Customer Reviews

Live

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of Newman's best albums. It's just him, a piano, a microphone, and (what Newman claimed in an interview) about a dozen people in a club. It sounds like he's playing at your private party - you can hear the laughter of the crowd, of Newman himself, and all of the ambient noise of the club.

Some of his best early songs are here: "Mama Told Me Not To Come" (a great version), "Old Kentucy Home" (this version lets you hear the great piano part much better than on "12 Songs"), "Yellow Man." Also, two songs that were never released elsewhere: "Tickle Me" and "Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong" are both great and hilarious songs (the second song was recorded for "Sail Away" but not included - it is included on the recent re-release of "Sail Away" in orchestral version). Also included are some songs then yet to be released: "Last Night I Had a Dream" and "Lonely at the Top" which were both on "Sail Away" released after "Live."

The album was supposedly released because Newman was taking so long in producing "Sail Away" and the record company wanted to keep momentum up. The public benefitted doubly: we got a great live album and a great follow-up.

I had the privledge of seeing Newman in concert during the "Land of Dreams" tour some years ago. Again, it was just Newman and a piano. His show hasn't changed much (not that it needs to): he asks for requests and the audience begins shouting out song titles, he laughs during his songs, makes fun of himself and tells some great stories. Listening to Newman's early material shows that his style was set very early on, and he's been building on it ever since (though some think he's merely repeating himself, which I don't agree with).

The only thing that would be better than this album would be a follow-up. A live album from one of his recent tours with just him and piano. He's put out so much great material since then and sometimes his recordings hide his piano playing. It would be a happy companion to this great album.

I recently bought a four CD collection called "Guilty: 30 years of Randy Newman." It's good. But if you only want to buy one Randy CD, or a just checking him out for the first time, and you're interested in his non- movie songs, this is a great one. Since it's live there is some talking between songs (not too much) that gives you a better feel for the man. And he is such a great musician and performer that every live song is flawless.

Randy Newman "Live" (1971) is Randy singing and playing his piano in front of a small, appreciative audience. With no string section or band backing him up, every song shines. Though most of these can be found on earlier or later records (with accompaniment), this is intimate and revealing. We get to hear how they sounded when he first wrote them at home, before adding orchestration. Americana, humor, sadness, empathy - all of his astounding songwriting gifts were already in full bloom.

Let me admit upfront that there's a good reason why I love this so much. Not only was it my first Newman album, but I saw his tour for this record at a small club back then - and he performed every one of these songs. It was one of the concert highlights of my life. So I've been asking myself if this is actually an "essential" purchase, and I still think it is.

In his 40-year career (starting with his 1968 debut "Randy Newman", up through 2008's "Harps And Angels") - Newman has made only 10 studio albums of original compositions with vocals. "Live" captures him in an intimate setting that we wouldn't hear again until "Songbook Vol.1" (2003) - his only other "man and his piano" recording of old material. Both sound as if he's playing just for you in your living room. Very personal, very great.

Of course, he's also had an extraordinary career as a film composer, and has many good soundtracks and theme songs under his belt. If you like to watch old movies, the Newman name comes up a lot in the credits. His uncles Alfred, Lionel, and Emil - and cousins Thomas and David - were all famous film composers. As much as I like Randy's film work, I like his "pop" records (for lack of a better term) more. There's only 12 main albums at this point, which makes him easy to collect. All are worthwhile.

I bought the vinyl LP version of this album more than 25 year ago when Newman was relatively unknown and it was one of my favorite albums. I sold my turntable many years ago and have not heard this since. I recently purchased the CD and am glad to hear these old songs again.

The CD contains live versions of classic Newman songs. The music was recorded in a small club so the production values are not what you might expect in a studio recording. No fancy recording equipment, background singers, or studio musicians - just Newman and his piano. However, the live atmosphere though seems to add to, rather than take away from, the experience. You can hear people in the audience laugh during humorous verses. They shout out requests between numbers.

In recent years Newman has been known for his work on movie soundtracks. This CD explores the roots of this gifted songwriter. Whether you're a long-time Randy Newman fan or just someone that likes quirky songs, this CD should be part of your collection.

Randy Newman / Live (Recorded 1970 and released in `71): Just Randy at the piano singing his great early songs. Randy seems to have been born with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, much to the delight of music lovers (or, at least, lyric lovers). This album is not exciting but is entertaining. A nice four-star album.

This is well worth getting. It only gets 4 stars from me, as its short (32 mins), and this is Randy early in his career (1970), when perhaps he wasn't quite as confident. So there aren't as many humerous quips between tracks, as you might get if a live album is ever released from later in his career.
However, there's no getting away from it this is Randy Newman singing his quirky, funny, sad songs alone at the Piano. Although the album is short, you do get 14 tracks including many of the mans greatest songs:
I Think Its Going To Rain Today, Davy The Fat Boy, Last Night I Had a Dream, Mama Told Me Not To Come.
Get this and the Randy Newman Songbook album to hear the great man alone at the Piano.

Originally issued as a WB radio promo item, Randy was such a critic's darling that they forced a general release of this slight piece of work. It's just Randy and his piano on a slow night in a career which, at the time, was going no-where. That's why "Lonely at the Top", the last song of the set, works so well. A small snapshot of a huge talent---