Claim OwnershipWHEEL OF RANDY - A Randy Newman Podcast
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© Dan Wade
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A Randy Newman discussion podcast. Every episode, Dan and a guest discuss two Randy Newman songs - one chosen by the guest, one chosen at random. Spin the WHEEL OF RANDY!
76 Episodes
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Well, the Wheel keeps spinning and it don't stop spinning. This episode we welcome composer and WoR fan Adam Conrad to the big show. Adam tries to cure Dan of his twin phobias of Improvisation and Music Theory. To Dan's delight, Adam goes into great detail about the left half of Randy's right hand. Then we discuss the Wright Brothers, Charlie's Angels, Mavis Staples, a whole lot of Nilsson, Vince Gill, and Bolero. And we even spend a few minutes on our actual song this week, the bittersweet "Losing You." Also, big announcement in this show. Thanks Adam!
At long last, the Pants Episode! OKC comic Caleb Collins takes a spin on the wheel as we anticipate his August 17 show with Chris Gethard. Caleb hosts my favorite open mic in Oklahoma, We're All Friends (which I mis-name about 7 times in this episode. We're All Friends. How hard is that to remember?) We talk about the challenges of enforcing a welcoming spirit at open mics, the overlap between comedy and art, and the best pizza in OKC.
Then we talk Pants. Is Pants Randy Newman's masterpiece? Maybe not, but man, there's nothing like it. Pants turns into a discussion of Born Again, and Dan cites a critic who calls that album "A Testament to 70's Toxic Masculinity."
See Caleb this Thursday night, or every Monday at Friendly's. Dammit I did it again.
Friend of the Show Cora from Berlin joins us this episode, as we tackle the enigmatic "Sigmund Freud's Impersonation of Albert Einstein in America". Cora knows a lot more about Einstein and Freud than me, and gives some important historical context, as well as the always-appreciated European's perspective on America.
We discuss "The Tobacconist", Nilsson, Die Geschwister Pfister, Baseball, and the Conquest of Guam. As one does.
Then Oklahoma's very reasonable Secretary of Education enters the discussion, and Dan has to add some sound effects.
Cora is a brilliant guest, and I was glad to have her on. This is a good one, folks.
Author Greg Renoff joins us on the wheel - Greg is the author of Van Halen Rising, and Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life in Music. Eagle-eyed Randy fans will recognize Ted Templeman as the front man of Harper's Bizarre, the sunshine pop band that put out a bunch of Randy covers back in the day.
Greg and I talk about Ted's career, as well as Sammy vs. David, Van Morrison, Lenny Waronker, Ry Cooder, Van Dyke Parks, Little Feat, Chunky Novi & Ernie, and lots of Randy. Greg gives us some tidbits I'd never heard before about a couple of Randy songs - in fact, these tidbits are down-right ungoogleable. Listen to find out, and impress your friends at your local pub's next Randy Newman Trivia Night.
Thanks Greg, this one was a lot of fun.
Thanks for listening everybody, and be sure to vote for TALL PERSON for best OKC Cover Band at okgazette.com.
Saddle up, youse guys. The Wheel welcomes nerdcore wunderkid Cowboy Coder to the show. We talk about his tutelage under MC Lars, the challenge of a genre-defying artist, and what Handel's Messiah and Despocito have in common.
Cowboy Coder and Dan break down Masterman and Baby J, where Randy treads the minefield of 80's white novelty rap. But against all odds, we agree that he pulls it off.
Thanks for spinning, CC, let's hope you're touring soon.
(Stay tuned til the very end for a surprise).
Today's songs:
Masterman and Baby J
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygaA2TKOueU
and
Roll With the Punches
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBoddSdyWe0
Hey! Da zop bon lonay! Hop ta deep da labba dop don lone! The WHEEL welcomes the one and only Scotty Morris from BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY. We talk Louie Prima, Keely Smith, Rockabilly, and a whole lot of Randy. What kept Dan out of the Swing Scene in the 90s? What was it like for Scotty to play with Stevie Wonder? And what does Scotty REALLY think of Brian Setzer?
Then we break down the Randy song that Sinatra shot down, Lonely at the Top. Find out why Streisand passed on the song, and the not-so-scandalous reason Scotty changed one word on BBVD's version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wuiiqnlex0
Thanks Scotty! You're a champ.
Locals: don't forget this Saturday night, Dan will be performing at Rodeo Cinema in fragrant Stockyard City. Grab your tickets whilst you can.
https://www.ticketstorm.com/event/tallpersonatributetorandynewman/rodeotheaterstockyards/oklahomacity/27798/
Lucky you, listener. Because today you get to meet one of my favorite people, Suzette Chang - founder of Thick Descriptions, and the Educational Director of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
Suzette and I talk about the... opportunities of living in Oklahoma, what's new at the Cowboy Museum, STEM in historically black communities, Toy Story, and the best bacon you've ever tasted.
We break down Randy's 1968 lament to the open range, Cowboy. Is he just mourning the loss of the innocence of childhood, or the ever-changing nature of The West?
Suzette's the best, and you need to get to know her better. Check out her website at www.thickdescriptions.org
Don't forget Dan's concert on April 8 at Rodeo Cinema in Stockyards City - Tickets available at
https://www.ticketstorm.com/event/tallpersonatributetorandynewman/rodeotheaterstockyards/oklahomacity/27798/
Happy 2023, Wheelies. We are joined by Kat Lock, whose new EP premieres this Friday. Locals, come check out her opening party Friday Night at the Blue Note. Kat brings her astrology expertise to profile Randy, and her results are uncannily accurate. Then we discuss the D*** G*** S***, They Just Got Married - Kat figures it out right away, the smarty. Then the Wheel gets sad, and Saint Etienne enters the discussion.
Songs we discuss include:
Forever Boy:
https://youtu.be/_EUJphireJs
They Just Got Married:
https://youtu.be/meTsHu9tuuw
Wandering Boy:
https://youtu.be/I2s1WNagdA0
This Week's Cover --- Snow, by Saint Etienne
https://youtu.be/J47mDIovJKY
We're closing out 2022 with a real treat. The legendary Tom Paxton joins Dan over the phone, and Dan is truly starstruck. We talk about Tom's favorite Randy songs, plus Woody Guthrie, Dylan, Dave Van Ronk, Chad Mitchell, and a whole lot of Pete Seeger.
Then friend-of-the-show Mary from Lansdale joins us for an after-show, where we talk Inside Llewyn Davis, and help separate fact from fiction regarding the NYC Folk Scene. Plus Dan makes fun of Suzanne Vega.
If you don't know Tom's work, here's a primer for you:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0mzkM10DEn5LKhvMhbdPTK?si=PvsrkBP2R9-SiSkoG8zRwA
See you next year, wheelies!
I'm thrilled to have Eban Schletter on the latest episode of the Wheel. Eban has worked on Mr. Show, SpongeBob, Another Period, and another example. More importantly, he composed my favorite Halloween album, Eban Schletter's Witching Hour. We talk about the challenges of scoring a movie, our mutual love of Ennio Morricone, and the challenges of breathing with a theremin.
Eban brings to the show So Long Dad, off of Randy's eponymous album. Behind the son's cheery disposition, is there contempt for his old man? Or is this kid just really really good at setting boundaries? Plus Manfred Mann enters the chat.
Exactly how many Randy Newman podcasts are there out there? Not enough, I say!
This week we welcome Tristan Miller, host of the Randy fancast "You Got a Friend in Me." Don't worry, we have a few things in common.
Tristan helps me unveil the long-awaited results of our listener poll, and we announce the Top 10 Randy Songs of All Time. Tristan and I each have a song on this list we're not crazy about, and lots of surprises await.
Plus, who got snubbed? Who got flubbed? And who is the weirdo who voted for Pants?
Thanks Tristan, you're the best!
Check out their podcasts:
You Got a Friend in Me: https://anchor.fm/you-got-a-friend-in-me
And
Focus Testing: https://www.tristanjmiller.com/focus-testing
Folks, this is what we call A GET. The one and only Andy Kindler takes a spin to kick off Season Three. Andy is your favorite comedian's favorite comedian, and it will only take a few minutes of listening for you to find out why.
Andy serenades us with his signature tune, "Karen," gives a Dylan impression, and of course talks Randy. Specifically, we discuss the beautiful and hilarious "Wedding in Cherokee County".
This week's songs:
A Wedding in Cherokee County (Remastered) - YouTube
William Brown - YouTube
LOOK ANDY! I MADE SHOW NOTES!
Owen Ashworth (Advance Base, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone) joins Dan on a "Kind of Christmas-y" episode of Wheel of Randy. Dan once again walks the sycophantic tightrope, trying to express his extreme fandom without scaring poor Owen. We discuss Owen's Christmas songs, his 2024 album Horrible Occurrences, and some of his many covers over the years, including our mutual respect for Bill Fox. Plus Huey Lewis and juicy Antarctic history!Owen chose "Last Night I Had A Dream", Randy's cryptic (or maybe just meaningless) dream, which Randy absolutely flies through on his 1971 live album. Owen walks me through the intricacies of telling a story in so few words, as well as the roller coaster of emotions that album puts the audience through. Then Dan discovers Fanny. (Sorry UK folks)Check out Owen at advancebase.bandcamp.comSongs from this episode:From Randy Newman Live:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_jg9ayxyjgFrom Sail Away:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tXHBGnGf1gThis Week's Cover -- Fanny:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDH2N7RCNwI&list=RDjDH2N7RCNwI&start_radio=1Merry Christmas, Wheelies!Dan
Evan Hughes, the godfather of Tulsa Comedy, joins us on the Wheel. Dan and Evan talk about the complications of the modern comedy scene, the synergy between OKC and Tulsa creatives, and the challenges of performing as a problematic character.
Then we talk about Randy's incel anthem, Lover's Prayer.
TULSA PEOPLE! My next show is February 10, 6:30 pm at Saied Music South, 9320 E 71st Street. Hector Ultreras is opening, and the show is free! It's gonna be a hootenanny.
Thanks Evan! You're the best.
It's not often that Dan gets star-struck, but Billy Jonas is the exception. For 3 decades, Billy has turned both folk music and children's music on their ear, creating a gentle but principled sound that encourages everyone to find their own voice and claim their musical birthright. Dan is a big fan, and you will be too.
Billy breaks down Randy's "Potholes", a lament on growing old, complete with ex-wives, weird fathers, and childhood trauma. Trust me, it's more fun than it sounds.
Parental guide: This episode is rated G, although the song itself (Potholes) does include some adult language.
Thanks Billy! You're the best!
Spleen the Wheel? Is that anything?
Fellow WPRB enthusiast George Korein takes a spin. We talk about the difference between making music before and after your 20s, bizarre Swedish Christmas rituals, and a new spin on PANTS (a song I thought I had analyzed to death). Then we take on the Don Henley - inspired "I'm Dead", and the audacity of not being young. Thanks George!
Welcome back, Wheelies. If you don't know Joel, you're in for a treat. This guy knows his stuff, and I can see why Mrs. Wheel formed a friendship with him way back when. We break down the bummer of a song "Song For The Dead" and how it stands out from the glut of "Vietnam was sad, actually" rock songs. Want a fun activity? Break out a spreadsheet while you listen and list all the bands we discuss. Then send it to me. wheelofrandy@gmail.com
Thanks Joel!
Content Warning: Racial Slur in the song (but not in the podcast).
Friend of the show Michial Farmer joins us on this week's (month's?) Wheel of Randy. Michial wrote a lovely review of Born Again a few years ago, and was kind enough to expand on that essay with me.
We cover the little-known, and even less-well-understood, Mr. Sheep. Michial breaks down how easy it is to misunderstand Randy's intentions, and by the end our narrator is in the running for being Randy's dopiest character.
Then I ask the audience to create a cover, and you can almost hear the smugness in my voice when I correctly pronounce MOOG.
Plus Tootsie, Animal House, and John Updike. Try getting all that out of Jokermen.
Also, announcements on new tall-person.com shows.
It's Year Four of Wheel of Randy, and we kick this season off with the one and only Gary Norris, Randy's archivist. Gary has a breadth and depth of knowledge that makes me feel like a noobie, but he's no snob by any means. We talk about his 50-year relationship with Randy; plus Cop Rock, Cats Don't Dance, the could-have-been Jimi Hendrix connection, and how Queen has made sure Gary's collection will never be complete. Spin it!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2XHAC3eyDkIkm4HGRzCBsQ?si=R6vWi1kDRBCopBV9b7gDSg
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