DISQUS

Ted · 1 year ago

Sounds like the two of you had a good time. I liked that you asked him about the guitar riff on the new single -- and that he didn't give you a Vanilla Ice answer about how it's totally different because the chord progression is slightly different from the chord progression on "Jessie's Girl."

But Jon, how come there wasn't one question about Rick playing Zack Adama in the original Battlestar Galactica? Forget GH, or Hard to Hold, playing Zack was probably the high point of his acting career.

Clark · 1 year ago

There were plenty of dissenters here for his Idtiot's Guide To... I think they far outnumbered the supporters if I remember correctly, which isn't surprising. I think that a couple of songs off that first album are decent enough power poppers, but at least a third of the album is laughably awful in my opinion, the worst offender maybe being Red Hot and Blue Love.

For people that are into white new wavey power pop with soul (i use the term lightly here in reference to RS) influences, why not just put on a Squeeze album and be done with it. I think any of their albums, even the weakest ones are better than the best of what Rick has to offer. Blech for the most part! Good interview though.

allen · 1 year ago

I must argue with you here. First off, I assume you are talking about Working Class Dog, which was NOT Rick's first album, but, rather, more like his 5th.
He started off with a hit single in Australia that made a little noise here. Then, after a couple more records, he was the star of and wrote music for a saturday morning cartoon show called Mission Magic.
His LP, Wait for Night, is one of the more accomplished power pop entries and Working Class Dog is considered one of the the best examples of the genre.
There is, perhaps, one or two weaker tracks but, all in all, it's a pretty relentless example of the style. No doubt aided by the likes of Neal Geraldo. I suggest songs like "Everybody's Girl" and "Love is Allright Tonight" as examples above the deserved hit singles.
His follow up was almost a carbon copy and stands up pretty well, although the production does scream 80s.
Rick was invited on Oprah a few years ago to be a part of a One Hit Wonder show she was putting together. He declined, since he has had over 17 top forty hits. Hardly a "One Hit Wonder". But, since Jessie's Girl is so massive and iconic it's easy to see why she might have thought that.
Squeeze is great and I would put east Side Story or Argybargy on PAR with WCD. But not in its stead.

DannyH · 1 year ago

You are partly correct Allen. RIck's top hit in Austrailia was Speak to the Sky, which climbed the charts all the way up to #14 in the USA. RIck had a few labums that were great at that time, but was being shopped around as the next David Cassidy, but was writing more like Elton John, about Death adn very serious writing. a serious argument led to a divorse of management, and Rick was not allowed to put another album for several years. When the tie finally broke for good, RIck started writing for WCD, which didn't take off at first, but when Jessie's GIrl was put out, it skyrocketed. BUT, when SHSMY(Success ablum) came out, it sold way more than WCD, and it went all the way to #2 for the year! At that point, Rick already had Beautiful Feelings, Wait for Night, Comic Book Heroes out as Albums as well as WCD and SHSMY. At that point Rick left GH and was on his own as a house hold name and put out Living in OZ, then Hard to Hold, which sold faster than any CD. He was clearly on top of the world. But at the birth of his first son and Tao coming out, he was sort of torn between his career and his family, so he took two years off and became a self described hermit, or house husband. When Josh was born, he put out ROck of LIfe, and started to take off again and had a major accident while 4x4ing, and broke numerous boned in his arm and shoulder and couldn't hang a guitar from it, so he had to cancel his tour(which I had tickets to)Once again, he fell off the face of the earth, but kept writing. Then he formed a band called Sahara Snow, and put the CD out in Europe, and had some succcess. Finally coming back to the US, he put out Karma in attempt to come back, but although teh CD was written as a good CD, the stations were not going to let Rick become a household name again, and didn't play it . But he kept touring, as the fan base never left, so he kept on writing. Shock(SDAA) cd was criticaly acclaimed, and got some airplay, Beautiful You went to #14 on the AC, and put Rick back on the map again as someone who could break out with the right single/CD.
This CD, Venus in Overdrive(VIO) is everything every critic has wanted from Rick for a long, long time. It relates to every style of listener, and could have up to 9 hits on it. It is a great CD.

Diane · 1 year ago

Great interview Jon...and Rick! Nice to see people doing what they love...Little scared about the cruise though...I hope you have a nice cabin to hide in....

DwDunphy · 1 year ago

I appreciate that the guy comes off as both humble and realistic. He's aware of how different the business is, that big comebacks for artists from one or two decades previous just don't get spotlight time anymore, and he's okay with it. He just wants to make music. How one feels about his music may be a thing best left to personal opinion, but you can't deny that he's clear minded about his expectations.

lauri · 1 year ago

What a talent! I love "Venus in Overdrive" - it rocks and has the beat of "Shock/Denial/Anger/Acceptance" - 10 out of 10 stars! The interview was newsy and very interesting and I sure think the man still has "it" and "it" is refined. Thanks!

DannyH · 1 year ago

Clark, you are a moron. RIck has had 17 top 40 hits in a career that was only sidelined by a major accident, or he would have never left the top of the charts. This new CD is the best CD available today, if not over the past 3 years or more. There are atleast 8 hits on it if it gets the airplay it deserves.
You sound like a jealous guy, and from teh way you look in your photo, I can see why.

Clark · 1 year ago

I love you.

DannyH · 1 year ago

Clark, I do hope you are seriously not thinking of asking me out, as I am married to a lady. I do appreciate it though. But we wouldn't get along, as anyone who dosen't listen to RIck Springfield's new CD and come away extremly impressed is either lying to themselves, and us as well, or you just don't understand great music, and therefore are in no position to comment on such a vast topic.
Again, thanks for the comment, but until you can seriously listen to the music and not immediately dislike it because of who is singing it, we have nothing to talk about anymore.

Clark · 1 year ago

DannyH, I implore you to reconsider. I have listened to Rick Springfield's newest and you were right, I was wrong. I was totally floored. Exploring what Vitcoria's Secret might really be is an astonishingly hilarious and clever take on that brand... and what a SAUCY move to boot! Who knew someone as far into their illustrious career as Rick Springfield was this edgy and subversive.

If you're half as sassy a mate as RS or even Russel Crowe, I sincerely hope you'll reconsider the gay thing, 'cause I'd really like to take you to the Outback. And I don't mean the scrumptious chain steak establishment, I literally mean out back, like behind it, where hopefully you'll show me your bloomin' onion.

jefito · 1 year ago

Best comment ever.

Karos · 1 year ago

Excellent interview, and I love how you were not shy about asking about his gravelly voice on a couple of the albums. I know to some it spelled that he'd basically lost it, and I knew that wasn't the case but that it was an affectation of sorts he was experimenting with - and I think it would have worked for a song or two, but not a whole album. Singing out is better, he's got a decent voice and age has not really affected it so it's nice he's not sounding like a smoke-soaked blueser anymore.

Nice to see some well-thought-out twists on what he's usually asked.

I'm enjoying the flavours on VIO -- if people went beyond the name and gave shock/denial/anger/acceptance and this album a whirl they might find something they could really sink their teeth into. Some people haven't gotten the memo that the days of bashing a guy like this -- who really has earned his chops -- are no longer de rigeur. The man never *was* David Cassidy so people need to ante up with the cred. He's also an incredibly nice, smart dude.

Broad · 1 year ago

Not to threadjack, but Rick's going to be playing the Lake County (Ind.) Fair this week.

allen · 1 year ago

So glad to see Rick get some love. I think the idiot's guide should be republished (God I miss those......)
I really liked the album, better than the last. And incidentally, in concert, Rick comes across as either a rock star who really loves to give his fans what they want, or a nimble 50-something with a God complex.
either way, very cool interview.
http://septenary.blogspot.com/2008/07/listening... is my (brief) review.

Coggie · 1 year ago

Yo, dude, this was the best, most thorough interview about Rick Springfield, the person and the musician, I've ever read. The reporter really knows his music.

JonCummings · 1 year ago

Mom, I told you not to be so obvious in your compliments! Now the guys are gonna know it's a setup...sheesh...

JuneK · 1 year ago

Nicest review and interview I've read yet. Very thorough and fair. I couldn't agree with your comments more. Nice job.

Sabrina · 1 year ago

Very enjoyable interview! Nice, original questions. Of course, now I'm gonna think of the movie Gypsy whenever I read what Jeff Mosko said about singing out. You remember that part in the movie where the stage mother was always yelling "Sing out, Louise!" lol So now it's "Sing out, Ricky!" hee hee. I like VIO, it's a great sound...and his voice is superb in its natural state :)