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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Good Old Boys

Randy Newman

1974

Buy At Rough Trade
Good Old Boys
Album Summary

Good Old Boys is the fourth studio album by Randy Newman, released on 10 September 1974 on Reprise Records, catalogue number 2193. It was Newman's first album to obtain major commercial success, peaking at number 36 on the Billboard 200. The premiere live performance of the album took place on October 5, 1974, at the Symphony Hall in Atlanta, Georgia, with guest Ry Cooder and Newman conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Wikipedia

Rating

2.87

Votes

9967
Genres
Singer Songwriter

Reviews

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Wed Mar 10 2021
2

More politically complex versions of the songs from Toy Story 2. The worst one. Actually, 4 is the worst one, but I don't consider that to be in the proper film in the series, as it falls outside of Andy's character arch.

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Thu May 20 2021
3

He might know more slurs than chord progressions but ill be damned if he doesn't have panache

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Wed Mar 10 2021
4

I like the potato head the best

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Fri Mar 04 2022
1

The South Park parody of this guy is shockingly accurate. “Naked Man” sounds like Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’s long-lost crackhead cousin.

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Wed Mar 22 2023
5

Randy Newman’s finest, most complex work and concept album. There’s a quote somewhere—I can’t find it now—from Mr. Newman where he talks about making dinner party music that you can’t play at dinner parties. I believe that was in regards to his 1971 album Sail Away, of which its central song is told from the perspective a slave trader trying to entice an African to “sail away” to America. Well, if any self-effacing white American hosting a dinner party in the early 70s had an awkward moment with the content of that otherwise gentle, bluesy, and sensible pop song, then the color would have been absolutely drained from host and guest face alike when the chorus of “Rednecks” set in. Newman’s dedication to voice, satire, political intent is as punk rock in Good Old Boys as any punk rocker ever was. But even more so, the empathy he shows here—his ability to actually stand in the shoes of the good-old-boy, Southern characters he sketches and breathes life into across this album—makes that satire even harder hitting. It forces the listener to embody a place, a person, a history, and to reckon with a responsibility we all have for the pervasive racism of this country whether in the South, North, East, West…everywhere. That the songs are so stunningly beautiful—“Louisana 1927” is as fine a Randy Neman song I can think of and it has soundly soundtracked these last few months of California 2023 rain for me—makes the satire, history, and characters in this album bright and brilliant beacons. It makes the whole story go down easy, even as it gets hard to swallow. I don’t know how he quite achieves that. And I can’t think of anything else quite like it. Certainly a favorite album of mine. I hope anyone who hadn’t heard this album before and who had gotten into the easy routine of jamming through these 1001 albums each day had a head turning moment with this one! It’s definitely one that benefits from some time spent with it. Malcolm Gladwell did a great Revisionist History podcast on it a few years ago, I recommend checking it out. 5/5.

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Fri Aug 19 2022
4

An inventory of the dirtiest undies in the American laundry basket, arrayed with trenchant humour and rousing arrangements. It's satire that can be called neither scurrilous or mean, simply because it's true. The poor, the rich, the dumb, the educated, the celebrated, and the elected from both sides of the mason-dixon line are implicated in confecting a uniquely American brand of racial and social inequity and iniquity.

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Tue Apr 27 2021
4

Hearing Randy Newman say the N word is just way too weird. I truly only know him from Disney work, so it's interesting to hear how that's really HIS sound that Disney 100% just latched on to for toy story and monsters inc hahah. His voice, The piano, the brass, carnival-y instruments at times, all of it! It's catchy folk stuff. I like it!

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Thu Oct 29 2020
4

i went into this knowing that it was singer/songwriter focused on satire, politics, history, etc etc. so i made sure to read the lyrics as i listened so that they wouldn't just pass me by like they usually do. sonically this is pretty, but not like, amazing or anything. lyrically, i can see what this is trying to do, and appreciate it (especially on songs like redneck or louisiana 1927 where it's more focused), but overall i think it's a little shallow? quite a few of these songs either don't really have anything to do with the theme at all, or are just sorta silly. maybe i dont have the context required to appreciate naked man and a wedding in cherokee county? if i was rating this on a purely sonic level it'd be, like, a high 7 or a looow 8, but the lyrics alternate between demanding too much attention and not meaning much at all, so to me they just bring the album down! still good, but not great. 7/10

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Wed Feb 02 2022
4

I'm pretty sure it's a generational thing but every Randy Newman song sounds like a movie soundtrack to me. Thanks, Pixar. That said, there's definitely some ground covered here that's not going to find its way into a Disney flick. As someone from the south, I think Newman does a masterful job of skewering the worst of what passes for "southern culture" while showing compassion and understanding for the rest. It feels very authentic to my experience growing up in the south and it's made all the more palatable wrapped in Newman's specific brand of upbeat style and expert delivery.

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Fri Jan 21 2022
3

Je tenais dans ce review à réagir à la dernière note attribuée par mon camarade d'écoute l'insipide robespierre. En effet, ce dernier a defrayé la chronique en attribuant la simple note de 2/5 au dernier album de Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited. Même si cette note est evidemment choquante, il y a des explications à aller chercher dans l'enfance de rob. Mais laissez moi vous raconter son histoire. Je connais rob depuis maintenant de nombreuses années, comme déjà expliqué dans plusieurs de mes reviews que vous suivez assidûment. Il faut savoir que rob a pendant longtemps tenté de devenir un chanteur du générateur, venant ennuyer tout le monde avec sa guitare de merde. Or, à cette époque, rob ne se contentait que de jouer des reprises de Bob Dylan. La qualité étant vous vous en doutez plus que douteuse, rob n'a jamais percé, et garde depuis cette époque une rancune tenace à l'égard de Bob Dylan, le tenant pour responsable de son échec. Un jour, il m'a même déclaré "Si j'avais choisi de faire des reprises de Hugh Masekala, je serai au moins deux fois plus connu aujourd'hui". J'acquiesai pour ne pas le vexer, en lui demandant de lâcher mon bras par la même occasion. Cette note n'est donc pas représentative de la qualité de l'album de Dylan, elle est seulement teintée de subjectivité et de haine.

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Wed Jun 02 2021
5

El tema back on my feet again, dije esteee temaaa me suena a otro de una peli animada muy famosa.. y claramente lo es.. Es el que hizo el tema de un gran amigo fiel de toy story. El disco me está gustando mucho. Me sorprendió.

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Wed Mar 22 2023
5

Listening to 'Good Old Boys' by Randy Newman was a truly unique experience for me. I remember the first time I heard this album as someone who wasn't familiar with Newman's work beyond his contributions to the Toy Story soundtracks. It completely blew me away, from that point forward I thought so so so much higher of Randy as a songwriter (not that I didn't already regard him as a good one!) Tracks like 'Rednecks' and 'Mr. President (Have Pity On the Working Man)' stood out to me with their stirring social commentary and great piano playing. The album's centerpiece (in my mind) is 'Marie'. Yes, I know 'Rednecks' establishes the whole concept of this album and really turns heads with it lyrics. 'Marie' is just a beautifully sad piano ballad that will always stick with me. That realization the narrator has at the end about how he failed his lover is just so heartbreaking. 'Naked Man' and 'Rollin'' were also memorable tracks that told great stories stories. The former a recounting of the wild and crazy Naked Man who reminds me of a typical "bad" homeless encounter. The latter being, in my mind, a great closer to the album showing that the narrator is content with just sitting on his easy chair drinking some whisky. 'Good Old Boys' is a fantastic album. Randy's storytelling and piano-playing is just on point. He isn't afraid to touch on social problems that are deep-rooted while also adding a little bit of tongue-in-cheek fun to the mix. He's not making fun OF these topics, he's making fun WITH these topics. That's not easy. The music itself is also outstanding, with great brass backing and other musical elements that really elevate each track. This one's a high 4 rounded up to a 5 for me.

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Wed Apr 19 2023
5

Daring, witty and biting. Breezy and accessible, but smartly and elegantly arranged. Randy Newman has a true gift for crafting songs that feel lived in and authentic, but are pointed in their satire. It's not something we expect to hear much in pop music and Newman has really carved out a niche in the genre that no one else really occupies. Newman wants you to understand why Johnny Cutler is the way he is, without letting him (or Southerners) off the hook for any of it. And while he's at it, Newman makes clear that politicians and white Northerners' hands aren't clean either. This a surprisingly clear eyed view on this subject, decades before the idea of systemic racism was commonly discussed. It's nuanced in the way satire often is, in a way that would be immediately misunderstood were the album to come out today. I almost went for a 4, but this is such a singular work, such a testament to Newman's talents and what you can accomplish with music. And, even with the subject matter, these songs are great fun to hear. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Guilty, Marie, Louisiana 1927, A Wedding in Cherokee County, Back on My Feet Again, Rednecks, Kingfish, Birmingham, Naked Man, Rollin', Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man), Every Man a King

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Tue Apr 27 2021
4

Interesting jump from guy who wrote the Toy Story Music to Rednecks, but still retains the same sound in both sounds. Rednecks is a too long of a convo for this review, but its definitely a song worth listening to, thinking and having a convo about

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Thu Apr 15 2021
4

Pretty cool album, I like the concept, the satire, his voice, and songwriting. Good album

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Fri Jan 21 2022
3

Randy Newman est un drôle de personnage, si vous voulez que je vous donne le fond de ma pensée. Comme vous le savez depuis bien longtemps, eltrapeze n'est autre que mon compagnon d'écoute sur ce générateur. Le moins que l'on puisse dire est que je ne l'ai jamais tenu en haute estime. L'anecdote que je m'apprête à vous raconter, je ne pensais jamais la dévoiler. Le simple fait de la rendre publique tournerait l'intéressé en ridicule pour le restant de ses jours. Mais, au vu des attaques qu'il m'a adressées dans sa dernière critique, je suis dans l'obligation de lui répondre. L'histoire remonte à 2015. eltrapeze et moi devons en juin de cette même année passer notre examen final afin d'obtenir le précieux sésame qu'est le diplôme de connaisseur de musique. Hasard ou non, pour la première épreuve, je suis convoqué à 13h15, et eltrapeze à 13h. Lorsque j'arrive ce jour-là devant la salle d'examen, un professeur ouvre la porte et s'exclame : « eltrapeze ?! ». Notre ami tout chétif s'avance et passe la porte avant que le professeur ne la claque. Pour vous donner plus de contexte, l'épreuve en question est divisée en deux : quinze minutes de préparation et quinze minutes de passage devant un jury de quinze professionnels. Le sujet sur lequel nous allons être interrogé fait partie des cinq suivants: De qui Mike Ladd est-il le fils ? Entre Isaac Hayes et Marvin Gaye, lequel des deux est le plus sexuel ? Reproduisez la position signature d'Iggy Pop. Qui est le chef de file du genre homosexual pop ? Mimez sa gestuelle. Le Sujet Mystère. Je me retrouve donc à attendre une quinzaine de minutes avant que la porte ne s'ouvre de nouveau. Une élève que je connais de vue pour l'avoir cotoyée en 3ème baroque-pop sort alors de la salle en larmes. « Robbachelière ?! » s'écrie le professeur, passant sa tête à travers la porte. J'entre alors dans la fameuse salle et m'avance vers le jury qui me tend cinq bouts de papier. J'en pioche un au hasard et le retourne. Il s'agit du Sujet Mystère. Ce sujet est un peu particulier dans le sens où son dévoilement n'est prévu qu'au moment de passer devant le jury. Je m'en vais alors prendre place sur une table du fond de la salle, sors un stylo et commence tout de même à brouillonner quelques notes. « C'est à vous, eltrapeze. » lance alors l'un des examinateurs. Notre ami sursaute et, après quelques secondes de concentration, se lève de sa chaise puis s'avance vers son auditoire. « À mon top, vous aurez quinze minutes pour nous reproduire la position signature d'Iggy Pop. Top ! » eltrapeze parait à ce moment précis complètement déboussolé. Il hésite, se gratte la tête, se ronge quelques ongles ; on souffre pour lui. Il se décide soudain à lever un pied et à tendre lentement ses bras vers le ciel. Une fois stable, il maintient sa position. Les membres du jury échangent alors des regards dubitatifs. « C'est Iggy Pop, ça ?! » lance l'un d'eux. eltrapeze semble totalement anéanti mais ne se démonte pas. Il repose le pied au sol, baisse les bras puis tente une toute nouvelle position. Il écarte les jambes, penche son corps vers l'avant et pose ses doigts sur le bout de ses chaussures. « On parle bien du Iggy Pop des Stooges, hein ?.. Hein eltrapeze ?! » lui crie-t-on. Ce dernier se redresse et laisse apparaître un visage baigné de transpiration. Son corps entier se met soudain à trembler devant l'indifférence la plus totale des membres du jury. Il s'écroule alors sur le sol et se retrouve bientôt baigné dans une flaque d'urine de sa propre provenance. Deux infirmiers entrent alors et débarrassent la salle de son corps inconscient. « Bien, Robbachelière, c'est à vous. À mon top, vous prendrez connaissance du sujet mystère et aurez quinze minutes pour y répondre. Top : Quel chanteur s'est fait connaître en hurlant à la mort après s'être coincé sa coupe mulet dans les cordes de sa guitare électrique en plein enregistrement de son album Nebraska ? » J'esquisse un sourire et réponds avec sérénité : « C'est Bruce Springsteen, bien sûr. » Le jury se lève alors comme un seul homme et applaudit ma réponse pendant les quatorze minutes restantes de mon passage.

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Wed Mar 10 2021
2

keeping the nigels down. you can't go singing about keeping the nigels down in these woke times even if you are doing a sacha baren cohen switcheroo thing. nigels lives matter. this is americas pale imitation of chas and dave.

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Wed Nov 08 2023
2

It’s not that I don’t like the music, it’s that he’s way too comfortable dropping slurs like that.

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Sat Jun 19 2021
5

randy newman says the n word lol

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Fri Dec 24 2021
5

Randy Newman is an amazing songwriter. I was really looking forward to the album. Then that first song came on. And I was like "wait, did he just say what I _HEARD_ him say?" I had to go look up the song and understand the context. I mean "Rednecks," right? Obviously, a song like this would have been different now. Heck, I remember when "Cop Killer" came out by Body Count (remember that pleasant little ditty?). It was not supposed to be singing about killing police, but playing a role. Same kind of thing here for that first track. It's not Newman is singing about being a redneck, but roleplaying. Still it's hard to wrap my head around. And I know it would not have been received so well in today's society. The other songs are classic Randy Newman. It's just that first song will make you pause without context, you know? Still going to give it 5 starts, but yikes.

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Wed Oct 19 2022
5

Loved it. Great lyrics, music. Loved Marie

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Sun Nov 20 2022
5

This album was fantastic! Before today, I had only known Randy's work with Toy Story and Monsters Inc. This album strayed from that quite a bit with the first song!! Redneck is the first song on the album, and is sung from the perspective of a racist from the southern US. The N-word comes out a few times, which shocked the shit out of me, given all I knew of Randy. Redneck was an amazing song that was a sadly true glimpse at the state of things in the southern US in the 70's. Randy is such a fantastic storyteller. He had such a way to paint vibrant pictures with his lyrics. Through his lyrics he spins storys complete with humour, love, and political issues. I thoroughly enjoyed this album today, and will definately listen again! Favourite songs: Back On My Feet Again, Redneck, Louisiana 1927, Birmingham, Kingfish, A Wedding in a Cherokee County, Naked Man Least favourite song: Every Man A King 5/5

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Wed Mar 22 2023
5

edgy classic american songwriting

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Mon May 29 2023
5

I keep underestimating Randy Newman. All the charm of the Toy Story soundtrack with some very pointed, biting lyrics that really pull no punches. After nearly 50(!) years these lyrics are often shocking, juxtaposing wildly with those Toy Story expectations I get from the music. But I ended up really impressed. Another great album from Randy Newman.

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Mon May 29 2023
5

So many complicated feelings. I feel like I've been kicked in the teeth while listening to some pretty piano playing. Oh, Randy Newman, nobody does satire like you.

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Mon May 29 2023
5

I enjoyed this one very much.

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Mon May 29 2023
5

Again, gut-punching lyrics hidden in affable music. And sometimes affable lyrics with gut-punching effect. It's pretty amazing.

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Thu Jun 29 2023
5

Excellent follow up to “Sail Away”.

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Tue Jul 25 2023
5

I am a sucker for albums that explore history and regional identity which is one of the reasons Sufjan Stevens is one of my favorite artists. This album by Randy Newman combines that historical regionalism with a biting satire which animates the institutional racism in the south and the hypocrisy of the north. There are some beautifully earnest songs on the album as well which seems to suggest that Newman is sympathetic to the humanity of his subjects while acknowledging the societal issues they take part in and reinforce. The result is a stunning album that portrays the American South as a complex backdrop. Musically, Newman is unique. During the 70s, he was not afraid to feature dancehall and musical theatre influences in his music which works to great effect here. His film/tv composition background is on full display and he utilizes it to ground his lyrics in very American forms of music.

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Fri Aug 04 2023
5

I had a cassette tape of the Blues Brothers growing up and one song done by John Belushi was Guilty. I always thought it was the perfect song for him but had no clue where it came from until now. This was phenomenal. I almost did a spit take at Rednecks. This is powerful song writing. I had no clue Randy Newman had done this.

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Mon Dec 25 2023
5

Well, I wasn’t expecting this so soon after Sail Away, early Christmas present I guess. It’s albums like this that make me appreciate how far we still have to go. It’s easy to forget sometimes, but the Civil Rights movement in the USA was only 60 years ago. I kinda don’t want to get into anything too heavy on Christmas morning, so I’m just gonna say that Rednecks is one of the greatest works of political satire ever written, both the chorus and the second verse just hit like sledgehammers every time. And every other song is just great. Newman is able to be both acidic and sympathetic towards his characters, which is the best thing a writer can attempt to be

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Fri Jan 19 2024
5

Delicious lyrics and quirky orchestration!

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Tue Jan 23 2024
5

"ahhh cool an album by the Toy Story guy, this ought to be fun and innocent" ---Opening Song--- "Uhm, this must have been about Woody's sordid past, lets go watch Monster's Inc. instead"

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Thu Mar 07 2024
5

Oh hey, it's the toy story guy.

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Thu Feb 04 2021
4

decent, didin't expect egregious N-word, but i digress

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Thu Feb 04 2021
4

Liked it more than I thought I would

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Thu Feb 25 2021
4

Shows off his charm as a songwriter

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Tue May 04 2021
4

I like Randy Newman. He's not my favorite but it's easy to listen to.

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Thu Feb 18 2021
4

I've got a few of his albums. This one is wild! Rednecks is, accurate, hilarious, and sad all at the same time. This is the first gem to get uncovered by 1001 that I didn't already know about.

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Tue Apr 27 2021
4

Well "Rednecks" is one way to start an album. That was insanely jarring coming form the voice of "You got a Friend In Me." Obviously satire and a damning view of racist American thinking but its still a curious choice. I did think it was interesting to see Newman's love/hate relationship play out with his childhood homeland of Louisiana in songs like "Rednecks" vs. "Louisiana 1927" and "Kingfish." It seems his composition style hasn't changed much over the years, and I don't blame him. His style is signature and recognizable and it works especially well for his country drawl voice. I felt that this album had a really cohesive vision and executed it perfectly, and even though a lot of these songs sounded the same I think that let the vision of the work come through crystal clear.

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Sat Apr 10 2021
4

So I finish my review of Beau B with the words "Good Ole boys" and 5 seconds later see the title of this album. First couple of songs have me saying "Fuck Yeah!" When I heard Birmingham I couldn't help but think this is what Tom Waits would sound like if he didn't drink or smoke. There are many brand names playing on this album. I did a double take when I saw that Randy Newman also conducted the orchestra. This good ole boy knows music better than most and it shows. Funny thing is a friend came over and said it sounds like a song from the movie Toy Story. Correctamundo! 

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Tue Jun 22 2021
4

The relax and chill album with simple and pretty song texts.

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Mon May 31 2021
4

This was a really enjoyable album that I had a lot of fun with. I haven’t listened to much Randy Newman, but I could see liking him.

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Wed May 12 2021
4

Never heard this side of randy before. The use of the N word in the first track was quite a shock. Very original album.

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Wed Jun 02 2021
4

The first song being rednecks is kinda wild. Obviously an important thing about this album is that Randy Newman writes from the perspective of a shitty person or people, not his own views. I think the album was really weirdly good honestly.

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Thu Jul 29 2021
4

Really good...refreshing Wasnt really into in 70's...but I knew some cool folk who were

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Wed Aug 11 2021
4

This is a super interesting concept album. The backing tracks sound great and they easily evoke the emotion they're going for. However, the lyrics are what make this album unique as most of them are from the viewpoint of a white guy from the Deep South. The narrator (or narrators) generally don't seem like agreeable people, and this creates a great dichotomy between the political lyrics and soothing music. Although this isn't an album that I would listen to casually, it's still worth a listen. Favorite track: Marie

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Thu Sep 23 2021
4

Risky language for 2021, but the message stands

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Sun Sep 26 2021
4

Wow what an jntelligent, witty engaging listen this album is. Randy Nrwman" pop sensibilities are finely honed. I just wish there were less string arrangements which I feel sweetens things up too much, but it's always tastefully done and serves the song well. 4.5 🌟

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Sun Oct 03 2021
4

Certainly a controversial album. If you know Newman then you know what this album is going to sound like - the difficulty for some is recognising that he sings as a different characters in each song. Best Tracks: Rednecks; Guilty; Back On My Feet Again

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Fri Dec 24 2021
4

Damn. Randy Newman is a great lyricist and composer. I always thought of him as the piano playing Kenny Loggins for all his movie scores but it's good stuff. I really enjoyed the wit and bite in his lyrics. Rednecks could never be written now but what a commentary on both the North and the South. I also really liked A Wedding in Cherokee County and Guilty. Not sure exactly what it is about his voice and piano that works, but it mixes well.

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Wed Jan 12 2022
4

Folk-rock con piano. Está bien.

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Fri Jan 14 2022
4

This was a nice surprise. I only knew Political Science of his songs and didn't expect this to be so good. I couldn't believe the lyrics in the first song. I listened to the whole thing twice in a row

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Mon Jan 24 2022
4

I know Randy from his film scores. Pretty good album!

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Mon Jan 24 2022
4

I need more time to.lusten to it. I think I like it.

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Fri Jan 28 2022
4

27th January 2022 Listened while going to and from the gym mainly. Love the simplicity, humour and warmth. 4.5 if I could.

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Wed Feb 23 2022
4

Definitely an important work. A lot of times the lyrics, while simple, are deeply profound. There is a point though where you can get too much Randy Newman. All the songs start to sound a lot alike and a lot like every other Randy Newman song. This is one of those albums where I'd listen to the whole thing if it was on, but I probably wouldn't go seek it out.

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Thu Feb 24 2022
4

Country for the working class! Prefs: Rednecks, Birmingham, Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man), Louisiana 1927, Kingfish, Naked Man, Back on My Feet Again Moins pref: Marie

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Thu Mar 03 2022
4

pretty cutting stuff for 73.

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Mon Mar 14 2022
4

Newman manages to cast such simple music in a socially critical setting. Love it (7/10) FT: Louisiana 1927, Birmingham, Mr. President

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Wed Mar 30 2022
4

I love that Randy Newman largely eschews rock and roll for a more timeless sound. I consider him one of the most sophisticated and intelligent songwriters in all of music. He is able to examine and reflect on US history (as well as contemporary life) in a way that makes it seem so natural and compelling as a subject. He can also write these incredibly intimate songs about human relationships, or even just particular mindsets, that touch these uncomfortable places in a way that is painful but honest (and often funny). His details are so fleshed out and human - flaws and all. He is able to embody the complexity of so many characters so convincingly that it's uncanny. I think his folksy vocal style is his secret weapon. It's so effortlessly expressive that I find it relatable even if he's playing some asshole character (as he often is). This album is a remarkable achievement in creating a portrait of a place and the people in it. I can listen to it over and over.

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Wed Mar 30 2022
4

A good album, and I got the sense from listening to it that there's a lot to unpack and uncover. I have to admit it's hard to hear a white guy say the n word so many times in a song. Of course 50 years changes us, so benefit of the doubt. I first heard about "Rednecks" on Malcolm Gladwell's podcast, he does a good job explaining and analyzing the song (the episode of Revisionist History is called "Good Old Boys"). Besides getting a little hung up on that, I think there are some great songs here and an interesting concept for an album, the Johnny Cutler everyman southerner idea.

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Wed Apr 20 2022
4

I think it was a good album, with lyrics that really paint a picture. “Guilty” was an awesome song, and “A Wedding in Cherokee County” was very entertaining. Political statements were not over bearing but we’re obvious enough. “Kingfish” was a completely correct description of some of the towns in Louisiana, New Orleans included, at least prior to Katrina. This album was wiser than it’s getting credit for.

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Thu Apr 28 2022
4

Love Randy newman. Love this record

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Wed Jun 01 2022
4

language is problematic now, but at the time ...

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Wed Jul 20 2022
4

Instantly recognisable. Distinctive voice, piano high in the mix. It's all pleasant and comforting, somehow familiar even on tracks never previously heard. There's nothing not to like, but it's not for me. Being so distinctive had its downsides - It all sounds like 'You've got a friend in me' from Monsters Inc.

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Wed Jul 27 2022
4

Was really surprised how good this was.

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Wed Sep 07 2022
4

The shine could wear off this one, but it's exactly in an uncomfortable vein of music which is extremely valuable. The vignettes on Good Old Boys don't form a single narrative, but they stretch across multiple songs. Newman's voice is Disneyfied, now, and that casts a pall over everything. But the South of the record is a particular one, with significant authenticity. Few melodies, a lot of words, but so many colors.

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Mon Sep 12 2022
4

Don't tell my friends, but I love Randy's N-word album!

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Fri Sep 16 2022
4

Well... This is the most offensively thoughtful album I've heard in a long time. I'd vaguely heard that the Toy Story guy had this in his ouevre but wasn't prepared for this. The sad thing is, it's as relevant today as it was at its release. You don't want it to be, but it is. This review space is too short to get into a debate on what should and shouldn't be said, and by whom, but this album makes a strong case for less policing of speech.

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Thu Oct 06 2022
4

Another fantastic album from Randy Newman that is steeped in American history and explores difficult subjects with his trademark caustic sarcasm. The album opens with “Rednecks” which is VERY confronting. The topic would be tackled in a different way today but the lyrics are clearly spoken by a character tied to a very specific event and time in the past. Like all of Randy Newmans lyrics they tackle the issue effectively and are full of hidden meaning. Unless you lived in America in the 70s and have a good memory of US political events at the time, it really helps to have wikipedia open whilst listening to this album to get the most out of it! 😂 I would like to give Randy Newman himself a 5 but I think the 2 albums on here fall just short of a 5 for me because although I enjoy interpreting and reading up about the songs and I do find them enjoyable to listen to I feel the actual music, is somehow secondary to the lyrics. 4/5

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Fri Oct 14 2022
4

Oh! Randy Newman! The Toy Story guy! This will be a lighthearted romp through stories of friendship! [30 minutes later] Gosh. Well. I didn't expect that. Absolutely vicious lyrics.

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Mon Oct 17 2022
4

Part satire of, part sympathy for its subjects, Newman walks a complex tightrope not always with success. For example, if you could listen to Rednecks and sing it as an anthem about yourself, surely the inherent criticism within the satire has failed? And surely there are people proud to stick it to the northern liberal elite by ‘keeping the n-words down‘? Notwithstanding that even in the same song, Newman can’t help but point out the ghettoisation of blacks in northern cities and the conditions in which they live is hardly the success liberals pretend it to be, thus giving further cover to the Redneck racist pride. And if you have to add further songs such as Louisiana to try and explain what you actually think then maybe reconsider what you said in the first place… Newman’s music is sublime throughout, though, taking bluesy roots and New Orleans jazz to concoct an often jovial soundscape in contrast to dark subject matter. And fair enough he wants to explore these subjects and make the audience give some thought to them.

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Wed Oct 26 2022
4

De eerste keer dat ik een heel album van Randy luister. Mijn introductie tot de man kreeg ik in de voorstelling 'Jan Rot zingt Randy Newman', en in vertaling en met de uitleg van wijlen Jan kreeg je een beeld van wat Newman eigenlijk voor muziek maakt. Nogal ironische teksten op dit album. Het luistert dus het beste om even te teksten te googelen en mee te lezen. Vaak zingt hij in de eerste persoon namens een ander, meestal rechtse types uit de zuidelijke staten van Amerika die hij zo te kakken zet (zie al het eerste nummer, We're rednecks). Louisiana 1927 gaat over een watersnood (had vertaald moeten worden als Zeeland 1953?) De eerste drie nummers zijn door Jan Rot vertaald als Mooi Drenthe, Roosendaal en Marie. Aanrader om die nog ff te luisteren, en in één moeite door het hele album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjGd-htIels&list=OLAK5uy_l4S8eDOxnTTV66G6QVFEoagUEYRisBZ78

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Wed Oct 26 2022
4

Not just a soundtrack singer. Who knew?

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Mon Nov 21 2022
4

Really good singer song writer. Good vibe on the album. Unknown artist in Europe for my part.

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Mon Nov 28 2022
4

J’ai adore l’ecout et bien aime. 4

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Thu Dec 29 2022
4

Coming out the gate running with a song that lampoons Southern tropes and frequently uses the N-word, Good Old Boys is Randy Newman at his most historical and illustrative; mapping out the South with his fascinating character studies and stories that would doubtless garner perspective from the listener. If one chooses to get past Rednecks, Good Old Boys will prove itself to be a gem worth hearing. Favorites: Rednecks, Birmingham, Marie, Guilty, Kingfish, Naked Man, A Wedding in Cherokee County, Back on My Feet Again.

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Wed Jan 11 2023
4

My first real listen to Randy Newman. I kept waiting for Buzz and Woody to pop out... He has one of the easiest voices ever and I'll likely check out some other works.

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Sun Jan 22 2023
4

A great listen from Randy as usual. Not a spectacular album but a nice listen from an artist that knows to use words and melody in a very clever way.

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Fri Feb 03 2023
4

Marie makes me cry, Randy Newman its a completely interpreter, his background band it helps a lot to become emotional while you listen the album. Some songs are just Toy Story soundtrack and i cant think of anything else.

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Fri Mar 17 2023
4

Great album great vibes did not expect the hard r

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Mon Mar 20 2023
4

Randy shooting buckshot into American culture

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Wed Mar 22 2023
4

“Rednecks” is just stunning. I think I had heard this first from one of the Malcolm Gladwell podcasts about songwriters, and that's what hooked me. Such a tightrope walk he walks. That's the heart of all these Randy Newman records: dissonance. So feel-good, and yet so repulsive, but so warm, but so comically wrong, delivered straight and earnest. And he never breaks character. It's really only something I think he can do. Him and few others. Find the pathos and sympathy in unlikeable, racist anti-heroes, and then turn around and skewer them at the same time. How does he do it? We don't know. And “Marie” gets me every time. Reminds me of “Coney Island Baby,” Tom Waits. Bittersweet. I love my anti-hero songwriters more and more with every passing day. A lot of bittersweet this week! The string arrangements really give it that extra nudge for me. Randy Newman's range might be a little limited, but he nails the hell out of whatever it is he's doing. 4/5

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Sun Mar 26 2023
4

It all sounds the same, but it's a nice listen.

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Wed Mar 29 2023
4

I liked the concept. Not every song was great but there were enough interesting ones to keep my attention. Rednecks is the best one.

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