Still have that L. A. thing going. I remembered this one from a Battle of the Bands Stephen T. McCarthy had in November 2017 (hard to believe it was over two years ago). It’s from Randy Newman’s 1983 album Trouble In Paradise. When originally released as a single, it reached #110 on the Billboard "Bubbling Under" chart; the following year, when L. A. hosted the Summer Olympics, Nike used it in their commercials featuring Carl Lewis and Mary Decker, and it became a huge local hit. The song features Steve Lukather, David Paich, and Jeff Porcaro from Toto, Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac, and session musician Waddy Wachtel, Michael Boddicker, Larry Williams, and Nathan East.
12 thoughts on “Song of the Day: Randy Newman, “I Love L. A.””
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There was a period a few years ago I’d travel to LA for work. I’d have to get from somewhere to somewhere else on any number of freeways and be stuck on all of them…..the 10, the 5, the damn 405. And I’d play this song from my phone through the rental car over and over and it’d calm me down. I’d also play the CHiPs theme song. Weird? Yep. But whatever works to stay calm for LA traffic!
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I remember you were out there a lot at one point. Where were you working, specifically? (LA is a whole bunch of smaller cities, not to mention a great big freeway.)
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Generally was close to LAX but occasionally had to head to Orange County or the valley …typically Burbank as well.
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I really liked this guy 💜
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He wrote some great songs. I had one of his albums from back in the early ’70’s, and really liked it.
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He was/is? So talented 💜
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As a Dodger fan I really like this one..it’s played after a Dodger win.
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It’s a good song and came at the end of a lengthy hiatus. I can see playing it at the end of a ballgame.
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Of course I see it only on TV since i live in Nashville but it reminds me of the Dodgers because I hear it every time they interview the players after the game.
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Oh I actually like this song and I am not a fan of Randy Newman because he seems like such an arrogant snot.
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He writes (mostly) good songs. I haven’t seen an interview with him, nor have I seen him on the street. I saw Stevie Wonder at the Newark Airport once, but he didn’t see me…
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