Drummers - sometimes they play and they listen. And that little listen takes a speck away from the right tempo.

I ain't no entertainer, and ain't trying to be one. I am one thing, a musician.

Lionel [Richie] said, "Yeah, I learned chords and stuff playin' against your albums."

Always look ahead, but never look back.

If I have a dynamite bass player - I have Darryl Jones - it's so easy to write for him because he's such a funky kid and he's gifted. He's like a little genius.

You know why I quit playing ballads? Cause I love playing ballads.

Tom Jones is funny to me, man. I mean, he really tries to ape Ray Charles and Sammy Davis, you know. He's nice-looking; he looks good doing it. I mean, if I was him, I'd do the same thing. If I was only thinking about making money.