Search - Rick Springfield :: Living In Oz

Sexually serious

Leslie | Richmond, VA | 01/10/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Cover photo notwithstanding (though maybe it looked less silly in 1983), this album made an excellent case for consideration of Rick Springfield as a serious rock artist. "Affair of the Heart" is as powerful as its lyrics are sensual, and "Human Touch" was a progressive (for its time) look at how computers and technology isolated people from one another. For this reviewer's money, though, the best tracks were those on Side 2 (tracks 6-10, for readers who don't remember albums or tapes), particularly "Motel Eyes", one of Rick's best and rawest cuts, and "I Can't Stop Hurting You", wherein Rick (or the song's protagonist, take your pick) cops to mistreating the woman he loves, and laments the fact that he can't seem to stop doing so. "Like Father, Like Son" ends the albums on a somber note, but one that should have listeners thinking about the tradition of families to mindlessly carry on stifling, even cruel traditions in the name of religion. Definitely worth owning, even if Rick was trying a little too hard to be taken seriously at this point. (It worked!)"

"Caught Between a Hard, Hard Place and a Rock"

mwreview | Northern California, USA | 09/08/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When Living in Oz was released in 1983, gone were Rick Springfield's bubblegum, teeny bopper days of "Jessie's Girl," "Don't Talk to Strangers" and, the worst of the lot, "How Do You Talk To Girls" (ugh). On this album, Rick shows that he knew how to do plenty of things to girls and that he knew how to write interesting and kickin' rock songs. Two of the singles demonstrates the maturity in Springfield's songwriting in terms of music and lyrical content. The synthesizers in "Human Touch" and "Affair of the Heart" bring depth to the music. Yes, it sounds very 1980s but, if you like that sound like I do, this is an album for you. The third single "Souls" and the title track really rock. In fact, I can see hard rock/heavy metal fans liking a lot that is on this album. The evil voice hissing "I'll touch you and squeeze you and make you miiiine" blew me away the first time I heard it (THIS is Rick Springfield?). "Like Father, Like Son" is an interesting track with an orchestra.



Lyrically, this album definitely geared itself towards a more mature audience. Most of the songs are about sexuality (the "hard place" indeed). If there was any cover photo of Ron the "working class" dog that followed the theme of this album it would not be appropriate for young eyes. Rick thoroughly explores the art of having affairs. In the case of "Alyson," the subject of the song is an actor filming steamy love scenes (no doubt, on a soap opera) in front of the husband of the co-star with whom he's having an affair. "Affair of the Heart" was surprisingly graphic for a pop star with a young audience: "You shudder and shake, sink your teeth in my skin." "Motel Eyes" moves into another sexual topic: "Though there was something wicked about the way she flexed her thighs" and another nice line, "She started saying something about movement versus size." "Like Father, Like Son" is a strange yet interesting song about a man traumatized by his heavy-handed religious upbringing. If you only know the "Jessie's Girl" Rick Springfield, I recommend checking out Living in Oz. It will change your perspective on the former teen heartthrob.





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Classic Rick Sprinfield

Leslie | 02/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Living In Oz is among Rick's best sets of music (along with Rock Of Life, Tao, and Success Hasn't Spoiled Me yet). Of course the hits are great - Human Touch, Affair of the Heart, and Souls. He also hits the mark with Me & Johnny, Motel Eyes, and Living in Oz. It's a straightforward collection of mid-80's pop-rock."