You Can Leave Your Hat On

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, your hippie DJs at THE ZOO are spinning a classic for you tonight with You Can Leave Your Hat On from Randy Newman's 1972 album Sail Away. This sultry, tongue-in-cheek track is a fan favorite, and it’s got some wild stories behind it. Newman wrote this song in his mid-20s, initially thinking it was just a playful joke. He told NPR in 2013 that he envisioned the song’s narrator as a bit of a weakling, not some bold seducer, saying, “I would’ve thought the girl could break him in half.” Yet, when Joe Cocker covered it in 1986 for his album Cocker, it became a steamy anthem, hitting No. 35 on Billboard’s Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and powering Kim Basinger’s iconic striptease scene in 9½ Weeks. Tom Jones later took it to new heights in 1997 for The Full Monty, slowing it down for a cheeky male striptease, which Newman jokingly told the BBC in 2018 worked better because “maybe they have sex different than I do!” Newman admitted to KCRW in 2003 that he grew to take the song seriously over time, despite its humorous origins. The 2006 tribute album Sail Away: The Songs of Randy Newman featured a cover by Mark Broussard, and even comedy band The Horne Section got in on the fun, performing it for their 2018 special and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown in 2020.

Randy Newman’s journey to becoming a music legend started in Los Angeles, where he was born on November 28, 1943, into a family steeped in Hollywood’s film-scoring world. His uncles Alfred, Lionel, and Emil Newman were renowned composers, racking up ten Oscars and over 50 nominations between them. Despite this legacy, young Randy was drawn to the raw energy of rock ‘n’ roll, especially the piano-driven sounds of Fats Domino, as noted in Robert Hilburn’s biography A Few Words in Defense of Our Country. By age 17, he was writing songs for acts like the Fleetwoods and Cilla Black, honing his craft as a staff songwriter. His 1968 debut album, Randy Newman, produced by Lenny Waronker and Van Dyke Parks, was a critical hit but didn’t chart. Still, it set the stage for his cult following, with covers by artists like Judy Collins and Nina Simone. Newman’s knack for sly, character-driven storytelling shone through in albums like Sail Away, blending satire and social commentary with unforgettable melodies.

Wanna dive deeper into Randy Newman’s world? Check out his official website at randynewman.com for the latest news and tour dates. Connect with him on socials via Facebook, Instagram, and X to catch his witty updates and reflections. For fan communities, the r/randynewman subreddit is a great spot to swap stories and discuss his discography. There’s also the Randy Newman Fan Club on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks can join fellow fans to share love for his music. So, keep those hats on and groove with us, Zoo Crew style!