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| Helen Reddy |
| In 1941 a lass was born in Australia that would one day change the face of womanhood around the world. Born to show-biz parents Helen first hit the stage at the tender age of four. By the time she was in her early 20's she had her own weekly television show. After winning Australian TV's Bandstand International, beating out 1,358 contestants, Helen flew to New York in 1966. In addition to $400, she won an audition with the Mercury Records label. But after arriving in America to collect the prize, a company rep took her to lunch and announced that Mercury would not be signing her to a contract. The divorced Reddy, with 3 year old daughter Traci in tow, was devasted but determined. She opted to stay in New York and struggled over the next several months taking whatever work came her way. In 1967 she came to Chicago hoping to change her luck. Her luck and fortunes did change gradually. A throwaway single, "One Way Ticket," was released and although it didn't chart it did get her appearances on The Steve Allen and Mike Douglas shows. In 1968 she moved to L.A. and her career picked up momentum. By 1971 she had secured a deal with Capitol for a single release and "I Don't Know How To Love Him" (from "Jesus Christ Superstar") received moderate exposure. Encouraged by her #13 chart showing, Capitol requested a full album. The Larry Marks-produced LP, titled after her single, included her first, non-single and comparitively understated version of "I Am Woman." It also featured Helen's second single, a cover of Van Morrison's "Crazy Love" that became her first AC Top 10 single. Her second album, simply titled "Helen Reddy," was once again produced by Marks and quickly released for the 1971 holiday season but failed to produce any charting hits. In 1972 the original version of "I Am Woman" was included in the movie "Stand Up And Be Counted" starring Stella Stevens. The film became a cult hit and Capitol rushed Helen into the studios to re-record "I Am Woman," fleshing it out with an additional verse and a full female backing. The song hit the lower reaches of the charts and disappeared. Undaunted a very pregnant Reddy (expecting with son Jordan) hit the promotion trail and made 19 TV appearances singing the anthem and the women of America voiced their approval. The song re-entered the charts and shot to #-1 selling over a million copies. At the 1973 Grammy Awards Helen shocked the world with her acceptance speech for Best Female Performance by thanking "God, because SHE makes all things possible!" Women's liberation had arrived. Between 1971 and 1978, Reddy hit the Top 40 fourteen times with her smooth, airy light-pop singles, "Peaceful," Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)," "Keep On Singing," "You And Me Against The World," "Emotion," "Ain't No Way To Treat A Lady," "Somewhere In The Night," "We'll Sing In The Sunshine" and including the number ones "Delta Dawn" and "Angie Baby." In 1976 Helen took her hand at the emerging disco craze with a saucy version of the Carole King/Gerry Goffin penned "I Can't Hear You No More." The results were encouraging and she followed that with the 1979 album "Reddy," an all-out disco feast that spawned the 12" single "Make Love To Me." Although the pop radio hits were drying up Reddy was finding a new audience with her dance hits as evidenced by the 1980 12" single "Take What You Find" from her last Capitol album of the same name. A move to MCA in 1981 didn't help her chart fortunes but by 1983 she would release her most incredible disco/dance track ever. "Imagination" was a combination of techno space euro disco and acid dance all rolled into one delightful hit. It would be her last hit of any kind and her last recording for a major label. Her television specials have been seen in over forty countries while acting has seen her appear in the films "Airport '75," "Pete's Dragon" and the dismal "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." With these successes solidly behind her, Helen returned to her theatrical roots when the hits dried up with starring roles in productions of "Anything Goes," "Call Me Madam," and "The Mystery of Edwin Dood." A huge fan herself of English playwright and composer Willy Russell, Helen has become the foremost interpreter of his work, appearing both on Broadway and in the West End of London in the hit musical "Blood Brothers" and four productions of Russell's one-woman play "Shirley Valentine." Although Helen has been winning rave reviews for her theatrical work, she still continues to appear in concert and with symphony orchestras, though we doubt we'll ever see another dance hit from her we still treasure the ones she gave us....thanks HELEN! |
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