Bad Love (album)
Bad Love is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Randy Newman, released on June 1, 1999. It was Newman's first solo album since 1988's Land of Dreams and followed an 11-year hiatus during which Newman had focused on film soundtracks, receiving several Academy Award nominations.
Bad Love | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 1, 1999 | |||
Recorded | Sunset Sound & Sound Factory Capitol Studios 1997–99 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 44:45 | |||
Label | Dreamworks | |||
Producer | Mitchell Froom, Tchad Blake | |||
Randy Newman chronology | ||||
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Background
The album finds Newman bitter and satirical – as "biting as ever, yet unafraid to tackle personal and heartfelt concerns".[1] Newman tackles issues such as the state of American culture in "My Country", which chronicles suburbia's growing dependence on television, and "The World Isn’t Fair", which takes a look at the world through the eyes of Karl Marx. Another subject is aging - "Shame" takes a negative look at an "older man courting a younger woman" via the barbed lyrics and an exchange between the lead vocalist and the backing singer. "I’m Dead (But I Don't Know It)" is more self-referential in dealing with aging rock stars and commenting: "Everything I write sounds the same / Each record that I’m making / Is like a record that I’ve made / Just not as good".
"Every Time It Rains" was composed for Michael Jackson but he declined to record it,[2] while "I Miss You" was composed for Newman's ex-wife.[3]
Newman later said, "Before I started Bad Love, I wasn't exactly sure I could do a rock 'n' roll record at 65, or however old I was. But I was satisfied that it was a good record. Maybe my best record."[4]
This album was Newman's only release for DreamWorks Records.
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Austin Chronicle | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Chicago Sun-Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | B+[7] |
Hot Press | 10/12[8] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Village Voice | A[10] |
It received generally positive reviews from critics, placing 11th in the 1999 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll.[11]
Scott Manzler stated "Bad Love ultimately falls short of Newman's early '70s masterworks,"[12] while AllMusic stated the songs on Bad Love "should rest comfortably alongside his other four-star offerings."[1]
Track listing
All songs written by Randy Newman.
- "My Country" – 5:40
- "Shame" – 4:54
- "I'm Dead (But I Don't Know It)" – 3:25
- "Every Time It Rains" – 3:33
- "The Great Nations of Europe" – 3:26
- "The One You Love" – 3:39
- "The World Isn't Fair" – 2:44
- "Big Hat, No Cattle" – 4:24
- "Better Off Dead" – 4:03
- "I Miss You" – 3:55
- "Going Home" – 2:06
- "I Want Everyone to Like Me" – 2:59
Personnel
- Randy Newman – vocals, piano, arranger, conductor
- Steve Donnelly – guitar
- Greg Leisz – pedal steel guitar
- Brandon Fields – saxophone
- Martin Krystall – saxophone
- Jack Nimitz – saxophone
- Brian Scanlon – saxophone
- Tom Scott – saxophone
- Stu Blumberg – trumpet
- Oscar Brashear – trumpet
- Bruce Fowler – trombone
- George Thatcher – trombone
- James Self – tuba
- Mitchell Froom – keyboards
- Greg Cohen – bass
- Pete Thomas – drums
- Carmen Carter, Donna Davidson, Linda Harmon, Scottie Haskell, Luana Jackman, Teresa James, Melissa Mackay, Kate Markowitz, Bobbi Page, Sally Stevens-Eskew, Carmen Twillie, Terry Wood, Herb Pedersen – background vocals
Notes
- Sullivan, Denise. "Bad Love". AllMusic.
- "Bad Love". Randynewman.com. Archived from the original on 1999-10-09.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- Chilton, Martin (23 October 2015). "Randy Newman Q&A: 'I try to shut up, but I can't'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
- Keith Phipps (8 October 2003). "Randy Newman". A.V. Club.
- McCord, Jeff (1999). "Randy Newman: Bad Love". The Austin Chronicle (September 10). Retrieved September 9, 2014.
- DeRogatis, Jim (1999). "Best of recent releases". Chicago Sun-Times (June 27). Archived from the original on September 21, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
- Willman, Chris (1999). "Bad Love Review". Entertainment Weekly. New York (June 4). Retrieved September 9, 2014.
- O'Hare, Colm (1999). "Bad Love". Hot Press (July 21). Retrieved September 9, 2014.
- Rolling Stone review
- Christgau, Robert (1999). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice (June 22). New York. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
- Christgau, Robert (February 22, 2000). "The 1999 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- Review by Scott Manzler at nudeasthenews.com Archived 2006-03-27 at the Wayback Machine