Linda Clifford speaks!

[Jeff H]

I did a phone interview with Linda Clifford two days ago (she'll be performing in Pittsburgh March 2) and wanted to share that she was an absolute delight to talk to! Sweet, sincere, funny, dishy, sassy--what a great time we had!



I hope that once the interview is published I can post a link to it on Out's Web site (of course, I have to WRITE it first!), but here are some highlights I thought you all might enjoy:



She told me that the rap in "Runaway Love" was totally impromptu; she said a group of them were sitting around the studio working on songs for the "If My Friends" LP and she didn't know the microphone was on when she started going off on her first husband! The chorus came later. (She also swears she actually loves dogs--think about the lyrics to "Runaway" and "Don't Give It Up"!)



She said she has never heard from Shirley MacLaine about "If My Friends"--even though Linda worked with her as an extra in "Sweet Charity"--and that she never wanted to call to ask her opinion because MacLaine is "so busy with all those other lives"!!!



She talked about her close friendships with Mel Cheren and the late Michael Gore ("Red Light," "Don't Come Crying to Me," etc.) and that she lost two of her own brothers to AIDS. She was audibly choked up when she talked about this, and I almost felt like apologizing for asking the question about all the AIDS benefits she's done.



On a lighter note, she says one of her best shows ever was at one of the Int'l Mr. Leather contests when she sang "A Night With the Boys" backed by dancers in leather jockstraps!



She is very grateful for her gay fans and even thinks she "wouldn't have a career without them."



She was also very gracious when I tried to get her to dish about today's... shall we say, less talented performers, but the names Britney, Mandy and J. Lo did get mentioned....



Finally, she's been writing songs these days and said Gloria Gaynor has recorded one that should be released in a few weeks, and that she has been talking to Donna Summer about working together. (What a dream come true, huh?!)



For a woman who says she doesn't consider herself a diva, she sure exhibits all the best qualites of one: talent, class and style. (Hey, maybe I'll use that line in my story!)



_________________

"...a once in a lifetime feeling that returns every week..."

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Jeff H on 2002-02-12 18:06 ]</font>

[dhwm]

Now, what about a DEFINITIVE ANTHOLOGY of ALL her songs on CD?

[guille]

Linda Clifford not only exceeds in talent, but she's also a great human being. Glad to hear she's still recording. I can never get enough of her.

Have a Disco life.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: guille on 2002-02-10 14:05 ]</font>

[sirius]

Oooh, thank god news from a real Diva! I am

really curious how many people will read this

message instead of Kylie Mini-Ogue.



She´s one of my all time favorites...

Cosmic Love & Kisses From SIRIUS & DARKTUNES

[Bernie]

Jeff,



Thanks so much for the 411. Nice to hear that she is doing well and is still active. Love "Runaway Love" and "Don't Come Crying To Me." Drop me a note when the article is finished.

[paul]

Thanks for sharing that Jeff. Be sure to let us know when you complete the piece on her.

[HustleBaby]

Hi Jeff,



Thanks for the info! I haven't heard about Linda since the early 80's and I've always wondered what she was up to these days. If you don't mind, can you dish the details she said about todays overrated "so-called" divas.



*DISCO DELIGHT*

[Outsider]

I got a sound file of "Shoot Your Best Shot" a while back, and I absolutely love that song. It has everything you could ask for in a song: catchy melody and great musicianship. I'm surprised this song wasn't a hit, or was it? If it wasn't, it should have been. It's great to hear that she's still making music. I also want to read that article when it's finished.

[Jeff H]

Outsider: "Shoot Your Best Shot" was a No. 1 hit on the Billboard disco chart in the fall of 1980 (October, I think). In fact, Linda had a pair of hits in late 1980--"Red Light" was the other one.

[markydefad]

Jeff,



Can't wait to read your interview. Good work. Isn't it nice to be able to have those chart stats at your fingertips, to settle all disputes?

[Jeff H]

HustleBaby: As I said, Linda was very gracious--maybe diplomatic is a better word--when we discussed today's wannabes. Most of her comments were about the state of the music industry, which she believes concentrates only on the next No. 1 hit without really helping young singers build a career. She said it was "sad" that the attitude is, "Well, she's past 16--let's move on to someone new."



Since she was referring only to young singers, I asked, "What about older singers who are being ignored?" and she said, "Oh, you don't want me to go there!" And I told her, "Yes, I do! Dish! Dish!" I complained that singers like her, Donna Summer and Patti Austin can't get arrested these days, and she told me she was listening to Patti Austin just before I called. (Lucky choice of names, huh?!)



About the only really derogatory thing she said was that today's performers don't have to be able to sing, since "you can throw anyone into a studio these days and make them sound good." Sorry to disappoint you, but she never said "Britney Spears sucks"; her name and Mandy Moore's were only mentioned as examples of how style matters more than substance.



I WISH she had said something bitchy like "Britney/Mandy/Jessica/J.Lo/Beyonce sucks," but I think she is too classy (or too smart!) to say anything like that--at least on the record.

[markydefad]

Jeff,



If we could only get Linda & Gloria & Donna to sing on a record produced by Tom Moulton--now that would be a coup! What would be a great tune to remake with those 3 divas? Like they did with the "54" remake of "If You Could Read My Mind" with Amber, Ultra Nate' & Jocelyn Enriquez or the ghastly remake of "Lady Marmalade". Let's get those divas workin' again!

[HustleBaby]

[quote]

On 2002-02-11 13:44, markydefad wrote:



the ghastly remake of "Lady Marmalade".



_____________________________________________

I'm glad to see that someone else agrees with me regarding that ATROCIOUS remake of "Lady Marmalade"!!!!! The first time I saw it I said YUCK!! I don't care if it was the theme for MOULIN ROUGE it is still ATROCIOUS!!!!



*DISCO DELIGHT*

[Outsider]

On 2002-02-12 00:53, HustleBaby wrote:



I'm glad to see that someone else agrees with me regarding that ATROCIOUS remake of "Lady Marmalade"!!!!! The first time I saw it I said YUCK!! I don't care if it was the theme for MOULIN ROUGE it is still ATROCIOUS!!!!



*DISCO DELIGHT*

I also agree with you. I think that the remake of that song is horrible (but I like the original version). Why did Pink, whose music I like, get involved with this mess? Fortunately she got it right with songs such as "Get The Party Started".

[Twirlessence]

I know this may sound slightly wierd but I'd like to hear them do a discofied 3-way vocal remaking the country music classic "Does He Love You?".

Or maybe revisit some of the 1st Choice catalog - The Player, Armed & Extremely Dangerous, Dr. Love, etc.

Or maybe a remake of Marlena Shaw's version of "Touch Me In The Morning".