Written by: Randy Newman
Released: 1970
Album: 12 Songs
When I got hooked: 1998
The thing that got me hooked: Its weirdness
Apart from The Beatles, Randy Newman is my favourite when it comes to music. He has a quality in his songwriting and arrangements that no one can match (not even my favourite Beatles member Paul, with all due respect). Randy’s music is very challenging, but once you «get it» it’s a wonderful world to spend time in. Randy’s world, that is. I feel so lucky that I even discovered him cos he really has changed my life.
«Let’s Burn Down The Cornfield» is just one of many, many great songs he’s written, and it has a certain something that makes it so damn interesting. I don’t know if it’s Ry Cooder‘s spooky slide guitar, the bottle-like bass or the disturbing lyrics, but I just adore this song.
Lee Hazlewood did a cover in 1977 and he managed to rob the song of all it’s mysticism. Just compare the songs and hear yourself. One keeps you interested while the other one bores you. Goes to show that no one sings Randy Newman like Randy Newman.
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