VOX HOLLOWAY – THE SONGS OF RANDY NEWMAN
ST LUKE’S HOLLOWAY February 15 2025
Since Vox began, we have celebrated the music of songwriters and performers such as The Kinks, Clara Sanabras, Johnny Cash, Nina Simone, Monica Vasconcelos and many others.
Sometimes in complete performances of albums or in compilations of favourite songs – but always in new arrangements for soloists choir and band by Harvey Brough.
Now we turn the spotlight on Randy Newman, one of the most unusual of the great American singer songwriters. His family are a Hollywood musical dynasty – Alfred, Emil, Lionel, Thomas Newman were all film music composers.
Randy began his career as a songwriter for hire in the Brill Building (alongside Carole King, Mike Stoller, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil) knocking out pop songs for more (or less) established artists to perform.
He then began to write and record his own songs, releasing a string of 11 albums between 1968 and 2017.
His first single was the American football based Golden Gridiron Boy – an unlikely shot at the charts from this bespectacled artist, whose featured look was more geography teacher than rock star.
Unlike most singer songwriters who wear their hearts prominently on their sleeves, Randy Newman often wrote in character – his songs feature a rogue’s gallery of dodgy types, ordinary joes, sleaze-balls, (even the voice of a slave trader in Sail Away), giving many of his songs a determinedly edgy atmosphere which can unsettle the listener. He has said that he has never written a song for (to) a specific person, although admitting that one of his most touching songs I Miss You was written for his first wife, after leaving her for his second marriage.
His songs can be acerbic but also hysterically funny – You’re Dead is an ode to a washed out rock star who still insists on treading the boards. Short People, a song that is very funny to some, caused huge offence among the diminutive sector of American society, but can be read as a parody of racism.
We won’t perform all of the songs mentioned here, (for legal reasons) but we will sing a fabulous selection of Randy Newman’s oeuvre, an array of songs which range from exquisitely touching to hilariously offensive (often at his own expense) with all shades in between.
With Dan Moriyama – Piano
Mike Outram – Guitar
Dan Copeland – Voice
Arranged and directed by Harvey Brough
VOX HOLLOWAY SALUTES THE SPECIALS
THE ALEXANDRA PALACE THEATRE April 12 2025
Jerry Dammers has written some amazing and very influential songs. He has given us permission to perform their third album. Their first album was revolutionary – the group was a black and white mix – and the songs were heavily influenced by ska and reggae. Their second album reflects Jerry’s interest in muzak and was equally successful.
For me, the third album is the best of all – in spite of the original group having broken up, with the Fun Boy Three leaving after More Specials.
It’s called In The Studio (ironically because they spent over two years making it). It has a wealth of fine songs – the only one that was a chart success was Free Nelson Mandela, a hugely important part of the campaign for his release. The other songs are equally strong and varied, touching on themes that were important to Jerry in 1984 and still resonate today – about racism, social issues, mental instability – they are musically very sophisticated (with some humour in them) – singing these songs will be a powerful experience.
Vox Holloway 