A Few Words in Defense of Our Country
The Biography of Randy Newman
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A Few Words in Defense of Our Country
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Narrated by:
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Robert Hilburn
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By:
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Robert Hilburn
About this listen
'An illuminating and masterful achievement' Booklist
'Randy Newman is our great master of American song and storytelling' Bruce Springsteen
'At last, the biography that Randy Newman has long deserved. The emotional precision, the humour and sweep, the truths and secrets behind his remarkable body of work . . . it's all here in Robert Hilburn's heartfelt and indispensable account of America's finest songwriter. Leave it to Hilburn to pull back the curtain on the incredible life of Newman, a shy genius who clearly trusted him enough to point him in all the right directions. It's more than a great read, it's an invitation to re-visit Randy Newman's work with renewed appreciation for the man who uniquely defined the American Experience just when we needed it most' Cameron Crowe
Randy Newman is widely hailed as one of America's all-time greatest songwriters, equally skilled in the sophisticated melodies and lyrics of the Gershwin-Porter era and the cultural commentary of his own generation, with Bob Dylan and Paul Simon among his most ardent admirers. While tens of millions around the world can hum 'You've Got a Friend in Me', his disarming centrepiece for Toy Story, most of them would be astonished to learn that the heart of Newman's legacy is in the dozens of brilliant songs that detail the injustices, from racism to class inequality, that have contributed to the division of our nation. Rolling Stone declared that a single Newman song, 'Sail Away', tells us more about America than 'The Star-Spangled Banner'. And yet, his legacy remains largely undocumented in book form - until now.
In A FEW WORDS IN DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY, veteran music journalist Robert Hilburn presents the definitive portrait of an American legend. Hilburn has known Newman since his club debut at the Troubadour in 1970, and the two have maintained a connection in the decades since, conversing over the course of times good and bad. Though Newman has long refused to talk with potential biographers, he now gives Hilburn unprecedented access not only to himself but also to his archives, as well as his family, friends, and collaborators. Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, John Williams, Linda Ronstadt, Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, Chuck D, James Taylor, and New York Times' Pulitzer-winning columnists, Thomas Friedman and Wesley Morris, among others, contributed to the book. In addition to exploring Newman's prolific career and the evolution of his songwriting, A FEW WORDS IN DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY also dives into his childhood and early influences, his musical family that ruled Hollywood movie scores for decades, the relationships that have provided inspiration for his songs, and so much more.
As thought-provoking and thorough as it is tender, this book is an overdue tribute to the legendary songwriter whose music has long reflected and challenged the America we know today.©2024 Robert Hilburn (P)2024 Hachette Audio UK
What listeners say about A Few Words in Defense of Our Country
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nala Srekciv
- 15-11-24
Loved the coverage of all the albums
Unlike another reviewer, I thought the narrator did well in his readings of the lyrics. Hearing the lyrics read out loud like that reinforces just how well the songs are constructed as credible short stories that happen to be set to music.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- PM
- 07-11-24
The definitive book on Randy Newman with a catch….with a catch…..with a catch….
It’s wonderful. Just one problem with the narration which grates more and more as the book progresses. When lines of text are repeated in the songs, the narrator faithfully recites them all, trying to inject the requisite emotion, but just becoming more and more annoying in the process. “I just want you to hurt like I do, I just want you to hurt like I do, I just want you to hurt like I do….” Very very irritating. But anyone looking for the definitive book on the genius that is Randy Newman, look no further. You can always use the fast forward button.
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