On Vine Street- The Early Songs of Randy Newman

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A wonderful collection, but...
Of course, nobody sings Newman like Newman. However, this long overdue collection includes many inspired versions by other performers. There's just one odd man out: Rick Nelson, who had the nerve to rob the classic "Love Story" from its final verse, leaving the ending up in the air. The original lyrics, giving this subtle story its bittersweet aftertaste, go like this: "When our kids are grown With kids of their own They'll send us away To a little home in Florida We'll play checkers all day Until we pass away..." Could it be this was too depressing for Nelson's taste? The liner notes, extensive as they are, don't offer an explanation. Well, nobody knows how to kill a Randy Newman song like Rick Nelson, that's for sure.