Randy Newman - Randy Newman (1968)

Alongside many other musicians such as Tom Waits, performing at The Troubadour night club in West Hollywood helped along Randy Newman's career. Listeners probably know him better now as a film composer, but he got his start in the recording industry. He began by writing songs professionally in 1960, but it wasn't until 1968 that he pulled off his first album Randy Newman.

You can tell after the first song ("Love Story (You and Me)") that Mr. Newman would eventually transition to movies. In fact, a majority of the songs on the album are heavily orchestrated with the help of about 75 session musicians. These songs are not often moved on by traditional pop/rock chords. Rather, they reflect the emotions and environment (sometimes "Mickey Moused") of the verse being sung with the underlying themes and melodies as a foundation. The other minority of the songs are the traditional pop songs. Stripped of the orchestra, Mr. Newman sticks to a simplified lineup of percussion, bass, piano, and guitar to perform blues-influenced tunes and a quick pop jaunt ("Beehive State").

Here is the discography surrounding Randy Newman's debut album:

Golden Gridiron Boy (1961 single)
Randy Newman



Remember to throw a few recommendations my way if you see a few good ones. I'm always looking for new artists to delve into that I normally wouldn't.

Tom Waits - Closing Time (1973)

At the age of 21, Tom Waits signed with manager Herb Cohen who also managed Tim Buckley, Lenny Bruce, Alice Cooper, and Frank Zappa among others. After several attempts in the recording studio, Tom Waits, working with Jerry Yester, finally came out with his debut Closing Time.

Closing Time is an album best played during the dark of the morning when the calendar shifts from Saturday to Sunday without notice. Mr. Waits collects a series of lonely ballads, remorseful blues, and contemplative jazz strung together by his rough, drunken croon and soft melodies. The album is quiet and subdued and acts as a retrospective on the memories of the days before while dwelling on those lingering emotions as the night deepens.

Here is the discography surrounding Tom Waits's debut album:

Closing Time
Ol' '55 (1973 single)
The Early Years, Vol. 1 (1991 compilation)
The Early Years, Vol. 2 (1993 compilation)

The two "Early Years" albums are a collection of two recording sessions done for Herb Cohen's Bizzare/Straight record labels in August and December of 1971.



Remember to throw your recommendations for the next band this way. The next band has to be connected to Closing Time era Tom Waits in some way.

The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out! (1966)

Les McCann is the bridge between Lou Rawls and The Mothers of Invention. As I mentioned before, he led the backing band for most of Stormy Monday. He also performed as one of the many session musicians on The Mothers of Invention's debut album Freak Out! It was released in 1966 and is considered both one of the first rock double albums and one of the first concept albums.

Here is the discography surrounding the debut album:

Jungle Dreams (1960 single by Roy Estrada & The Rocketeers)
Freak Out!
Trouble Every Day (1966 single)
How Could I Be Such a Fool? (1966 single)

Pass the Headphones!!