A FEW WORDS IN DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY The Biography of Randy Newman

The son of a film composer, Randy Newman used his lineage and extraordinary musical talent to write popular songs, as well as scores for movies and the theater. Occasionally controversial or snarky, his songs frequently called out injustices and moral hypocrisy in American life. In this rich biography, LOS ANGELES TIMES music critic Robert Hilburn makes sense of Newman's life and career in music. The author's son, Rob Hilburn, Jr., performs with a combination of documentary objectivity and fascination for his subject. Hilburn's handsome voice and expert phrasing make this extensive biography as wonderful to hear as it is thought provoking. Contributions from an impressive array of celebrities and songwriting notables such as Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and Thomas Friedman help validate Newman's status as a songwriting giant. T.W. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2024]