Copyright 1996 P.G. Publishing Co.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

June 29, 1996, Saturday, REGION EDITION

SECTION: ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Pg. D-6

LENGTH: 321 words

HEADLINE: FAME AND OBSCURITY BOTH TOUGH, SAYS MANN

BYLINE: GENE STOUT, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

BODY:

 

Fame can be a real strain.

Ask singer-songwriter Aimee Mann, whose former band, 'Til Tuesday, hit the big time in the mid-'80s with its million-selling single, ''Voices Carry.''

''People would drive by and yell my name,'' Mann said by phone from Los Angeles.

''To have a big hit record and to be famous is really, really difficult. I know it doesn't sound like it would be a strain to do interviews and talk about yourself, but it's personally draining. It takes a toll in weird little ways. I think it's impossible for people to understand what it's like.''

Still, a little fame and fortune would come in handy right now for the 35-year-old singer-songwriter.

Mann's second solo album, ''I'm With Stupid,'' is getting great reviews for its bright, engaging melodies and hard-edged, finger-pointing lyrics. But sales have been pretty flat.

''I'm pretty sure it's not doing that well,'' she said, sounding discouraged.

Mann could write a book about the ups and downs of a pop career.

'Til Tuesday foundered after its initial success in the mid-'80s. Epic Records dumped the Boston band when its third album flopped.

After extricating herself from contractual obligations with Epic, Mann joined Imago Records, which released her well-received solo debut album, ''Whatever.''

Mann recorded a second album with Imago, but the label hit the skids after losing its distribution deal. Again Mann was caught in a legal limbo, unable to release her follow-up to ''Whatever.''

''I definitely thought about throwing in the towel,'' she said.

All of this changed when DGC/Geffen Records came to the rescue and released ''I'm With Stupid'' earlier this year.

Mann and her new label now face the challenge of building an audience for the feisty new album.

''It's really hard to sell a record, and it's really hard to know how to sell a record,'' she said. ''It's not that easy to get songs on the radio.''

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