On Faust, Soul, Rock ‘n’ Roll

Despite the similarity of their surnames, Randy Newman and Henny Youngman are not related. But you might begin to think so when Newman starts tossing off one-liners.

* On the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame:

“I’m already bitter that I’m not in it. It’s a Hall of Shame.”

* On his version of “Faust,” a legend that has been the subject of works by Goethe, Marlowe, Gounod, Berlioz and Busoni, among others:

“I love the story. I’ve always loved it, so I had to destroy it.”

* On whether he would sell his soul for a hit:

“If I had a soul.”

* On what it would mean to win a Grammy in a major category:

“I’d love to get album of the year--that would mean something. No, lemme think. I don’t know if it would mean something.”

* On rap:

“Straight rap, without a musical hook, doesn’t go very far because people need something to latch onto, which is why I’ve never had a hit, apparently.”

* On his place in pop music:

“I have a different kind of talent. . . . A talent for not making $20 million.”