Huey Lewis to play hits, new material at Morton Arboretum

Huey Lewis sometimes gets dismissed as a lightweight 1980s pop star, the teeny-bopper's version of Bruce Springsteen.

That needs to stop.

Yes, the biggest hits by Lewis and his band, the News, are pure pop. But the band's musical approach, which pulled from R&B, blues and soul, gave their songs some genuine sonic heft.

Don't believe it? Go back and listen to that funky guitar line in "I Want a New Drug." Or the horns in "The Power of Love." Or the sweet vocal harmonies in "Do You Believe in Love."

Huey Lewis' songs hold up far better than most of the pop singles released during the Reagan Era.

"I like to think those songs sound true," Lewis, 60, said during a recent conversation with reporters. "You hear that music and those lyrics and you believe it. It doesn't sound like some songwriter did it all for us."

Fans get a chance to see and hear Lewis during a concert Friday, July 23 at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle. The show is part of the band's ongoing national tour.

The setlist is sure to include the monster hits Lewis is known for, most of which come from a trio of wildly popular records: "Picture This" (1982), "Sports" (1983) and "Fore" (1986). All three produced top 20 singles, and both "Sports" and "Fore" reached No. 1 on the Billboard album charts. During this period, the band also contributed "The Power of Love" to the soundtrack for the 1985 Robert Zemeckis film "Back to the Future." That song went to No. 1 and was nominated for an Oscar.

Lewis said the show won't just be a survey of hits, though. Expect the band to perform selections from the group's upcoming record - an as-yet-untitled collection of soul songs that were originally released on the old Stax Records label in Memphis.

"It's a labor of love for all of us," Lewis said of the new record. "We're a rock band first, but we all grew up listening to soul and r&b. We've flirted with the idea of covering those songs before, but we've been afraid to do it. I think we're just now capable of it."

Lewis said the band chose obscure songs from the Stax catalog, and he confessed to being unsure how well it will be received. No release date has been set.

"It's pretty gritty, pretty raw stuff," he said. "It won't be to everyone's taste. But we're very proud of what we've done with this."

In the meantime, Lewis said he loves hitting the road with the band and ripping through songs like "Working for a Living" and "The Heart of Rock 'n' Roll," even if the crowds are smaller than they were in the '80s and he occasionally feels his age.

"I've lost some vocal range," Lewis said. "I don't always feel as energetic as I used to. But we're smarter about things now. I think we're still improving, and I know we still enjoy each other's company."

That chemistry, Lewis said, is what keeps the band going after 30 years.

"This is a wonderful job," he said. "When I get up there, it's like falling in love all over again."

Huey Lewis and the NewsWhen: 7 p.m. Friday, July 23Where: Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, LisleTickets: $47 at the Visitors CenterInformation: (630) 968-0074 or www.mortonarb.orgFalse20001600Huey Lewis and the News will mix new songs with old hits during a concert in Lisle. False