Reflecting on the Iconic Singer-Songwriter of the Late ’70s

In the late ’70s, Rickie Lee Jones quickly earned a reputation as one of the coolest musicians of that era. With her self-titled 1979 debut album, Jones made a significant impact, particularly with the jazzy hit single “Chuck E.’s in Love.” This debut effort went platinum and garnered Jones the Grammy for Best New Artist. While her initial work remains her most renowned, Jones’s career has continued to be long and varied. Here’s a look back at her early success and her more recent endeavors.

Rickie Lee Jones’ genre-blending style was something of an anomaly in the ’70s music scene, which helped her quickly become famous. Raised in a family immersed in the arts—her father was a musician and her grandparents were involved in vaudeville—Jones began performing jazz gigs in California at the age of 21. In 1977, she crossed paths with singer-songwriter Tom Waits, leading to a two-year romantic relationship. Waits, celebrated for his distinct voice and storytelling, was often compared with Jones, with many seeing her as a female counterpart to him.

Jones’ debut album came out in 1979, featuring the hit single “Chuck E.’s in Love,” which climbed to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another noteworthy track from the album, “Coolsville,” earned her the moniker “the Duchess of Coolsville”—a title she used for her 2005 career retrospective album.

The iconic cover of Jones’ debut album, picturing her in a beret while smoking a cigarette, defined her hipster image, with the beret becoming her trademark. In a music industry increasingly dominated by disco, her beatnik vibe and jazz-influenced vocal style stood out boldly.

Jones discussed her unique singing style in an interview, stating, “I’m so far behind the beat, and that’s hard in pop music because pop music and folk music and every other thing really would like you to sing pretty much in the first couple of beats. But I love coming in late and singing whatever I feel like singing when I get there! Jazz is the perfect place for me to do that.”

This distinctive approach—offbeat vocals and cinematic lyrics depicting smoky bars and film noir figures—continues to resonate with audiences today. Her next albums, like Pirates (1981) and The Magazine (1984), received critical acclaim, with Pirates partly inspired by her breakup with Tom Waits. After battling drug and alcohol addiction, Jones took a brief hiatus post giving birth to her daughter and returned with Flying Cowboys in 1989, produced by Steely Dan’s Walter Becker.

Rickie Lee Jones’ career didn’t stall after the ’70s and ’80s. Since the year 2000, she has released eight albums, the latest being Pieces of Treasure in 2023. Through her career, Jones has navigated various genres, including jazz, pop, folk, rock, and R&B. Her newest album consists of covers from the Great American Songbook, showcasing her unique and well-worn vocal timbre perfectly.

In 2021, Jones released her memoir, “Last Chance Texaco: Chronicles of an American Troubadour,” which delves into her tumultuous childhood, battles with addiction, relationship with Tom Waits, and musical journey.

Now at 69 years old, Jones continues to evolve as a musician and shows no intention of slowing down. In a 2023 interview, she reflected on aging, saying, “Now that I’m older, I think a lot about my age. First of all, I think about how I can still do everything I used to. How is that possible? . . . But I’m still doing what I’m doing, going into the studio. I’m at peace with my age, which makes me very happy. I feel more confident because I don’t have anything to lose. Which isn’t really true, but in a way it is.”

This perspective is certainly admirable, and fans eagerly anticipate what the Duchess of Coolsville will do next.

Source: Getty, Billboard