Album of the Day

Randy Newman's debut album featured orchestral arrangements, 12 SONGS a rock band setting, and a live follow-up was just the singer-songwriter and his piano. “Then came SAIL AWAY, in which I combined the three elements that made the earlier albums such failures,” joked Newman of his third studio collection. While not a commercial hit on release (it's been a consistent seller in years since), the 1972 Reprise release drew reams of critical praise, and justifiably so. From the opening title track to closing “God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind).” this is among the darkest, funniest and most insightful set of songs ever recorded. SAIL AWAY was named one of the 500 greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone, and we'll give the sardonic masterpiece another spin today in honor of Randy Newman's birthday.