Rick Springfield, musician once more
Longtime rocker with new album to perform Thursday in Wilkes-Barre

By HELEN YANULUS Pocono Life Writer

This time around, it wasn't about pleasing the bean counters at a record label. It wasn't about living up to a teen idol image that was never his idea in the first place. And it wasn't about pumping life into a career by reproducing someone else's sound of the moment.

For Rick Springfield, it has always been — and always will be — about the music.

Springfield, whose musical resume boasts 17 top-40 singles and a Grammy award for the chart-topping "Jessie's Girl," will perform Thursday night at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in Wilkes-Barre

He'll be in town promoting his first studio album in more than five years, dubbed "shock/denial/anger/acceptance."

"I write to heal. Pretty much, my songs come from the darker aspect of life," said Springfield during a telephone interview from his California residence. "I look in when I'm down."

"Don't Talk to Strangers" was like that, looking at the darker aspect of paranoia. Other recognizable titles from Springfield 's discography include "Affair of the Heart," "Love Somebody," "Love Is Alright Tonite" and "Human Touch."

The new CD, released in February, is an electric jolt for Springfield fans, where this eternal rocker who has survived the inexplicable vagaries of the often cruel and unforgiving record business lets loose with vigorous new material that takes listeners on an intense personal journey.

"I was in a lot of personal pain. I don't know of anyone who isn't in some stage of healing in their life," said Springfield , who needed to write about the relationships and personal issues that were gnawing inside.

"I took this direction in music because I gravitate to the electric guitar when I have deeper issues," he said. "The guitar has been about energy, angst and anger."

When Springfield was penning such engaging songs as "Your Psychopathic Mother," "Perfect," "God Gave You to Everyone" and "The Invisible Girl," he was in Las Vegas with the "EFX Alive" show at the MGM Grand's EFX Theater, which he starred in for nearly two years.

There in the desert with family and distractions in another state, Springfield found the time that allowed for him to dig a tunnel into his emotional quandaries and produce guitar riffs and lyrics that are raw and keen.

"I had the most time for writing since 'Working Class Dog,' and I took advantage of it. I wrote 17 songs, which is enough for two albums," S pringfield said.

"Angels of the Disappeared" was inspired by the Elizabeth Smart disappearance, and "Idontwantanythingfromyou" is sure to become a relationship breakup anthem.

"Beautiful You," for which he finished the music video about a week ago, will be released as a single.

His Web site, http://www.rickspringfield.com, features a limited, signed edition of his latest work.

His last CD, "Karma," was more of a mellow recording. "With this album, I wanted to do it because with 'Karma,' I couldn't do much of it on stage. I wanted songs that I could play with a band. I wanted it stripped down, with hooks and something to say," said Springfield , who sought a sound that slammed with highs and lows.

Many of the songs are linked, which means a break is not evident between the tracks. "I love links. They make the album sound like you're listening to the radio," said Springfield , who was after the sound The Who did on "Sellout." "It makes the CD flow. Every CD stops and starts. I appreciate it when (musicians) take the time to link up songs. I wrote with that thought in mind."

Springfield recorded "shock/denial/anger/acceptance" on his own label, Gomer Records Inc.

"The industry is so different now. There are three or four acts they focus on and another 40 or 50 acts — they catch fire or let go and drop them. You can be gone in two weeks. I didn't want that to happen," he said. "I started my own record label, so I'd be the one to guide it."

This tour, however, won't simply be a peek into Rick Springfield's psyche. "The concert will be a big party. That's what I like my concerts to be. It gets the audience involved. I want to get into their faces," he said. "It's a very up show. I want people to leave swaying as much as I am."

IN SPITE OF ALL THE YEARS that span between his early recordings with a band called Zoot to his solo career, he enjoys playing the songs his fans want to hear.

Springfield , who was born in Merrylands, Sydney , Australia , and followed his father's military career to England , was influenced early on by a musical theater powerhouse team and later by the Beatles.

"I was raised with Rodgers and Hammerstein stuff. I love ' Oklahoma ! and 'South Pacific.' The music is incredible, lyrically incredible. I saw early on that it was the writers. The writing is where it should be," said Springfield , who grew up in the country in a family without a television set.

Springfield , who tended to write about dark subjects starting early in his career, never sought the teen idol status that he attained in the 1980s. "It was pretty weird," said this rocker who played Dr. Noah Drake on " General Hospital " during this time. "I can't relate to it. I never took it personally. It was projected on me. I was just a musician writing songs."

Yet his face was plastered all over the teen magazines. Springfield kept it all in perspective by writing what he wanted to write. He was happy that the fan base was there, but he never took the teen-idol image seriously.

"I always appreciated the audience. I feel privileged to have any audience," he said. "I wasn't writing for that age. My first couple albums didn't have the 'I think I love you.' I was writing about suicide," he said.

Springfield seeks to make a connection through music with his fans.

"My best compliment is that a certain song has helped them through a tough time," Springfield said.

He's really a shy kind of guy who admits to going to a party, sitting with a glass of wine and one person for quiet conversation. It isn't until he's on stage that his performance persona takes over and provides the audience with an energetic show.

To him, the most important thing is to have his sons be proud of him

Both his boys, Liam, 18, and Joshua, 15, are musicians. Springfield brags with the proud voice of a parent about Liam's skillful ear for music and Joshua's sight-reading ability and mathematical genius.

Springfield said, "I want my kids to be proud of me and that the songs I wrote were heard."