Six Years Of Free-Agency: Over.

Well, dear hearts, I have this evening signed a two-year agreement with a prominent LA-based publisher/song broker. Obviously, being Lightfoot, I have mixed emotions about the whole thing, but the emotion that is associated with eating and bill-paying is at this point th' prevalent one.

They offer th' right of refusal so fear not; "Maybe Next Time" will not end up as th' Current Viagra Campaign Flagship Song. These guys actually seem very cool as far as this business goes; they've got Billy Preston stuff and Bobby Womack stuff and Dee Dee Ramone and David Was and Chris Spedding (yes- Roxy Music!) and John Doe and Mudhoney and Motorhead, so they can hang with weird. I never would have thought myself particularly weird, but I guess my whole Rufus/Bacharach/ ambitio-pop trip is considered pretty eclectic in this day 'n' age. Oh, cool- they've got some Richard Hell stuff too.

I think this is about as acceptable a way to exploit my catalog as possible. I originally cut "Like Dying" in '01 as my initial bid for movie-themedom in California and upon completion realized I didn't have the stomach to pitch it for any of them crappy movies. That's When I Knew It Was Over etc.

This way I can do what I do and if anybody has a use for it that isn't putrid I can reap th' rewards without having to actually talk to any of these smut peddlars. Someone else has stepped up to the plate to perform that task.

It was the actual talking to these folks I couldn't handle, so it's nice someone else has stepped up. For th' purpose of any future blogging we will refer to the company as "EMI". That has a good ring. My rep will be henceforth referred to as "Colonel Tom". No, this is better- we'll call him "Dick James". Of course. What was I thinking. "Dick James" with "EMI". Sweent.

I haven't been under contract to anybody for six years. Never did me any god damn good before. At least this way I can maybe make a buck without having to take creative commands from th' Bad Of Breath. Pray for Lightfoot. Pray for him.