An Appreciation of Randy Newman & The Age of Print Media Music Journalism

Randy Newman is one of the most misunderstood and under-celebrated musicians of the modern era. Reknowned Music Journalist/Author Robert Hilburn’s new book, A Few Words in Defense of Our Country is the definitive Randy Newman biography and Bob joins us to spotlight the genius and the legend of a great American musician and storyteller.

Robert Hilburn was the music critic for the Los Angeles Times for 35 years and he’s written books about John Lennon, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen and Johnny Cash. Bob tells us that Newman (much like Simon) had to be convinced to have his legacy chronicled. Randy grew up in a legendary musical family in which tooting your horn (metaphorically) was frowned upon. His uncles composed movie scores and they taught Randy to let the work be your voice.

We hear about Randy’s challenging childhood, the pressure he felt to succeed in music and how success, once achieved, incurred his father’s envy. Throughout his career, Randy’s best childhood friend, Lenny Waronker (who became a record exec) believed in him, opened doors and cheered his efforts.

Diving further into Randy’s work flow, creative struggles and anxiety-taming efforts, Bob illuminates Randy’s genre-bending and cultural interrogating musical achievements.

We also delve, with Bob, into the influence once held by music critics in the golden ages of both print media and the music industry. We discuss the futures of recorded music and journalism and Bob tells us about his favorite interview ever… with Bob Dylan… and that one time he went to Folsom Prison with Johnny Cash.

Plus, Weezy recommends the original Apple TV+ movie, Blitz and Fritz is currently into the new series Rivals, streaming on Hulu and other platforms.

Path Points of Interest:

Robert Hilburn

Robert Hilburn on Wikipedia

A Few Words In Defense of Our Country: The Biography of Randy Newman by Robert Hilburn

Robert Hilburn Amazon Author Page

Robert Hilburn on X

Amanda Petrusich

Blitz on Apple TV

Rivals - On Several Platforms