Bad Love (album)
| Bad Love | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Randy Newman | ||||
| Released | June 1, 1999 | |||
| Recorded | Recorded at Sunset Sound Factory & Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 44:45 | |||
| Label | Dreamworks | |||
| Producer | Mitchell Froom, Tchad Blake | |||
| Randy Newman chronology | ||||
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Bad Love is the tenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Randy Newman, released in 1999. It was Newman's first solo album since 1988's Land of Dreams and followed an 11-year hiatus during which Newman had focused on film soundtracks, receiving several Academy Award nominations.
Background
The album finds Newman bitter and satirical - as "biting as ever, yet unafraid to tackle personal and heartfelt concerns".[1] Newman tackles issues such as the state of American culture in "My Country", which chronicles suburbia's growing dependence on television[citation needed], and "The World Isn’t Fair", which takes a look at the world through the eyes of Karl Marx. Another subject is aging - "Shame" takes a negative look at an "older man courting a younger woman" via the barbed lyrics and an exchange between the lead vocalist and the backing singer.[citation needed] "I’m Dead (But I Don't Know It)" is more self-referential in dealing with aging rock stars and commenting: "Everything I write sounds the same / Each record that I’m making / Is like a record that I’ve made / Just not as good".
"Every Time It Rains" was composed for Michael Jackson but he declined to record it,[2] while "I Miss You" was composed for Newman's ex-wife.[citation needed]
This album was Newman's only release for DreamWorks.
Critical reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [3] |
| The Austin Chronicle | [4] |
| Chicago Sun-Times | [5] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[6] |
| Hot Press | 10/12[7] |
| Rolling Stone | [8] |
| The Village Voice | A[9] |
It received generally positive reviews from critics. Scott Manzler stated "Bad Love ultimately falls short of Newman's early '70s masterworks,"[10] while Allmusic stated the songs on Bad Love "should rest comfortably alongside his other four-star offerings."[1]
Track listing
All songs written by Randy Newman.
- "My Country" - 5.40
- "Shame" - 4.54
- "I'm Dead (But I Don't Know It)" - 3.25
- "Every Time It Rains" - 3.33
- "The Great Nations of Europe" - 3.26
- "The One You Love" - 3.39
- "The World Isn't Fair" - 2.44
- "Big Hat, No Cattle" - 4.24
- "Better Off Dead" - 4.03
- "I Miss You" - 3.55
- "Going Home" - 2.06
- "I Want Everyone to Like Me" - 2.59
Personnel
Randy Newman - vocals, piano
- Steve Donnelly - guitar
- Greg Leisz - pedal steel guitar
- Brandon Fields - saxophone
- Martin Krystall - saxophone
- Jack Nimitz - saxophone
- Brian Scanlon - saxophone
- Tom Scott - saxophone
- Stu Blumberg - trumpet
- Oscar Brashear - trumpet
- Bruce Fowler - trombone
- George Thatcher - trombone
- James Self - tuba
- Mitchell Froom - keyboards
- Greg Cohen - bass
- Pete Thomas - drums
- Carmen Carter, Donna Davidson, Linda Harmon, Scottie Haskell, Luana Jackman, Teresa James, Melissa Mackay, Kate Markowitz, Bobbi Page, Sally Stevens-Eskew, Carmen Twillie, Terry Wood, Herb Pedersen - background vocals
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Review by Denise Sullivan at Allmusic
- ↑ Randy Newman Home Page
- ↑ Allmusic review
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- ↑ Rolling Stone review
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- ↑ Review by Scott Manzler at nudeasthenews.com
