Album: 12 Songs
Year: 1970
I’m going to admit this up front: Randy Newman is both an American treasure and a huge blind spot for me. And I don’t know why: but his sad songs don’t make my cry, his funny songs don’t make me laugh and his serious songs haven’t ever connected. That’s on me.
And so, I know that you know that I came to this song via the Three Dog Night cover, my favorite of their wonderfully oversung run of early 1970s singles, which in a weird way, makes me sad: 12 Songs has always been described as his absolute pinnacle, and I can only nod my head and agree because I really can’t argue with any point anybody makes about Newman.
[Read more…] about Certain Songs #1824: Randy Newman – “Mama Told Me Not To Come”