Wanda Jackson Interview

Wanda Jackson interview

Before we start the serious questions; what went through you when you heard that Ronnie Milsap had a # 1 song with "Happy happy birthday"?

I knew that song could be a hit again and I wanted to re-record it a few years ago, but I was glad for Ronnie. He did a great job. But it was no surprise he got a big hit with it. At first I was a little envious but I was glad.

Your last albums are coming from Sweden and you even wrote a song which was released as a single for the Swedish market. ("If I could take Sweden home", B-side Doug Sahm's "Meet me in Stockholm"). Is there so much reason to be grateful to your Swedish fans?

Yes, Germany and Sweden are both very special. In the last few years Sweden has opened it' heart for me, just like Germany did in 1965 (the year she had an enormous hit with the German song Santo Domingo). I met Harry Holm (owner of TAB Records in Sweden) through a friend in Oklahoma City (where Wanda lives now), singer-songwriter Ivonne DeVaney, and I recorded a lot of her songs. She's met Harry and told me about him. My husband Wendell, who's managing my career got to Harry and it ended up in my first album for TAB "My kind of gospel" which was recorded in the USA. But later Harry had me come to Sweden to record "Rockabilly Fever" in the Mill Studio. And we've been friends ever since.

Was there any specific reason to write and record "If I could take Sweden home" ?

Yes there was. As I said the Swedish people opened their hearts for me. They remembered me and seamingly liked everything I sing, country, gospel and rockabilly. One time I was # 1 in country, gospel and rockabilly and this year after being voted second I was voted #1 rockabilly singer. So I asked the Lord, because I'm a Christian, to help me write a song which I like to do, to express my heart and the Lord, and he gave me that song. I get very homsick for Sweden and for Europe when I'm away for a year, because I just love it overhere.

Wanda, you'e a gospelsinger now, but how do you look back at your rockabilly days and how did you see it then?

I'm glad that I had the experience and I had a lot of fun singing my rockabilly hits back then. It was what was happening, it was popular and I was glad being part of it. Nowadays it's still fun to sing the old songs and especially while the people still remember and ask for them. I always tell my husband that it's so much fun doing shows in Europe because they allow me to sing whatever I want to and they like everything.

Is the audience overhere different as far as it concerns you?

Somewhat. I believe that you, in Europe are more purists. You seem to like the old things, the more traditional sound of country music and traditionally rockabilly more than the new sound. At least that's my experience.

I guess that means that after all rockabilly was lasting music. I' m raised on it and still like it. But I don't think my daughters will still appreciate the disco hits they're raised on in 25 years.

I think you've hit it. It Has a lasting effect. But America seems to want something new all the time and Europe is more: If you like something, you'll hold on forever.

That is the problem for so many people who made great records and are out of a record deal right now although they'e still making the same good music.

I think, it's very sad that there's so much good talent and I don't want the impression that I wanna put down new artists. We have Ricky Skaggs, the Judds, Barbara Mandrell and they are doing fine. But it brings me back to Europe where people still like Wanda Jackson. I'm very grateful for that and I love them for that too.

In 1973 you changed to gospel music. It meant that you could hardly expect anymore # 1 songs as you had before. Didn't you mind?

No, because gospel music isn't something I sing to be singing. It's because I share on stage, I had an experience with Jesus Christ and now that is the most important of my life; sharing the gospel of Christ, the way I'm allowed which is mostly through music. I had fame, money, a marriage, a family, children... everything, but I was so unhappy. Something was missing in my life and I knew it, but I didn't really know what. On June 6, 1971, I was in church and I knew God was missing in my life. I had not recognised God so I invited Jesus Christ into my heart and he saved me, he forgave me of my sin and he assured me of a place in heaven when I die and that's the most important thing in life. That's the message I want to share. If countrymusic can be a part of that, ok, if it can't, ok. The main thing is that people know that Christ is there for everybody and they need him too.

The best song on your "My kind of Gospel" album is "Thank you Lord for loving me", because of the songs, but mostly because of the singers.

Thank you, but when you come from where I come and Christ has given you a whole new life, a whole new meaning to life, a purpose, a direction, gave you new desires then you want to say to him "Thank you Lord for loving me", and making a new life possibe.

Some people say that depending on their taste you haven't done anything good since you left rockabilly or country music. What's your comment on that?

Ha ha, I hope I have done some good. I surely have a whole lot more to sing about. Now I have a much better message and it's a pity that they won't receive it. But important is that they got the message even if they don't accept me. But as Christ wasn't accepted when he walked on earth, it doesn't surprise me.

I apologize for having to leave. It was great talking to you. See you again soon.

Somewhere in the late eighties I met Wanda Jackson in Germany along the river Mosel at the famous Lorelei. A place where Lynyrd Skynyrd had played, but also a great place for countryfans.At the same festival were a.o. Dickey Lee and the Original Crickets.And Wanda Jackson. I expected some problems because I always arrange interviews on the spot. I had bad expierience with artists who had a career in pop, like Brenda Lee and Jerry Lee Lewis but Wanda Jackson was the positive exeption to the rule.

Remarkable was that this interview was bootlegged by others and unfortunately some of it got lost through the years. But what's left, follows here.