Top 10 Randy Newman Songs

Photo: Hans van Dijk (ANEFO) [CC0]

When we think of the term professional songwriter, names such as Carole King, Burt Bacharach, George Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lennon and McCartney, and a few other legends come to mind. When we think in terms of professional songwriters with a sarcastic attitude and great sense of humor, names like Frank Zappa, Donald Fagen, and Walter Becker come to mind. Think of a professional songwriter with a sarcastic attitude, great sense of humor, and a penchant for composing big-time Hollywood soundtrack scores and hits; no other name shines so brightly as Randy Newman.

Our Top 10 Randy Newman songs list features ten essential compositions and recordings by one of the most prolific songwriters in popular music. So many great Randy Newman songs have been released over the past 40 years that it’s almost impossible to choose 10. We nearly decided to do two lists, singling out the Randy Newman songs composed for film and those just released on his solo albums. We could have also created a third list featuring all the Randy Newman songs written for or recorded by other artists, such as Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Harry Nilsson, Three Dog Night, and Dusty Springfield, among others. Ultimately, we decided to go with a top 10 essential Randy Newman songs list. It’s more fun to be forced to choose only 10, and it usually irks a lot of readers, especially those who are big fans of the artist we are covering.

Randy Newman has released 11 solo studio albums throughout his career. His first album, Randy Newman, was released in 1968. His most recent solo studio album remains Dark Matter, released in 2017. Randy Newman has also composed scores for numerous Hollywood films. His first full film score was for Cold Turkey in 1971. His latest film score is Toy Story 5, released in 2026.

Before we embark on our top 10 Randy Newman songs list, we should also mention that his incredibly prolific songwriting has won many awards for his songwriting and scoring abilities. In the major award categories, such as those presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Randy Newman has been nominated for 22 Academy Awards. Of those twenty-two nominations, Randy Newman took home the award in 2002 for the song “If I Didn’t Have You” and in 2011 for “We Belong Together.”

Randy Newman has also been nominated for 24 Grammy Awards and has won the Grammy 7 times. The Golden Globe Awards have nominated Randy Newman seven times. Randy Newman’s success in scoring music for all those legendary animated films such as Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., and Cats Don’t Dance has also earned him multiple Annie Awards.

With all these music and film awards, an abundance of television and film soundtracks, plus eleven brilliant studio albums, Randy Newman has built a fantastic legacy of music. We hope our written introduction to the world of Randy Newman and this small sampling of Randy Newman songs entice you to explore the wonderful world of Randy Newman.

# 10 – Short People

We open up our Top 10 Randy Newman songs list with one of the artist’s most popular songs. This one was a big hit in the 1970s, and boy, did it tick off a lot of people. It’s the perfect song to introduce people of all heights to Randy Newman’s sense of humor. Newman crafted the song through the lens of a biased narrator, providing a unique perspective in the storytelling. The song “Short People” was released in 1977. The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

# 9 – It’s Money That Matters

Continuing in the tradition of songs like “Short People” and “I Love L.A.,” Randy Newman’s sarcastic sense of humor is on full display in the great song “It’s Money That Matters.” The song was released in 1988 on the album Land of Dreams. The song also featured the guitar work of legendary guitarist Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits.

# 8 – A Few Words in Defense of Our Country

The wit of Randy Newman is on full display in this great song, “A Few Words in Defense of Our Country.” The song was released on the Harps and Angels album in 2008. It is widely hailed as one of the greatest albums of the 21st century. Randy Newman took the helm as pianist and bandleader, with Greg Cohen on bass, Steve Donnelly on guitar, and Pete Thomas on drums. Greg Leisz added texture with the pedal steel guitar and acoustic slide guitar, while Mitchell Froom rounded out the ensemble with his work on the keyboard and organ.

# 7 – Louisiana 1927

This classic Randy Newman song dates back to 1974, when it was released on his Good Old Boys album. The song was written about the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. The song opens with a beautiful string line that could have been perfectly placed in a 1960s Western movie. It would have also fit very nicely on Billy Joel’s Street Life Serenade album.

# 6 – Sail Away

Sail Away (Expanded & Remastered Edition)

In a similar fashion to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The U.S.A.,” Randy Newman’s song “Sail Away” was widely misunderstood. “Sail Away” was a brilliant, sarcastic statement about the horrors of slavery. The song was released on the Sail Away album in 1972. This one starts immediately with Randy Newman’s passionate vocal surrounded by a lush string line—one of our all-time favorite Randy Newman songs and easily one of his most popular recordings.

# 5 – You’ve Got a Friend in Me

Every kid around the globe knows this one: the classic theme song from the original Toy Story animated film. The piano introduction is just so addicting in a very Elton John-like sense. The song’s wonderful lyrics and melody perfectly complement the animated film, which has become one of the most beloved kids’ films ever released.

# 4 – Feels Like Home

This beautiful song, written by Randy Newman, was given the Bonnie Raitt treatment when she recorded it for Randy Newman’s Faust soundtrack. Randy Newman’s own version was released on his Harps and Angels album. This is a real beauty and defines just how brilliant a songwriter Randy Newman has always been.

# 3 – I Love L.A.

“I Love L.A.” is one of the most popular Randy Newman songs in the artist’s catalog. The incredible video featured here only added to the song’s wit and humor. “I Love L.A.” was released in 1983 on the album Trouble in Paradise. The song never made it onto the Billboard Hot 100. However, it got heavy rotation on MTV, which helped fuel the song’s popularity.

# 2 – Mama Told Me Not to Come

Most music fans who grew up in the 1970s know this one from Three Dog Night’s classic version. Nonetheless, check out Randy Newman’s own version, released on the album 12 Songs. Randy Newman’s original version is much faster and more straightforward than Three Dog Night’s slow funky version. There is enough room in this world for both versions, don’t you think?

# 1 – She Chose Me

This beautiful Randy Newman song, “She Chose Me,” closes out our top 10 Randy Newman songs list because it’s one of the most heartfelt songs we have ever heard. The song was released on Randy Newman’s 2017 album Dark Matter. Randy Newman provided the piano and vocals, with Matt Chamberlain on drums, David Piltch handling the bass, and Blake Mills playing the guitar. Additionally, Mitchell Froom contributed additional keyboards.