Album of the Day

Always a favorite with critics, Randy Newman finally scored a commercial breakthrough with 1977's LITTLE CRIMINALS. The singer-songwriter's first Top 10 album owed much of its success to satirical single “Short People,” a hit despite going over the heads of some listeners. “It's purely a joke. I like other ones on the album better but the audiences go for that one,” the performer noted at the time of release, and with such outstanding tracks as “Rider in the Rain” (featuring a couple of Eagles on backing vocals), “Baltimore” and the chilling “In Germany Before the War,” there's a lot to love here. The set's rock, jazz and orchestral touches show the talent for arrangement that Newman would soon bring to film soundtracks, and we'll give LITTLE CRIMINALS a spin now to wish the man a happy birthday.