Randy Newman Anthology
Piano/Vocal Sheet Music Book
By Randy Newman

I BOUGHT THIS BOOK FOR 1 SONG AND FOUND MANY OTHERS I ALSO LIKE.

Finally! Newman's non-kiddie music, because it doesn't sell so well, is finally made available. Back in the 80s I found a Land of Dreams songbook and a Best of Songbook. Both were mixed. Some transcriptions were accurate, but others were your standard melody versions (piano/vocal/guitar...

). This anthology is fantastic. Every song is perfect, and you get a chill playing Newman's moving songs, like "Same Girl." My only complaint--if there is one--is that there are some odd choices, such as "Living Without You" (an early Newman piece not really worth having sheet music for), a few too many songs from Faust (great CD, but I'd prefer to hear other tunes like "Jolly Coppers" or "Birmingham" or "Rider in the Rain"), and an odd choice from the film "Ragtime." Still, I'm nitpicking. This is a great book.

Mostly arrangements quite close to what Randy himself plays (you don't get the discordant violins or powerchord guitar licks), in his original key (although I Want You to Hurt Like I Do is in G, not identical to the Ab version on the CD or in the Land of...

Dreams collection published in '89 by Twice as Nice). This is a representative assemblage of Randy's work thru Faust (3 numbers). I wish Hal Leonard et al had as much respect for the artist's original intent as this anthology does. No corners cut, no simplified basslines, (mostly) no transpositions to easier keys. Most important, the RH doesn't always just mimic the melody; these are real accompaniment arrangements. Hats off to Randy for being real. Actually singing many of these numbers while playing them is a whole nuther ballgame, you realize.

Just perfect. Notes are put as you can hear from Randy's piano. Too much for my fingers!!!

Good book, if you're a fan of randy newmans music. Some songs and lyrics could offend.