RICK SPRINGFIELD's career spans successes in AOR, the teen Pop field and even that of a TV soap star. Born in Guildford, New South Wales as Richard Springthorpe the budding star first came to attention with formative sixties bands MOPPA BLUES, JORDY BOYS, ROCK HOUSE, WICKEDY WAK and ZOOT. With the latter act Springfield scored significant chart action in Australia with their rendition of THE BEATLES 'Eleanor Rigby'. However, he would sever ties in May of 1971 to launch a solo career. The first product, the single 'Speak To The Sky' for the Sparmac label, hit no. 5 in Australia. This song would also be used as the vehicle for Springfield to represent Australia at the Tokyo Song Festival in May of 1972. A debut album 'Beginnings', recorded in London with producer Robbie Porter, spawned two further Australian hits with 'Hooky Joe' and 'What Would The Children Think?' He soon broke into the North American market courtesy of Capitol Records with a re-recording of his earlier hit 'Speak To The Sky', which topped out at no. 14 on the Billboard charts in September of 1972. The album fared well in the USA too, surpassing the quarter of a million sales mark.

Strangely Springfield then entered lean times. Relocating to Los Angeles he laid down the 'Comic Book Heroes' album for Columbia Records. In Australia this record was issued on the Wizard label. Springfield first appeared on US TV at this juncture too, portrayed as a cartoon in the series 'Mission Magic'. This role would engender an Australian released album of the same title. Oddly there seemed to be a reliance on songs topically about the new craze of streaking! A succession of albums fell short of expected sales despite their quality. 1974's 'Mission Magic!' record saw studio contributions from session veteran bassist Leland Sklar and drummer Jim Keltner. Before the close of the year Springfield had debuted live in America with a show at the Los Angeles Troubadour club, Touring as support to THE RASPBERRIES promoted his US single 'American Girl'.

Recordings for a follow up album were shelved and the 1976 offering 'Wait For Night', featuring ELTON JOHN band members bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson, too made little impact as his label, Chelsea, collapsed mid tour. The timing was bad as the single 'Take A Hand' had only just begun a climb into the charts. A latter Australian single 'Bruce' displayed a sense of humour, Springfield documenting lyrically how he was often mistaken for BRUCE SPRINSTEEN!

He opted to make his way in a TV career appearing on such shows as 'The Six Million Dollar Man', 'Battlestar Galactica', 'The Rockford Files' and even 'Wonder Woman'. A set of demos subsequently landed Springfield a new record deal with RCA Records. Just as this career step was taking effect his acting break came with the lead role of Dr. Noah Drake in the huge soap series 'General Hospital'. This dual publicity sky rocketed the singer to an American No. 1 in both America and Australia with the single 'Jessie's Girl' from the Keith Olsen produced album 'Working Class Dog'. This achievement was recognised by the recording industry too as 'Springfield was awarded a Grammy for 'Best Male Rock Performance' for the song. The UK was slow to catch on, 'Jessie's Girl'hitting no. 6 some three years later. Aiding in the studio for 'Working Class Dog' would be PAT BENATAR's husband guitarist Neil Giraldo and CHOPPER drummer Mike Baird. The follow up, the SAMMY HAGAR penned 'I've Done Everything For You', also made a big dent on the charts.

1982's 'Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet' maintained the momentum, launching another smash single 'Don't Talk To Strangers'. Once again the established session campaigners were out in force with Tommy Funderburk and Richard Page lending backing vocals, Tim Pierce and Chas Sandford guitar, Dennis Belfield bass, Alan Pasqua keyboards and Mike Baird returning on drums. 1983's 'Living In Oz' repeated the formula and virtually the same session cast, the track 'Affairs Of The Heart' keeping Springfield's profile high on radio and on Billboard. With such mammoth hit appeal and three platinum records earlier tracks from the late seventies would undergo a rapid re-mix to be re-released as the collection 'Beautiful Feelings'. The archive track 'Bruce' also crept out as a single and surprisingly charted.

A switch from TV to the big screen reaped further praise for his portrayal of Pop icon Jamie Roberts and big box office receipts for the 1984 movie 'Hard To Hold'. The soundtrack to this film hosted another top ten hit 'Love Somebody' although the accompanying album proved an odd affair, marrying Springfield tracks with songs from NONA HENDRYX, PETER GABRIEL and GRAHAM PARKER.

1985's 'Tao' delivered two hit singles, including a cover of MONDO ROCK's 'State Of The Heart' but did not match the platinum benchmark set by its predecessors and RCA felt disappointed to only attain gold status. It was three years before he returned with 'Rock Of Life'. Although his star waned thereafter, a series of albums ensued establishing Springfield as both a slick songwriter and purveyor of well crafted AOR. 1988's 'Rock Of Life' would find SAGA man Curt Cress manning drums with GIANT's Dan Huff donating studio guitar.

Following a near decade's absence Springfield returned in 1998 with the 'Karma' album. Released in Japan many months prior to it's North American issue the oriental variant contained an acoustic re-recording of 'Jessie's Girl', omitted from the US version. Springfield's fanbase would be rewarded for their wait though with the inclusion of two exclusive brand new tracks 'Big Beautiful Friday Night' and the narrative 'His Last Words'. STAN BUSH provided backing vocals.