Most people think of him only for "Short People", "I Love L. A.", and a host of film scores. His music, in fact, is much more diverse than that. He has written hundreds of songs that became hits for other artists. His unusual style of writing story songs from a contoversial point of view, often that of unsympathetic characters ("Sail Away", "Rednecks", "In Germany Before the War"), make him not only one of America's most important songwriters, but eminently deserving of induction in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

big frickin' dork

if not for Disney.

Too many lame Disney songs lately, but one can't deny his legecy, especailly in the 1970s.

One of the great songwriters of our time or any time. Paul Simon praised Newman's song "Sail Away" as one that he wished that he'd written himself. Simon appeared on Newman's "Trouble in Paradise" album. Not enough of a rocker? Tell that to the members of the Eagles who sang on his albums, or Hall Members Eric Burdon and Alan Price who recorded his songs. (If you don't know who Alan Price is, I direct you to the organ playing on The Animal's "House of the Rising Sun.") Or listen to Mark Knopfler playing on "It's Money That Matters" from the "Land of Dreams" album. Who else has recorded his songs? Three Dog Night, of course; they made Newman's "Mama Told Me Not to Come" into a hit in 1970. Then there is Judy Collins, Joe Cocker, Nilsson, James Taylor, Aaron Neville, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Bette Midler, and Tom Jones. I'm sure there are others.

The person who dismissed Newman for writing movie soundtracks chooses to ignore the fact that his first soundtrack, "Ragtime" didn't come out until after his first seven albums. Newman is capable of doing whatever he wants to; if you prefer straight rock, "I Love L.A" fits the bill. If you want a song that recalls his Southern roots, try "Louisiana 1927" which was heard often in the days after Katrina, mainly as sung by Aaron Neville. If you want sexually suggestive, try "You Can Leave Your Hat On" or, even better, "Shame" from Newman's 1999 album "Bad Love." If you want to dismiss him or somehow categorize him, I suggest that you move on to another artist or buy a ton of his CD's, listen to them intensely for a couple of months and then return to this list.

not my cup, but he's had a ton of momensts.
May come up "SHORT", people.

no, but he should be in the lame songs nominated for oscars hall of fame.

No

Short People and mamby pamby song-writers have no business in the Hall. This guy has been making money from movie soundtracks for decadees. let's leave him OUT. he doesn't have a rockin' bone in his body.

Whilst he received a lot of critical acclaim. I feel that today his own recordings really do not stand up that well and are thus overrated. To my ears, they sound too slight and lacking in genuine emotion, even if you do get the humour behind his lyrics which is not something I myself have a great tendency to fall for. One might admire his cynicism, but without music to back it up one cannot say he ranks in the highest league even among artists of his type.

One of the greatest songwriters of all time. Sail Away is a great song and album.

Anyone who can write a song that creates a huge public outcry from idiots who didn't understand the satire ("Don't Want no Short People") epitomizes what rock and roll is to me - which is to take chances and do what hasn't been done before - so I think he does deserve serious consideration for The Hall.

Randy Newman wrote some clever socially concious songs but he's definietely not worthy of the HOF.

randy newman isn't rock and roll.