JustSheetMusic
Portrait of Randy Newman

Composer

Randy Newman

American singer-songwriter and pianist

b. 1943

178 works in the index

Born
1943
Died
0
Birthplace
Los Angeles
Citizenship / historical state
United States
Period (estimated from birth year)
Contemporary

Biography

Newman is a composer and lyricist, as well as a performer (vocals and piano) known for bitingly satirical words that accompany 40s-style melodies. One example of this combination is “Short People,” a song written from the point of view of an absurdly bigoted narrator: “They got little baby legs That stand so low You got to pick ‘em up Just to say hello.”

Music critic Ellen Willis wrote that Newman’s voice “makes me think of wet sand being eased out of a bottle.”

Newman also composed and performed “It’s A Jungle Out There,” which became the theme song for the television show Monk beginning with its second season. The lyrics here express the obsessive-compulsive view of the world that distinguishes the show’s protagonist, Adrian Monk. There was some controversy, because many fans preferred the instrumental music that had served as the theme song in the first season, but Newman’s song seems to have won them over in time.

In this catalogue

Common listed instruments
Piano, Voice, Guitar, Vocal, Organ
Genres represented
Rock, pop, Jazz, Disney, Folk
Works with composition dates
0 of 178

These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.

Catalogue

Works page 3 of 4

Years are composition dates where known. Instruments describe editions in our catalogue and may include arrangements. A dash means the detail is not recorded.

Works and available sheet music details
WorkYear composedCatalogue / opusKey in titleListed instrumentsGenreEditions
Our Town Rock, pop 1
Down In New Orleans Guitar, VoiceRock, pop 5
My Country Piano, VocalRock, pop 1
Better Off Dead Piano, VocalJazz, Rock, pop 1
The One You Love Piano, VocalJazz, Rock, pop 1
Shame Piano, VocalJazz, Rock, pop 1
Big Hat, No Cattle Piano, VocalRock, Country, pop 1
I'm Dead Piano, VocalRock, pop 1
Every Time It Rains Piano, VocalRock, pop 1
I Want Everyone to Like Me Piano, VocalJazz, Rock, pop 1
Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear Piano, VocalJazz, Rock, pop 1
Going Home Piano, VocalRock, pop 1
Toy Story PianoFilm and TV 1
Seabiscuit PianoFilm and TV 1
Bet No One Ever Hurt This Bad Piano, Guitar, Vocaleasy listening 1
Miami Guitar, VoiceRock, pop 2
Blue Shadows Guitar, VoiceRock, pop 2
Happy Ending Guitar, VoiceRock, pop 2
You Can't Keep A good Man Down Guitar, VoiceRock, pop 2
Make Up Your Mind Guitar, VoiceRock, pop 2
Forever Guitar, VoiceRock, pop 2
Boo Is A Cube PianoRock, pop 1
Kitty PianoRock, pop 1
Randall Appears PianoRock, pop 1
Randall's Attack PianoRock, pop 1
Bad Love Piano, VocalRock, pop 1
Randy Newman Anthology Piano, VocalRock, pop 1
Fool in Love, A Piano, Vocal 0
Almost There Piano, Vocal 6
Heaven Is My Home (from "Michael") Guitar, VoiceRock, pop 1
My Life is Good Guitar, VoiceRock, pop 1
Let Me Go Piano, Organ, Guitar, VoiceRock, pop 1
Boo Escapes PianoRock, pop
Boo's Adventures In Monstropolis PianoRock, pop 0
Boo's Going Home PianoRock, pop 0
Celia's Mad PianoRock, pop
Exile PianoRock, pop 0
Mike's In Trouble PianoRock, pop 0
Monsters Inc. PianoRock, pop 1
Putting Boo Back PianoRock, pop 0
The Ride Of The Doors PianoRock, pop 0
The Scream Extractor PianoRock, pop 0
School PianoRock, pop 0
Sulley Scares Boo PianoRock, pop 0
Waternoose Is Waiting PianoRock, pop 0
A Bug's Life Suite Rock, pop 1
Real Gone Rock, pop 1
Route 66 Rock, pop 1

Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. Authority record: VIAF 47557171. Portrait: Angela George, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.