| Little Criminals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 23, 1977[1] | |||
| Recorded | July–September 1977 | |||
| Studio | Warner Bros. Recording Studios, North Hollywood, and The Burbank Studios | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 38:21 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros., Reprise | |||
| Producer | Lenny Waronker, Russ Titelman | |||
| Randy Newman chronology | ||||
| ||||
- Little Criminals offers all the minor charms of Randy Newman ’s music and none of the major ones: craft without vision, which means the craft is uninspired. The songs aren’t even funny; they lack.
- Little Criminals: Warner Bros. The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 3: Nonesuch 2017: Cars 3 Original Score Walt Disney 2017.
Aug 22, 2017 Similar Posts. Randy Newman - Toy Story 4 (2019) Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz Randy Newman - The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 3 (2016) Official Digital Download 24bit/88,2kHz.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | [2] |
| Rolling Stone | [4] |
| The Village Voice | B+[3] |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [5] |
Little Criminals is a 1977 album by Randy Newman. Like most of Newman's work, the album eschews traditional pop-music themes ('I'll Be Home' is the only love song on the album) in favor of musical story-telling, often featuring quirky characters and cynical views. The first song on the album – 'Short People' – became a hit single in its own right. The album itself peaked at #9 on the USBillboard 200chart, Newman's highest-charting album to date.
Some of the instrumental work and backing vocals on the album are performed by members of the Eagles. In particular, Glenn Frey played guitar on two tracks, Joe Walsh played guitar on three tracks, and Don Henley and Tim Schmit sang background vocals on one track each. Frey and J. D. Souther, who had earlier been the duo Longbranch Pennywhistle, sang background vocals on three tracks.
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Newman wrote, conducted and played keyboards on all tracks. Synthesizers were programmed by Michael Boddicker.
In September 1977 the British music magazine NME published the following interview with Newman talking sardonically about his then new release: 'There's one song about a child murderer,' Newman deadpans. 'That's fairly optimistic. Maybe. There's one called 'Jolly Coppers on Parade' which isn't an absolutely anti-police song. Maybe it's even a fascist song. I didn't notice at the time. There's also one about me as a cowboy called 'Rider in the Rain'. I think it's ridiculous. The Eagles are on there. That's what's good about it. There's also this song 'Short People'. It's purely a joke. I like other ones on the album better but the audiences go for that one.'[6]
It placed 8th in the 1977 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll,[7] and in 2000 it was voted number 468 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.[8]
The song 'Baltimore' was covered by Nina Simone, Nils Lofgren, The Tamlins, David Gray, Billy Mackenzie, Lianne La Havas, Jazmine Sullivan, Mink Stole, Coldfinger and Nedric Nedo. 'In Germany Before the War' was covered by British band Diesel Park West on their covers album 'God Only Knows' in 1992. The song 'I'll Be Home', meanwhile, had been written by Newman years previously, and was originally recorded in 1970 by Harry Nilsson on his album Nilsson Sings Newman.
Track listing[edit]
All tracks are written by Randy Newman.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | 'Short People' | 2:54 |
| 2. | 'You Can't Fool the Fat Man' | 2:44 |
| 3. | 'Little Criminals' | 3:04 |
| 4. | 'Texas Girl at the Funeral of Her Father' | 2:40 |
| 5. | 'Jolly Coppers on Parade' | 3:46 |
| 6. | 'In Germany Before the War' | 3:39 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 7. | 'Sigmund Freud's Impersonation of Albert Einstein in America' | 3:02 |
| 8. | 'Baltimore' | 4:02 |
| 9. | 'I'll Be Home' | 2:47 |
| 10. | 'Rider in the Rain' | 3:54 |
| 11. | 'Kathleen (Catholicism Made Easier)' | 3:35 |
| 12. | 'Old Man on the Farm' | 2:14 |
Charts[edit]
| Chart (1977) | Position |
|---|---|
| United States (Billboard 200) | 9 |
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] | 29 |
Personnel[edit]
- Randy Newman - vocals, keyboards and synthesizer
- Michael Boddicker - additional synthesizer and synthesizer programming
- 'Short People' – 2:54
- Backing Vocals: Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther, Tim Schmit
- Bass: Klaus Voormann
- Congas: Milt Holland
- Drums: Jim Keltner
- Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
- 'You Can't Fool The Fatman' – 2:44
- Bass: Willie Weeks
- Congas: Milt Holland
- Drums: Andy Newmark
- 'Little Criminals' – 3:04
- Bass: Willie Weeks
- Drums: Andy Newmark, Rick Marotta
- Guitar: Glenn Frey
- Guitar, Guitar (Slide): Joe Walsh
- Percussion: Milt Holland
- 'Texas Girl at the Funeral of Her Father' – 2:40
- Piano: Ralph Grierson
- 'Jolly Coppers on Parade' – 3:46
- Bass: Klaus Voormann
- Congas: Milt Holland
- Drums, Temple Blocks: Jim Keltner
- Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
- 'In Germany Before the War' – 3:39
- No contributions are specified
- 'Sigmund Freud's Impersonation of Albert Einstein in America' – 3:02
- Bass: Willie Weeks
- Drums: Jim Keltner
- 'Baltimore' – 4:02
- Backing Vocals: Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther
- Bass: Willie Weeks
- Drums: Andy Newmark, Rick Marotta
- Guitar: Glenn Frey
- Percussion: Milt Holland
- 'I'll Be Home' – 2:47
- Bass: Klaus Voormann
- Drums: Jim Keltner
- Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
- 'Rider in the Rain' – 3:54
- Backing Vocals: Don Henley, Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther
- Bass: Willie Weeks
- Drums: Rick Marotta
- Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
- 'Kathleen (Catholicism Made Easier)' – 3:35
- Bass: Willie Weeks
- Drums: Rick Marotta
- Guitar: Joe Walsh
- Mandolin: Ry Cooder
- 'Old Man on the Farm' – 2:14
- Piano: Randy Newman
- Technical
- Lee Herschberg, Loyd Clifft - engineer
- Mike Salisbury - cover design
- Bob Seidemann - cover photography at 1013 7th Street, Los Angeles, California[10]
References[edit]
- ^Liner notes, Guilty: 30 Years of Randy Newman, 1998
- ^AllMusic review
- ^Christgau, Robert (October 31, 1977). 'Christgau's Consumer Guide'. The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
- ^Rolling Stone review
- ^Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0195313734.
- ^Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 304. CN 5585.
- ^Christgau, Robert (January 23, 1978). 'The 1977 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll'. The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^Colin Larkin (2000). All Time Top 1000 Albums (3rd ed.). Virgin Books. p. 167. ISBN0-7535-0493-6.
- ^Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 216. ISBN0-646-11917-6.
- ^http://www.musicalmaps.com.au/search/label/littlecriminalsrandynewman
Little Criminals
Short People, You Can’t Fool The Fat Man, Little Criminals, Texas Girl At The Funeral Of Her Father, Jolly Coppers On Parade, In Germany Before The War, Sigmund Freud’s Impersonation Of Albert Einstein In America, Baltimore, I’ll Be Home, Rider In The Rain, Kathleen (Catholicism Made Easier), Old Man On The Farm
Short PeopleLyrics
Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
Short People got no reason
To live
They got little hands
Little eyes
They walk around
Tellin’ great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet
Well, I don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
`Round here
Short People are just the same
As you and I
(A Fool Such As I)
All men are brothers
Until the day they die
(It’s A Wonderful World)
Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
Short People got nobody
To love
They got little baby legs
That stand so low
You got to pick ’em up
Just to say hello
They got little cars
That go beep, beep, beep
They got little voices
Goin’ peep, peep, peep
They got grubby little fingers
And dirty little minds
They’re gonna get you every time
Well, I don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
Don’t want no Short People
‘Round here
Lyrics
Sittin’ with the fat man
Tryin’ to get a loan
Talkin’ about the horses
And the women that we’ve known
Spittin’ on the sidewalk
Squintin’ into the sun
Greetin’ all the people
Smilin’ at everyone
I said “Hey, listen, Fat Man
I just can’t get a break
Must I pay my whole life long
For just one mistake?
“My brother’s in the armed forces
My sister is in jail,
Won’t you give me fifty dollars
So I can pay her bail?”
He said “You Can’t Fool The Fat Man
No, you can’t fool me
You’re just a two-bit grifter
And that’s all you’ll ever be”
“You Can’t Fool The Fat Man
No, you can’t fool me
You’re just a two-bit grifter
And that’s all you’ll ever be”
Lyrics
What you wanna come back here for?
Thought you’re with your uptown friends
Don’t need none of your junkie business
You gonna screw us up again
Get your blackjack off my table
Get your coat out of my rack
We don’t need you ’round here, jerk-off
Chuck, I want you off my back
‘Cause we’ve almost made it
We’ve almost made it
We’ve almost made it to the top
Got a gun from Uncle Freddy
Got a station all picked out
Got a plan and now we’re ready
Gonna take that station out
So you go on about your business
You just leave use folks alone
We don’t need no two-bit junkie
Screwin’ up our happy home
‘Cause we’ve almost made it
We’ve almost made it
We’ve almost made it to the top
We’ve almost made it
We’ve almost made it
We’ve almost made it to the top
Lyrics
Here I am lost in the wind
‘Round in circles sailing
Like a ship that never comes in
Standing by myself
Sing a sad song for a good man
Sing a sad song for me
Sing a sad song for the sailor
A thousand miles from the sea
Here I am alone on the plain
Sun’s going down
It’s starting to rain
Papa, we’ll go sailing
Lyrics
They’re comin’ down the street
They’re comin’ right down the middle
Look how they keep the beat
Why they’re as blue as the ocean
How the sun shines down
How their feet hardly touch the ground
Jolly Coppers On Parade
Here come the black-and-whites
Here come the motorcycles
Listen to those engines roar
Now they’re doin’ tricks for the children
Oh, they look so nice
Looks like angels have come down from Paradise
Jolly Coppers On Parade
Oh, mama
That’s the life for me
When I’m grown
That’s what I want to be
They’re comin’ down the street
They’re comin’ right down the middle
Look how they keep the beat
Coming through the heart of the city
Oh, it’s all so nice
Looks like angels have come down from Paradise
Jolly Coppers On Parade
Lyrics
In Germany Before The War
There was a man who owned a store
In nineteen hundred thirty-four
In Dusseldorf
And every night at fine-o-nine
He’d cross the park down to the Rhine
And he’d sit there by the shore
I’m looking at the river
But I’m thinking of the sea
Thinking of the sea
Thinking of the sea
I’m looking at the river
But I’m thinking of the sea
A little girl has lost her way
With hair of gold and eyes of gray
Reflected in his glasses
As he watches her
A little girl has lost her way
With hair of gold and eyes of gray
I’m looking at the river
But I’m thinking of the sea
Thinking of the sea
Thinking of the sea
We lie beneath the autumn sky
My little golden girl and I
And she lies very still
Lyrics
The world of science is my game
And Albert Einstein is my name
I was born in Germany
And I’m happy to be
Here in the land of the brave and the free
Yes, I’m happy to be
Here in the land of the brave and the free
In the year of nineteen five
Merely trying to survive
Took my knapsack in my hand
Caught a train for Switzerland
America, America
God shed his grace on Thee
You have whipped the Filipino
Now you rule the Western Sea
Americans dream of gypsies, I have found
Gypsy knives and gypsy thighs
That pound and pound and pound and pound
And African appendages that almost reach the ground
And little boys playing baseball in the rain
America, America
Step out into the light
You’re the best dream man has ever dreamed
And may all your Christmases be white
Lyrics
Beat-up little seagull
On a marble stair
Tryin’ to find the ocean
Lookin’ everywhere
Hard times in the city
In a hard town by the sea
Ain’t nowhere to run to
There ain’t nothin’ here for free
Hooker on the corner
Waitin’ for a train
Drunk lyin’ on the sidewalk
Sleepin’ in the rain
And they hide their faces
And they hide their eyes
‘Cause the city’s dyin’
And they don’t know why
Oh, Baltimore
Man, it’s hard just to live
Oh, Baltimore
Man, it’s hard just to live, just to live
Get my sister Sandy
And my little brother Ray
Buy a big old wagon
Gonna haul us all away
Livin’ in the country
Where the mountain’s high
Never comin’ back here
‘Til the day I die
Oh, Baltimore
Man, it’s hard just to live
Oh, Baltimore
Man, it’s hard just to live, just to live
Oh, Baltimore
Man, it’s hard just to live
Oh, Baltimore
Man, it’s hard just to live, just to live
Lyrics
I’ll Be Home
I’ll Be Home
When your nights are troubled
And you’re all alone
When you’re feeling down
And need some sympathy
And there’s no one else around
To keep you company
Remember, baby,
You can always count on me
I’ll Be Home
I’ll Be Home
I’ll Be Home
I’ll Be Home
I’ll Be Home
Wherever you may wander
And wherever you may roam
You come back
I’ll be waiting here for you
No one else will ever love you
The way I do
I’ll be here to comfort you
And see you through
I’ll Be Home
I’ll Be Home
I’ll Be Home
Lyrics
Got a gun in my holster
Got a horse between my knees
And I’m goin’ to Arizona
Pardon me, boys, if you please
I have been a desperado
Raped and pillaged ‘cross the plain
Now, I’m goin’ to Arizona
Just a Rider In The Rain
He’s a Rider In The Rain
He’s a Rider In The Rain
And I’m goin’ to Arizona
He’s a Rider In The Rain
Oh, my mother’s in St. Louis
And my bride’s in Tennessee
So, I’m goin’ to Arizona
With a banjo on my knee
He’s a Rider In The Rain
He’s a Rider In The Rain
And I’m goin’ to Arizona
He’s a Rider In The Rain
Used to work in Uncle’s feed store
While he was fightin’ in the war
Now I’m goin’ to Arizona
Ain’t gonna work for him no more
I’m the son of the prairie
And the wind that sweeps the plain
So, I’m goin’ to Arizona
Just a Rider In The Rain
I’m a Rider In The Rain
I’m a Rider In The Rain
And he’s goin’ to Arizona
Just a Rider In The Rain
He’s a Rider In The Rain
He’s a Rider In The Rain
And I’m goin’ to Arizona
Just a Rider In The Rain
Lyrics
There is a courtyard here in Chicago
Down by the river where no one goes
We could be married there in the courtyard
By this old Spanish priest that no one knows
And he’ll say
“Nel blu, dipinto
Dipinto di blu
Felice de stare
Di stare lassu”
That means you love him
And he loves you
“Piu bel ci sono
Ci sei tu”
Kathleen, Kathleen, Kathleen
The best one in the world
Kathleen, Kathleen, Kathleen
I’ve always been crazy about Irish girls
I’ve always been crazy about Irish girls
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey,
Come what may
Hey, hey, hey, hey
I’m gonna take you away, away
Kathleen, Kathleen, Kathleen
I’ve searched through all the world
I dream of you, Kathleen
I’ve always been crazy about Irish girls
I’ve always been crazy about Irish girls
Lyrics
He’s waitin’ for some rain to fall
He’s waitin’ for some mail to come
He’s waitin’ for the dawn again
Old Man On The Farm
Milk the cow – slop the pigs
Sweeping out the chicken-house
Drinking whiskey in the barn
Goodnight ladies
Sorry if I stayed too long
So long it’s been good to know you
I love the way I sing that song
So long it’s been good to know you
I love the way I sing that song
Randy Newman Little Criminals Rara
Released by Warner Brothers (3079-2) in September 1977
Randy Newman Little Criminals Vinyl
Produced by Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman.
Written, arranged and composed by Randy Newman.
Related tags: Baltimore, I'll Be Home, In Germany Before the War, Jolly Coppers On Parade, Kathleen (Catholicism Made Easier), Little Criminals, Old Man On The Farm, Rider in the Rain, Short People, Sigmund Freud's Impersonation Of Albert Einstein In America, Texas Girl At The Funeral Of Her Father, You Can't Fool The Fat Man.