The best advice Jordan Luck says he ever got came from his mum: "Don't sing until you get paid."
Now, 16 years after the Exponents last put out a record, the 54-year-old's hoping to hit pay day with The Jordan Luck Band's debut effort, Not Only… But Also, which hits stores tomorrow.
A lot's changed since his old band's heyday in the '80s and '90s, but so has Luck. Sipping sparkling water in his tidy Auckland home on a Tuesday morning, Luck shows an excitement you wouldn't expect in a music hall-of-famer with little left to prove.
"We paid for this record ourselves, and back in the day a record company would do that," he tells Newshub. "It's really exciting -- there's things I never knew about doing the artwork, making a CD, making vinyl."
"We threw the name and the titles to Dick Frizzell, he did the artwork and boom. Done," said Luck.
Not Only... But Also cover (supplied)
It's had a long gestation, but the album itself came together very quickly.
"We had a meeting January 8, and [band member Joe Walsh] went, 'Guys -- we're gonna release our record this year.' And me and Bryan [Bell, formerly of Dead Flowers] were going, 'Yeah yeah yeah, we've said that every month, maybe every year for a while'.
"But Joe continued: 'We're going to release it April 29, we're gonna tour through May, through New Zealand Music Month, we're gonna throw the album title to the audience."
And that's what happened. They had some of the basic tracks down, but the bulk of the record came together over the next few months. Fans suggested a number of titles, and after a secret ballot and some "convivial discussion", they settled on Not Only… But Also.
For the diehards, there are plans to release it on vinyl later in the year.
"Even if the music's bollocks, the artwork's really good. A 12-inch sleeve, gatefold even maybe."
First single 'Only If You're Lonely' hits the typical Luck notes, his trademark rasp belting out an earworm over a no-frills, hard-rock backing. If the rest of the album's in the same vein, he's given the fans what they want -- and possibly more.
"My inherent pop aesthetic has been combined with Bryan's -- the Flowers made some gem pop stuff," Luck explains.
"It's eclectic -- in 38 minutes it really goes through some emotional curves. It's a fun listen and it whizzes by, which I think is the sign of a good listen."
It could have gone further though -- one track, 'Crystal Soul' was originally written with opera trio Sol3Mio in mind.
Should the record be a hit, don't expect to wait another 16 years for a follow-up -- Luck's in this for the long-haul.
"I'm good for another 20, I'm giving myself 30 even. We'll see what happens."
Newshub.
