by Stan Soocher

Hawaiian-born beauty Yvonne Elliman dresses herself in musical personalities to satisfy most singers for a lifetime. Having once serenaded crowds on the streets of London - "I was young and ready to try anything" - she was later picked for the lead role of Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar. In 1974 she became Eric Clapton's right-hand woman while gathering mild critical acclaim for a series of her own solo albums. The last two years have brought her three MOR hit singles: the Bee-Gees-penned "Love Me", the bouncy pop classic "Hello Stranger" and the Marie Osmond-ish "I Can't Get You Out Of My Mind", and the 1977 Don Kirshner Rock Award for Best New Female Vocalist.

Now, perched in RSO president Robert Stigwood's penthouse overlooking New York's Central Park, oval faced Yvonne reveals her new album, Night Flight (RSO), as "the first album I feel totally comfortable with, that lets me explore all of my moods. I want to change my latest image from MOR, sweet and candy-ass - and embrace a mystique."

Even though Night Flight is an album of romantic songs, it sports the powerful emotions of such heavyweight songwriters as Stephen Bishop, Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody, Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, and Yvonne herself. Producer Robert Appere, who gave Neil Sedaka three gold albums, agrees with Yvonne's assessment of Night Flight. "Yvonne's voice sounds bigger than it's ever sounded before. I believe in artistic freedom and showing as many sides of the artist as possible without confusing the listeners".

Yvonne was never confused when it came to choosing a career. She formed her first group, the We Folk, in Hawaii during the Sixties. I emulated Grace Slick", she recalls. "I wanted to be a powerhouse raunch-stomper, and I played 'White Rabbit' everyday until I got Grace's vibrato just right".

An ideal childhood in Hawaii and a Japanese-French-German-English background supports her performance. "The Japanese influence is the strongest because there is an inborn love of serving people and, after all, a performer is serving the audience. In fact, I'm a frustrated waitress."

A move to London at 17 and the starring role in Superstar left Yvonne thinking she had it made. "But", she claims, "I met a lot of fanatical religious types. I got a lot of hate mail for being in something so blasphemous." She kept singing "I Don't Know How To Love Him" but meeting Eric Clapton in Miami in 1974 was the high point of her career. "I was in seventh heaven during 461 Ocean Boulevard (Atlantic). I couldn't believe I was in the same room with Eric Clapton. I was in such awe I would crawl underneath the piano and watch him play guitar from there."

Yvonne then decided to leave Clapton's band altogether and concentrate exclusively on her solo career. "The last gig I did with Eric was in Hawaii. I gave him a lei at the end of the show and said, 'I love you. Aloha' It was very sad and tearful. I knew once I had an album like Night Flight that spoke about things I feel, I could go out on the road."

Both Yvonne and Robert Appere chose the songs for Night Flight. "I fell in love with the way Stephen Bishop writes," Yvonne glows. "He gave me a tape of thirty-five songs and I picked 'Sailing Ships' from that. 'Sally Go Round The Roses' is my favorite on the new album, although I don't understand the lyrics. The percolating bass, drums, and percussion make it deep and mysterious, eerie like David Essex's 'Rock On'". The strengths of Night Flight seem to have cured any qualms Yvonne might have about fronting her own band. "I was scared of a solo tour at first, scared of getting out there without somebody's wing over me. But I talked it over with Carly Simon, who feels the same way and she said, 'The longer you procrastinate, the harder it's going to be.' Now when I'm performing on stage I don't want to get off."

Shifting slowly on the green velvet couch in Stigwood's suite, Yvonne states she can face the rigors of the road while keeping her image options open. "With Eric I used to stay up all night and drink with the boys. Pete Townsend told me, "You're a very pretty lady and you shouldn't destroy yourself with booze. Stop trying to be one of the guys.' So I've calmed down and I take care of myself." But she is ready for the marathon lifestyle on which the rock world is built. Producer Appere says, "It's Yvonne's time and Yvonne's space. I know. During the long Night Flight sessions she didn't conk out. And she never once said uncle".