The 10 Best Rick Springfield Songs That Make Us Wish We Were 'Jessie's Girl'
A multifaceted '80s icon known for both his acting and musical ability, 74-year-old Rick Springfield is not slowing down any time soon — and he has an album of new songs to prove it. Thanks to a daily rigorous workout and a healthy diet, Springfield has been back out on the road to promote Automatic, his first new studio album since 2018.
Rick Springfield's rise to fame
Born Richard Lewis Springthorpe on August 23, 1949, the iconic Australian musician, singer, songwriter, and actor has had a career spanning several decades. He gained international fame in the 1980s with his hit single "Jessie's Girl," which earned him a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. Springfield's energetic performances and catchy tunes made him a household name, and he continues to be celebrated for his contributions to the rock and pop music scenes.
Apart from music, Springfield is also a talented actor. He made his acting debut on The Six Million Dollar Man in 1977, then in 1981 he became a daytime star and teen idol on General Hospital playing Dr. Noah Drake. He parlayed his rock star persona into appearing alongside Meryl Streep in the 2015 film Ricki and the Flash and in the series Supernatural, where he played rocker Vince Vincente and Lucifer.
Springfield, the songwriting master
Rick Springfield has always been a thoughtful writer, bringing up many personal events such as loss, spirituality and love in his songs. He credits his strong vocals to his father and his love of classic rock since the age of ten to his father. “Songwriting is like talking about it with someone," he told PEOPLE. “It really helps you try to find a place within you to have it live."
There has always been a universal appeal to Rick Springfield – his songs, his acting – that give a glimpse into his soul. Of his current musical release, “Automatic is a work from the heart.”
The best Rick Springfield songs through the years
Here’s a look at some of Springfield’s unforgettable hits, guaranteed to have you singing along.
1. "Speak to the Sky" (1972)
"Speak to the Sky" was a single from Springfield’s debut album, Beginnings, long before anyone heard “Jessie’s Girl." It peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. It served as an introduction to what was to become of Springfield as an 80s icon.
2. "Love Is Alright Tonite" (1980)
This song is from Springfields’s 1981 album, Working Class Dog. Springfield showcased his deft ability at guitar playing and his strong vocals. The song itself tells of a singer who wants to party in a rather mischievous yet boy-next-door way. The uptempo pop song is filled with melodies that keep you hooked.
3. "Jessie's Girl" (1981)
This iconic 80s song was released as a single in 1981 and again in 2022. It instantly became a huge hit in the U.S and the song gave Springfield’s musical career a boost into ensuing fame and perennial popularity, while also earning him a Grammy win for Best Rock Vocal Performance.
4. "I've Done Everything for You" (1981)
This song was originally written and performed by Sammy Hagar, but the Springfield version was a 1981 top 10 hit from the Working Class Dog album. It has been performed and recorded by various bands over the decades.
5. "What Kind of Fool Am I" (1982)
"What Kind of Fool Am I" is a pop song off of Springfield’s 1982 album, Success Hasn’t Spoiled Me Yet. Mainly, he laments with some great lyrics the difficulties of finding a suitable partner, but looking at him performing the song, you have to think – does he really face those challenges?
6. "Don't Talk to Strangers" (1982)
This song was written by Springfield and released in 1982 from his album Success Hasn’t Spoiled Me Yet. For his efforts, Springfield was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1983. Not bad for a song that was written to his then-girlfriend, later his wife, Barbara Porter. He feared during a breakup hiatus that she might not be faithful to him, as he has admitted he was anything but faithful.
7. "Affair of the Heart" (1983)
This was the lead single from Springfield’s 1983 album, Living in Oz. Listening to the catchy tune, it was hard to get it out of your head. It proved to be a major hit for Springfield and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Vocal in 1984.
8. "Love Somebody" (1984)
Off the 1984 soundtrack album Hard To Hold, it’s a great upbeat song with dynamic vocals provided by Springfield. The lyrics were critically acclaimed and held in high esteem, boosting Springfield’s writing credibility.
9. "It's Always Something" (1999)
This was the first single from his Karma album in 1999. The single is a tribute to his father who died just before his release of Working Class Dog and his breakout success. “My dad is a very strong figure in my life and certainly in death he’s become even more meaningful," he told CNN. After the release of Karma, Springfield set out on the road again, something he hadn’t done for many years.
10. "Come Said the Girl" (2023)
This song is off his new album, Automatic, with a very fun, upbeat appeal — lots of horns, handclaps and sexy references. “This album is about my three favorite things," he recently told USA Today. “God, sex and death. I’m still searching for God, interested in sex and curious about death.”
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