Re-Review: Randy Revisited

After 10 Oscar nominations, they finally recognized Randy Newman's genius. Now it's your turn. His three just-reissued albums will make you laugh, break your heart and scare you to death, usually all in the same song, sometimes in the same verse. Check out "Good Old Boys" (Reprise/ Rhino), his 1974 masterpiece--and no, that word is not used lightly--about the modern South. Or "Sail Away" (Reprise/ Rhino), with a gorgeous ballad about, ahem, slavery. Or "Ragtime" (Elektra/ Rhino) --lyrical, bittersweet music. It's all so much fun, you'll forget it's art in no time.

© 2002