Sheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow

COME ON OVER!

For C'mon C'mon, Sheryl Crow Invites an All-Star Cast to Raise the Roof
Since she released The Globe Sessions in 1998, Sheryl Crow has been busy. She recorded a live album, the star-studded Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live in Central Park. She helped produce and record Stevie Nicks's latest album, Trouble in Shangri-La. She appeared on the cover of the men's magazine Stuff, which featured the svelte 40-year-old in some rather racy -- and rather spare -- outfits. And she took a spotlight role with the Recording Artists Coalition, the activist group looking to represent the voice of artists in the ever-in-flux music business. That's fine for Ms. Crow, but her fans have been chomping at the bit for a new studio album -- which she delivers in the gloriously varied C'mon C'mon. The set features a host of guest collaborators, including Nicks, Don Henley, Lenny Kravitz, Emmylou Harris, Liz Phair, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, and blues guitarist Doyle Bramhall II. Barnes & Noble.com's Lydia Vanderloo posed a few questions to the busy rocker, just prior to the album's release.

Barnes & Noble.com: Lately, you've collaborated with a broad variety of artists, from Stevie Nicks to Kid Rock. Do your musical tastes in general cover such a broad variety of music? What have you been listening to a lot lately?

Sheryl Crow: There are similar influences that Stevie and Kid Rock and many of the people I've collaborated with over the years share, and that is a love of country, roots, and blues music, as well as good songwriting in general.

To be perfectly honest, I haven't been listening to anything lately because I haven't had time, but around my house, I find I put on a couple of my favorite '70s compilations that have everything from the James Gang to Linda Ronstadt on them.

B&N.com: About your work with Stevie Nicks -- you co-produced and sang on her last album. How was that? What are some of your favorite Stevie and/or Fleetwood Mac albums?

SC: I loved working with Stevie. She is not only a complete artist but is a great friend. She is one of those people who thinks like an artist. She is a wonderful painter and sketcher as well as a very prolific poet. She is also extremely fun to be around. In the studio, she was always present and ready to work...always dialed in and open to new ideas. My favorite Mac album is Rumours; however, I love the Fleetwood Mac album, too.

B&N.com: Your other collaborators on this album are also varied -- from big names like Don Henley and Lenny Kravitz to lesser-known talents like Doyle Bramhall III to musical heroes like Emmylou Harris. What do you look for in a collaborator?

SC: On this album, I found that the collaborators kind of presented themselves according to the flavor of the song. The beautiful thing about it was that they are all people who have been important to me. I've never capitalized on my relationships in this business on any of my studio records before now, but because this album was full of a lot uncertainty for me, it was comforting to me to have my friends on hand.

B&N.com: How did you come to sing on "Picture" from Kid Rock's latest album, Cocky? What's your favorite Kid Rock song?

SC: I went to Detroit to work with Kid Rock because I loved the "Cowboy" track on his last album, [Devil Without a Cause]. "Cowboy" is my favorite track. It was really great because the experience kind of reminded me of where I came from...the Midwest, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, Budweiser, etc.

B&N.com: Don Henley duets with you on the country-ish song "It's So Easy," and you used to sing backup for him. Was he a natural for the song?

SC: The song was practically tailored for Don. When thinking about a duet partner, he was the obvious choice because of his country-rock style of singing and his influences. I love his voice! It was great to be in the role-reversal position&I got to tell him what to do in the studio this time!

B&N.com: What made you think of having Liz Phair sing harmonies on the single "Soak Up the Sun"?

SC: Liz Phair was playing basketball in the courtyard of Sunset Sound while I was recording vocals for the song, so I went out and grabbed her. It was really fun and spontaneous.

B&N.com: You recently did a racy photo shoot for Stuff magazine, the first time you've ever done anything like that. Did it allow you to express another side of yourself? -- After all, rock 'n' roll is already sexy...

SC: The Stuff shoot was a lot of fun to do. I have never been particularly inhibited and yes, there is a playful side to my being in rock 'n' roll. I really enjoyed it, and hopefully people will see it as that.

B&N.com: You've been involved with the Recording Artists Coalition. What are the main things you want people to know about the RAC? What's the most misunderstood aspect of making a living playing music?

SC: The most important aspect of the RAC, I feel, is that there are so many issues that deal with technology and the climate toward intellectual properties that we, as in industry, are being forced to deal with. The issues will be affecting artists and labels alike, and the RAC was formed basically to insure that we artists have a seat at the negotiating table when it comes to these issues. I feel the most misunderstood aspect of what we musicians do is [the idea] that it is not work and that music should not be paid for because it is free over the airwaves.

March 20, 2002