SOUND OFF Special Interview: Linda Eder - Part 2

Today we are talking to the internationally renowned recording superstar who is also known to theatre fans for her stint onstage in JEKYLL & HYDE - and for her brilliantly big Broadway belt - with a fantastic new album out now on Sony re-teaming with her frequent collaborator/composer/producer, Frank Wildhorn - the talented and alluring Ms. Linda Eder. In this all-encompassing two-part conversation we discuss her many studio albums recorded over the last two decades, as well as her demo work on the countless Wildhorn musicals over the years and the future of those shows (HAVANA is coming!). In this brand new Part II, we also look ahead to her own future and discuss what can be expected in her upcoming concert series promoting the new album NOW, which she will be performing songs from in her upcoming concert at Town Hall. A truly theatrical album featuring a spellbinding title song with lyrics by Tony-winner Maury Yeston, NOW is Eder at her best. Linda also shares the inspiration behind the new album and what the music of Wildhorn means to her, her favorite tracks and recollections of the studio sessions - plus, her equestrian endeavors and much, much more. NOW is available in stories, on Amazon and on iTunes, and further information about Linda's concert appearances - including her Town Hall concert - can be found at her official site here.

Part II: Insight & Inspiration, Then & Now

PC: You sing "Living In Shadows" from VICTOR/VICTORIA on NOW, a song Frank wrote for Julie Andrews. She has also done this column and I have to ask if you are a fan of hers?

LE: Oh, of course! THE SOUND OF MUSIC is my favorite movie musical. I adore Julie Andrews. I couldn't do what she does. She sings in a classical head voice that I couldn't do - but, you know, I am totally blown away by what she can do and sound so beautiful and still get all the emotion across and be musical.

PC: Liza Minnelli also sang that song on Broadway in that show and has also done this column - what do you think of her work?

LE: Again, she's a completely different animal than Julie Andrews - but, she's incredibly musical. You know, she didn't have the God-given vocal talent of a Julie Andrews, but she was born with the God-given ability to know what to do with a song and how to act it and put it across - that's just innate; it's a musician and an actress, one-hundred-percent.

PC: Who are your idols?

LE: To me, the trifecta would really be Julie Andrews and Liza/Judy Garland - they are the same in that regard to me - and, then, Barbra Streisand.

PC: The best of the best.

LE: A lot of people call me the next Barbra or whatever, but, in essence, it's really just poor man's version of Barbra when I'm doing that kind of stuff because I'm a mimic - I just understand so many different musical styles that I was able to recreate what Barbra does and people loved that because they missed Barbra. But, in the bigger picture - and in what I think people have discovered over the last six years - is that I really do all kinds of music and what's most natural and innate to me is actually the country stuff.

PC: Really?

LE: That's the only time you don't hear the influence of anyone else - it's just me. It's plain, old Linda the farm girl just being herself - instead of, you know, mimicking the idols she grew up listening to. Yes, can I do those styles and can I do them authentically? Sure. But, I still agreed with all the critics who said I was just mimicking - because they are not wrong when they say that.

PC: You have certainly been more experimental in the last decade with your musical choices. It also seems you have let down your guard and let your hair down a bit more than before.

LE: Listen, I had to shock the fan base. I had to shock them with THE OTHER SIDE OF ME and show them that this is here, too. And, as a result of doing that, now I am able to have a show that I can call ALL OF ME - because I am able to sing all of it now and I have a band that can play anything I want, too. And, because I have done all the styles - I feel free to do it like I want to do it. I don't have to feel like, "Oh, this particular song is going to shock this group." Now, everyone knows that this is what you are going to hear - you are going to hear a little bit of everything and if you don't like one style of music, just wait a few minutes and you'll like the next one, you know?

PC: "Something To Believe In" was, after all, a techno/dance song.

LE: Yes, it was - but I was still singing it sort of Barbra-ish. I still wasn't free to be myself. It's taken me all these years for me to figure out who the heck I was.

PC: Is the last album or perhaps the new one most representative of you as an artist?

LE: No, I don't feel like I put that album out yet. I think the most musical and creative I can be is when I finally do a record of all my own material - because, you know, THE OTHER SIDE OF ME was the first attempt of me doing that stuff. I had twenty years to develop the other one. SOUNDTRACK also had more of that pop sort of thing. Closer to "More Than Heaven" - those are the types of arrangements I enjoy doing in the studio.

PC: That's interesting.

LE: Radio work is very different from Broadway; stuff that goes over on the radio doesn't go over well live, sometimes - and some music doesn't work well on the radio. You need all types of categories of music, because we're all in different moods and different spaces throughout the day and throughout our lives, and there's places for all of it. But, as far as my most quintessential, personal record I can make? I don't think I have made it yet.

PC: What prompted you to want to break out of the old mold?

LE: Yeah, it's so much fun to. People don't realize that we get bored - we've been doing this for twenty-something years! And, if you are singing the same type of music and you are getting pigeon-holed, but you have all these other creative impulses - it's hard. It was very hard, I felt like I was losing my drive; losing my edge. That's why the last seven years have been so great for me, because I have worked with other musicians and other writers and I've written my own stuff - and, just, grown. So, it brought back life into everything I was doing - even when I went back to doing a Broadway song, I came back as a slightly different me; a more complete me.

PC: Was BY MYSELF: THE SONGS OF JUDY GARLAND your first step on that journey?

LE: The Judy Garland album came about because I had just gotten divorced and, you know, musically, Frank and I had had this musical identity together having done these records for so many years - and it was time that the record company wanted me to make a record. But, I didn't really feel like making one - and, I didn't know what kind of record I wanted to make. That's when someone suggested that I maybe make a Judy Garland tribute album and, I thought, "That's perfect!" - because I think if anyone can do a Judy Garland record and do it sort of authentically, I think I was the right person. That's why the record is the way it is - I loved those versions that she did and I wanted to do several of them pretty identical to the way she did them. I did that on purpose. Others, I took and pushed them in a slightly different direction - but, it was really all meant to be a tribute to her and doing it in a way that she would have maybe done it. And, I enjoyed doing it. It didn't say to the public, "Hey, I am striking out in a new direction!" It was just, "Here's a tribute to Judy Garland. Enjoy!"

PC: Did you grow up watching her movies?

LE: Well, she's the reason I became I singer - when I watched her in THE WIZARD OF OZ. I didn't know what kind of music I wanted to sing - I just knew that I wanted to sing. And, it was from watching her.

PC: You share a similar emotionality to your voice. A soul bared.

LE: Totally.

PC: Barbra tends to be more technical and guarded onstage, whereas I feel like you and Judy and Liza are more open.

LE: Well, that's what I always say - Barbra stands on the stage with her eyes shut and says, "Here, why don't you take me?" and Judy was just the opposite, you know, "Tell me what you want and I'll give it to you."

PC: Your song selections on the Broadway album are great. Was it difficult to pick the sings?

LE: No. It was easy. But, it was also easy because it was my first Broadway album, you know? If it was my third or fourth it might be more difficult!

PC: You should just record the whole score of NINE yourself - all the roles.

LE: (Laughs.) Yeah, I guess I could - I should, shouldn't I? (Laughs.)

PC: Have you ever duetted with yourself?

LE: Well, the closest is the harmonizing - like on "Now" - and, never a full-on one where I was totally doing two sides where they were even. No, I haven't done that.

PC: I'd be curious to hear you duet with your younger STAR SEARCH self on "I Dreamed A Dream."

LE: Yeah, yeah! That could be kind of cool.

PC: What do you think of the possibilities posed by new technology - such as they used on the recent Oscars.

LE: Oh, I think it's great. Of course, Natalie Cole did the first one - with her dad ["Unforgettable"]. It was so beautifully done. Like with anything, there will be abuses of it and there will be wonderful examples of it. (Laughs.) But, yeah, I think it's great. What I really love is when they CGI some past actor and, suddenly, he's in a movie again! It's just scary what they can do, but it's fun at the same time.

PC: Did you see what they did with the Winklevii in THE SOCIAL NETWORK - the twins?

LE: I didn't know that at first, but, as I am watching, I'm thinking, "This guy has gotta be... there can't be two men this good-looking in life!" (Laughs.) So, I was right when I found out it was one guy - I didn't know for sure!

PC: Would you consider doing a movie musical someday?

LE: Sure, I would love that - because you only have to do it once and then you can sit back and relax and watch it, instead of doing it eight times a week! (Laughs.)

PC: What about tackling GYPSY? You're approaching the right age to do it.

LE: Sure! We'll see. And, by that time, Jake will be old enough - you know, I haven't wanted to go back [to the stage] with him in school; my only child, I would never see him!

PC: Motherhood comes before Broadway, then?

LE: You know, Frank really wanted me to do WONDERLAND and I just said, "No, I can't." I said, "You're gone so much and I have to travel for work and even if we try to balance it, you're gonna be doing all these out of town tryouts - I have to be here for Jake. I just can't do it."

PC: Since you have a pre-teen I have to ask: what do you think Justin Beiber and the flock of new teenybopper pop stars?

LE: Well, I knew of Justin Beiber, but I didn't know any of his music. Now that I have Sirius Satellite Radio, suddenly I find I really like the Justin Beiber songs now that I know which ones they are. I really enjoy him. And, I really like Lady Gaga. Her new video is really pushing the envelope, but I'm as fascinated by her as anyone else. I love Katy Perry. I love The Script - they're my favorite band.

PC: What do you think of GLEE?

LE: Oh, I love GLEE! I just got involved with GLEE because I didn't see the first season, so I went back and downloaded the first season just to catch up with it. I think it's just phenomenal. I think all the cast are just great. I think whoever is doing the music is amazing.

PC: What are the Top Songs on your iPod right now?

LE: "Don't Break Even" by The Script - which I love. Lady Gaga - I have my favorites from the MONSTER albums. I have the whole albums, but I have a Playlist where I put the better ones.

PC: "Speechless"? That's my favorite songs of hers.

LE: (Laughs.) No way! That's the one that's my favorite. That, to me, is the greatest song she's done.

PC: "You And I" on her new album is just as good - it's so Elton John-esque.

LE: I haven't heard that one yet! I also love Lady Antebellum - speaking of the ladies. (Laughs.)

PC: "Need You Know"?

LE: Yep! Yep. Oh, yeah. Actually, their first album, I took a road trip last year when that one came out - because I love to do that - and I listened to that album, non-stop, just over and over and over, just in a loop in my car. I love every single song. I love Tim McGraw, too. I'm across the board - I love it all.

PC: What do you think of Jason Mraz?

LE: Oh, I like him. I like him a lot. And, I love Colbie Caillat.

PC: Of course. They just won the Grammy for Best Pop Duet for "Lucky".

LE: Yeah, I really like that.

PC: Who would you like to duet with most?

LE: Well, it depends - because I do like so many different styles. But, if I were going to do a big band-type, I think Michael Buble and I could do a killer duet because I know that style and, obviously, he does.

PC: That would be a great pairing.

LE: I've always also loved Bryan Adams - I would love to do a duet. I think his rasp against my non-rasp would be a really cool collaboration.

PC: And isn't the ROBIN HOOD theme on SOUNDTRACK?

LE: Yes! I love that song - "Anything I Do" - I recorded it because I love it. We do it in the live shows all the time.

PC: Since you mentioned enjoying GLEE, what about duetting with Matthew Morrison?

LE: He has a great pop voice. He's sort of like the Broadway Justin Timberlake, I think.

PC: What do you think of the Broadway/pop crossover career that seem to be happening more and more with people like him? Very few have done it as successfully as you have.

LE: I think it's wonderful because it shows that people still want melody. They want pop - because pop is the biggest category for a reason: we all love it - but, we also got so far away from great singing mixed in with pop music, so, that's why GLEE is amazing to me: these kids are Broadway-ish in some cases, but they are also pop. It's the perfect marriage. You know, the very thing that Broadway likes to rag on composers and writers about is exactly what the public eats up!

PC: That's true quite often. What do you think of AMERICAN IDOL?

LE: I think it's wonderful for exposing talent - and, there's so much talent. It's different this year, but, in the past years with Simon Cowell and everything, it was too much reality. I never watch the try-outs and I never watch the behind the scenes. I also don't watch the comments - not because I don't agree with them a lot of the time, but I just don't agree with the way it's being done to exploit it for the purpose of reality TV - because I know it can damage people.

PC: Do you feel like they are all sort of thrown out there? You have been there, too, in those shoes.

LE: Throwing them out there - that's fine. It's tough, but it's fine. But, from what I remember from STAR SEARCH, the judges weren't allowed to speak to us - and they weren't allowed to be mean. You've gotta have balls if you want to go out there to compete, but to have your singing be judged, that takes balls - so, to go out there and sing and be judged you have to have some balls. Fine. But, to skewer them personally and professionally? From appearance to whatever to calling them stupid? That's just cruel. That's just exploitation of young kids, so I don't agree with that at all.

PC: And Jennifer Hudson is the best example of talent slipping through the judges' - and America's - fingers. The Oscar and the Grammy were probably sweet revenge, though.

LE: Well, if there's anybody giving their finger to someone in a metaphorical kind of way - she did it. (Laughs.)

PC: There have been so many great musicals in the last ten years. What have been your favorite musicals recently? DREAMGIRLS, HAIRSPRAY, SWEENEY TODD, even BURLESQUE?

LE: I haven't seen BURLESQUE yet but I really want to. It just came and went so fast in theaters I didn't catch it, and I just haven't watched a lot of movies recently, but it is one that I do want to watch because I admire Christina Aguilera's singing a lot and I'd like to see it all because I've liked the clips I've seen of it.

PC: Who have you seen performing live recently that has really impressed you? You always put on great live shows.

LE: Well, I saw Billy Joel, actually. We were playing in an arena at the same time, so we were allowed to go backstage and go right to the front and see him. I finished my concert just in time to see his encore - which is like six songs; and they are six of his most famous songs. And, I have to say, that performance just blew me away. That was really good.

PC: What do you think has been the best live performance you have ever seen?

LE: The best live performance show that I have seen still goes back to Harry Connick Jr.'s big band thing in New York right when he became so big. To me, that was the best concert I've ever seen. He's so brilliant - he's just so good. And, it was so well put together where it went from the small band to the big band. Again, I love swing and I love that style. But, not all music is great live - there are only certain types of music that lend themselves so well to live performing. So, it's hard - I'm a really tough audience. (Laughs.)

PC: Harry passed the test with flying colors, though - clearly!

LE: Yes, he did - and how! But, I am a know-it-all and a critic so there isn't anything that I see usually that I wouldn't change something or do something totally different - I can't help it, it's just who I am. I am not an easy person to blow away.

PC: So are the NOW concerts going to be something special?

LE: We are still sort of learning the whole concert. We've put in eight or nine new songs and it's all kind of gelling. And, the first New York date we are going to do will be at Town Hall next month.

PC: What is the tour plan?

LE: Well, I tour all year long. I just work all year long with a certain number of dates per month so I can really be here and try to balance motherhood with performing. So, I work all year round. But, ever since the record came out, we have added in eight or nine new songs and have been letting that gel and getting tight with the material and we'll try it all out several times before Town Hall in New York next month.

PC: Could you define collaboration in terms of this album?

LE: Well, I think truly creative people have to have a belief in what they do and really have a sense of that they know what is good - and fight for what is good. But, the perfect collaborator is someone who is the same type of person. But, then, both people have to have somewhere in there the ability to see past all that to know when the other person really has the better idea.

PC: Lastly: will there be a follow up to TRAIL MIX?

LE: It was a blast. I really so enjoyed that. I loved meeting all those people and seeing all their horses and seeing all the beautiful places where they keep their horses - it was really fun.

PC: Wasn't that a proposed pilot? Are there more episodes?

LE: Well, it would have been great if it would have become one. But, the woman who was running Animal Planet then left Animal Planet - so, you know, like so much of the business, that's how it went. Like with the record business, the people at the top are constantly changing hands. They come in like gangbusters to bring you into the company and then they get you and they're gone! On to the next one. (Laughs.)

PC: I can't wait for your next concert in New York and whatever your next album will be. I'm sure it will be fantastic. Thank you so much for this today, Linda.

LE: Thank you so, so much, Pat. This was really wonderful. It's been a lot of fun. Talk to you later. Bye.