An Enjoy the Music.com^® Exclusive!
Interview With Lori Lieberman

Article by Karl Lozier
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  This exclusive interview of Lori Lieberman by Karl Lozier for Enjoy the Music.com™. was done immediately after her performance. Lori was the featured entertainer for T.H.E. Show's party hosted by Pipedreams (Nearfield Acoustics) and Coleman Brice for Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab. In this relatively unique interview I had Lori ask the questions (at least most of them) that she would really like to answer and explain. I would then toss in questioning comments for further details. The newly released recording referred to in the interview is entitled Monterey for Drive On Records [CD 115115-01].


Q. Why is this new CD important to you?

A. I was able to take all the time that I felt was needed to get exactly the result I wanted. This is a first for me by not being pushed or rushed in any way. Some of the cuts took more time and redoing than I would have guessed, but they are just what I wanted and I'm satisfied completely with this album. I was in complete control. Joseph Cali and I co-produced the album and I wrote all the compositions.* Of course there was some over dubbing and I handled all the keyboard work except for one track ("The Letter"), which was done by Timothy Drury. Timothy used to play with Eagles.


C. Here 'C' is for comment. Lori took it upon herself to favorably comment on some of the equipment manufacturers involved in one way or another.

A. My keyboard is by Yamaha and we used a BAT Company 
preamplifier with Transparent Audio cables and a custom microphone modified by Gene Lawson and known as a LU47 I believe (as she thought this audience would have interest in these things). 


Q. How about a bit of background information?

A. Well, I was born in Los Angeles and then lived in Switzerland for quite awhile and returned to the United States in 1972. I made my debut with Capitol records then with the song "Killing Me Softly" which was very successful but I was not the vocalist who really made that song famous.

Q. Is "Killing Me Softly" your favorite song?

A. No. My favorite song is definitely "Texas Sky" which I composed late in 2002. This was the first time I really slowed down. I was able to let the quiet moments come, as they naturally seemed to want to. This is definitely a ballad in a very real sense.


Q. This question was completely mine. My younger daughter's name is Lori Ann Lozier-Clarke, Lori Ann just like you. However there was a short period of time in her early teens when she thought "Laura" would be a better or classier name. Have you ever had similar thoughts?

A. Yes I have. I wanted to be a Laura also, but I am now very satisfied to also be a Lori Ann.


Q. What have we not covered that you would like to cover or comment about?

A. The CD spans relationships such as in "Letter" being from a child's point of view. It is as if found in the future in a time capsule as America viewed by a child and then how it all changed (post 9-11-01). I want to particularly mention Greg Liesz on the pedal steel and John Leftuwich on bass who had produced "Pop, Pop" for Rickie Lee Jones. She finished by predicting great things for "King Clancy" her backup vocal group (courtesy of Dreamwork Records).

As the interview was ending Ken Kessler, a British audio writer/reviewer, popped in and received a warm friendly hug from Lori. She explained that Ken has followed her career for many years both in the United States and overseas and helping as ever he could. What a lucky guy I commented. How long will I have to follow you before I rate one of those warm hugs? "With this interview you have now qualified", she replied as I received the nicest ending to any interview that I have ever done.

Addendum: Lori Ann Lieberman is simply a nice looking clean-cut gal, yeah the "gal next door" type with a beautiful sublime talent, no luck now needed. Her music will be easy on your ears and relatively profound on your heart. Listen and enjoy.

* In the liner notes Lori also gives writing credit to Stefanie Fife for "Texas Sky" and Peter Bunetta for "Drive ON". Further information including purchasing any of Lori's CDs is available at www.driveonrecords.com or soon at lorisongs@aol.com.