I like Randy Newman, that "Short People" song of his is fabulously funny. Not that any of you simpering lot would notice, of course.

Randy Newman ---whatta guy!

I wanted to be added to the list of the few Randy Newman fans here. Even if he has become a tool for Disney, he is still great. Moz ought to cover 'God's Song' or 'Lonely at the Top' or 'Political Science' on a B-side.

Apparently Morrissey doesn't/didn't reciprocate the kudos. People can change their opinions (cf. Morrissey's earlier attitude towards Boz's band The Polecats), but in this case I think duh Man still feels the same about Miss Numan.

from Words by Morrissey [torr.org]

I hate, loathe, detest, abhor, abominate, cannot stand or abide Miss Numan. To me, all electronic music is just a sad accident.

It might interest you to know that during the recording of Viva Hate, I spent much of the down time listening to Good Old Boys, 12 Songs, Sail Away and Little Criminals. I had just bought a portable CD player(all the rage in '87)and spent much of the time hiding the CD covers from Morrissey in case I was outed as a muso. I judged then it might not have been prudent to say in front of the most significant and beautiful artist ever to have come out of England, "Morrissey, I'd like you to meet my other hero Randy Newman!" Nevertheless, there was some cross fertilization. A couple of the snare roll ideas used by Rick Marotta on "Baltimore" and Jim Keltner on "Jolly Coppers On Parade" were customized for "Break Up The Family" and later deployed vigorously on "Ouija Board, Quija Board" - Andrew Paresi

It's rather revealing how a lot of Morrissey fans ALSO like other music AND ARE RELUCTANT to reveal thus. Remember how many Gilbert O'Sullivan fans came out of the woodwork when Moz did "Nothing Rhymed"? The Joni Mitchell interview? Next thing you know rabid Morrissey fans rushes out to buy the entire Fairport Convention back catalogue!!!