On My Desert Island Disk List
5
By Domer 74
Long before he became known by the Hollywood crowd, Randy Newman displays his mastery. It just doesn’t get any better than this. Every track is a special jewel.
<3
5
By Tim Bombadim
Folks say this is controversial & angry. it's none of that. it's love
I'm one of those REDNECK'S Mr Newman sings about !
5
By CoonDawg Douglas
Most folks from Louisiana know the words to this album by heart. At least TIGER NATION REDNECKS do. This is a landmark work of folk art disguised as popular music. .... A true masterpiece. .... 10 BIG STARS ! 40 years after its release it still sound fresh and still taste GREAT ! Most highly intelligent music lovers will already be familiar with the 33LP / CD ... so I'm not sure of the sound quality will be up to snuff.... However lets give I-Tunes the benefit of the doubt and chance it. The entire album, each and every song is great. So kids do yourself a huge favor and show the gang YOU know what the HELL is happening. Buy this MP3 .. Give it to yourself for Christmas/Hanukkah and you will with out any doubt have a happy New Year !
A Masterpiece
5
By popmanyo
I just want to say that the review misunderstood "Rednecks." If you listen closely to the second half of the song, he clearly puts the whole nation on trial and wants us to see that there are racists in every city. Yes, he clearly makes fun of southerners in the first half, enforcing all of the stereotypes. But he does that to drive home the point in the second half of the song. His "We're rednecks" line at the end applies to everyone, not just those in the southern part of the US. The beginning part of the song, about Lester Maddox, points to this: "He may be a fool, but he's our fool / If they think they're better than them, they're wrong. I went to the park and took some paper along / That's where I wrote this song." I would expect an itunes reviewer to be more adept at recognizing the nuances of satire.
Simply put: A masterpiece.
5
By Buck Mulligan
Even if you are not a Randy Newman fan, this album should be heard and savored. It has the richness of music and emotion generally only found in great films or theater productions.
Lyrically, Good Old Boys is as satirically sophisticated as any album I’ve ever heard. Newman attacks weighty themes like race relations, social strife, and nothing short of the American Dream with humor, pathos and biting wit. Good Old Boys is equal part Mark Twain and Jonathon Swift … and that’s just the lyrical content.
The music is evocative, bluesy, beautiful, down-home, eclectic, folk-y and rock-y. Good Old Boys has so many layers of lyrical and musical richness that is only gets better over time. A triumph.
A Complete Record
4
By CWB33
This is one of the most complete albums ever written. Every song on it is good (some better than others), but I am never tempted to skip over songs because they all tell a great story. Rednecks, Mr. President (Have Pity on the working man), Naked Man and Back on My Feet Again are my favorites, but I can appreciate them all. Good Old Boys paints a picture of the South like few other albums do, and it also gives a history lesson and social commentary while entertaining listeners.
rednecks
5
By oilfieldsteve
"rednecks" is not a celebration of southern ignorance. it points out that the segregation which is pinned on "redneck ignorance" also exists in the ghettos of boston, new york, san francisco, chicago, etc.
If you think...
5
By Anarchytec
...that "Rednecks" is a critique of the south, you're not trying hard enough. And you probably got offended that Randy fluff you enough at the '08 Keynote. He's far to observant to be put into your box.
Good Old Boys and Great Old Album
5
By Zaaaa
I consider this to be Newman's greatest single work! I readily rate it as one of my top 20 albums. Unlike most albums, every song on this one is a keeper. Definitely buy this work of art, and then begin to appreciate the range of emotion you'll experience with it!
Newman writes stories of real America
5
By Mosadegh Matters
This album captures the spirit and plight of America. From top to Bottom this album is amazing. Mr. President and Louisiana 1927 are so true today just as they were when they were written.
