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You know, when I put out records that may not work or connect with the audience, it's because I'm pushing myself as an artist creatively, because I'm just bored doing what everyone wants me to do.

The thing I do, really, is a communication with audiences more than any achievement through records.

I'm very proud of my records, but my most natural creative tendencies have been in live performing. There's a beautiful element to recording and making records, but I've always felt a little shy with it.

You make a record because you have to chart your progress, not only for yourself, but for your audience.

The good and wonderful thing about my whole career is that I've always felt that the audience, if I do it well, will track wherever I go, whether it's President or a lawyer or bad guy or good. All I have to do is execute the material enough where they buy into it. I've had the great luxury of the audiences accepting that.

As I've gotten older, I've found that I'm not afraid anymore to throw my influences into making a record.

When you do a record like 'Talk,' and you're happy with it, and it reaches your ambitions and then doesn't sell as well as you wanted, it kind of takes the wind out of your sails a little.

People are really set in their ways in how they produce records, and I was at least open enough to where I knew I wanted to do something totally different.

If you're in the groove, you get something back from the audience that is so exciting and rewarding that no film or television work can possibly compete.

I love what I'm doing most of the time, but it's hard work. People only see your albums in the charts. They see us at award shows and after-show parties. They don't know about your doubts, the hard work that goes in.