''Bad Love'' is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter
Randy Newman, released on June 1, 1999. It was Newman's first solo album since 1988's ''
Land of Dreams'' and followed an 11-year hiatus during which Newman had focused on film soundtracks, receiving several
Academy Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
nominations.
Background
The album finds Newman bitter and satirical – as "biting as ever, yet unafraid to tackle personal and heartfelt concerns".
Newman tackles issues such as the state of American culture in "My Country", which chronicles suburbia's growing dependence on television, and "The World Isn’t Fair", which takes a look at the world through the eyes of
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx (; 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist, critic of political economy, and socialist revolutionary. His best-known titles are the 1848 ...
. Another subject is aging – "Shame" takes a negative look at an "older man courting a younger woman" via the barbed lyrics and an exchange between the lead vocalist and the backing singer. "I’m Dead (But I Don't Know It)" is more self-referential in dealing with aging rock stars and commenting: "Everything I write sounds the same / Each record that I’m making / Is like a record that I’ve made / Just not as good".
"Every Time It Rains" was composed for
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
but he declined to record it,
while "I Miss You" was composed for Newman's ex-wife.
Newman later said, "Before I started ''Bad Love'', I wasn't exactly sure I could do a rock 'n' roll record at 65, or however old I was. But I was satisfied that it was a good record. Maybe my best record."
This album was Newman's only release for
DreamWorks Records.
Critical reception
It received generally positive reviews from critics, placing 11th in the 1999
Pazz & Jop Critics Poll.
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
stated that the songs on ''Bad Love'' "should rest comfortably alongside his other four-star offerings."
Track listing
All songs written by Randy Newman.
Personnel
Notes
{{Authority control
Randy Newman albums
1999 albums
Albums produced by Mitchell Froom
Albums produced by Tchad Blake
DreamWorks Records albums
Albums arranged by Randy Newman
Albums conducted by Randy Newman
Albums recorded at Capitol Studios
Albums recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders