Episode 186 : Robert Hilburn on L.A. + his Randy Newman biography

For this episode we're joined – all the way from sunny Southern California – by L.A. Times legend Robert Hilburn.

Bob beams in to discuss his new biography of the peerless Randy Newman, but we start by asking him about the early childhood memories (of his native Louisiana) that he shares with Randy himself. From there he takes us from the Eureka moment of hearing a then-unknown Elvis Presley on the radio for the first time – through his teen years in suburban SoCal – to his early freelance pieces for the Times. Which include his account of accompanying Johnny Cash to Folsom Prison in January 1968...

Bob's famously influential 1970 review of Elton John at West Hollywood's beloved Troubadour club gives us a chance to discuss the halcyon days of singer-songwriters and leads directly on to Randy Newman, whose "Troub" debut in the same year Bob also reviewed. We talk at length about the satirical genius behind 'Sail Away', 'Short People' and 'I Love L.A.', revisiting the 50-year-old Good Old Boys in depth and listening to clips from John Hutchinson's 1983 audio interview with Randy.

Many thanks to special guest Robert Hilburn. A Few Words in Defense of Our Country — The Biography of Randy Newman is published by Constable on October 22nd, 2024. Visit Robert's website at roberthilburnonline.com.