Judie Tzuke - Press Cuttings.

The following article was from 'het Veronica blad' a TV guide, issued by a broadcasting organisation in 1981. Lovingly translated into English from Dutch by Fred Koene. Thanks Fred, my fingers were getting tired! ;-)

Judie Tzuke doesn't need Elton john at all.

It's a well-known story, however sad it may be: You're young, ambitious and you want to achieve something. Building up a career as a singer for example.

Enthusiastically you sign a contract without reading the small letters. This is the story of the highly talented British vocalist Judie Tzuke. Her launch by Rocket Records didn't work out the way she had planned it.

If we understand correctly, things are a bit of a mess between you and Rocket records?

Actually, we have stopped all coorporation. At the moment I don't have a record company and neither do I have a management. But I trust the situation will change in the near future.

Didn't Rocket take care of your career the way they should have?

I don't want to kick back, but I got rather frustrated with it all. I don't think Rocket really managed my career properly. In any case, less well than I'd hoped for.

America

Any clear examples?

Obviously, Rocket's big star was Elton John. I merely got the crumbs. During the American tour, being Elton's support act, my records weren't available in the cities we played. There hadn't been any promotion beforehand. Nobody knew us there, and that didn't work of course. The posters said the concerts were to begin at 8.00 pm, but we were already on stage at 7.30. To cut a long story short, the first American tour was instructive at most. It didn't turn me into a celebrity there.

You had probably not imagined things to work out like this when you stepped into the office of Rocket Records a few years ago with your two demo-tapes?

That was part bluff, part curiosity. I have always been an admiror of Elton's. I had recorded two songs and I thought to myself, why not give it a shot?

They didn't throw you out immediately?

No, to my astonishment they were really enthusiastic. Like, 'what are you drinking, and tell us, what other songs have you got?'

But you didn't really have any more, did you?

Exactly, but I found it rather embarrassing to admit that.

But eventually you ended up with them; a twist of fate?

It's live and learn, also in this business. Through Paul Muggleton, who has also joined my band now, I got into contact with Rocket again. I could record my first LP straight away.

And it sold well too.

My first album 'Welcome to the cruise' turned gold in the UK. The second album 'Sportscar' has almost reached the same status. Nothing could go wrong, it seemed.

And then Mr Elton Jon himself recorded one of your compositions 'Give me the Love'. It must have felt like being on cloud nine, or even higher.

I felt honoured. But my relationship with Elton has been slightly exaggerated. We're just good friends and we actually see very little of each other.

He practically threw you to the lions in New York, didn't he?

That's certainly how I saw it then, but I must admit it was a splendid gesture. Elton did some benefit-concerts in Central park. There were almost half a million people there. We played in the afternoon and I could actually see everyone of them. That really scared me!

Influences

If your career keeps growing at this pace, within a year from now you will probably be one of the most successful singer/songwriters to come from your wet island. Which artist influenced you most in your youth, Carole king?

Joni Mitchell is top of my list. I also like listening to Jackson browne and Al Jarreau. The latest record by Dire Straits is fantastic, I think.

Will Mark Knopfler make a guest-appearance on your new album?

I don't think so. I've got an excellent band at the moment. We really work together very well, and the result is all we could ever hope for.

Parents

You spend a lot of time on the road. Don't you have any problems with that? I mean, bad hotel rooms, unheated dressing-rooms and the like.

Some people are a bit over-dramatic when it comes to women in the Rock business. It's not that bad really. Sometimes it's great, sometimes it's not, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Your parents must be worried about what might happen to their little girl, out there on the road?

My mother gives me a tremendous amount of support. Sadly, my father died when I was fifteen. I would have liked him to share in the success. He always stimulated me a lot.

Your new LP 'I am the Phoenix' also contains a song called 'City of Swimming Pools'. Memories of Los Angeles perhaps?

Funny you should say that. A lot of people think so. No, as a matter of fact, I wrote that song after a visit to Australia. I got really interested in the native population, the Aborigines.

Interested in ethnic minorities, are you?

Well certainly. I've discovered that these people are actually worse off than the Indians in America.

You know the expression 'third time lucky'. Your third album 'I am the Phoenix' must be your break-through. We were already knocked out just by seeing the sleeve photo.

I'm really happy with this record and I hope both Europe and America will react positively. In the UK I can't really get any bigger. I can't wait till all my problems with Rocket are over. I've got a lawyer working for me but it still bothers me personally. It hinders me. When all is said and done, all I want to do is sing.

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