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On Vine Street: The Early Songs of Randy Newman
On Vine Street-Early Songs for Randy Newman
On Vine Street: The Early Songs of Randy Newman
Genres: Folk, Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (26) - Disc #1

Randy Newman has been arranging and recording his own wonderful compositions for almost 40 years. For the best part of a decade before that, he was busy building his reputation as one of the greatest songwriters of his an...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: On Vine Street-Early Songs for Randy Newman
Title: On Vine Street: The Early Songs of Randy Newman
Members Wishing: 5
Total Copies: 0
Label: Ace Records UK
Release Date: 4/1/2008
Album Type: Import
Genres: Folk, Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
Styles: Singer-Songwriters, Oldies, Oldies & Retro, Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 029667032629

Synopsis

Album Description
Randy Newman has been arranging and recording his own wonderful compositions for almost 40 years. For the best part of a decade before that, he was busy building his reputation as one of the greatest songwriters of his and future generations. On Vine Street is a lovingly compiled overview of what Randy Newman wrote for others in the days before he found his own voice. Concentrating on songs that Randy wrote between 1962-1969, this 24-track set acquaints the listener with the original or early versions of songs that have passed into the realms of standards (I Think It's Going To Rain Today, Mama Told Me (Not to Come) and more. On Vine Street also features many recordings of songs from Randy's early days as a staff writer at Metric Music that have never been reissued before in any format. Several of these appear here in stereo for the first time, too. Randy Newman's reputation as a songwriter was firmly established long before he ever had a hit record of his own. A look at our artist roster will demonstrate the quality of the talent that lined up to record Randy's songs, and a listen to any one of our two dozen tracks will confirm why they did so.
 

CD Reviews

Rick Nelson didn't kill the song
DW | California, US | 02/10/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a reply rather than a review (I love this work and the Dusty, Nilsson versions especially). Please don't blame Rick Nelson for changing the lyrics to Love Story and thereby 'ruining' the song.



Peggy Lee also recorded it (prior to Nelson) and used the words



We'll play checkers in the sun.

Playing checkers can be fun.



Yes, this is lame compared to Newman's acerbic original. But please don't tar Nelson for the change. I believe it was Miss Lee's choice to rewrite the lyric.



Tastes in music and the pressures of the industry to produce hit recordings had more to do with it than simply the reticence of the recording artist. Both Miss Lee (an excellent songwriter in her own right) and Mr Nelson were responding to the attitudes of the industry captains.



Perhaps Mr Newman will one day set the record straight.

"
Good collection of early Newman the songwriter
J. W. Aughinbaugh | Webster Groves,MO USA | 07/20/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Randy Newman is one of our greatest songwriters and composers.He is,however,limited vocally,as he himself has noted.When Nilsson offered to do an album of his songs,Newman said he was very happy at the prospect since Harry could do things with his voice that he couldn't do-like hold a note.Here we have a good mix of both familiar and unfamiliar songs by a bunch of folks who sing quite well and do Newman justice. Scott Walker,Gene Pitney,Gene McDaniels,Dusty Springfield,Nilsson and,yes,Rick Nelson are among the high points of this album.The abrupt ending of Nelson's song may be due to its inclusion in a Newman medley on Nelson's album.Although I haven't heard it, I do know that "Love Story" is reprised later in the medley ,perhaps with the last line saved for that appearance,for dramatic effect. My only criticism of the album being reviewed here would be that I don't think it's quite as good as the afore referenced "Nilsson Sings Newman" ,one of the best albums ever.Still,this CD has a lot more songs than Nilsson's,so I would recommend buying both."