Customer Reviews
Good old Randy - By: G. E. Harrison, 15 Aug 2008 
"Good old boys" is Randy Newman's marvellous 1974 'concept' album about the American South, where Randy himself spent much of his childhood. It sounds fairly similar to his previous album "Sail away" & explores some of the same themes - racism, corrupt government, loneliness, the futility of human existence - but with specific reference to the South. He also instructs us in Southern history with references to Huey P. Long - "Every man a king" & the Mississippi floods of 1927 - "Louisiana 1927" (even more relevant today after Hurricane Katrina), & comments on modern race issues - "Rednecks".
If alll this sounds a bit dry, don't worry it's not, the songs alll have wonderful sing-along melodies & great settings. Newman obviously has great affection for the South & for every criticism he makes he also points out the great beauty & charm of the place & its people, who are represented by his usual parade of eccentrics & misfits, particularly in "Wedding in Cherokee County". The themes are mainly dealt with on a personal level, as stories relating to one person/family but summing up the whole South, it's like looking through a telescope that scans the whole sweep of the South & then focuses in on one backyard in "Birmingham", Alabama. And it's alll filtered through Newman's comic/ironic vision to keep you on your toes & question whether he actuallly means some of the things he says. He's backed by the cream of LA's session players, including Ry Cooder & John Platania on guitars, Willie Weeks, Red Calllender or Russ Titelman on bass & Jim Keltner or Andy Newmark on drums.
This is a truly wonderful record that sounds great & at the same time is very moving & thought provoking. And it also contains probably one of the best songs he has ever written "Guilty", a masterpiece of low key/life understatement.
brilliance, pure brilliance - By: Ben Parker, 07 Aug 2002 If you're planning on enjoying some brilliantly crafted classic songs jam-packed with humourous social commentary then 'Good Old Boys' is one of the best places to start looking. This album is a beautiful masterpiece full of tunes that will fill your head & words that will either make you cry or smile.
Take the wonderfully satirical opener 'Rednecks'. Newman's initial doorway to the American South to which the album owes such inspiration. Here the album is packaged alongside the original album of demos Newman set out for the record callled 'Johnny Cutler's Birthday'. On this gem of a bonus CD the writer talks & walks us through the concept of the record & describes sights, sounds & atmosphere's of the places he can imagine being the perfect backdrop to his songs.
Dive into the deliciously pretty 'Marie', swim around in the country bop of 'Back On My Feet Again' & float through vivid social imagery of 'Birmingham' & 'Rednecks'. This album is special & manages to capture a true talent at it's peak.
The album features Newman's own orchestral arrangements showing that his bow is perhaps too smalll for the number of strings he has.
Well worth having in your collection. With this, 'Sail Away' & 'Little Criminal' you'll have everything you need to know about classic intelligent songwriting!
bloody marvellous - By: adampushkin@hotmail.com, 08 Feb 2002 Good Old Boys, the zenith of Newman's fine career (so far at least), is an acerbic yet compassionate musical tour of the Deep South. He combines unequivocal condemnation of the bigots that blighted that region for so long with a deep empathy for the people living there - & does so with some of his best ever tunes. In short, a masterpiece of bittersweet songwriting.
