Randy Newman Sail Away CD

Though 1968's RANDY NEWMAN introduced a major songwriting talent, and 1970's 12 SONGS still stands among the artist's best work, 1972'S SAIL AWAY has the strength and sophistication of an immediate, indisputable classic. Combining the lush orchestration of his debut with 12 SONG's lean, small-combo sound, SAIL AWAY marks Newman's prowess as a composer and arranger of the first order. His ear for melody, instrumentation, and the literary, often scathingly satiric nature of his lyrics are applied to perfection. The title track, a beautiful piano-strings duet sung from the point of view of a slave ship captain enticing Africans to America, is a case in point.

Every song on SAIL AWAY is memorable, from the tongue-in-cheek cabaret lament "Lonely At The Top" to the whimsical ragtime of "Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear" to the deliciously ironic and astute "Political Science." Newman can go from rock-inspired slink ("Last Night I Had A Dream") to charmingly lyrical ("Dayton, Ohio--1903) to fiercely caustic ("God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind)"-- a song narrated from God's point of view about the stupidity of humanity), yet his writing is always infused with intelligence, wit, and piercing insight. That Newman's songcraft and musical textures are impeccable only adds to stature of this excellent record.

For their expanded 2002 reissue of Randy Newman's classic Sail Away album, Rhino/Reprise unearthed five previously unissued gems. Of these, arguably the most notable is the studio version of "Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong," originally released on the stop-gap Randy Newman Live album; it was left off the album because Newman and his producers felt that he didn't capture the song but, decades later, this sounds every bit as good, if not better, than the issued live version. Of the remaining four bonus tracks, only "Let It Shine" isn't an alternate version or demo, and while it's not quite up to the high standards of the other songs on Sail Away, it's still quite strong. If the early version of "Dayton, Ohio -- 1903" isn't radically different, the early version of "Sail Away" is -- bouncy and bluesy, its humor more apparent. Finally, the demo of "You Can Leave Your Hat On" is a little rawer than the album version and wholly welcome. Though these five bonus tracks are the main attraction for Randy Newman fans, the remastered sound, the liner notes by David Wild, introduction by Randy, and rare photos make this another wonderful reissue in Rhino's line of Newman expanded editions. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

2002 expanded & remastered reissue of 1972 album with 5 added bonus tracks (all previously unissued) 'Let It Shine', 'Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong' (studio version), 'Dayton, Ohio-1903' (studio version), 'You Can Leave Your Hat On' (demo) & 'Sail Away' (early version).

Audio Remasterer: Dan Hersch.

Liner Note Authors: Randy Newman; David Wild.

Recording information: Amigo Studio, Los Angeles, CA; Poppi Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Western Studios, Los Angeles, CA.

Photographers: Carl Samrock; Chuck Pulin; Hal Moore; Mike Salisbury.

Personnel: Randy Newman (piano); Randy Newman (vocals); Jimmy Bond, Wilton Felder (bass instrument); Russ Titelman, Ry Cooder (guitar); Abe Most (alto saxophone); Earl Palmer , Gene Parsons, Jim Keltner (drums); Milt Holland (percussion).

Audio Mixer: Lee Herschberg.

Rolling Stone (7/6/72, p.56) - "...further confirmation of the fact that Newman is our most sophisticated art-song composer...SAIL AWAY is Newman's most mature album, a work of genius..."
Entertainment Weekly (6/7/02, pp.76-7) - "...A masterpiece...When it comes to the 'untrustworthy narrator', the territory is Newman's own. They don't come nastier than the slave trader serenading Africans in SAIL's title track..." - Rating: A
Q (p.128) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t does a fine job of putting the emphasis where it should be: the songs. Steve Earle has fun with the scabrous 'Rednecks'..."
Q (8/00, p.120) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...One of [his] best albums....his succinct, evocative songs embrace more fully the complexities of the darker side of US society...and the more poignant aspects of family life..."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.112) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "No one does slyness like him, but several try here...[with] agreeable results."
Mojo (Publisher) (8/00, p.115) - "...Blackly funny, poignantly sentimental, witty, wistful and superbly orchestrated, it fused a traditional, Gershwin-via-Tin Pan Alley Americana with a wickedly un-American irony..."