Randy Newman

A singular figure in the singer/songwriter community, Randy Newman possesses an idiosyncratic style that alternates between sweeping, cinematic pop and rolling R&B, tied together by his intelligently biting sense of humor. Unlike many of his peers in the 1970s, Newman was only slightly influenced by Bob Dylan; his music owed more to New Orleans R&B and traditional pop than folk, and he sidestepped confessional lyrics, crafting character studies that existed in a world filled with misfits, outcasts, charlatans, and con men. While occasionally showing sympathy for his characters...