Rick Springfield – 鈥楽ongs for the End of the World鈥�
To many casual music fans, Rick Springfield is considered a one-hit wonder.
In 1981, 鈥淛essie鈥檚 Girl鈥� hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 from the 1981 album 鈥淲orking Class Dog.鈥� That release also featured the single 鈥淚鈥檝e Done Everything for You,鈥� written by Sammy Hagar.
With the help of his heartthrob role as Dr. Noah Drake on the soap opera 鈥淕eneral Hospital,鈥� as well as his music videos exposure on the newly launched MTV, the Australian actor/musician went on to sell over 25 million albums.
I鈥檒l admit that I lost track of Springfield鈥檚 career after my college years, but Springfield has been steadily cranking out solid albums over the last 30 years.
His latest release, the first since 2008鈥檚 鈥淰enus in Overdrive,鈥� is a guitar-driven collection of muscular melodies about relationships in a complicated and confusing world.
鈥淵ou buy the whole seat, but you only need the edge,鈥� is an old saying the aptly describes Springfield鈥檚 latest material. Songs like 鈥淲ide Awake,鈥� 鈥淥ur Ship鈥檚 Sinking鈥� and 鈥淟ove Screws Me Up鈥� ring of infectious power pop, complemented by Springfield鈥檚 poignant lyrics and sweeping hooks. Springfield collaborated with bass player Matt Bissonette on all the new material while enlisting the help of John Waite and Mr. Mister鈥檚 Richard Page on backup vocals, as well as his original guitarist Tim Pierce, who hasn鈥檛 played with Springfield since 1999鈥檚 鈥淜arma.鈥�
For the rousing rocker 鈥淚 Hate Myself,鈥� Springfield asked fans to submit videos of themselves singing along, using the actual fan voices on the album. Displaying his keen sense of humor for creative album cover designs, such as using his dog dressed in a business shirt and tie for his 鈥淲orking Class Dog鈥� cover, Springfield offers four versions of the album cover art each with a different cover and bonus content.
Springfield still performs 100 live shows a year, with a scheduled stop at Greensburg鈥檚 Palace Theatre Oct. 25. 鈥淪o good to see your friendly face,鈥� sings Springfield on the opening track. With 鈥淪ongs for the End of the World,鈥� it is good to see a friendly face and a familiar voice providing an illuminating ray of light in a sometimes dark world.