Liaising With Lucy… (Woodward)
Now that we’ve recovered from our Thanksgiving food (and leftover) comas we may start having some end-of-year thoughts. I’ve been thinking a lot about people in my life I wish I could spend more time with (if they weren’t so busy being busy.)
One of these women is my friend Lucy Woodward. You may recognize her name because she’s been around the music scene for a while — perhaps not right in front of your face at all times, but gracing your periphery with her soulful presence.
Lucy and I were ‘fixed up’ by our publishers in 2003-ish (some publishers actually still do this). One of the first songs we wrote together was the mutually autobiographical “The Trouble With Me” which was featured in the film The Blind Side. We were writing material for Lucy’s album on Atlantic Records but it’s always a gorgeous thing when 2 writers share the same sentiment.
The Trouble With Me
Is I'm the sum of the parts
Of something wild
Its a little big thing and I know it
The Trouble With Me
Is I got the heart of nobody's child
But I don't wanna be free…
That's The Trouble With Me
And then came “Is This Hollywood” a rocker about the experience of arriving in this beauty and beast of a town.
Writing together was a slow-cooked-getting-to-know-each-other meal and not surprisingly we became fast friends. It just so happens I’m drawn to women who are creative, dreamers, survivors, thinkers, writers, adventurers, positive forces. All things Lucy. And, I understand the desire to stay busy. What is life if you don’t have stuff to look forward to?
Since Atlantic records she wrote a Top 5 hit for Stacie Orrico (“More to Life”), appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno toured with Pink Martini, released a Jazz record (Hot and Bothered) independently and Hooked! on Verve, entertained the military, was featured with Snarky Puppy, sang background vocals for Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Gavin DeGraw, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, Nikka Costa, toured with Charlie Hunter and became a fixture in Rod Stewart’s band. Pass the Wheaties, please.
Lucy has the kind of voice that makes me angry. I tell her that no matter the lessons I’ve taken, the breathing correctly (or not), or my own rockstar fantasies, there’s no substitute for being born with the equipment that allows a certain kind of magic to flow from ones lungs. I’m in awe of how that voice keeps her moving about the planet.
Instead of catching up one-on-one via a 36-inch iPhone text, I thought we’d share our conversation here. After all most of you are music enthusiasts and I really think you’d appreciate my insanely versatile friend who’s experienced longevity for a reason.
I hope you enjoy her company as much as I did.
HERE’S “FRAY”— Lucy’s new single
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