Throughout his impressive recording career — right from his stunning 1985 debut to this latest stellar effort — Chris Isaak has tunefully and artfully explored the good, the bad and the ugly of love, as well as other matters of profound human interest. He has done so with an abiding respect for popular music’s past, but at the same time with clear and vital passion for the here and now. Like some of Isaak’s best known past compositions, such as his international breakthrough smash Wicked Game, Baby Did A Bad, Bad Thing and Somebody’s Crying, the songs on Mr. Lucky have a deeply felt sense of the consequences of good love gone bad, and bad love gone good.
From the beginning, Chris Isaak has earned his good luck the hard way — by consistently delivering excellent work, both onstage and in the studio on a series of accomplished albums from Silvertone (1985), Chris Isaak (1986), Heart Shaped World (1989), San Francisco Day (1993), Forever Blue (1995), the largely acoustic Baja Sessions (1996), Speak of the Devil (1998), Always Got Tonight (2002), the seasonal-themed Christmas, the Best of Chris Isaak compilation (2006) and now 2009’s Mr. Lucky.
In between all those album and tours, Isaak has also used his famously sly, self-deprecating wit and matinee idol looks to enjoy a whole second life onscreen. He has appeared in numerous films including Jonathan Demme’s Married To The Mob (1988), David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1988), Bernado Bertolucci’s Little Buddha, Jonathan Demme’s Academy Award-winning Silence Of The Lambs (1991), Tom Hanks’ rock & roll movie That Thing You Do! (1996) and John Waters’ A Dirty Shame (2004). Isaak starred in his own acclaimed Showtime musical comedy series The Chris Isaak Show from 2001-2004 — an inspired vehicle that expertly showcased many of his considerable talents as a comedian and musician. Most recently, Isaak has also started hosting The Chris Isaak Hour, a brand new music interview series on the Biography Channel. Frankly, it’s the only way I could get some of these people to talk to me and even play with me, Isaak explains with a grin.
Though Isaak confesses that he can be very happy just surfing or drawing during his down time (he did all the art for the new album), at heart, he is still that same kid from Stockton, California who grew up decidedly working class — and to this day he has the outstanding work ethic to show for it. For Chris Isaak, his latest effort doesn’t represent any radical departure but rather a reaffirmation of his passion for the music he makes and the life that he leads. I have my dream job, and I’m still working, Isaak adds. And you just can’t get any luckier than that.
