music clip of the day

Without hitting you over the head with his classical training, this guy, early in his career, took pop songs to new places—melodically, harmonically, structurally.

Randy Newman

Dusty Springfield, “I Don’t Want To Hear It Anymore” (1969)

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“Just One Smile”

Gene Pitney (1966 [#8, UK Charts])

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Blood, Sweat & Tears (1968)

*****

Randy Newman, live (TV broadcast [with The BBC Concert Orchestra, London]), “I Think It’s Going To Rain Today” (2008; first recorded in 1966 [Julius LaRosa, 8/66; Judy Collins, 11/66])

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lagniappe

To me, someone who writes really good songs is Randy Newman. . . . You know, he’s got that down to an art. Now Randy knows music. He knows music.—Bob Dylan (1991)