Randy Newman backs best-of set with headlining tour

Singer-songwriter Randy Newman, who issues a new best-of collection in September, heads out with his piano for a late-summer/early-fall tour.

Billed as "An Evening with Randy Newman," each stop on the run will feature a full performance from the musician, sans an opening act. The outing bookends the Sept. 30 release of "The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 1," an 18-track collection of previously released works.

The new album marks Newman's first set for Nonesuch Records, with whom he signed after releasing just one record--1999's "Bad Love"--for DreamWorks Records.

Though it's been four years since he released a new solo collection, Newman remains busy scoring films. Last year, the composer--who has racked up 16 Oscar nominations over the years--picked up his first trophy for the track "If I Didn't Have You," from the animated film "Monsters, Inc," which took the prize for Best Original Song.

Newman's other scores include "The Natural," "Toy Story," "A Bug's Life," "Pleasantville" and, most recently, "Seabiscuit."

Newman is known for infusing his solo works with a heavy dose of satire and biting wit. Long hailed by critics, his commercial appeal has been marginal. He is best known to the masses for a pair of fluke hits, 1978's "Short People" and 1983's "I Love L.A."