] while All Music Guide stated the songs on Bad Love "should rest comfortably alongside his other four-star offerings"[2].
The album finds Newman bitter and satirical - as "biting as ever, yet unafraid to tackle personal and heartfelt concerns"[3] - in stark contrast to some of his film scores. Newman tackles issues such as the state of American culture in "My Country" which chronicles suburbia's growing dependence on television, and "The World Isn’t Fair" which takes a look at the world through the eyes of Karl Marx. He also looks at aging - "Shame" takes a negative look at an "older man courting a younger woman" via the barbed lyrics and an exchange between the lead vocalist and the backing singer. "I’m Dead (But I Don't Know It)" is more self referential in dealing with aging rock stars a kicking and commenting: "Everything I write sounds the same / Each record that I’m making / Is like a record that I’ve made / Just not as good".
"Every Time It Rains" was composed for Michael Jackson to record but Jackson declined to do so[4].
[edit] Track listing
All tracks written by Randy Newman
- My Country - 5.40
- Shame - 4.54
- I'm Dead (But I Don't Know It) - 3.25
- Every Time It Rains - 3.33
- The Great Nations Of Europe - 3.26
- The One You Love - 3.39
- The World Isn't Fair - 2.44
- Big Hat, No Cattle - 4.24
- Better Off Dead - 4.03
- I Miss You - 3.55
- Going Home - 2.06
- I Want Everyone To Like Me - 2.59
[edit] Personnel
Randy Newman - vocals, piano
- Steve Donnelly - guitar
- Greg Leisz - pedal steel guitar
- Brandon Fields - saxophone
- Martin Krystall - saxophone
- Jack Nimitz - saxophone
- Brian Scanlon - saxophone
- Tom Scott - saxophone
- Stu Blumberg - trumpet
- Oscar Brashear - trumpet
- Bruce Fowler - trombone
- George Thatcher - trombone
- James Self - tuba
- Mitchell Froom - keyboards
- Greg Cohen - bass
- Pete Thomas - drums
- Carmen Carter, Donna Davidson, Linda Harmon, Scottie Haskell, Luana Jackman, Teresa James, Melissa Mackay, Kate Markowitz, Bobbi Page, Sally Stevens-Eskew, Carmen Twillie, Terry Wood, Herb Pedersen - background vocals
[edit] Notes
- ^ Review by Scott Manzler at nudeasthenews.com
- ^ Review by Denise Sullivan at All Music Guide
- ^ Review by Denise Sullivan at All Music Guide
- ^ Randy Newman Home Page
