Sandman Coming

Sandman Coming
Lucifer expands fractured fairy tale, sits alone at his piano

by Don Allred
January 28 - February 3, 2004 Issue 04

Noooman!!
photo: William Claxton
Randy Newman
Randy Newman's Faust
Rhino
The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 1
Nonesuch

We're a figment of their imagination, a beautiful dream, it is true." Thus,
at an office party in Heaven, Lucifer sheds unforgivable light on God's punch
bowl. Light that becomes Randy Newman's Faust, 1995's fractured fairy tale, now
Rhino'd with a bodacious bonus disc of demos, incl. shoulda-rans, brought to
you by a chorus line of Ran's angels, chilling 'round his grand piano. He
"explains" the plot and undersings the principal roles: James Taylor, ultrasmoove
G-d; Don Henley, ultradork Faust; Linda Ronstadt, ultrainnocent Margaret; and
Bonnie Raitt, who brings Mr. (Ran') D. to his knees. (Oh, but when he
interrupts the Lord's hymn to Himself, don't the Devil's li'l eyes get their glee on?
Just like Seinfeld's own accursed "Noooman!!")
The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 1 contains 18 units. Just a voice and that
piano, which is unappeasable on "Lonely at the Top," amputates the blues under
Mankind's appeal in "God's Song," and rings blue skies over the floodwaters of
"Louisiana 1927" (as has often "happened down here," where I live, the day
after "the wind have changed"). Voice and piano can't quite silkworm their way
back into "Marie," not without the original version's orchestra. Which later
planted sleeper cells in today's children, via Unca Randy's Monsters, Inc., etc.
soundtracks. Thus bridging the gap between us Disneyfried boomers and all
future candy forevers.

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