After four highly successful volumes of
his "Great American Songbook" albums, which sold a combined 15 million
copies worldwide since the first release in 2002, the British singer is
moving from standards to vintage rock cover songs on his new album "Still
the Same ... Great Rock Classics of Our Time." |
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The disc, due out Tuesday on J Records,
features Stewart's raspy and soulful interpretations of past hits by the
likes of Bob Seger, Van Morrison, Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan and Creedence
Clearwater Revival.
At 61, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer
remains one of music's most colourful and captivating characters. From
his early days with the Faces, through huge solo hits like "Maggie May,"
"The First Cut Is the Deepest" and "Tonight's the Night," Stewart has carried
on an impressive career for more than 40 years, and remains a huge draw
on the concert circuit.
He'll be previewing the new album with
a show from the Nokia Theatre Times Square in New York City on Monday,
which will also be presented that same night at 117 movie theatres nationwide.
A legendary ladies' man, Stewart is the
father of six children, the youngest being Alastair, his child with his
fiancée, Penny Lancaster. Alastair will celebrate his first birthday
in November.
The singer talked about his music, his
heavy drinking days with the Faces, his recovery from cancer and the current
state of rock radio during a recent phone interview from Beverly Hills,
Calif.
Q: After recording the four tremendously
successful "Great American Songbook" albums, why did you decide to return
to rock?
A: Well, I think we took the "American
Songbook" as far as we possibly could. That's not saying there won't be
five, six or seven somewhere down the line, but I went to meet (producer)
Clive (Davis) when we decided to do another album. I wanted to do a blue-eyed
soul album. And Clive said, "No, I think it's about time you did a rock
album." So I said, "OK, Clive, what do you think we should do?" He said,
"The first song you should do is `Me and Bobby McGee."' It didn't finish
up on the album, but most of the songs were written around the '70s. But
it was really Clive Davis' idea.
Q: What songs from the new album mean the
most to you?
A: I think if there was one song which
really meant a lot, probably it would be "Father and Son," for obvious
reasons. And then the other one would be "It's a Heartache," because I
remember when that one came out (on a single by Bonnie Tyler), everyone
was phoning me up saying, "Why didn't you do that song? She's trying to
sound like you." So I had to wait all this time to get my teeth into it.
Q: The single is a great version of "Have
You Ever Seen the Rain." Were you a John Fogerty/Creedence Clearwater Revival
fan during their heyday, or were you too busy playing your own music to
actually have a chance to listen much to what was playing on the radio?
A: No, no, no, when we were with the Faces
and the Jeff Beck Group, I was very aware of John's voice. In my style
of singing you're always looking for someone else who sings in the same
way -- there's a brotherhood there -- Bob Seger and the like. So I remember
that era very well.
Q: In an interview with Billboard in 2005
you stated that the American Songbooks were your greatest musical achievement.
That's quite a statement given the tremendous success of some of your classics
like "Maggie May," "Gasoline Alley," etc., etc. Why do you feel so passionately
about the American Songbooks?
A: Simply because it was an absolute life-threatening
risk. Even the night before the (first) album came out, I remember phoning
up my manager and saying: "My God, I feel like a rock 'n' roll, y'know,
I just feel like I've left the flag down somewhat." And he said, "No, these
will stand up on their own. Clive believes in it, we all believe in it.
You enjoyed it, and if you enjoyed singing these songs hopefully it will
come across that you enjoyed singing them."
I felt like a rock 'n' roll traitor, that
was the word I was looking for. But they were such wonderful songs to sing.
Not only that, I wouldn't use the word "difficult," but you had to give
them 100 percent attention, y'know, because there are so many nuances in
those "Great American Songbook" songs that you could overlook and miss
certain little points that were sung by other singers that are very important.
I was just pleased it was a success and
pleased that after 20-odd years I wanted to sing these songs, having been
brought up with my parents and me brothers and sisters on them. After the
first one, I figured I've actually got one in the can and that would have
been it for me. I've done something. I got it off my chest. But to do two,
three and four was a dream come true.
Q: In that same interview you were very
generous concerning the fact that mainstream radio rarely plays new material
from veteran artists. Yet you also said, "But if I should make a bloody
rock 'n' roll record, they better play it." Well, now you have. Still feel
the same?
A: (Laughter) Well, remember these are
not songs I've written, but this is more of a concept album. But I must
say I'm really pleased at Bob Seger's recent success. Not just because
I've always admired him as a singer, but his new album has just gone in
the Top 10. That's wonderful. So he's broken the mould.
Q: A personal question. Can you tell me
a bit about your feelings when you first learned that you had cancer (in
2000) and whether you feel the way you bounced back from it can inspire
other people?
A: Yeah, I'm always a little reluctant
to talk about it because people say, "Well, he battled cancer." Battling
cancer to me is someone who has to go onto chemotherapy and is literally
in a hospital for months on end with their life hanging by a thread.
I don't want to be considered like that
'cause I was so bloody lucky. I went into a hospital for a check-up, had
a scan and they said, "Hold on, we've found something on your thyroid gland
and if you're gonna have cancer, this is the one to have because it's the
easiest one to get rid of if detected early."
So, in saying that, it was still, you can't
express to anybody once someone mentions "The Big C" to you, that you've
actually got it. Especially someone like me who considered himself to be
absolutely super fit. This doesn't happen to Rod, the football-playing,
keep-fit guy. When it happened to me, it was just, um, earth-shattering
is the only word I can think of.
Q: After the medical treatments, did you
have to go through special training to regain your vocal strength?
A: That was a whole different story. I
was right in the middle of making "Human." So some of the vocals on that
album, I'd go in one night and sing one line of the song and that was it,
my voice would pack up, and I'd have to go in and sing another line the
next night. It would take me a week just to get through one vocal. But
it came back slowly, slowly, slowly. Thank the Lord its come back better
than it ever was for some reason.
Q: Is there any type of music that you
don't like? You've done so many styles.
A: There's nothing I don't like. Most of
it I like, though some I don't bother to listen to. I'm not a great lover
of rap music, I don't quite get it and I don't think most of the people
in my generation do. But I can understand why the kids like it. It's different,
and its one form of music that hasn't been handed down from the parents,
y'know, and it's brand new.
Q: Just like rock and roll in the early
days.
A: Exactly.
Q: I know you're headed out on the road
again. Is the Times Square show kicking off a new round of touring? And
why do you think fans keep coming back to see you again and again?
A: Oh, I must have a nice bottom (laughter).
I think it's probably because people want to go see a show where they know
more than two or three songs in two hours.
With my songs, especially with this new
collection of stuff, even if I open up with "It's a Heartache" and follow
it with "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" and "If Not for You," people know
these songs already. So I'm already off to a winning start.
But I think the longevity is definitely
due to the fact that I've always prided myself on giving 110 percent when
I walk out on that stage. And the staging that we've got for this new tour
is amazing. I'm going back in the round. We're doing it a little like U2,
you know they had that special circle. We're going to have two great big
special circles with bar service. We'll have loads of drunks in the front
(laughter).
Q: So is that going to take up a lot of
next year?
A: Yes, five months.
Q: What are the chances you'll ever release
any new originals in the future?
A: There's a good chance, a great chance.
I've been very inspired. There's an artist in England called James Morrison
who's just come out with a No. 1 album. And he's got the best blue-eyed
soul voice and rock voice since me. (Laughter) No, I'm kidding. But the
way his songs are created, the way he's put his songs together are very
inspirational.
I beg you to listen to this guy; I'd love
for him to be a success over here. He's everything Robbie Williams thinks
he is. This guy's really got it, the voice, he's brilliant. Mark that name
down, James Morrison.
Q: Lastly, when you think back to your
days with the Faces, what are your fondest memories?
A: It was something I've never had in any
band I've been in: the camaraderie. The absolute love of each other, and
the protection that we put around each other. It was a brotherhood. We
had our own humour, our own drinking styles, our own fashion, our own music.
All of those things I've missed.
It was probably the most favourable music
in a mere five years of my life in the music business I ever had. I'll
never forget it. I love the guys dearly. You know Ronnie Lane's gone now
(Lane died in 1997). But it was the biggest learning experience for me,
and the biggest drinking experience. It's a wonder the rest of us are still
alive, we should be pickled. What a band, though, what a band.
Oct. 5, 2006
(Kevin O'Hare is music writer for The Republican
of Springfield, Mass. He can be contacted at kohare@repub.com.)
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