THE MARQUEE
Bob Dylan has signaled his deep admiration for fellow musician Randy Newman, labeling him the "Crown Prince" of American songwriting. In comments from a 2009 interview with Bill Flanagan for the Huffington Post that have recently recirculated, Dylan described Newman as the "heir apparent to Jelly Roll Morton." Dylan specifically highlighted Newman’s ability to convey significant messages through a deceptively laid-back and simple musical style.
The Nobel Prize laureate singled out several of Newman’s early compositions for their exceptional craft, including "Louisiana 1927" and "Sail Away." Dylan noted that he appreciates Newman’s "bordello songs" where the artist keeps the arrangements simple. "His style is deceiving," Dylan told Flanagan. "He's so laid back that you kind of forget he's saying important things.”
Dylan emphasized in a 1991 interview with Paul Zollo for SongTalk that Newman’s talent lies in his technical knowledge of music, suggesting that Newman writes better songs than many performers who focus more on stage presence. While Newman might not "knock your socks off" with a high-energy performance, Dylan explained that Newman has songwriting down to an art form. The praise places Newman alongside other artists Dylan has famously admired, such as John Prine and Johnny Cash.
