Rickie Lee Jones has a career that spans five decades. This two-time Grammy winner came to worldwide attention with Chuck E’s in Love and she’s been wooing us ever since. Here’s the download from the Duchess of Coolsville.
Tell us about being known as the ‘Duchess of Coolsville’ – where did that come from?
Time magazine called me the Duchess of Coolsville in one of the first articles written about me in 1979… Coolsville, a song I wrote.
So Chuck E’s In Love. What a song! Wiki reports that you and Tom Waitts – and Chuck E Weiss – shared a place in LA, and after a phone call from Weiss, Tom announced ‘Chuck E’s In Love’ – and that led to the song. Is there any truth to this?
Tom and I lived together for a while. Tom and Chuck and me, not really, no.
You co-wrote the track Horses, which was made popular here in Australia by vocalist Daryl Braithwaite in 1990. Can you share how that came about? Have you and Daryl crossed paths? Will you and Daryl meet up when you’re in Australia next year?
I wrote Horses in 1988 for my daughter Charlotte Diamantie.
My producer suggested a key change for the chorus. He is my co-writer, Walter Becker. I believe the key change is crucial.
Daryl’s version is pretty much the same as mine, same key, same tempo, more guitar. Same vocal improvisations. But there is something wonderfully Australian about his version; his voice, whatever it is, really rang true for the folks down there. It’s quite wonderful.
What can audiences in Australia expect from your performances in 2017? How do you go about choosing your set list?
Expect the set to reflect the players I’m playing with – vibes (Mike Dillon) and guitarist (Cliff Hines) from the other side of the musical tracks. Both are virtuosos and as a trio it brings out the improvisation in my performance. I’m at home with them. Everything we play, from the older stuff to the new, makes it fun for me.
Rickie Lee Jones at Bluesfest this Easter.
For ticket and program information go to bluesfest.com.au.
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