1 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: I'm Alec Baldwin and you're listening to Here's the Thing 2 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: from iHeart Radio. 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:09,479 Speaker 2: You ad suck. 4 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 3: You just bond n face down and memory feel it 5 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 3: all right? So who does your past belong to today? 6 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:20,119 Speaker 4: Baby? 7 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 3: You'll say nothing when you're. 8 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 2: Feeling this way. 9 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: That's singer songwriter Roseanne Cash singing seven Year eight off 10 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: the nineteen eighty one album of the same name. Cash 11 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: has certainly made her mark in the musical world eleven 12 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,599 Speaker 1: number one country songs, twenty one top forty country singles, 13 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: two Gold records, and four Grammys, and she doesn't stop 14 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: at songwriting. She is also an essayist and author of 15 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: several books, including her best selling memoir Composed Roseanne Cash 16 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: began her career in music singing back up for one 17 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: of the most important country music artists of all time, 18 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: her father, Johnny Cash. Since then, Cash has enjoyed an 19 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:12,679 Speaker 1: illustrious career of her own that spans four decades. She 20 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: released her first album, the self titled Roseanne Cash, in 21 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: nineteen seventy eight. I wanted to know what it was 22 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: like for a young woman starting out in the music 23 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: business at that time. 24 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 2: You know that album I made in seventy eight I 25 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 2: made in Germany for a European label. I think I 26 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 2: was dipping my toe in the water to see if 27 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,320 Speaker 2: this was actually how I wanted to live my life. 28 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,479 Speaker 2: Because I thought of myself as a songwriter, I thought 29 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 2: I would write songs for other people. I was shy, 30 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 2: I didn't have the need for attention to be a performer, 31 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 2: and I didn't want to invite comparisons with my dad, 32 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:56,919 Speaker 2: and so I thought being a songwriter as a nobook profession, 33 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 2: that's what I want to do. And I was already 34 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 2: doing it for early teens. But Ariela heard my songs 35 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:06,919 Speaker 2: and they said, you know, would you make a record 36 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 2: for us. It took me a while to decide, but 37 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 2: I did, and then I got signed to Columbia in 38 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 2: the States, and then you know, here we are today. 39 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,359 Speaker 2: But to answer your question, the climate for women then, 40 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 2: unfortunately has not changed that much. Really, it's still very 41 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 2: much a boys club. Back then, the programmers radio programmers 42 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 2: would say, oh, we can't put two women back to 43 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 2: back on the radio. They still say that. I think 44 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 2: maybe what has changed is they don't overtly put their 45 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,519 Speaker 2: hand on your ass when you walk into the really 46 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 2: you know the radio station, but it still happens. 47 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: One thing I would expect was that there was a 48 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: time in the sixties and seventies when they were like, 49 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 1: you know, hey, we want to fluff you up for 50 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,679 Speaker 1: this album cover. We need you to pop one more 51 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 1: button and do this and do this, and they want 52 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:58,639 Speaker 1: just sex up everything to sell the record. 53 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 5: Oh god, yes, So there was a lot of that 54 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 5: back then. 55 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 2: Okay, So I went into a marketing meeting, my first 56 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 2: marketing meeting for my first US album, and it was 57 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 2: all men in the meeting. I was, you know, twenty 58 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 2: three years old, and I walked in and sat down 59 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 2: and straight out the head of the label said, okay, 60 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 2: so our main marketing goal is to make you fuckable 61 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,239 Speaker 2: in front of everybody. To me, twenty three year. 62 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 5: Old girl, you believe that? 63 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 2: And I was so flustered, you know, I didn't know 64 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: how to push back. I was just like, but I'm 65 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 2: not going to do that. And actually it had the 66 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 2: reverse effect on me. I didn't show skin. I didn't 67 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 2: like to show skin. I didn't like to play that 68 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 2: game at all. I thought, well, I'm a good songwriter, 69 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 2: I'm good enough without that. It was hubris then, because 70 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 2: you know, I wasn't great then I've gotten better. 71 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: Now When you write songs, I want to see how 72 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: this has changed over the arc of time, because you've 73 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: written many albums for many years. If the self titled 74 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: album is seventy eight she remembers everything is in twenty eighteen, 75 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: so that's a forty year gap. And what I'm wondering 76 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 1: is who do you show your songs too? Has that 77 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: changed when you were younger, When you were a younger 78 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: woman writing songs, who would you take it to and say, 79 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 1: give me your feedback on my song? 80 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 5: And was it your family? 81 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 2: Sometimes my dad, Yeah, I trusted him. I was very 82 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 2: very careful about who I played my songs to, and 83 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 2: I didn't like playing songs to people before they were finished. 84 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,280 Speaker 2: I mean I was because I was really territorial, and 85 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 2: like I said, I had some hubers about myself as 86 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 2: a songwriter. I didn't want interference. I didn't want to 87 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 2: get distracted by other people's opinions. But there were really 88 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 2: good songwriters I trusted who I would play the songs 89 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 2: to to get feedback after I had finished. And that's 90 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 2: still the case mostly now for my husband John, who 91 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 2: I work with a lot who's produced my records. We 92 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 2: co write a lot. He's a tremendous musician and I 93 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 2: trust him. 94 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 5: Where did you and he meet? 95 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:13,679 Speaker 2: My first husband introduced us and I said to myself, 96 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:17,480 Speaker 2: Oh my god, my life is getting it so complicated. 97 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 1: And Crowell your first husband, you did a lot of 98 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: recordings with him as well. 99 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 5: He produced you as well. Correct? 100 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 2: I did you know? There's something about working with your 101 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 2: spouse if you find a rhythm and a groove and 102 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: you can stop bringing your personal life into every interaction 103 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:38,840 Speaker 2: and fighting. There's something capital or romantic about that. Excepting 104 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 2: and create. Yeah, being created. 105 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:41,919 Speaker 1: I always wanted to work with my wife and do 106 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 1: some silly TV show just to work with my wife. 107 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 5: I didn't really care about what it was. To a degree, 108 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 5: Oh do it? 109 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 2: Do it? 110 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 5: I thought about it. We tried. 111 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 1: But so Rodney Crowell your first husband, John Leventhal your 112 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 1: current husband. How does that change over time in terms 113 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: of what you rely on producers for? There was this 114 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:04,039 Speaker 1: I always wondered for me, who's a complete novice? Like 115 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 1: does Quincy Jones walk into the studio and say to 116 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: Michael Jackson sing it this way? Is there somebody who 117 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: tells you what to do what they want you to. 118 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 1: Try to do that pushes you. 119 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 2: That would be a little blunt and probably put me off, 120 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 2: But I know what you mean. But yet they push. 121 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:23,280 Speaker 2: I mean I think that Rodney when I was young, 122 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 2: you know, we were working together. I think he had 123 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 2: more confidence in my voice than I did, and he 124 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 2: kept pushing, you know, do it this way, try it 125 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 2: this way, you can do this. You know, what would 126 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 2: you think about this? And even to the point of 127 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 2: you know, method acting, like what's the spirit behind this, 128 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 2: what's the memory behind this, what's the feeling behind this, 129 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 2: what's the truth of this? Exactly? With John he pushes 130 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 2: me even more and sometimes I just say, I'm not 131 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,719 Speaker 2: a session singer. Get someone who will obey you, because 132 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 2: that's not me. But it's always in the service of 133 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 2: doing something good together. 134 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:05,040 Speaker 1: Right, you talk about method acting and the truth of something. 135 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 1: There are sections of your biography and periods of your life. 136 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 1: Will you go to Vanderbilt? How long were you at Vanderbilt? 137 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 2: A year? Was an incredibly lonely experienced. 138 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 5: Oh really, and you had gone there to study what. 139 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 2: I'm double majored in English and drama. I had a 140 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 2: fabulous English professor Walter Sullivan, who was kind of a legendary. 141 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 2: I learned a lot from him, but I was a 142 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 2: little older because I had gone to a year of 143 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 2: college elsewhere, moved to London for six months, came back. 144 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 2: So I was twenty years old as a sophomore. And 145 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 2: it made a difference at that age, and I didn't 146 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 2: have any friends, and so you enjoy this. I went 147 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 2: to the Lee Strasburg Institute and Lee was still teaching 148 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 2: there and I audited his classes. He was so frightening, 149 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 2: did you know, Yes. 150 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: Yes, he would give a lecture when I went there. 151 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 1: I went there seventy nine through eighty that one year 152 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: through NYU. I went through NYU and he gave a 153 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: lecture periodically and he was mentioning something about the manipulation 154 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: of the lobes of the brain. And I walked up 155 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: to him and he was grasping, and he was pretty old, 156 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: and I walked up to him. And I don't know 157 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: why I did this, but I walked up to him 158 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: and I said, is the word you were looking for? Phrenology? 159 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: And I didn't even know what I was talking about. 160 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: And he looked at him and he went, no, he 161 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 1: like bomped me. Now he snapped, and I thought, well, 162 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: that's my Lee Strasburg story I'm going to tell for 163 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: the rest of my career. 164 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,200 Speaker 2: I studied with a man named Dominic Defasio. 165 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 5: What year, Oh, that was the year before I. 166 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 2: Made the first record, so that was seventy seven, and 167 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 2: I audited Lee's classes and sat at the back because 168 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 2: he was so terrifying, and he would do these psychological 169 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 2: games with the students. I'm sure you saw this, where 170 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:58,719 Speaker 2: he would one week spend the entire time tearing somebody's 171 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 2: performance down and having her redo it, and then coming 172 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 2: the next week when she came in and did it again, 173 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 2: he would just go very nice and walk away like 174 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 2: so that she was always off guard. 175 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 5: Right As a Strasburg technique, Yeah, was it? 176 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 2: Really? 177 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: When I went to Strasburg, there was one teacher who 178 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: I've since become kind of friendly with. 179 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 5: But if somebody would do a scene and it'd. 180 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 1: Be a long pause, a very arid pause, you know, 181 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 1: like tumbleweeds are blowing across the stage, and this guy 182 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,079 Speaker 1: would look at the kid and go, why'd you bother? 183 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 5: That's all he'd say. 184 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: Oh my god, I mean they really hurt people's feelings. 185 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: But now, when you went to Vanderbilt for a year 186 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:45,439 Speaker 1: and it only lasted the year, you said you were lonely, 187 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: you just so were you running away from something? Did 188 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:50,559 Speaker 1: you say yourself, I don't want a music career. I 189 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,959 Speaker 1: don't want to do this anymore. Now, writing music is 190 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: one thing, Loving music and being an artist is one thing, 191 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 1: as you know, but a career and something. 192 00:09:57,520 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 5: Is completely different. 193 00:09:58,440 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 2: Absolutely, And did. 194 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 5: You say you didn't want a career in that anymore? 195 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 2: The career part was troubling me, definitely. But I had 196 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 2: been living in London and I'd got my heart broken. 197 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 2: I moved to London and I started seeing myself as 198 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 2: an expatriot and I didn't want to come back and 199 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 2: I was only twenty and my dad, after six months there, 200 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 2: he said you have to come back now. 201 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 5: And now why did he say that? 202 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 2: Because I think he saw that he would lose me 203 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 2: to the family, and he was right. I was going 204 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:35,079 Speaker 2: to just disappear. 205 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:37,839 Speaker 1: So your father was instrumental in getting you to come home, 206 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 1: not only instrumental. 207 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:41,960 Speaker 2: It was because of him that I came home. That's 208 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 2: when I went to Vanderbilt. 209 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 5: But what was the impetus for you with acting. 210 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 2: Well, I loved drama. You know, I majored in drama 211 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 2: and English in college. I loved plays. I loved the 212 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 2: theater so much. And I thought, well, maybe, you know, 213 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 2: this is a way I could work out this enormously 214 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 2: powerful urge to create in myself. Was writing songs, but 215 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 2: I thought, well, maybe this is a forum. And then 216 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 2: I realized very quickly I did not want to be 217 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 2: an actor. 218 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 1: Well acting, it's funny because when I look at your dad, 219 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 1: I don't have a lot of I don't want to 220 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: push too far into the whole well worn talk about 221 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 1: your father, who I adored. I mean your father, I 222 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: mean I was a little boy boy named Sue sixty nine. 223 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 5: I'm eleven years old. 224 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: I'm on Long Island and I'm there with my little 225 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: transistor radio listening to build me up, Buttercup. I'm listening 226 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:38,080 Speaker 1: to Disraeli Gears from Cream and I'm listening to a 227 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 1: boy named Sue from Johnny Cash, and I'm laughing my 228 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 1: ass off. This guy is the funniest guy. And when 229 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: you listen to him in that song, and of course 230 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: I read that he did several films and a lot 231 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 1: of TV. He said like a guy that was having 232 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: a good time and laughing and having a ball. He 233 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 1: was like a joyous guy, and I've seen depictions of 234 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: him where that seems to be missing. He was kind 235 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 1: of a fun loving guy. He wasn't just a tough guy, 236 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:05,679 Speaker 1: you know what I mean? Was he somebody you think 237 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 1: might have had more of a career as an actor 238 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: if he wanted to. 239 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 2: You just said a lot here. That captured my attention 240 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 2: and makes me think about my dad and how he 241 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 2: truly was. He had a profound wound at his center. 242 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 2: He grew up in really difficult circumstances with an abusive father, 243 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:28,839 Speaker 2: and he lost his brother who was his hero, when 244 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 2: he was twelve years old, and that suffering created in 245 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 2: him the most deepest empathy and compassion for those who suffer, 246 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 2: and much of his work came out of that and 247 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 2: from our celtic melancholy roots. At the same time, he 248 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 2: was joyish. He loved babies, he loved playing practical jokes, 249 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 2: He loved hanging out with kids and being a kid himself. 250 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 2: So you know, he was the yin and yang to 251 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 2: the extreme of both of those things. 252 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 1: Well, you see him his looks, he's so striking. He's 253 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 1: so powerful. I mean, I'm not talking about as a musician, 254 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 1: which that's obvious what I'm seeing. I thought to myself, 255 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 1: this guy could have been a great movie store if 256 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,439 Speaker 1: he really had just thrown himself in that direction, he 257 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 1: could have been a great actor. 258 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:17,559 Speaker 5: You know, do you agree? 259 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:20,319 Speaker 2: Do you know what the first film we moved to California. 260 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 2: I was born in Memphis. We moved to California because 261 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:25,440 Speaker 2: he when I was three years old, because he got 262 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 2: offered a film and he thought, you know, as a manager, 263 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 2: is like, this would be a great opportunity for you 264 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 2: to go to this direction. The film was called Door 265 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 2: to Door Maniac. 266 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 5: Oh great, and he played the title role. That's enough 267 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 5: to cure you about debt. 268 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 6: No. 269 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 2: Then he did a gunfight with Kirk Douglas and he 270 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 2: did several things and he really enjoyed it. 271 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, when you get the call you're working with your dad? 272 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 1: When does the moment come when you were invited to 273 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: come and sing back up? 274 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 5: And then you're going to do it? So who brings 275 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 5: that information to you? Who tells you? 276 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 2: Dad? 277 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 5: He does? 278 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:07,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, he said, why don't you girls? I was out 279 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 2: with my stepsister or June's daughter. Why don't you girls 280 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 2: just come out on the last song and just sing 281 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 2: back up on you know, willis Circle being broken or whatever? 282 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 2: It was, Okay, we go out, we're terrified and shaking. 283 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 2: And then I was writing songs, you know, and then 284 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 2: he said, well, why don't you come out and do 285 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 2: one of your songs, And that's how it started. I 286 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 2: remember doing this in Prague when it was still behind 287 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 2: the Iron Curtain, played twenty thousand people. I remember going 288 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 2: out and singing a couple of songs in that show. 289 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 2: That was an experience. 290 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: Is it fair to say at all that because it's 291 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 1: easy when you have a father who's your father to 292 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: overlook the contributions of your mother in terms of your 293 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:51,160 Speaker 1: career as well. 294 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 5: Was your mother influential in the work you did. 295 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 2: That's a really good question, and not many people ask it. 296 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 2: My mother was so private and it hated the glare 297 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 2: of fame. Hated it was always afraid we kids were 298 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 2: going to be kidnapped because dad was so famous, you know. 299 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 2: She was a little tortured by it. And when I 300 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 2: went started writing songs and performing, oh my god, she 301 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 2: was terrified, you know, because her template was you get famous, 302 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 2: and then you get divorced and you get on drugs 303 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 2: and it's a horrible life. And also she taught me discipline. 304 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 2: You know, the discipline I have as a writer and 305 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 2: as a mother in my house is because of her. 306 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: Now, when your father gets remarried and you talked about 307 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: you and your stepsister getting into the biz, June's daughter 308 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 1: was June someone who had any kind of influence on you, 309 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: was she a kind and nurturing woman. 310 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 2: She had a tremendous influence on me. She was basically crazy, right, 311 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 2: And she had been on stage virtually her entire life 312 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 2: since early child. So being on stage there was no 313 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 2: glamour to it. It was just a job. It was 314 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 2: just part of life, like you know, anything like having breakfast. 315 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 2: She could be having a conversation with you standing in 316 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 2: the wings. Hear her cue walk on stage as she's 317 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 2: still talking over her shoulder. Do her gig come off, 318 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 2: pick up the conversation right where she left it, you know, 319 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 2: and her bag of her shoes and her bag of 320 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 2: girdles and her bag of makeup in the dressing room 321 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 2: and then just gossip, gossip, gossip with their sisters and 322 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:34,960 Speaker 2: then go out and do the show. It was. There 323 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 2: was no separation between performance and life for her. But 324 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 2: what I learned from her is just the assumption of 325 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 2: a certain kind of power and authenticity when you were performing. 326 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 2: She told me the greatest story. She was on one 327 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 2: of those package tours in the South back then in 328 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 2: the fifties and sixties, they had package stores of a 329 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 2: lot of country acts, and you would they would travel 330 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 2: around together and do these shows, multi artist shows. Well, 331 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 2: they're in one place in West Virginia or someplace, and 332 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:11,440 Speaker 2: the banjo player for the band that was supposed to 333 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:15,440 Speaker 2: go on before her, before the Carter family didn't show up. 334 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 2: So the lead singer in the band is freaking out. 335 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 2: He's going does anybody play the banjo? Does anybody play 336 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:26,440 Speaker 2: the banjo? And June says, I play the banjo, and 337 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 2: she walks out and she does the show with them, 338 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 2: plays the banjo through it. And she told me the story, 339 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 2: and she said, in Honey, I had never played the 340 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 2: banjo in my life. 341 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 5: My god, the nerve. 342 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I said, how did you do that? She said, well, Honey, 343 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:43,640 Speaker 2: when I walked on stage, I knew how to play 344 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 2: the banjo. That has stayed with me. My whole life's 345 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:49,879 Speaker 2: so fun. When you walk on stage, you'll. 346 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: Know Roseanne Cash. If you enjoy conversations with brilliant female 347 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 1: singer songwriters, check on my episode with Carly Simon. A 348 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: little over fifty years ago, a show at the Troubadour 349 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:06,920 Speaker 1: changed her life. 350 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 6: Three of us rehearsed in New York for three days, 351 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 6: and then we went out to LA And by that 352 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 6: time I had opened for Cats Team open for katste 353 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 6: something in the sixth nineteen seventy one. 354 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,159 Speaker 5: April sixth, Yes, and that changed things for you. 355 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 6: That was That was a convincing night. We played two 356 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,119 Speaker 6: shows every night and four shows on the weekend. I 357 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:32,359 Speaker 6: met all kinds of people. It was like the lights 358 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:33,200 Speaker 6: you were shining on me. 359 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:34,159 Speaker 5: I'll you're it. 360 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 6: I couldn't say no at that point. And I and 361 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:40,160 Speaker 6: even though I was suffering tremendus stage fright, I had 362 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 6: various things that tricked me out of being afraid. 363 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:48,920 Speaker 1: To hear more of my conversation with Carly Simon go 364 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: to Here's the Thing dot Org. After the break, Roseanne 365 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: Cash tells us about the Broadway Bound musical that she 366 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 1: spent years writing and what that work means. 367 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 5: To her I'm Alec Baldwin, and you're listening to Here's 368 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:13,600 Speaker 5: the Thing and lou. 369 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 3: And the Frame in all Songs and Louie And. 370 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 1: That is the newly remastered version of The Wheel, the 371 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:44,959 Speaker 1: title track from Roseanne Cash's nineteen ninety three album. I 372 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 1: wanted to know what led Cash to re release the landmark. 373 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 2: Recording, so my album, The Wheel. It's the thirtieth anniversary. 374 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:57,920 Speaker 2: I just got my master's back from Sony after thirty years. 375 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 2: There was a thirty year reversion claw us, and I 376 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,960 Speaker 2: didn't expect how that would feel to own my master 377 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 2: to this album, and it was like a spiritual experience, like, Wow, 378 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 2: this is mine. It's not part of a multinational corporation anymore. 379 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 2: And it had never been released on vinyl. In ninety three, 380 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:23,679 Speaker 2: nobody was pressing vinyl, and so John and I started 381 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:27,359 Speaker 2: a record label, Rumble Strip Records, and the first release 382 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:31,480 Speaker 2: is going to be this remastered thirtieth anniversary edition of 383 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 2: The Wheel. I wrote new liner notes for it, double 384 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:39,399 Speaker 2: vinyl with a live performance from ninety three. And I 385 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 2: don't generally like looking back at my old work. You know, 386 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 2: I'm still really excited about what's coming up. But I 387 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 2: feel like this was a watershed moment in my life. 388 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:52,959 Speaker 2: It's the first album John and I made together. We 389 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 2: fell in love making that record, ended up getting married. 390 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 2: And the songs are intense. They're about transformation and I'm 391 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 2: proud of it. And some of it sounds dated. Some 392 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 2: might go, oh my god, I wish I had sung 393 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:11,359 Speaker 2: that better, and yet it captured a real moment and time, 394 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 2: like you said, the truth, and I'm proud to be 395 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:16,360 Speaker 2: re releasing it for people. 396 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:20,239 Speaker 1: Who don't know. One assumes that a lot of that 397 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 1: is on a technical side. They're going to sweeten the 398 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 1: sound and they're going to get computers in there to 399 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 1: make it sound even better than ever. Is that what 400 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:29,199 Speaker 1: you do? Do you other than the liner notes and 401 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:31,640 Speaker 1: so forth? Do you really hand this over to somebody 402 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 1: to enhance the sound technically and there's not much else 403 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 1: for you to do. 404 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:41,160 Speaker 2: No, I wouldn't say enhance as much as just in remastering. 405 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 2: You know, they might modernize it in some way, like 406 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 2: there might be too much highs on one track that 407 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 2: they just bring down slightly. So it's not so much 408 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:53,160 Speaker 2: enhancement as just kind of bringing it to the future 409 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 2: to the present rather right. 410 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 5: When you record and you sing. 411 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't mean to sound weirdly technically here, 412 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 1: but do you sit on a steward? 413 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 5: Do you feel you have to stand in order to sing? 414 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:06,239 Speaker 2: I like weirdly technical questions. By the way, no I 415 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 2: stand what I'm singing. I don't like disquish my diaphragm. 416 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 5: You don't. And who did you have any training as 417 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:13,159 Speaker 5: a singer? Do you have any train you? 418 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:17,359 Speaker 2: I did. I studied with a few people. And do 419 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:23,879 Speaker 2: you know technical stuff? Breath control, vibrato, you know, preserving energy, 420 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 2: opening your chest, placement in the either the palette or 421 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 2: the back of the throat for different tones, you know, 422 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:31,200 Speaker 2: really technical. 423 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 5: Stuff in New York, La London? Where New York? In 424 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:36,959 Speaker 5: New York, m H. I took singing lessons. 425 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,920 Speaker 1: Once I was at a party and Cameron McIntosh was there, 426 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 1: and Cameron McIntosh said to me, mister Baldwin, I'm producing 427 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:50,919 Speaker 1: a Broadway musical based on the Witches of Eastwick, and 428 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:52,239 Speaker 1: I would like you to come in and meet with 429 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: my producers and my designers and so forth, and my 430 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 1: vocal people. And have you considered playing the role of 431 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 1: the lead that Jack Nicholson assayed in the film. We're 432 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:05,679 Speaker 1: in front of all these people at this big event, 433 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 1: and I said, I'm really sorry. 434 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:07,920 Speaker 5: I don't sing. 435 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 1: He said, nonsense, mister Boldwin. He said, you can be 436 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: trained to sing. He said, anyone can sing with the 437 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: proper training. He said, I want you to come and 438 00:23:14,359 --> 00:23:16,600 Speaker 1: meet my man, John Lyons. I want you to come 439 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:19,159 Speaker 1: and speak to John, and he's going to work with you. 440 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: I said, you don't understand, man. I mean, I really 441 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:23,399 Speaker 1: can't sing. I'd love to have the soul of a singer, 442 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 1: but my voice is just in shreds. It's like sandpaper. 443 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:29,399 Speaker 1: He said, Visa Bowen please. He was almost looking at 444 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 1: me like, I'm Cameron Macintosh, you idiot. I wouldn't waste 445 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,160 Speaker 1: my time or yours with this suggestion of I don't 446 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:37,440 Speaker 1: think it was possible. And he said, please go see John. 447 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 5: Thank you. So I go. We go somewhere near the 448 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 5: Antsnia you. 449 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 1: Like a lot of dance classes and rehearsal studios, and 450 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:46,280 Speaker 1: I go to this guy's apartment. He's got the piano 451 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: there and we sing. He goes, I want you to 452 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 1: prepare two songs, something up tempo and something like a ballad, 453 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:54,360 Speaker 1: and ira I sing, Come fly with me the Frank 454 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:56,440 Speaker 1: sit outter, So come fly with me. And I said, 455 00:23:56,520 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 1: come fly with me, but and I sing this song 456 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:01,399 Speaker 1: and he goes, let's talk now. I want you to 457 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 1: do this and try to try to do this. And I, 458 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:06,679 Speaker 1: after like my fourth or fifth round of doing singing 459 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:09,399 Speaker 1: the song, he stops. He goes, mister Bolwen, you're correct. 460 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 1: You can't sing. Look my god, it said. That was 461 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,159 Speaker 1: like they shot me and wrapped me in plastic like 462 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:22,440 Speaker 1: in the Sopranos and threw me. 463 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:25,119 Speaker 5: In the ocean. Like my career was over, was dead. 464 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:26,719 Speaker 5: It was dead dead. 465 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:30,679 Speaker 2: I'm impressed you to try it. One one singing teacher 466 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 2: I had or one voice. He was actually a voice 467 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 2: vocal therapist because I had polyps a couple of times 468 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:39,000 Speaker 2: and lost my voice and had to go on vocal 469 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 2: rest for months and steroids and blah blah blah, and 470 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 2: at the end, you know, your voice has kind of 471 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:47,120 Speaker 2: fallen apart at the end of having polyps and has 472 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:52,359 Speaker 2: to be literally rebuilt. And so Bill Riley, who's a 473 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:56,919 Speaker 2: big guy in town. He he helped me rebuild my voice. 474 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 2: And Shirley Tennyson also helped me rebuild my voice. And 475 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 2: he told me that he could tell if someone could 476 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 2: sing by looking at their facial structure. Really, yeah, I 477 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 2: think he meant something about where the cheekbones are sitting 478 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:15,200 Speaker 2: or anchored. 479 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:18,880 Speaker 5: Like are the baffles and the chambers always? Are they there? 480 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 5: Are they in there? 481 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,280 Speaker 2: Maybe? But it's also about looking at the well of 482 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:28,160 Speaker 2: the larynx too. He told me that Pavarotti had a 483 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:31,440 Speaker 2: larynx like the well inside where his vocal cords are 484 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:35,800 Speaker 2: looked like no one else's that had ever been, you know, 485 00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:38,200 Speaker 2: whatever they put down there to look at him. 486 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 5: Now, I'm told you're working on a musical. 487 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:42,240 Speaker 2: A musical. 488 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:43,640 Speaker 5: Yeah, whose idea was that? 489 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:48,520 Speaker 2: It was John Widman who wrote Assassins. He wrote the 490 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:49,400 Speaker 2: book for Assassins. 491 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:53,639 Speaker 1: Rather my God, I worship John Widman, so do I 492 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 1: I think Assassins is. I mean, Assassins is something I 493 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 1: can never stop listening to, just for the lyrics. 494 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:04,160 Speaker 2: John is so special. Yeah. Well Sondheim's so special too, 495 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:04,359 Speaker 2: a bit. 496 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:06,480 Speaker 5: Yeah, the two of them together are special. 497 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, no kidding. So he wrote the book for the 498 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 2: musical I'm doing, which is Norma Ray. So I'm the lyricist. 499 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 2: John Lebenthal's the composer. John Wibman's the book writer, and 500 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:22,400 Speaker 2: we've been working on it about six years. We've had 501 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 2: two workshops and some rewrites, and we have a theater interested. 502 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:31,480 Speaker 2: So I'm hoping fall twenty twenty four. I hope we'll 503 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:32,200 Speaker 2: get it staged. 504 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:35,199 Speaker 1: Why did that material appeal to you? I mean, it 505 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 1: was a hit movie, but why beyond that? 506 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 2: Well, several levels. It's set in North Carolina, So the 507 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:47,639 Speaker 2: idea of bringing this kind of genre bending Appellationian Sondheimish 508 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 2: musical hybrid together was a fascinating idea. And I got 509 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 2: to say John lebenthalt Man, he knocked it out of 510 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 2: the park. It's the music is so great, and also 511 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:02,000 Speaker 2: for me as lyricist writing and the voice of other 512 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:07,040 Speaker 2: characters that was such a thrill, such a challenge. And 513 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 2: also the story. You know, it's like a union organizing, 514 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:13,399 Speaker 2: which is so timely, but also at the center of 515 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 2: this this woman's transformation through helping her community, also so timely. 516 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:23,199 Speaker 2: So it kind of checked all the boxes. In the 517 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 2: first two years I said, I'm never doing this again. 518 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:29,440 Speaker 2: I hate this, And in the last the last four years, 519 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:31,120 Speaker 2: I said, I absolutely love it. 520 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:32,679 Speaker 5: What was daunting for you? 521 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:36,119 Speaker 2: Well, writing in the voice of characters who I didn't 522 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:39,600 Speaker 2: have any experience with, who I didn't know. You know, 523 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:43,639 Speaker 2: an older man working in a textile mill in North 524 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 2: Carolina in the seventies. How do I find his voice 525 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:52,400 Speaker 2: and his sense of poetry? It's not mine, you know? 526 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 2: But who is he that? And that ended up being 527 00:27:56,040 --> 00:28:01,600 Speaker 2: really I don't know. It touches your empathy going from 528 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:05,320 Speaker 2: there into their sense of poetry and their experience. It's 529 00:28:05,359 --> 00:28:06,600 Speaker 2: been uplifting for me. 530 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:09,840 Speaker 1: How familiar were we with the film? Did you have 531 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:11,199 Speaker 1: to go back and watch the film or did you 532 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:12,240 Speaker 1: not want to watch the film? 533 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:12,919 Speaker 5: Norma Ray? 534 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:16,879 Speaker 2: Yes, No, I was familiar with the film already, but yes, 535 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 2: I went back and watched it again. Not only that, 536 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:23,080 Speaker 2: I did some research about textile mills in the South 537 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:27,879 Speaker 2: and what happened to them, and race relations in the 538 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 2: South in the mills and union organizing, and it was fascinating. 539 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:35,639 Speaker 2: I have a friend in Alabama who took over an 540 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 2: abandoned textile mill to create her own bespoke factory of 541 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 2: handmade items of handmade clothing and hired all of these 542 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:48,480 Speaker 2: women who had worked at the textile mills and lost 543 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 2: their jobs after NAFTA, and so her mission was kind 544 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 2: of in my mind thinking about all of this, and 545 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 2: you know, and the sadness of the guy coming down 546 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 2: from New York to help me organize the union and 547 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:04,680 Speaker 2: it happening, and then the textile mills all close later on. 548 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 1: Well when you see this is my opinion, but when 549 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:11,480 Speaker 1: you see dramas or musicals, whatever, let's stick to dramas 550 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:15,960 Speaker 1: that are on stage that are adapted to film, whether 551 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:19,040 Speaker 1: it's a cat or hut and roof or streetcar or 552 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 1: things like that. 553 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,480 Speaker 5: That seems less dicey. 554 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 1: You know, you're going to go open it up, and 555 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:27,440 Speaker 1: you're going to put the camera where you want to, 556 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:29,560 Speaker 1: when you're going to bring all the cinematics that you 557 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:30,320 Speaker 1: want to bring to it. 558 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:34,320 Speaker 2: I mean, I think that in general, it's better when 559 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 2: it goes with stage discreen than the reverse and on 560 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:41,480 Speaker 2: Broadway a lot now or you know, are these disneyfications 561 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,239 Speaker 2: of films and stuff, which is, you know, it's like 562 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 2: a ride at an amusement park or something. And I 563 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:50,040 Speaker 2: get the appeal of that, but I like something that's 564 00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:52,720 Speaker 2: taken seriously. I don't know why I was thinking about 565 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:56,320 Speaker 2: the dresser when you were talking about that. God, oh 566 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:59,240 Speaker 2: my god, and they kept it as if it's a 567 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:02,680 Speaker 2: stage play, you know, with Anthony Hopkins and Ian mccollins. 568 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 2: It was so wonderful. 569 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 5: I can't believe you mentioned that, because I just did 570 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 5: a reading of that play the other day. 571 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 2: Did you really are you going to do it? 572 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 1: Well, A group of us were on Long Island, some 573 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:15,160 Speaker 1: friends of mine who live out there out east, and 574 00:30:15,200 --> 00:30:17,000 Speaker 1: we decided we just wanted to read a play, and 575 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:19,440 Speaker 1: we had a couple of ideas and this was one 576 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 1: of them. So we did a reading a bunch of 577 00:30:21,040 --> 00:30:22,640 Speaker 1: us and it was really a thrill, you know. I mean, 578 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 1: it's not much different from the movie, but there's another 579 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:29,040 Speaker 1: situation where, I mean, I'm somebody who's. 580 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:33,440 Speaker 5: Not immune to being overwhelmed by other people's work. 581 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 1: Me too, And I must say that there are a 582 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:39,400 Speaker 1: few things in cinema that I find more powerful and 583 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 1: more overwhelming than Finny in that movie. But when you 584 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 1: do something it's like, I'm sure you're the same way 585 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:47,880 Speaker 1: with Norma Ray. You got to realize you're doing it 586 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 1: for yourself. 587 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 2: Absolutely, But it's that way for everything every record I make. 588 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 2: If I get out of myself and try to go 589 00:30:56,800 --> 00:31:00,440 Speaker 2: what will please people, it's death. You know, it just 590 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:03,320 Speaker 2: destroyed and takes all the life out of it if 591 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:05,920 Speaker 2: you try to copy the marketplace or try to please 592 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:08,240 Speaker 2: too much. I think Dylan said that once that people 593 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:11,480 Speaker 2: pleasing was death to an artist, and I believe it. 594 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 5: Self consciousness is death to an artist death. 595 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:16,600 Speaker 2: I believe yes, self consciousness. That's even a better way 596 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 2: to see it. 597 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:26,040 Speaker 1: Singer songwriter Roseanne Cash, if you're enjoying this episode, don't 598 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:29,280 Speaker 1: keep it to yourself. Tell a friend and be sure 599 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:33,440 Speaker 1: to follow us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or 600 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:39,000 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. When we return, Roseanne Cash 601 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 1: shares how writing her memoir helped reclaim her family story 602 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 1: and her own. 603 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:57,320 Speaker 3: See yes stands. 604 00:31:56,840 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 2: True Even when. 605 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:16,400 Speaker 1: I'm Alec Baldwin and this is here's the thing in. 606 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:23,440 Speaker 5: The shadows, link and burn away the lasts. 607 00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:32,080 Speaker 4: They will fly me live and jel to a place 608 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:40,800 Speaker 4: where I can risk when this begins, I'll let you. 609 00:32:42,720 --> 00:32:43,320 Speaker 5: September. 610 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:52,840 Speaker 1: This is Roseanne Cash duetting with her father, Johnny Cash 611 00:32:53,040 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 1: on September when it comes off her two thousand and 612 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:58,680 Speaker 1: three album Rules of Travel. 613 00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:00,200 Speaker 5: Music. 614 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:04,560 Speaker 1: Talent seems to be passed down among the Cashes. Roseanne 615 00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 1: Cash has five children, three with her first husband, one 616 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:12,160 Speaker 1: with her second, and a stepchild. Some have even followed 617 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 1: her into the family business. I wanted to know how 618 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 1: Cash managed going on the road when she was raising 619 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:19,760 Speaker 1: her children. 620 00:33:20,520 --> 00:33:23,080 Speaker 2: It was less important than raising the babies. I have 621 00:33:23,160 --> 00:33:26,960 Speaker 2: to say, I toured less than everyone else around me, 622 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:29,800 Speaker 2: and it was a constant source of, you know, angst 623 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:33,680 Speaker 2: for my manager, because I just I have a really 624 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:37,360 Speaker 2: healthy alarm system about what's too much and what's not enough, 625 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:40,280 Speaker 2: you know, as far as kids, as far as my 626 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:43,920 Speaker 2: private life and being home. And I have no illusions 627 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:47,880 Speaker 2: about the glamor of the life I lead to know. 628 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:50,320 Speaker 2: I mean, I saw that first hand with my dad. 629 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:56,200 Speaker 2: It's like, it's hard work, it's not glamorous. And I 630 00:33:56,240 --> 00:33:59,520 Speaker 2: wanted to be there for the parent teacher meetings and 631 00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:00,080 Speaker 2: the play. 632 00:34:01,080 --> 00:34:04,200 Speaker 1: So I made sure I was now two more things 633 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:05,880 Speaker 1: in the time we have left. So you've written a 634 00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:08,920 Speaker 1: memoir correct, yes? And what was that process like for 635 00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:10,320 Speaker 1: you As a creative person. 636 00:34:11,160 --> 00:34:14,879 Speaker 2: I love writing, or, as Lillian Hellman said, I love 637 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:21,640 Speaker 2: having written. My family story and my own story had 638 00:34:21,719 --> 00:34:25,799 Speaker 2: been co opted by the public in such perverse and 639 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:30,480 Speaker 2: diverse ways over so many decades that I finally thought, 640 00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:34,160 Speaker 2: if I don't tell my story, at least plant my 641 00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:37,640 Speaker 2: flag and tell my story, then it will just keep 642 00:34:37,680 --> 00:34:40,040 Speaker 2: getting co opted. And even if it is, at least 643 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:42,360 Speaker 2: I've said it. So that's why I wrote a memoir. 644 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:44,280 Speaker 2: I thought I was too young to write a memoir 645 00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:46,800 Speaker 2: in twenty ten, but you know, I could write a 646 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:51,560 Speaker 2: second volume. And I constructed it in a way like 647 00:34:51,680 --> 00:34:57,400 Speaker 2: Bob Dylan's Chronicles in that it wasn't completely chronological. That 648 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:01,399 Speaker 2: it was about reappearing patterns of my life and how 649 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:05,840 Speaker 2: songs were attached to them and anchored those different eras 650 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:09,160 Speaker 2: and patterns in my life. And you know, it was 651 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:15,320 Speaker 2: a self organizing principle too. I realized many things about 652 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:17,799 Speaker 2: my life that I hadn't by writing about it. 653 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:20,759 Speaker 5: Do you listen to much contemporary music right now? I 654 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:21,719 Speaker 5: do you do. 655 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:25,560 Speaker 2: I got obsessed with this Billie Eilish song she wrote 656 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:28,480 Speaker 2: for Barbie. Oh my God, one of the most beautiful 657 00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:29,640 Speaker 2: songs I've heard this year. 658 00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:30,960 Speaker 5: Oh wow, that's amazing. 659 00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:34,680 Speaker 2: And my son is a record producer. He's almost twenty five. 660 00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:38,080 Speaker 2: He produces a lot of indie bands and indie artists. 661 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:41,640 Speaker 2: You know, he's in Brooklyn, and so I hear some 662 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:44,560 Speaker 2: of the people that he's producing, and I'm interested in them. 663 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:48,400 Speaker 2: And I love kids, I do. I love young people 664 00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:48,960 Speaker 2: me too. 665 00:35:49,440 --> 00:35:53,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know my sense of your career, of your work. 666 00:35:54,120 --> 00:35:57,760 Speaker 1: You're writing this Normal Ray thing, and you talk about 667 00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:01,800 Speaker 1: possibly another volume of something by I mean, I'm saying 668 00:36:01,800 --> 00:36:03,680 Speaker 1: this because I truly believe this, you know. I mean, 669 00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:07,120 Speaker 1: I always find I was blown away when Springsteen went 670 00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:07,800 Speaker 1: on Broadway. 671 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:08,319 Speaker 5: Yeah. 672 00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:10,279 Speaker 2: I loved that show, loved. 673 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:12,200 Speaker 1: It, and one was something you could do, that kind 674 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:15,440 Speaker 1: of show. And we'll keep our eyes peeled for Normal Ray. 675 00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:17,879 Speaker 1: That sounds thrilling to me. Thank you, and how lucky 676 00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:18,560 Speaker 1: they are to have you. 677 00:36:18,719 --> 00:36:21,000 Speaker 2: Thanks Alec. It's so good to speak to you finally, 678 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:24,319 Speaker 2: because I have admired you for so long that it 679 00:36:24,360 --> 00:36:26,239 Speaker 2: was such a joy to get to speak with you. 680 00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:27,359 Speaker 5: Thank you you too. 681 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:35,960 Speaker 1: My thanks to Roseanne Cash. Catcher at City Winery in 682 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:39,360 Speaker 1: New York City on November twenty eighth and twenty ninth, 683 00:36:39,760 --> 00:36:43,919 Speaker 1: touring in support of the thirtieth anniversary of The Wheel. 684 00:36:44,120 --> 00:36:48,320 Speaker 1: You can find additional tour dates at Roseannecash dot com. 685 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:52,960 Speaker 1: I'll leave you with Roseanne Cash's Blue Moon with Heartache 686 00:36:53,280 --> 00:36:57,319 Speaker 1: from the nineteen eighty one album seven year ag I'm 687 00:36:57,320 --> 00:36:59,839 Speaker 1: Alec Baldwin. Here's the thing is brought to you by 688 00:37:00,040 --> 00:37:03,400 Speaker 1: my Heart Radio. What would I. 689 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:12,239 Speaker 5: To be a time and in your eyes again? What 690 00:37:12,719 --> 00:37:22,799 Speaker 5: would I to bring back those old child? What did 691 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:24,400 Speaker 5: I say. 692 00:37:25,680 --> 00:37:34,120 Speaker 3: Make your glass turn off this way? Maybe I'll school 693 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:36,240 Speaker 3: awaits today. 694 00:37:36,680 --> 00:37:42,000 Speaker 5: Baby, On to school away, baby,