Living in Oz

Rick Springfield has established himself as one of the most daring musical trend-setters in the 1980’s with LIVING IN OZ on RCA Records. Propelled by his steadfast vision and willing attitude, Springfield has finally arrived as the consummate singer/songwriter/producer.

Born to a career soldier in Sydney, Springfield grew up on army bases in Australia and England where his musical influences ranged from the Beatles to the American-derived blues of the Rolling Stones. As a gift for his thirteenth birthday, he received his first guitar and soon thereafter leaped at the chance to play weekend dances. “We were as hard-core as you can get a sixteen years old,” Springfield muses about the Jordy Boys, his first steady working band named after a rough-life suburb of Melbourne.

Ultimately deciding to leave school and join a full-time band, Rock House, the young singer suddenly found himself in the midst of an international war. “The band was asked to go to Vietnam to entertain, and we jumped at the chance to earn some money," he recalls.

Once back in Australia, Springfield launched into recording his own material with a new band, Zoot. The group became recognized as the country’s most popular, and Springfield received awards for Australia’s top composer and guitarist.

A solo single, “ Speak to the Sky,” reached number one in Australia and later instigated record company interst in the United States. Capitol signed the formidable singer/songwriter/guitarist/performer and sent him to London to record BEGINNINGS. In 1972, the remake of “Speak to the Sky” from that album reached the top 15 stateside.

Still, just as everything appeared to be falling into place, a period of turbulence appeared to grip his career.

“At this point, I was not in control of my direction,” Springfield says reflecting on the release of COMIC BOOK HEROES (Columbia), and problems with immigration officials, record labels and management. It was during this time that he began to pursue acting and study with coaches like Vincent Chase and Malcolm McDowell. Continuing to write, arrange and record new material at his home, Springfield was signed by Chelsea Records after a three year period of obscurity.

"I made a good album for them, and it was getting a lot of airplay. But just as I started touring the recording company folded,” he says. In spite of this major setback, Springfield continued to push ahead.

Together with a friend, he rented a tiny theater in Hollywood to present a play for friends, relatives and anyone else interested. Able and willing, Springfield created sets, designed the costumes and worked out lighting for the play. A representative from Universal was convinced by the play, and signed the actor to a two year contract for guest appearances on episodic shows like “Six Million Dollar Man” and “The Rockford Files.’ Hence, Springfield has most notably garnered widespread attention on “General Hospital.”

RCA Records signed Rick Springfield in 1980. Since that time, this important performer has left an indelible impression on the face of contemporary music which is distinguished by driving efforts like WORKING CLASS DOG, SUCCESS HASN’T SPOILED ME YET, LIVING IN OZ and word-of-month concerts internationally.

For this startling rocker, more than a decade of tough times and perseverance reached fruition during 1981 as his RCA debut album, WORKING CLASS DOG, achieved platinum status and the single, “Jessie’s Girl,” won a coveted Grammy Award for “Best Rock Male Performance.”

His second RCA album SUCCESS HASN’T SPOILED ME YET was also a smashing success producing such hits as “Don’t Talk to Strangers” and “Calling All Girls.’ The album achieved platinum-plus status and Springfield won the American Music Award’s “Favorite Male Rock Vocalist’ for 1982. In addition, he was nominated for two Grammy Awards – “Best Male Pop Vocalist” (“Don’t Talk to Strangers”) and “Best Male Rock Vocalist” (“I Get Excited”).

Springfield has broken into several significant new areas stylistically and lyrically on LIVING IN OZ, as evidence by such compositions as the relentless “Motel Eyes,” the pulsating “Human Touch” and the autobiographical “Me and Johnny.” Forever seeking to set the highest standards in his work and striving to attain his highest goals, Springfield’s OZ is self-composed and produced. Plans are also underway for Springfield’s most extensive world tour which will embark in mid-June, culminating with first-time performances in Japan, Australia and Europe. The performer’s SRO “Sweat For Success” tour in 1982 was a resounding success with both critics and fans – a memorable three night engagement at New York’s Carnegie Hall prompted the New York Times to label the concert “the closest thing this town has seen to Beatlemania since Shea Stadium.”

With the start of the New Year, Springfield has concluded the television phase of his acting career and opened a new chapter by starring in a Universal film titled “Hard to Hold” which is set for release during the fall of ’83. The film will be a romantic comedy which begins production in San Francisco in April. Directed by Larry Peerce, produced by Dino Conte, Springfield is presently collaborating on the film soundtrack with renowned musician Tom Scott.

The eighties has yet to witness a more alluring and versatile artist, and with each successive step, Springfield’s career manifests a limitless potential.