"I never caught a trend and I never got caught by a trend," said Chris Isaak in a recent visit to Billboard's New York offices.

The venerable singer-songwriter sat down to discuss his two-decade string of top 40-peaking Billboard 200 albums, a run that began in 1991 with "Heart Shaped World," fueled by the No. 6 Billboard Hot 100 smash "Wicked Game," his brooding ballad that won airplay in an era of C+C Music Factory-dominated dance/pop; his acting career, which has included a memorable role in the blockbuster "Silence of the Lambs"; and an early decision to keep his shirt on.

("Years from now," Isaak thought, "What am I going to do when I can't take my shirt off? I said, 'I'm going to wear a suit' and, man, that's the smartest thing I ever did. Taking my shirt off (now)? Women would be saying, 'I don't want to see this ...' ")

Isaak also spoke proudly of his new album, "Beyond the Sun," which debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 34 last month. "The most fun record I ever made," Isaak said of the set.

"Sun" sports covers of songs recorded by such Sun Records legends as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison and was recorded at the renowned Sun Studio in Memphis.

"In the long run, there are people who've made more money or had bigger stardom at points," said Isaak. "But, I think I'll have come out winning."

Here is Billboard's conversation with Isaak, including a sample of a Presley classic.

 
On Being Called Versatile

On Liking Singing Better Than Acting

On "Silence of the Lambs"

On His New Album "Beyond the Sun"
"It's songs I've been playing my whole life and I just never put on a record," said Isaak of the album. "Johnny Cash, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison. I just had a ball making this."

On Comparisons to, Remembering Roy Orbison

NEXT: Chris Isaak Takes on a King's Classic