Bad Love (album)

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. 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 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. Scott Manzler stated "Bad Love ultimately falls short of Newman's early '70s masterworks," while AllMusic stated the songs on Bad Love "should rest comfortably alongside his other four-star offerings."

Track listing

All songs written by Randy Newman.

1. "My Country" - 5.40
2. "Shame" - 4.54
3. "I'm Dead (But I Don't Know It)" - 3.25
4. "Every Time It Rains" - 3.33
5. "The Great Nations of Europe" - 3.26
6. "The One You Love" - 3.39
7. "The World Isn't Fair" - 2.44
8. "Big Hat, No Cattle" - 4.24
9. "Better Off Dead" - 4.03
10. "I Miss You" - 3.55
11. "Going Home" - 2.06
12. "I Want Everyone to Like Me" - 2.59

Personnel