Rick Springfield Out with New Album
Singer and actor Rick Springfield released his new album Rocket Science on Friday and is looking forward to taking it out on the road, according to FOX411.
The new album, which is Springfield’s 18th studio album, is said to have a country influence and features a track called “Down” co-authored by Jay DeMarcus of the country group Rascal Flatts.
“It’s a pop/rock album really, guitars and everything, but there is a little pedal steel and some banjo and fiddle playing,” said Springfield, who feels this record is more positive than his previous release “Songs for the End of the World.”
Springfield continued, “There’s a song called ‘All Hands on Deck’ which is about standing up and defending yourself, with what’s going on in the world, you gotta take a stand, you’ve got to stand for something.”
A theme that no doubt would resonate with today’s youth activists.
Gary Graff of The Oakland Press gave Rocket Science a B grade, saying the album focuses on mainly “affairs of the heart” and that Springfield is also able to embrace contemporary rhythms.
“Who says you can’t teach a working-class dog new tricks?” said Graff. “Granted, there’s nothing on Rick Springfield’s latest that’s completely left field, but the 13-track set finds him capably and confidently straddling a pop/country line that works well.”
The track “Let Me In” was written for his wife of 31 years, Barbara, according to Entertainment Tonight.
Pablo Gorondi, of the Associated Press, said that Springfield “sprinkles the sounds of country music” across the album with the use of banjos, mandolins, steel, and electric guitars.
“Even at age 66, Springfield has been working hard, building up his resume like a Boy Scout trying to earn an elusive merit badge,” said Gorondi, referring to Springfield’s acting career.
He appeared in the 2015 Meryl Streep film Ricki and the Flash and the second season of the HBO series True Detective, and he also penned a novel and autobiography.
According to Entertainment Tonight, the Australian-born singer performs about 100 concerts a year and said one of the hardest parts of touring was not getting enough sleep.
Last week on Valentine’s Day, Rick Springfield treated his fans to a free concert at a strip mall in Parma Heights, Ohio, according to Cleveland.com. Nearly 400 fans had waited since the early morning in single digit temperatures to meet Springfield and get copies of Rocket Science before it was even released.
“We’re just doing a couple of these in-stores here and there,” said Springfield. “I do it more for the fans — I don’t think there’s any great advantage record-sales-wise. But it’s good for the fans to meet up with them and let them know there is a new record out. I’m one of those people who still loves hard copies of records.”
Springfield didn’t play what is arguably his signature song “Jessie’s Girl” during the 30-minute set because according to him, his hardcore fan base didn’t want to hear it.
However, on Saturday night, Rick Springfield joined the 19-year-old musician Cody Simpson on stage at the 2016 iHeart80s Party in Inglewood, Calif. to perform “Jessie’s Girl.” According to Just Jared Jr., Simpson was ecstatic to play with Springfield and shared his excitement about it on Twitter. The concert also boasted performances by other 80’s hit-makers such as Tears for Fears, Culture Club, and Billy Idol to name a few.
Unlike other musicians, Rick Springfield doesn’t seem to resent “Jessie’s Girl” and feels it’s unique to have a hit like it, according to FOX411.
“I’m proud of it, having written the song,” said Springfield. “As a kid I wanted to have a song that when you first played the opening notes everyone would recognize it because as a fan that used to happen to me.”
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
