Little Criminals

This article is about the music album. For the 1995 film, see Little Criminals (film).

Little Criminals
Studio album by Randy Newman
Released	October 1977
Recorded	July–September 1977 Warner Bros. Recording Studios, North Hollywood, and The Burbank Studios
Genre	Rock
Length	38:21
Label	Warner Bros. Reprise Records
Producer	Lenny Waronker, Russ Titelman
Randy Newman chronology
Good Old Boys (1974) Little Criminals (1977) Born Again (1979)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	(B+)
Rolling Stone

Little Criminals is a 1977 album from Randy Newman. Like most of Newman's work, the album eschews traditional pop-music themes (there is not one love song on the album) in favor of musical story-telling, often featuring quirky characters and cynical views. The first song on the album — "Short People" — became a hit single in its own right. The album itself peaked at #9 on the US Billboard 200 chart, Newman's highest-charting album to date.

Some of the instrumental work and backing vocals on the album are performed by the Eagles, who are listed in the album credits individually, not by group name.

Newman wrote, conducted and played keyboards on all tracks. Synthesizers were programmed by Michael Boddicker.

The song "Baltimore" was covered by Nina Simone, Nils Lofgren, The Tamlins, David Gray and Billy Mackenzie.

In September 1977, the British music magazine, NME reported the following interview with Newman talking about his then new release. "There's one song about a child murderer," Newman deadpans. "That's fairly optimistic. Maybe. There's one called 'Jolly Coppers on Parade' which isn't an absolutely anti-police song. Maybe it's even a fascist song. I didn't notice at the time. There's also one about me as a cowboy called 'Rider in the Rain.' I think it's ridiculous. The Eagles are on there. That's what's good about it. There's also this song 'Short People.' It's purely a joke. I like other ones on the album better but the audiences go for that one."

Track listing

All songs composed by Newman with Newman on Keyboards and synthesizer. Additional synthesizer (and synthesizer programming) by Mike Boddicker.

1. "Short People" - 2:54
   • Backing Vocals: Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther, Tim Schmit
   • Bass: Klaus Voormann
   • Congas: Milt Holland
   • Drums: Jim Keltner
   • Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
2. "You Can't Fool The Fatman" - 2:44
   • Bass: Willie Weeks
   • Congas: Milt Holland
   • Drums: Andy Newmark
3. "Little Criminals" - 3:04
   • Bass: Willie Weeks
   • Drums: Andy Newmark, Rick Marotta
   • Guitar: Glenn Frey
   • Guitar, Guitar (Slide): Joe Walsh
   • Percussion: Milt Holland
4. "Texas Girl at the Funeral of Her Father" - 2:40
   • Piano: Ralph Grierson
5. "Jolly Coppers on Parade" - 3:46
   • Bass: Klaus Voormann
   • Congas: Milt Holland
   • Drums, Percussion (Temple Blocks): Jim Keltner
   • Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
6. "In Germany Before the War" - 3:39
   • Bass: Klaus Voormann
   • Congas: Milt Holland
   • Drums, Percussion (Temple Blocks): Jim Keltner
   • Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
7. "Sigmund Freud's Impersonation of Albert Einstein in America" - 3:02
   • Bass: Willie Weeks
   • Drums: Jim Keltner
8. "Baltimore" - 4:02
   • Backing Vocals: Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther
   • Bass: Willie Weeks
   • Drums: Andy Newmark, Rick Marotta
   • Guitar: Glenn Frey
   • Percussion: Milt Holland
9. "I'll Be Home" - 2:47
   • Bass: Klaus Voormann
   • Drums: Jim Keltner
   • Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
10. "Rider in the Rain" - 3:54
    • Backing Vocals: Don Henley, Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther
    • Bass: Willie Weeks
    • Drums: Rick Marotta
    • Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
11. "Kathleen (Catholicism Made Easier)" - 3:35
    • Bass: Willie Weeks
    • Drums: Rick Marotta
    • Guitar: Joe Walsh
    • Mandolin: Ry Cooder
12. "Old Man on the Farm" - 2:14
    • Bass: Willie Weeks
    • Drums: Rick Marotta
    • Guitar: Joe Walsh
    • Mandolin: Ry Cooder