In October of 1977, Randy Newman released his sixth album, Little Criminals. The LP would be Newman’s first gold record and include his first hit single (reaching #2 on Billboard’s Hot 100), “Short People” — a satirical song about the prejudiced views of a lunatic that would be misinterpreted as an anthem of hate.
My favorite track on the disc is “Baltimore,” featuring backing vocals by Glenn Frey & J.D. Souther, Frey also on guitar, Willie Weeks on bass, Andy Newmark & Rick Marotta on drums, and Milt Holland on percussion.
Mattthew Greenfield from All Music sums it up best in his review of the song:
“Easily one of Randy Newman’s most underrated songs, ‘Baltimore’ is a fabulous, downcast, and heavy ballad.The subject matter of the city in the title is almost secondary. At the time when Newman wrote this in the mid-’70s, he really could have been writing about almost any major urban city that was going through a depressed economy. The imagery of the lonesome seagull in a polluted harbor is particularly striking, and very representative of a losing battle against nature. Musically, it’s equally as brilliant, propelled by a soulful series of riffs and chord changes that accurately mirror the subject matter.”
A songwriter who tells stories — first-person narratives — but they’re not his own point of view? I’m so confused.
I think you’re right. Baltimore is the best song on Little Criminals. But I don’t think there is a bad song on that album. I even liked Short People the first 25,000 times I heard it. Very satirical. but it got sooooooo much radio play that now I still skip it when I play the album.
Remember Nilsson sings Newman?
How about Newman sings Nilsson? Newman was working on an album of Nilsson songs when Harry died.
Remember?
Great stuff, John.
That is great stuff, Tom. I had no idea Newman was working on such an album (or that the CD “For The Love of Harry: Everybody Sings Nilsson” even exists).
This summer, I finally saw “Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)?” It was amazing and reaffirming of Nilsson’s talent — and also sad.
Long ago … far away …