Randy Newman - Little Criminals

Little Criminals proved to be Randy Newman's commercial breakthrough, thanks in large part to an unlikely top 10 novelty hit. "Short People" may be responsible for positing Newman in the public consciousness as a kind of highbrow Ray Stevens-type wag. On the bright side, it sneaked its B-side--the unremittingly grim album closer, "Old Man on the Farm"--onto thousands of jukeboxes. One can imagine barflies the world over punching in the wrong number and being confronted by a solo pianist morosely mumbling, "Waitin' for some rain to fall / Waitin' for some mail to come / Waitin' for the dawn again / Old man on the farm." In 1977 that may have been more subversive than "Anarchy in the U.K." While Little Criminals isn't as focused as its studio predecessors and is marred by one or two throwaways, it's studded with memorable songs, including "Baltimore" (one of Newman's best rock arrangements), the desolate "Texas Girl at the Funeral of Her Father," and "In Germany Before the War," a chiller inspired by M, Fritz Lang's 1931 melodrama about a child-murderer. --Steven Stolder Amazon.com

Randy Newman - Little C riminals

I'm a long time avid fan of Randy Newman, and this cd I found most enjoyable. Randy recorded with the Eagles, although they are only credited individually, possibly for contractual reasons.
The hit song Short People is pretty catchy. It was controversial because not every listener discerned its satirical message. The cd also has songs with amusing stories and upbeat melodies. I found "Texas Girl at the Funeral of her Father" very touching. June 30, 2008

Short People, tall album

I've had this CD for a few years now and it's about time that I reviewed it. I am a huge Randy Newman fan, and believe it or not, I used to dislike music! Hard for me to believe. But one day my Dad suggested Randy Newman as an anticdote; he brought home the Good Old Boys album, and I've been hooked ever since. I soo began searching out other Newman albums and later bought this one. Now I think all of his albums are great because they all have something new and different to offer, but if you're familiar with Randy Newman, then you have to admit that this is one of his really good ones.

It's balanced very well in terms of fast-paced, slow-paced mix and it has a lot of material on it, probably the second best remembered Newman album out there (next to Good Old Boys of course, however infamous you may think it was). And who can forget "Short People"? As Newman describes in his liner notes, "I just needed a tune-up from 'Little Criminals'" And whether you like it or not, you have to admit that it's a very catchy tune, maybe that's why some people didn't like it so much! If you haven't heard it, then you should at least listen to it once. A real gem. While attention has always gravitated towards his generally accepted works like "I Love L. A." or "Mama Told Me Not to Come" (made famous by Three Dog Night), Randy's albums have always been packed with little hidden nuggets, some even unheard of like next's "You Can't Fool the Fat Man". This is a kind of funny piece of work as are most of the man's songs. Another catchy tune from a great songwriter. The title track, "Little Criminals", is good as expected but ultimately overshadowed by some superior songwriting to come, like for instance, "Texas Girl at the Funeral of her Father". This is a truly beautiful song, kind of like his "Marie" was. Personally I think it's better. "Jolly Coppers on Parade" has always been my favorite here and I don't honestly know why, but it is another great song. It just seems to 'work'. "In Germany Before the War" is pretty well known if you keep up with Randy. It's slow, and really paints a picture for the listener. "Sigmund Freud's Impersonation of Albert Einstein in America" is, as the title would suggest, a witty little song. I just love how Randy always pairs serious music with funny lyrics. His trademark. Now "Baltimore" is a really good song. You won't hear it in the sample but there is a very nice, smooth transition from Randy's piano chords into a building backup, and soon chorus. This is a finely arranged song. I'll Be Home" is one that will be included on a Randy Newman Greatest Hits CD, and worthy of it! Really heartfelt and beautiful. "Rider in the Rain" is perhapse a slight deviation from the general feel of the album. Every now and then, Randy likes to turn a little bit western, and he does it well here as usual. Winding down is "Kathleen" (or "Catholicisim Made Easier"). Not a track to be taken into the spotlight but not bad. The same is with "Old Man on the Farm". These are just two more unknowns from the wealth of Randy Newman, you may or may not like them.

Although this album will probably always be synonamous with "Short People", it has a lot more to offer. Discover yet another chapter in the world of Randy Newman, one that I'm sure you will appreciate if you love the man like I do. August 17, 2007

Little Criminals

This came quickly, in good shape, but it turned out I didn't really care for Randy anymore. (I had gotten it because there was a song he wrote on another album that was on it).

(I gave it to Goodwill).

Blessings to Amazon, who offers an opportunity to try things! January 9, 2007

The Master of Irony Comes Good

Randy Newman is proof - and proof IS needed - that Americans have a sense of irony. From the haunting 12 Songs through his bitterly funny tales of the deep south on Good Old Boys to Little Criminals he tells complex, surprising tales of ordinary Americana. Little Criminals is an almost perfect showcase of his talent: from the poignant shards of songs like Texas Girl at The Funeral of Her Father and Old Man on the Farm, to the rollicking bravura of underworld fools of the title song and You Can't Fool the Fat Man. The ironic undercurrent of the gorgeously naive Jolly Coppers on Parade is wondrous, but for me, the highlight is the American anthem he provides in Sigmund Freud's Imprestonation of Albert Einstein in America. which includes the haunting, hilarious, hearbreaking lines:
Americans dream of gypsies I have found/
Gypsy knives and gypsy thighs that pound/
and pound and pound and pound/
African appendages that almost reach the ground/
And little boys playing baseball in the Rain... June 11, 2005

A Lesson on Cultural Diversity

This review is a collaborative writing project completed by a section of "Cultural Diversity" students at the University of Phoenix in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado. It focuses on the best-known of the album's songs, "Short People."

We find "Short People" to have a catchy tune--as one class member puts it, "happy-snappy, but tacky." Another student exclaims, "It would be a wonderful theme song to a sit-com."

We believe that our instructor introduced us to this song because "it has to do with cultural diversity in the genetic department," which is right next to garden supplies, in Aisle 3A. If one listens closely to the words, he or she may discover that "Short People" advocates tolerance and acceptance."

Overall assessment: six thumbs up! October 28, 2004

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