Last night Randy Newman did an in-store performance and signing at Tower Records--the following is the letter I sent to the Randy Newman list after getting home last night.

So I left work at 6p, the bus was slow in coming, then I went insane and thought it was on 72nd St., so I had to walk back five blocks. Which is why I had such a crappy place to stand!

Seemingly, Randy alienated all of his short fans some time ago (mid-seventies, perhaps?) so there were nothing but giants in front of me, and I'm pretty tall myself, but I didn't miss the beginning, so I didn't mind.

Because, unlike everyone else on this list, practically, this was the first time I had ever seen Randy live, so that fact was enough to overshadow the giant bulging heads in front of me.

Here is the set list:

1. You Can Leave Your Hat On

"Don't miss the show at Town Hall tomorrow night, 'cause I'm thinking about doing that song in F! You know, like the jazz guys do, kind of improvise it."

2. Short People

"I'm just playing the hits tonight!"

3. Political Science

"The box set came out at the same time as the Alanis Morrisette album, and naturally, her people were frightened. She sold a little more than I did, but mine costs more! You could have a $100 week between this and the thing tomorrow!
She stole my nudity thing, too."

4. Marie
5. Karl, the World Isn't Fair

From the new album (which he is currently recording). After talking about the beautiful young women at parent/teacher night at his kid's school, says they are with men like him:

"Froggish men,
Unpleasant to see.
Were you to kiss one, Karl
Nary a prince would there be..."

6. Sail Away
7. I Think It's Going To Rain Today

Right before this song, a girl near the front left, which meant that everyone shifted slightly, and I had a beautiful view of him for the whole thing--one of my favourite songs.

Then was the signing.

All the Newman geeks (and some of them were mind-bogglingly geeky--and don't think I am excluding myself from that group, but even I wasn't as bad as the guy with no social skills standing in front of me who kept trying to flirt--God, I hope he's not on this list) crowded together, clutching their newly-purchased box sets in their hot little hands. I talked my Mom into buying one from Mary for me for Xmas, so I brought my cd copy of Little Criminals for him to sign because it's a black and white picture, so there was lots of room, plus it's the famous "two penises" photo that I like so much.

When I got to the front of the line, he commented about his inky fingers, then shook my hand, and I told him why I didn't have a box set ("And I'll be all astonished Christmas morning!"), then he asked my name and I said "Kymm, K-Y-M-M," and he wrote Kim, and I said "No, K-Y-M-M",and he looked up and said:

"You mean The Mighty Kymm? From the internet?" and leapt to his feet and kissed me.

When I would imagine meeting him, when I had pretend conversations before the signing, those were the exact words that I imagined. It was what I wished he would say, but I didn't really think he would!

I thought I was just making it up, but he really said it!

He continued "Thank you so much for what you are doing for me, I really appreciate it! You know, you were my very first internet experience!" by which I think he meant the e-mail he sent me almost two years ago, and I told him that he wasn't making nearly so many typos anymore! Then he asked me if I needed any support, and I should go over and talk to Cathy, his manager, and introduce myself. So I went over and said hi and she was really nice and told her what he had said and she said yes, if there was anything she could do, and I asked for a new car ha ha, then kind of wandered out into the street.

He knew who I was without my telling him!

O God, I'm embarrassed how out of date my page on him is!

Today's horoscope:
You negotiate with skill and power. Matters go your way. You are extra persuasive.

One year ago today:
Exactly how many drugs do you have to take to deteriorate that quickly?

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Last Updated Tues 10 November 09:23:09 1998