“That’s an enormous compliment and I appreciate that.  I was thrilled because two days ago, somebody handed the record to Cameron Crowe for me.  I’m dying for him to hear that song.  I mean, his spirit is such a big part of it!”  Laughing, she adds, “I wish it had been around when he was looking for songs for ‘Almost Famous’ sound track.  Let’s hope that people do appreciate the cinematic aspect of the record.  It’s VERY cinematic.  I wanted to make something very deep and thoughtful. And I wanted people really to sink their teeth in to it. 

“I remember when I use to buy albums.  I loved albums.  People have forgotten about ALBUMS.  Everything is about singles now.  Even I put out a single.  You gotta play the game a little.  But there’s this thing about journeys and voyages that you take when you listen to a real album - where you want to listen to the whole record from the first song to the last.  That’s what we tried to do with this record.  That’s what my producers and I really took into account, was that we wanted it to have a cinematic voyage feeling.

I was curious if there is any indication as to what her fan base is responding to from the album, to which she observes, “Yeah, the two songs that people are really responding to are ‘Sugar’ and ‘Untouchable’.  Not to mention many other ones.  I mean, some are really loving the second track, ‘Love Is’.  The last track, ‘Fall and Rise’ – it’s very, very interesting.  I swear, it’s very inspiring to me because I took big risks, a big chance in doing this.  I thought, ‘Okay, maybe nobody will notice this.”  I didn’t do it for any other reason but to just do it – for myself and for the people I work with.  We all want to do this.  And to be getting this kind of response, I’m telling you!  I didn’t expect it!”

Still talking about “Untouchable”, I state, “Well, it obviously has a very personal message to it.  I don’t know who it’s about but I thought the hooks on it were great.”

“Well, it’s not just about one person.  You know, there’s a lot of stuff on there.  You know, there’s songs directed at several people and at nothing.  Some of it is just feelings.

I comment on the butt-kicking sound of ‘Fall and Rise’ and that it must sound great in concert. 

Buell responds by expanding on that thought:  “Yeah, well, the album live is a whole different experience.  Rock is loud.  I have three guitar players.  And they’re all brilliant.  So, there’s a lot going on in a good way.  It’s not tepid, light rock show.  It’s not supper-club stuff, you know?  When I do ‘Untouchable’, which I think is one of the more quieter songs on the album, it still kicks ***.  One of the reasons why it kicks live is so many people singing along with me.  I get a lot of the “sing-alongers”!  I love it!  I get a lot of that.”

So, folks, you heard it here first.  If you plan on seeing Bebe Buell in concert, you should not expect The Captain and Tenille as the opening act.

Buell came back around to the crowd response to “Sugar” and what appears to be their favorite cut off the disc.

“Well, the one that everyone thinks should be a single is ‘Sugar’.  We put out a single in May called, ‘Air Kisses for the Masses’, which is the 10^th song on the record.  And that was sort of to let everybody know, “Hey, here I am.  I’m back.  I’m making an album.  What do you guys think?”  I threw a party.  I was like, ‘Hi, guys!  I haven’t seen you in a while.  I’m having a party at the Hiro Ballroom to celebrate that I’m doing music again.’” 

“I just sort of thought to myself, ‘Okay, if anybody comes, I’ll keep going and this means that I’m on the right path. If it’s sparsely attended and nobody comes, I’ll just a great time and realize that I’m just doing this for myself and nobody’s ever going to hear it.’  So, it turned out to be neither of those things.  It turned out to be beyond the best thing it could’ve been.  I mean, seriously.  Everybody and they’re grandmother that I’ve known through my whole life was there.  I saw people that I haven’t seen in 30 years in that room!  And then I saw . . . the young kids – the under-thirty set.  It was just really pretty wonderful.  Now I’m all hopped up!”