Trouble in Paradise (Randy Newman album)

The New York Times wrote: "Newman inhabits his characters so completely that he makes us uneasy, wondering how much self-identification he has invested in their creation. His work achieves its power by that very confusion."^[9] The Globe and Mail noted that "Newman still has not the least desire to play it safe: he is still tossing up the great American contradictions—the seductiveness of racism and the paranoia of sex—like a circus performer juggling machetes, with the same appalling, exhilarating effect."^[10]

The Miami Herald determined that most of the songs "defy humming... A couple are essentially free verse set to music."^[11] The Christian Science Monitor determined that "the polished sound of the album makes it his most commercial effort, yet he has kept his humor and wit alive."^[12]

The album placed 13th in the 1983 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll,^[13] and it was ranked as number 67 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Albums of the 80s list.^[14]

All songs written by Randy Newman.

Side 1

1. "I Love L.A." – 3:29
2. "Christmas in Capetown" – 4:21
3. "The Blues" – 3:01
4. "Same Girl" – 2:53
5. "Mikey's" – 2:10
6. "My Life Is Good" – 4:38

Side 2

1. "Miami" – 4:04
2. "Real Emotional Girl" – 2:28
3. "Take Me Back" – 4:09
4. "There's a Party at My House" – 2:50
5. "I'm Different" – 2:33
6. "Song for the Dead" – 3:00

• Randy Newman – vocals, piano, synthesizers, arranger, conductor
• Steve Lukather – guitar, "I Love L.A." Background vocals
• David Paich – farfisa organ, Fender Rhodes, "I Love L.A." Background vocals
• Michael Boddicker – synthesizers, piano on "Mikey's", hammond organ on "Miami"
• Nathan East – bass guitar-"I Love L.A." Background vocals
• Jeff Porcaro – drums-"I Love L.A." Background vocals
• Lenny Castro – percussion- "I Love L.A." Background vocals
• Paulinho Da Costa – percussion on "Take Me Back", "Christmas in Capetown" and "The Blues"
• Ralph Grierson – piano on "Same Girl" and "Real Emotional Girl"
• Neil Larsen – piano solo on "The Blues"
• Dean Parks – guitar on "I'm Different", guitar solo on "The Blues", mandolin on "Miami"
• Waddy Wachtel – rhythm guitar on "I Love L.A"
• Paul Simon – vocals on "The Blues"
• Larry Williams – horns on "Take Me Back" and "I Love L.A"
• Steve Madaio – horns on "Take Me Back"
• Ernie Watts – horns on "Take Me Back", sax solo on "My Life Is Good"
• Jerry Hey – horns on "There's A Party at My House"
• Jim Horn, Jon Smith – horns on "There's A Party at My House" and "Mickey's"
• Jennifer Warnes, Wendy Waldman, Linda Ronstadt – backing vocals on "I'm Different" and "Christmas in Capetown"
• Don Henley, Bob Seger – backing vocals on "Take Me Back" and "Christmas in Capetown"
• Rickie Lee Jones, Arno Lucas, Leslie Smith – backing vocals on "Miami"
• Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham – backing vocals on "I Love L.A"

Technical

• Russ Titelman- producer - "We Love It" Background vocals
• Lenny Waronker-producer - "We Love It" Background vocals

• Mark Linett – recording engineer, mix engineer
• Tim Newman – cover photography