Little Criminals


Little Criminals is a 1977 album by Randy Newman. Like most of Newman's work, the album eschews traditional pop-music themes in favor of musical story-telling, often featuring quirky characters and cynical views. The first song on the album – "Short People" – became a hit single in its own right. The album itself peaked at #9 on the US Billboard 200 chart, Newman's highest-charting album to date.
Some of the instrumental work and backing vocals on the album are performed by members of the Eagles. In particular, Glenn Frey played guitar on two tracks, Joe Walsh played guitar on three tracks, and Don Henley and Tim Schmit sang background vocals on one track each. Frey and J. D. Souther, who had earlier been the duo Longbranch Pennywhistle, sang background vocals on three tracks.
Newman wrote, conducted and played keyboards on all tracks. Synthesizers were programmed by Michael Boddicker.
In September 1977 the British music magazine NME published the following interview with Newman talking sardonically about his then new release: "There's one song about a child murderer," Newman deadpans. "That's fairly optimistic. Maybe. There's one called 'Jolly Coppers on Parade' which isn't an absolutely anti-police song. Maybe it's even a fascist song. I didn't notice at the time. There's also one about me as a cowboy called 'Rider in the Rain'. I think it's ridiculous. The Eagles are on there. That's what's good about it. There's also this song 'Short People'. It's purely a joke. I like other ones on the album better but the audiences go for that one."
It placed 8th in the 1977 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll, and in 2000 it was voted number 468 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.
The song "Baltimore" was covered by Nina Simone, Nils Lofgren, The Tamlins, David Gray, Billy Mackenzie, Lianne La Havas, Jazmine Sullivan, Mink Stole, Coldfinger and Nedric Nedo. "In Germany Before the War" was covered by British band Diesel Park West on their covers album "God Only Knows" in 1992. The song "I'll Be Home", meanwhile, had been written by Newman years previously, and was originally recorded in 1970 by Harry Nilsson on his album Nilsson Sings Newman.

Track listing

Personnel

  1. "Short People" – 2:54
  2. * Backing Vocals: Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther, Tim Schmit
  3. * Bass: Klaus Voormann
  4. * Congas: Milt Holland
  5. * Drums: Jim Keltner
  6. * Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
  7. "You Can't Fool The Fatman" – 2:44
  8. * Bass: Willie Weeks
  9. * Congas: Milt Holland
  10. * Drums: Andy Newmark
  11. "Little Criminals" – 3:04
  12. * Bass: Willie Weeks
  13. * Drums: Andy Newmark, Rick Marotta
  14. * Guitar: Glenn Frey
  15. * Guitar, Guitar : Joe Walsh
  16. * Percussion: Milt Holland
  17. "Texas Girl at the Funeral of Her Father" – 2:40
  18. * Piano: Ralph Grierson
  19. "Jolly Coppers on Parade" – 3:46
  20. * Bass: Klaus Voormann
  21. * Congas: Milt Holland
  22. * Drums, Temple Blocks: Jim Keltner
  23. * Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
  24. "In Germany Before the War" – 3:39
  25. * No contributions are specified
  26. "Sigmund Freud's Impersonation of Albert Einstein in America" – 3:02
  27. * Bass: Willie Weeks
  28. * Drums: Jim Keltner
  29. "Baltimore" – 4:02
  30. * Backing Vocals: Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther
  31. * Bass: Willie Weeks
  32. * Drums: Andy Newmark, Rick Marotta
  33. * Guitar: Glenn Frey
  34. * Percussion: Milt Holland
  35. "I'll Be Home" – 2:47
  36. * Bass: Klaus Voormann
  37. * Drums: Jim Keltner
  38. * Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
  39. "Rider in the Rain" – 3:54
  40. * Backing Vocals: Don Henley, Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther
  41. * Bass: Willie Weeks
  42. * Drums: Rick Marotta
  43. * Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
  44. "Kathleen " – 3:35
  45. * Bass: Willie Weeks
  46. * Drums: Rick Marotta
  47. * Guitar: Joe Walsh
  48. * Mandolin: Ry Cooder
  49. "Old Man on the Farm" – 2:14
  50. * Piano: Randy Newman
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