Back in 1970, Harry Nilsson helped introduce the world to Randy Newman by recording an entire album of Newman compositions, the appropriately titled Nilsson Sings Newman. In the nearly 50 years that have followed, Newman has become one of our greatest songwriters.
Set aside the film scores that have garnered him 20 Academy Award nominations, he has released eleven brilliant studio albums of his own that incorporate songs of both scathing satire and poignant romanticism.
In the mid-1990’s he authored a musical based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s “Faust”. Newman fans – including Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt and Don Henley – lent their voices to the studio soundtrack.
One of the most breathtaking songs from the show was the ballad “Feels Like Home”. Fast-forward more than 20 years from its release, Ariana Gillis shared a moving solo acoustic cover of the song.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.