“The Songs of Rick Springfield”: A Cool Tribute

Rick Springfield is probably best known for a string of 1980s chart hits, including “Jessie’s Girl” and “Don’t Talk To Strangers,” as well as his portrayal of Dr. Noah Drake on the long-running soap opera General Hospital. But Springfield’s career actually stretches back to the early 1970s, and his musical output encompasses multiple genres, including pop, rock, power pop, and New Wave.

Producer Andrew Curry is the driving force behind Curry Cuts, a Portland-based label which has previously issued several phenomenal tribute albums, including Here Comes The Reign Again: The Second British Invasion, White Lace & Promises: The Songs of Paul Williams, and Higher Than A Mountain: The Songs of Andy Gibb. Curry’s latest project is Second By Second By Minute By Minute: The Songs of Rick Springfield, which features a host of talented indie artists covering songs from across Springfield’s expansive oeuvre.

Second By Second By Minute By Minute includes the expected popular selections from Springfield’s catalog, including Eytan Mirsky’s New Wave-esque take on “Jessie’s Girl,” Popdudes’ excellent version of “Don’t Talk To Strangers,” and Juniper’s pop/rock flavored rendition of “I’ve Done Everything For You.”

The disc also showcases several re-interpretations of Springfield’s earliest work, including his 1972 hit “Speak To The Sky,” lovingly covered by The Corner Laughers, Minky Starshine’s soulful rendition of 1976’s “Take A Hand,” and Ken Sharp’s heartfelt reading of “Believe in Me” from the fan favorite album Comic Book Heroes. Joe Giddings contributes the enjoyable “We’re Gonna Have A Good Time,” originally included on the soundtrack to Mission: Magic, a 1970s animated series which featured voice work by Springfield, and Splitsville rocks the house with an exuberant take on “Love Is Alright Tonite,” from the platinum-selling 1981 disc, Working Class Dog.

As with past releases from Curry Cuts, executive producer Andrew Curry has brought together a fantastic lineup of artists, many of whom have been featured on his earlier compilations, including the marvelous Lisa Mychols, who contributes a 1980s pop-styled version of “What Kind of Fool Am I,” while Linus of Hollywood offers an outstanding run through of “I Get Excited,” both of which were originally featured on Springfield’s 1982 disc Success Hasn’t Spoiled Me Yet. Andi Rae Healy provides an expressive take on “Human Touch,” while Dolph Cheney does a fine job on “Souls” from 1983’s Living In Oz, and meyerman furnishes an amazing interpretation of “One Passenger,” a track from 2018’s Venus In Overdrive. All 20 tracks on the disc are exceptional and feature splendid performances by the artists.

What all of these performers have in common is their unbridled enthusiasm for these terrific tunes, whether they’re doing a faithful cover or taking the song in a different direction. Second By Second By Minute By Minute is a superb collection of songs, and amply displays why Rick Springfield has such a dedicated fan base. He’s embarking on a tour with several fellow 1980s artists this summer, so it’s a perfect time to take a deep dive into his six-decade catalog with this extraordinary record.

After all, you don’t want to disappoint “Jessie’s Girl!”

-John Visconti

Fair use image from The Songs of Rick Springfield