Eccentricity is not appreciated enough in the mainstream pop music world. Andy Newman was in the band Thunderclap Newman, which included him (of course), Speedy Keen (the chief songwriter) and teenage guitarist Jimmy McCulloch. An odd trio of music makers, but Newman added surprised touches to Keen's compositions by adding his turn of the century style of boogie-woogie piano, and the punk instrument that is a Kazoo. What made Thunderclap Newman so wonderful was the Newman touch and he took the songs to another level. Especially with the song 'Accidents" which has an incredible middle part that is pure Andy Newman solo artist.
After the band split up, Newman made this very strange solo album "Rainbow." It's all him playing the instruments and mostly instrumentals. It's like all the weird parts of Thunderclap Newman, leaving out the singing and the pop side of things. "Rainbow" is very much music rooted in the 1920s, there is a touch of the British Music Hall, but it's more of a scaled down version of big band jazz of the early 20th century. The most dominant instruments are Newman's piano and kazoo playing. He also plays various saxes as well, and my only complaint is that I wished to hear a full-blown arrangement with him playing all the horns, piano, etc. And he does in spots, but a lot of the songs/arrangements are just for piano and kazoo.
I lost track of him as a musician after Thunderclap Newman, and only recently discovered this solo album by Andy. I regret that he didn't make more music or albums in the later years. It seems he put together another version of Thunderclap Newman to play the old songs, but as far as I know, no new music. Still, "Rainbow" and the first and only Thunderclap Newman album "Hollywood Dream" are amazing. Also do note that the b-side to Thunderclap Newman's only hit song in the U.S. "Something in the Air" is "Wilhemina" which is a superb Andy Newman song. A classic. Look out for it!
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