One of my favorite artists of all time, and also has to be the most ignored and misunderstood artists too. SO many ways Rick is overlooked, some his own fault, but most NOT. Rick came over to America in 1971 which most dont know and scored a Top 20 hit in 1972 with "Speak to The Sky" a folk rock song he wrote for his mother. His album "beautiful feelings" was taking off and selling big at capitol, and he was getting press as the next David Cassidy, which Rick hated but did what his managers said to do. But then a vicious rumour started in the industry that Capitol was bringing in "young girls" just to buy the record and padding the sales, because the industry felt this guy from Australia with no track record COULD NOT have a hit so quick with out something being fake (image that today being applied to everyone) and though nothing was proven and all was just rumours, Rick's name was ruined, NO ONE would play him now, he had more records and his managers were told "we just cant get him played because of the rumours". Rick knocked around playing gigs all through the mid 70's and later 70's doing guest tv show spots and having a few more albums, nothing big, though scoring a minor minor hit "Take A Hand" which he did in 1976 on American Bandstand, Dick Clark respected this young musician from day one and constantly had him on the show, regardless of hits! Then came the break, Rick was doing demos on a shoe string budget at 3am in the morning for RCA, he had to record at 3am when no one was using the studio so he could get better rates. He was playing all the instruments on what turned out to be "Working Class Dog" album. At the same time he was told about an audition for General Hospital, he went, though he thought it was a waste for a musician to be on a Soap Opera, since the demographic was over 50, little did Rick know that that summer General Hospital was breaking records for viewers, all time records, and was THE SHOW, though Rick was not a main character, he was on the show, and benefited from the exposure, though his music was never actually on it. Through that came......the idea to release "ive done everything for you" which was the Sammy Hagar penned song and the only song RICK didnt write on that album, well it basically stalled, then a song RICK never thought was a hit, was released, "Jessies Girl" took over, reaching number one, the Working CLass Dog album has become multiplatnum and was the first in a string of 4 multiplatnum albums rick would have from 1980-1984, followed by a gold record in 1985 and 1988.

and the story continues...........

heres a clip of RICK playing that Guitar and jamming last month on tour

[youtube]http://youtu.be/TW53oxCheG0[/youtube]

He was on General Hospital about a month ago.

MickyDolenz said:

He was on General Hospital about a month ago.

Ironically he does go back on now and again, he did it a few years back for a bit, he actually has been constantly touring and releasing albums since 2000, he just plays a show 2-3 times a week goes home goes back out for a few, does some acting, does shows, etc...very good way to keep things fresh, to me honestly he has the best connection to his fans, and is approachable with the new technology, where as others seem to shy away from the loyals.

General Hospital actually is on the verge of getting cancelled, so they are trying to bring back everyone that made the show a huge hit, but networks are cutting everything at this point, GH is one of the last, and honestly may not make it.

lastdecember said:

MickyDolenz said:

He was on General Hospital about a month ago.

Ironically he does go back on now and again, he did it a few years back for a bit, he actually has been constantly touring and releasing albums since 2000, he just plays a show 2-3 times a week goes home goes back out for a few, does some acting, does shows, etc...very good way to keep things fresh, to me honestly he has the best connection to his fans, and is approachable with the new technology, where as others seem to shy away from the loyals.

General Hospital actually is on the verge of getting cancelled, so they are trying to bring back everyone that made the show a huge hit, but networks are cutting everything at this point, GH is one of the last, and honestly may not make it.

Yeah, Susan Lucci was not happy about All My Children getting cancelled to put on a cooking show, and neither was my mom.

MickyDolenz said:

Very cool......Not many know Rick had a music career long before General Hospital and long after it, he was gone from the show in 82 and the hits continued for him till 1988.

Its Not a Rick Springfield Thread Without.

Ah, my heart used to pound for Dr. Noah Drake...

lazycrockett said:

Its Not a Rick Springfield Thread Without.

LOVELOVELOVE. i was rockin my greatest hits disc last wkend whilst cleaning the house. im partial to 'affair of the heart' and 'love somebody' from hard to hold sndtrk.

Rick Springfield, the musician, I love. He's made some achingly good music. And even at 62 he can still get it. I have most of his albums, including the ones from the 1970's. It's outlandish (don't know if that's a strong enough [or even the appropriate] word) how the industry and the public have cast him in the role of "one hit wonder". That's just some disturbing shit right there. But whatever. I read his autobiography and know he's had his personal challenges, as we all do. I just hope he knows how much he's truly loved and appreciated.

Betty O. got suspended for showing this teen mag picture around school...

Some more "pre-Jessie's Girl" Rick:

I wish the other 6 parts of this interview were available:

Possibly my favorite RS song (definately the most played this year):

yanowha said:

Rick Springfield, the musician, I love. He's made some achingly good music. And even at 62 he can still get it. I have most of his albums, including the ones from the 1970's. It's outlandish (don't know if that's a strong enough [or even the appropriate] word) how the industry and the public have cast him in the role of "one hit wonder". That's just some disturbing shit right there. But whatever. I read his autobiography and know he's had his personal challenges, as we all do. I just hope he knows how much he's truly loved and appreciated.

EXACTLY! Rick got a bit "pissed off" years back, it was around the time he was just coming out of his "no recording" phase 1989-1996 and he was contacted by the producers of OPRAH (you'd kinda think that show would have done some research) for a appearance on the ONE HIT WONDER's show she was doing, Rick politely declined by saying I have had "4 multiplatnum albums, plus some gold ones, a grammy award win, and 17 top 40 singles" well OPRAH years later apologized after getting bombarded by mail to the show, Rick was granted an interview and performance years later. So I feel bad that Rick has had to deal with that, but he hasnt punished people for it, he understands "the jessies girl" thing, but he also knows that his loyals that go see him countless times, know that songs like "affair of the heart" "love somebody" "state of the heart" "Souls" "love is alright tonite" "bop till you drop" "dont talk to strangers" "Human Touch" "bruce" etc...were also pretty big hits too! In fact between 1980-1985 Rick was so hot (16 top 40 hits, 40 multiplatnum records and 1 gold one) that he also charted a freakin B SIDE! sorry but almost no one at that time charted BSIDES, maybe Lionel and Michael and Elvis and the beatles back in the day, so during that 5 year span of hits and albums and tours i put him on a "star par" with Prince,Michael,Madonna in their day, also because Rick was getting media coverage THOUGH he wasnt really talking to media outlets much.

As for him now since 1999 releasing "Karma" and then in 2004 releasing "ShockDenialAngerAcceptance" and in 2008 releasing "Venus In Overdrive" and few fan club website things and dvds etc... Rick to me has been in touch just as much now as he was back in the 80's craze days for him, he still tours like a mad man, Ive seen him 13 times in the last 6 years, met him at a backstage pass event, and he totally appreciates everyone, this guy is for real!

Big fan. Own most of his Albums/CD's and the book he wrote last year(Have not read it yet). I've seen him live 2 times. Great live performer. Some of my favs:

I was a kid when this came out and I thought it was Rick:

Huge fan! His book is awesome, I bought the Kindle edition last year and enjoyed it very much. I even bought his fairly terrible 80's movie "Hard To Hold", which has a killer soundtrack. He's still pumping out great music, "Venus in Overdrive" was awesome and I can't wait for the new album! Hopefully I will get to see him live at some point He definitely doesn't get enough props.

Some of my favorite songs:

Love Somebody

Human Touch

Rock Of Life

Bop Til You Drop

State of the Heart

Dance This World Away

Love Is Alright Tonight

Don't Talk To Strangers

Souls

What's Victoria's Secret?

Venus in Overdrive

What Kind Of Fool Am I?

Who Killed Rock N Roll?

[Edited 5/22/12 9:31am]

Militant said:

Huge fan! His book is awesome, I bought the Kindle edition last year and enjoyed it very much. I even bought his fairly terrible 80's movie "Hard To Hold", which has a killer soundtrack. He's still pumping out great music, "Venus in Overdrive" was awesome and I can't wait for the new album! Hopefully I will get to see him live at some point He definitely doesn't get enough props.

Some of my favorite songs:

Love Somebody

Human Touch

Rock Of Life

Bop Til You Drop

State of the Heart

Dance This World Away

Love Is Alright Tonight

Don't Talk To Strangers

Souls

What's Victoria's Secret?

Venus in Overdrive

What Kind Of Fool Am I?

Who Killed Rock N Roll?

[Edited 5/22/12 9:31am]

Yup all great choices, he really doesnt get enough props for just the amount of hits turned out and just how on a ROLL he was during his "mainstream loves me" phase. I think people slight him on the whole, "hes an actor" thing but its not like he was on the show all the time, he basically was just on the show for a blip of time, he was off by 1982, and still had consistent hits till 1988 chartwise. He has had alot of tough breaks and personal issues from childhood, just basically feeling like an odd kid depressed etc...hard to believe the guy that was on the magazines and chased by girls , had issues with feeling ugly.But all in all he isnt a bitter person where alot of people could be bitter at the industry for slighting him, he celebrates what he has still not the accolades not given him. But again your list is great! All faves of mine too, hard to narrow this guy down, i feel that since 2000 when he returned with "KARMA" which was a great return album, very mature, and then going into "ShockDenialAngerAcceptance" which i felt was possibly one of the best hard rock records of the decade, that album just hits you with volume and the angst of a teen ager, only it came from a guy who was in his mid 50's at the time. And then "Venus In OverDrive" and to me that is just a great pop/rock record, catchy hooks, great choruses and lyrics very structured songs, that album i never get tired of listening too, i have 4 copies of it since there were a few versions out, plus i wore one out. I too cant wait for the new record, he should have it done this year and out, its been way too long.......Oh and Rick is the coolest person to his fans! His concerts rock! just alot of fun and energy, def go if u get the chance

One of my fav songs from him is this forgotton gem from "Iron Eagle 2". Beautifully produced by Keith Olsen (busy with Starship around that time) and Rick himself:

Considering how gut-bustingly cheesy it is, I imagine it was written as the "love theme" for the movie and not an outtake from one of his albums. The middle 8 following the guitar solo is spot on and fits perfectly into the final chorus. Again great production.

[Edited 5/30/12 18:36pm]

thesexofit said: