Everyone thinks Randy Newman‘s “Short People” or “I Love L.A.” were his biggest hit singles. Maybe they were culturally or deep down in the common memory pool, but the self-loathing “It’s Money That Matters” (from 1988’s Land of Dreams album) was Newman’s only #1 hit on any U.S. chart.
Dear God, how I worshipped Mark Knopfler‘s guitar playing on this track — how I still love it. And his Local Hero soundtrack, which I recently re-purchased.
I also have a soft spot in my heart for “It’s Money That I Love,” and especially the line about the 16 year-old girl and the half pound of cocaine — “now, that may not be love, but it is alright.” Anyone writing or performing this song today would be skinned on Twitter and forced to leave the country.