Rick Springfield
There’s something about Rick Springfield that is and always has been very real. His songs about love and loss, greed and envy, elation and heartbreak spoke to that part of human nature that hasn’t changed in 3,000 years. They still do.
On July 29, 2008, Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Rick Springfield will release his new album Venus In Overdrive on New Door Records/UMe. The album is Rick’s first full-length new studio work of original material since the 2003 critically acclaimed shock/denial/anger/acceptance. More upbeat and fun than the dark and introspective shock/denial/anger/acceptance, Venus In Overdrive marks a return to Rick’s pop/rock roots. Venus In Overdrive is simultaneously classic and current -- and definitely the music fans have loved since Rick’s distinctive canine companion Lethal Ron first graced the cover of his classic album Working Class Dog.
“In a way, I think we should have called this album ‘Son of Working Class Dog.’ The songs explore some of the same themes, albeit from a slightly older perspective,” notes Rick. “It’s an album about love in all of its forms...good, bad, happy, sad, the kind that drives you crazy...love and all of its human failings.”
A creative collaboration between Rick and his longtime bass player Matt Bissonette, Venus In Overdrive was recorded in its entirety in only 32 days. “We were on a roll and just couldn’t stop. It all flowed so naturally. Writing and recording these songs has been the most fun I’ve had in the studio since the early 80s,” says Rick.
The first single from Venus In Overdrive is “What’s Victoria’s Secret?” Says Rick, “It’s one of those titles that was waiting to be written and Matt (Bissonette) just came up with it first. It’s about the sexualization of women and the dichotomy most men feel. As males we want that on one hand, but then it scares the hell out of us and we resist it. Mainly, we need to connect with women as human beings.” Rick also notes that there are some familiar influences in the song. “The longing, lust, and insecurities revealed that made “Jessie’s Girl” hit so close to home are there. It’s not ‘Jessie’s Girl,’ but touches some of the same places lyrically and musically.”
By contrast, the album’s title track is a different sound for Rick Springfield. With its dance and alternative influences, “Venus In Overdrive” is as contemporary as “What’s Victoria’s Secret” is retro. Still, its guitar tracks and raw sexual angst are signature Rick Springfield. “It surprises me when people use the word ‘influences’ like it’s always something from the past. Bands like The Beatles and The Who made a huge impact on my life as a musician and a songwriter, but there are some really cool things happening in music now that inevitably find their way into my psyche. ‘Venus In Overdrive’ evolved that way,” notes Rick.
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