You're a figment of their imagination

March 15, 2018 10:03 PM

Starring Randy Newman as Devil, James Taylor as Lord, Don Henley as Faust, Elton John as Angel Rick, Linda Ronstadt as Margaret, and Bonnie Raitt as Martha: Randy Newman's Faust, a 1995 album written by the master of comedic cynicism: Cassette Side A [Lyrics sometimes NSFW]: Glory Train; Can't Keep A Good Man Down; How Great Our Lord; Best Little Girl; Northern Boy; Bless The Children Of The World; Gainesville; Relax, Enjoy Yourself

Cassette Side B: Life Has Been Good To Me, Little Island, The Man, My Hero, I Gotta Be Your Man, Feels Like Home, Bleeding All Over The Place, Sandman's Coming, Happy Ending

posted by hippybear (12 comments total)

I own this on CD. I love it. I saw the production at the Goodman. I thought somehow I was the only person in the world who knew about it (except for the rest of the audience that night, of course). Thanks for ruining my secret, hippybear!
posted by tzikeh at 12:07 AM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

Wow. Definitely something that flew under my radar. Thanks !
posted by nicolin at 4:06 AM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

Anything that serves to remind me of the incandescent perfection of Ronstadt makes it a good day. Thanks for posting!
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 4:30 AM on March 16, 2018

Newman, Ronstadt at the Odeon 1983: Linda
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 4:32 AM on March 16, 2018

Oh man I love this. We were introduced to it by French Stewart's performance of "Life Has Been Good To Me" on 3rd Rock From The Sun. Such a fun dance number (with a Newman cameo).
My youngest, in maybe third grade at the time, listed it as Favorite Song on the "about me" project.
posted by evilmomlady at 5:00 AM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]

Don't miss Randy Newman's own website where you can find a synopsis of the story plus lyrics to every song.
posted by evilmomlady at 5:10 AM on March 16, 2018 [2 favorites]

"Life Has Been Good To Me"

Well, that's a little brighter than My Life Is Good
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:19 AM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

I love this record and haven't listened to it in ages. Thanks, hippybear.
posted by overeducated_alligator at 5:58 AM on March 16, 2018

Randy Newman songs that make me cry every fucking time:
- the aforementioned Feels Like Home
- Texas Girl at the Funeral of Her Father
- When She Loved Me
- Marie
posted by overeducated_alligator at 6:13 AM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]

I own this CD, but I haven't listened to it for years. Time to dig it out. Thanks for the reminder.
posted by ceejaytee at 9:06 AM on March 16, 2018

I approve of this post. And you are fabulous for sharing it.
posted by ezust at 1:09 PM on March 16, 2018

Well, now I know what I’m doing with my Friday night.
posted by Tentacle of Trust at 7:33 PM on March 16, 2018