Randy Newman calls 'Angels' out on fall outing

Randy Newman will hit the concert trail later this week for a fall run of theater dates in support of his first studio album in nine years.

The veteran singer/songwriter kicks off the trek Oct. 9 in Bloomington, IL, and the 12-city trek ends with a West Coast swing, capped by an Oct. 25 show in Eugene, OR. Details are below.

"Harps and Angels," Newman's first new album of original material since 1999's "Bad Love," was produced by Mitchell Froom (Elvis Costello, Pearl Jam) and Lenny Waronker (James Taylor, Rickie Lee Jones). The set, which hit stores in August, features 10 tracks, including "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country," which the singer released via iTunes last year.

Newman also remains busy scoring films. Last year, the composer received an Academy Award nomination for the song "Our Town" from the soundtrack to "Cars." Newman had been nominated for an Oscar 15 times before finally scoring his first win in 2002 for "If I Didn't Have You" from "Monsters, Inc."

Newman's other scores include "The Natural," "Toy Story," "A Bug's Life," "Pleasantville" and "Meet the Parents."

The performer scored his biggest mainstream pop hits with 1978's "Short People" and 1983's "I Love L.A."