Lynda Carter lassoed her way into our hearts in the '70s during the Wonder Woman television series. No one has been able to replace her charisma in the coveted role.
Carter originally was a singer performing in bands before winning the title of Miss World USA. Soon after, her television career blossomed. Now returning to her musical roots and being inspired by the classics, she has a third album entitled Crazy Little Things that mixes covers of country and pop.
Windy City Times: Hello, Lynda.
Lynda Carter: This is Jerry, right? I don't want to just call strangers. I live a very bizarre life. You call a perfect stranger and they get to ask you whatever you like and you are supposed to answer.
WCT: If you don't like any of my questions just let me know. Do you speak Spanish?
LC: I don't speak Spanish. My mother was fluent and it was her first language. My father's mother came from England and didn't speak any. I grew up understanding it but I lost that. If I am around it for a while I can get the general idea, unless they are talking too fast.
WCT: You are still going around on this tour for the new album.
LC: Right. Usually I try to take summers off but I am doing a couple of nights with the philharmonic. I have done a few new orchestrations.
WCT: When are you coming back to Chicago?
LC: I have no plans for that yet. I played there about six years ago. I had just done a jazz club in San Francisco and this was my second performance day after a hiatus of 16 years. I love Chicago. One of my great girlfriends lives there and one of my goddaughters too. I toured with a band there in the '70s during the heydays of jazz clubs on Rush Street. I learned a lot about music back then. I have never been so cold in my entire life! I came from Arizona and I thought San Francisco was cold. I didn't have an appropriate coat. I never had to buy a winter coat before.
WCT: [Regarding] your album Crazy Little Things: Where did the title come from? Is possibly your cover of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" on it?
LC: It is. There was just a happiness and joyfulness about this Queen song. My producer Karl Lenny brought Victor Krauss, who is [singer] Alison Krauss' brother, in as a bass player. He came up with this great lick in the front. It is really smooth and sits in a nice place. The whole album does.
There is a reason why I chose those songs. If I came out with songs that were completely all new I'm not so sure it could find as much of an audience as doing classic rock, pop or country. I'm not known as a recording star. It is very difficult out there for everyone. I am at a point in my life where I can sing what I want to sing. I have the most stunning band.
Some people can't believe I actually travel with these musicians because they are all session players. If you know session players they don't like to leave town. They don't want to be on the road with anybody because it dries up your session work. They are all killer, nominated musicians. It is great fun for me since the music us such at a high level to perform. This album is me and my band.
WCT: I loved your rendition of "Let's Stay Together."
LC: Aww. That was a song that when I finished the album my husband asked me to do it. It was one of his favorites so I said okay. It turned out really well.
WCT: "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is such a sad song.
LC: I know! You know what? That was a kind of interesting little journey as well. My kids went off to college and left me. You can imagine how I identified with that song. It is a standard classic Hank Williams song. My players didn't want to do the song but I made them trust me. I told them all to do half of what you are doing. There is that sound of the harmonic guitar like when they are tuning and they do harmonics. My piano player Tony—he just really started playing at the top of the keyboard, so it was really spare. It is such a beautiful song and it didn't need anything.
WCT: Would you do more musicals like Chicago?
LC: I never say never. I have never liked cabaret or the idea of it. Cabaret to me sounds like piano bar and doing songs from the '40s, which is not what I do. I did the musical Chicago and I loved it, but it is six days a week with matinees. The reason people like to do musicals and theatre is that you get the live audience experience. For me, I get the live audience experience in my show. That is what I did all of my life.
For me, there is a lot more freedom in performing with my band; then I have full control over what goes on. Although I would love doing it, it would take me a little bit to adjust. As a matter of fact, the producers of Grumpy Old Men: The Musical reached out to me about a part. The script and characters are hysterical and the script is great. I was in talks about that but I couldn't make it work with my schedule. It was a thrilling thought so I had considered it.
WCT: Did you know the comic book Wonder Woman is restarting and issue number-one comes out today?
LC: You are kidding me! That is fantastic. I will have to call over there and ask them to send me the first run. It is a piece of my history. People still like to talk about it and I never mind discussing it. She is a great character.
WCT: They have never been able to replace you.
LC: I know. Darn!
WCT: Maybe one day. I was wondering how many gay guys will be dressed up like Wonder Woman this Halloween.
LC: Sure, I have seen a few in my life. I have seen some absolutely gorgeous ones, as I did the gay-pride parade in New York the day after they passed the marriage bill. I saw a lot of Wonder Women. I collect pictures of the most outrageous ones, the ones who have a big hairy chest or put a fat suit on. I get a real big kick out of that. I have seen some gorgeous ones, too.
WCT: Do you own special memorabilia from the show?
LC: I do. I have a longtime fan of mine who grew up on my shows. He purchased one of those costumes back in the day. I let him know that I would buy it because I would like to give one costume to each of my children. I already had one costume. He said," Lynda, I could never sell it to you but I will give it to you."
WCT: That is so sweet.
LC: Hold on; there is a new traffic pattern. I hope I don't have an accident. You could write a story, "I was talking to Lynda Carter and she just hung up!" Tragedy!!!
WCT: "I did her last interview, no!"
LC: "We were having such a good time. It was all my fault."
WCT: Instead of driving, you should have flown in that invisible plane!
Luckily, Carter survived to fight on another day. Spin over to www.lyndacarter.com for details on the tour and the new CD.
