Little Criminals
Little Criminals is a 1977 album by Randy Newman.  Like most of Newman's work, the album eschews traditional pop-music themes ("I'll Be Home" is the only love song on the album) in favor of musical story-telling, often featuring quirky characters and cynical views. The first song on the album – "Short People" – became a hit single in its own right. The album itself peaked at #9 on the US Billboard 200 chart, Newman's highest-charting album to date.

Some of the instrumental work and backing vocals on the album are performed by members of the Eagles. In particular, Glenn Frey played guitar on two tracks, Joe Walsh played guitar on three tracks, and Don Henley and Tim Schmit sang background vocals on one track each. Frey and J. D. Souther, who had earlier been the duo Longbranch Pennywhistle, sang background vocals on three tracks.

Newman wrote, conducted and played keyboards on all tracks. Synthesizers were programmed by Michael Boddicker.

In September 1977 the British music magazine NME published the following interview with Newman talking sardonically about his then new release: "There's one song about a child murderer," Newman deadpans. "That's fairly optimistic. Maybe. There's one called 'Jolly Coppers on Parade' which isn't an absolutely anti-police song. Maybe it's even a fascist song.  I didn't notice at the time. There's also one about me as a cowboy called 'Rider in the Rain'. I think it's ridiculous. The Eagles are on there. That's what's good about it. There's also this song 'Short People'. It's purely a joke. I like other ones on the album better but the audiences go for that one."

In 2000 it was voted number 468 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums. 

The song "Baltimore" was covered by Nina Simone, Nils Lofgren, The Tamlins, David Gray, Billy Mackenzie, Lianne La Havas, Jazmine Sullivan, Mink Stole, Coldfinger and Nedric Nedo. "In Germany Before the War" was covered by British band Diesel Park West on their covers album "God Only Knows" in 1992. The song "I'll Be Home", meanwhile, had been written by Newman years previously, and was originally recorded in 1970 by Harry Nilsson on his album Nilsson Sings Newman.

Track listing

Personnel
 Randy Newman - vocals, keyboards and synthesizer
 Michael Boddicker - additional synthesizer and synthesizer programming

 "Short People" – 2:54
 Backing Vocals: Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther, Tim Schmit
 Bass: Klaus Voormann
 Congas: Milt Holland
 Drums: Jim Keltner
 Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
 "You Can't Fool The Fatman" – 2:44
 Bass: Willie Weeks
 Congas: Milt Holland
 Drums: Andy Newmark
 "Little Criminals" – 3:04
 Bass: Willie Weeks
 Drums: Andy Newmark, Rick Marotta
 Guitar: Glenn Frey
 Guitar, Guitar (Slide): Joe Walsh
 Percussion: Milt Holland
 "Texas Girl at the Funeral of Her Father" – 2:40
 Piano: Ralph Grierson
 "Jolly Coppers on Parade" – 3:46
 Bass: Klaus Voormann
 Congas: Milt Holland
 Drums, Temple Blocks: Jim Keltner
 Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
 "In Germany Before the War" – 3:39
 No contributions are specified
 "Sigmund Freud's Impersonation of Albert Einstein in America" – 3:02
 Bass: Willie Weeks
 Drums: Jim Keltner
 "Baltimore" – 4:02
 Backing Vocals: Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther
 Bass: Willie Weeks
 Drums: Andy Newmark, Rick Marotta
 Guitar: Glenn Frey
 Percussion: Milt Holland
 "I'll Be Home" – 2:47
 Bass: Klaus Voormann
 Drums: Jim Keltner
 Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
 "Rider in the Rain" – 3:54
 Backing Vocals: Don Henley, Glenn Frey, J.D. Souther
 Bass: Willie Weeks
 Drums: Rick Marotta
 Guitar: Waddy Wachtel
 "Kathleen (Catholicism Made Easier)" – 3:35
 Bass: Willie Weeks
 Drums: Rick Marotta
 Guitar: Joe Walsh
 Mandolin: Ry Cooder
 "Old Man on the Farm" – 2:14
 Piano: Randy Newman
Technical
Lee Herschberg, Loyd Clifft - engineer
Mike Salisbury - cover design
Bob Seidemann - cover photography at 1013 7th Street, Los Angeles, California