Trouble in Paradise is the seventh album by American composer Randy Newman. Released four years after his last commercial album, 1979’s Born Again, and two years after he composed the original score for the 1981 film Ragtime, it was well-received as a return to form. It spawned the smash hit “I Love L.A.” in addition to a duet with Paul Simon on “The Blues.”
The album was different from previous Newman albums, full of synthesizers, drum loops, and samples. The writing also somewhat abandoned the country-tinged folkiness of his work in the 1970s in favor of somewhat glossy synth pop. Trouble in Paradise was ranked as number 67 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Albums of the 80s list. A cover version of “Real Emotional Girl” by the Canadian singer Patricia O’Callaghan appears on her 2001 album Real Emotional Girl.
Tracks 1 I Love L.A. (Randy Newman) 3:31 2 Christmas In Cape Town (Randy Newman) 4:22 3 The Blues (Randy Newman) 3:03 4 Same Girl (Randy Newman) 2:53 5 Mikey’s (Randy Newman) 2:11 6 My Life Is Good (Randy Newman) 4:39 7 Miami (Randy Newman) 4:06 8 Real Emotional Girl (Randy Newman) 2:30 9 Take Me Back (Randy Newman) 4:09 10 There’s A Party At My House (Randy Newman) 2:52 11 I’m Different (Randy Newman) 2:34 12 Song For The Dead (Randy Newman) 3:01
Musicians
Bass - Nathan East Drums - Jeffrey Porcaro Guitar - Steve Lukather Organ - David Paich Piano - Randy Newman Piano - David Paich Synthesizer - Michael Boddicker Synthesizer - Randy Newman Percussion - Lenny Castro Vocals - Randy Newman
Other Musicians
1 I Love L.A. Guitar - Waddy Wachtel Background Vocals - Christine McVie Background Vocals - Lindsey Buckingham
2 Christmas In Cape Town Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa Background Vocals - Bob Seger Background Vocals - Don Henley Background Vocals - Jennifer Warnes Background Vocals - Linda Ronstadt Background Vocals - Wendy Waldman
3 The Blues Guitar (solo) - Dean Parks Piano - Neil Larsen Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa Vocals - Paul Simon
4 Same Girl Piano - Ralph Grierson
5 Mikey’s Piano - Michael Boddicker Horn - Jim Horn
6 My Life Is Good Sax - Ernie Watts
7 Miami Guitar - Dean Parks Mandolin - Dean Parks Organ - Michael Boddicker Background Vocals - Arno Lucas Background Vocals - Leslie Smith Background Vocals - Rickie Lee Jones
8 Real Emotional Girl Piano - Ralph Grierson
9 Take Me Back Sax - Ernie Watts Horn - Larry Williams Trumpet - Steve Madaio Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa Background Vocals - Bob Seger Background Vocals - Don Henley
10 There’s A Party At My House Trumpet - Jerry Hey Horn - Jim Horn Sax - John Smith
11 I’m Different Guitar - Dean Parks Background Vocals - Jennifer Warnes Background Vocals - Linda Ronstadt Background Vocals - Wendy Waldman
12 Song For The Dead Bass - Nathan East Drums - Jeffrey Porcaro Guitar - Steve Lukather Organ - David Paich Piano - Randy Newman Piano - David Paich Synthesizer - Michael Boddicker Synthesizer - Randy Newman
Liner Notes
Producer – Lenny Waronker, Russ Titelman Arranged By – Randy Newman Conductor – Randy Newman Coordinator – Gail Pierson, Kimberly Boyle, Vicki Fortson Engineer – Mark Linett Engineer (Mastering) – Bobby Hata Engineer (Assistant) – Robert Fernandez Mixed By – Mark Linett Art Direction, Design – Jim Swan Photography – Tim Newman Mastered At Warner Bros Recording Studios Mixed At Warner Bros Recording Studios Recorded At Warner Bros Recording Studios Recorded At The Burbank Studios Phonographic Copyright Warner Bros. Records Inc Phonographic Copyright WEA International Inc Copyright Warner Bros Records Inc Copyright Six Pictures Music
