Good Old Boys

Good Old Boysis the fourth studioalbumbyRandy Newman, released on 10 September 1974 onReprise Records, catalogue number 2193. It was Newman's first album to obtain major commercial success, peaking at number 36 on theBillboard 200. Thepremierelive performance of the album took place on October 5, 1974, at the Symphony Hall inAtlanta, Georgia, with guestRy Cooderand Newman conducting theAtlanta Symphony Orchestra.Good Old Boyswas initially envisioned as aconcept albumabout a character named Johnny Cutler, aneverymanof theDeep South. Newman made ademoof these songs on February 1, 1973: they were released as the bonus disc for the 2002 reissue, titledJohnny Cutler's Birthday.The kernel of this concept survived into the released album, although as Newman's take on viewpoints from the inhabitants of the Deep South in general, rather than from a single individual character. As on hisprevious release, Newman addressed generallytabootopics such asslaveryandracism, most stringently on the opening song "Rednecks", a simultaneous satire oninstitutional racismin the Deep South and the hypocrisy of thenorthern statesin response. This expanded edtion features a second disc that includes the Johnny Cutler demos on vinyl for the first time. The original album tracks were cut directly from the analog master tapes.