Randy Newman

If ever a musical albatross hung around a genius' neck, it would be "Short People." Certain addle-brained audience members didn't get the joke, and it's overshadowed much of Randy Newman's worthier work. It did, however, hit #1. For poignancy, though, check out "Louisiana 1927." Try not to think of Hurricane Katrina.

Part of Randy Newman's brilliance derives from his sense of history (both musical and political) and his faith in the common man. "The Great Nations of Europe," for instance, tells of 16th-century exploration and the subsequent annihilation of indigenous peoples while warning us that yesterday's conqueror may be tomorrow's vanquished. Very impressive.

As you get deeper into Randy Newman's recordings, pay attention to how his tunes are arranged. From the solo piano of "Ghosts" to the brass band backing "Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong," Newman adroitly fashions the songs' musical backdrop the way a jeweler would craft a setting for a precious stone.

Young Randy Newman dropped out of UCLA's music program when the lure of a recording contract beckoned, and over the course of the next 30-odd years he has become one of America's most respected songsmiths. His wry reflections on the human condition and his seemingly endless font of musical concepts have made him a favorite with filmmakers and an occasional competitor on the Pop charts with performers who are far more telegenic — and far less intelligent.