Randy Newman, please try again

Posted: 5/6/06 at 10:19pm

As I listen to my "Lonely at the Top: The Best of Randy Newman" CD I can't help but wish he'd give Broadway another try. His writing is so intelligent. He has a way with crafting a story through song that makes him ideal for Broadway. I sure wish he'd give his regards to B'way....any other Randy Newman fans wishing the same?

[do_re_milla]

Posted: 5/6/06 at 10:32pm

I'm w/you re my wish for a b'way try. But the RN songs that send me are 'When She Loved Me', (& I'm a bit hazy on the titles for these next 2, but I think 1 is) 'I Will Go Sailing No More' & I'm thinkin he also wrote the theme song fr 'Babe'.

Yes, I'd pay to see a Randy Newman show...

Milla
Updated On: 5/6/06 at 10:32 PM

[jaybrrd]

Posted: 5/6/06 at 10:32pm

I agree. Faust was a teriffic score... don't give up RN!

Posted: 5/6/06 at 10:41pm

Yes he wrote a song for Babe 2 actually. He's best known for his movie songs-- "When she loved me" from Toy Story is wonderful. I love "Politcal Science" and "I think it's gonna rain" the best right now, but that changes by the minute.

And of course, he also wrote "I love LA" and "Short People" his two big hits. "Short People" is still deeply misunderstood.

[do_re_milla]

Posted: 5/6/06 at 11:00pm

I'm also a fan of his 'Monk' theme, 'It's a Jungle Out There'. I know very little about RN, but could it be that it might take a quirky story line to bring out a consistant end result fr him? His ballads are to die for, but I can't quite ut my finger on a description for his other songs... Am interested in your thoughts.

Milla

[sondwisenheimer]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 12:06am

"Feels Like Home to Me" from Faust is one of the greatest love songs ever written.

[do_re_milla]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 12:15am

I wasn't aware of the FAUST CD. Will have to pick it up. I only have the CD The RN Songbook Vol 1 (is there a vol 2?) & a collection of his published songs...

Milla

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 1:08am

Who is the genius who thinks little children want to hear that gravelly voice in kids movies so often? I think other people who are not misanthropes make better recordings of Newman's songs than he does.

[ThE nEw KiD]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 1:14am

FAUST has a great score but if you read the treatment...anyone would have a clue why it didn't work. Such a pity THOUGH I'm sure a really good bookwriter could find a way how to make it work...lyrics would need to change a bit though.

You know, if one can write a kick butt Book for musical theater...you can make sooooooo much $$$.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 7:52am

I love the "Monk" song too. It's such a perfect fit for the show.

[tophertilson]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 7:57am

"When She Loved Me" is one of those songs that makes me cry with just the opening chords. Just gorgeous. And about half of the score to FAUST is brilliant. But, oy, that book!

TT

[Zimmy]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 9:51am

FYI - Along with "Faust" there is also "The Middle of Nowhere" another Newman theatrical attempt.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 11:23am

Is he the one that was in Almost Heaven Off-Broadway last year, or am I thinking of someone else?

[lite2shine]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 11:37am

Has anybody seen "Educating Randy Newman"? It was produced at South Coast Rep in Orange County and in Seattle. Although it's another "juke box" musical, I really wish they will resurrect it (with major revision).

No, "The Middle of Nowhere" type revision doesn't work though. I know Daniel Jenkins who played RN in Seattle production really wishes to work it on again. Matter fact, he was supposed to be in the Educating RN in Philly last June, but they couldn't work out the script and they decided to go to "The Middle of Nowhere," and Daniel was out of the picture. The result was disastrous.