Our Top 10 Randy Newman songs list looks at ten essential compositions and recordings created 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 also could have made a third list presenting all the Randy Newman songs written for other artists or at least recorded by other artists such as Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Harry Nilsson, Three Dog Night, Dusty Springfield, and so on. 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 ticks off a lot of readers, especially those who are big-time fans of the artist we are covering.
Randy Newman has released 11 solo albums throughout his career. His first album, Randy Newman, was released in 1968. His most recent album, as of this writing in 2024, was released two years ago in 2017 and entitled Dark Matter. Randy Newman scored the music for twenty-eight Hollywood films in between solo albums. Newman’s first film score was released in 1970 for Performance.
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 significant league categories, such as those presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Randy Newman has been nominated for twenty Academy Awards. Of those twenty 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 sixteen Grammy Awards while taking home the Grammy six times. The Golden Globe Awards called for Randy Newman, nominating him six 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 earned him four Annie Awards.
With all these music and film awards, an abundance of television and film soundtracks, plus eleven brilliant studio albums, Randy Newman has left behind 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 all the way to 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 Dire Straits Mark Knopfler.
# 8 – A Few Words in Defense of Our Country
The wit of Randy Newman is in full display in this great song, “A Few Words in Defense of Our Country.” The song was released on the Harps and Angels album, which was released in 2008. It is widely hailed as one of the greatest albums of the 21st century. Randy Newman took the helm as the pianist and bandleader, with Greg Cohen on bass, Steve Donnelly on guitar, and Pete Thomas behind the 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 goes back to 1974 when it was released on Randy Newman’s Good Old Boys album. The song was written about the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. The song opens up with a beautiful string line that sounds like it 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
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 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 fit perfectly with the animated film that has become one of the most loved 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 original version was released on his Harps And Angels album. This is a real beauty and defines just how brilliant of 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 Top 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 Choose Me
This beautiful Randy Newman song, “She Choose 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 album Dark Matter, which was released in 2017. 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 on additional keyboards.
More great Randy Newman songs complied by John Tabacco
Ghosts – from “Born Again”
Bless The Children of the World – from “Faust”
Dexter’s Tune – from “Awakenings”
Even If It Rains – performed by Eric Bibb
Sandman – from “Faust”
Relax Enjoy Yourself – from “Faust”
Laugh and be Happy – from Guilty: 30 Years Of Randy Newman
It’s Money That I Love – from “Born Again”
My Life Is Good – from ” Trouble in Paradise”
Marie – from “Good Old Boys”
Piece Of The Pie – from “Harps And Angels”
Political Science – from “Sail Away”
Real Emotional Girl – from ” Trouble in Paradise”
In Germany Before The War – from “Little Criminals”