By Belinda Goldsmith

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - American diva Thelma Houston, whose 1977 hit No. 1 song "Don't Leave Me This Way" became one of the major songs of the disco era, is back -- with her first new album in 17 years.

Houston, 61, who lives in Los Angeles, says the gap wasn't planned as she has continued working during that period, touring incessantly and performing about 200 shows a year.

In her new album, "A Woman's Touch," being released on Aug. 14, Houston puts her own spin on songs made famous by male singers such as Sting, Jimmy Webb and Luther Vandross.

She spoke to Reuters about her career -- and her signature song:

Q: I've got to ask, where have you been?

A: "I've been doing concerts and lots of corporate dates. Primarily concerts. It's so funny, until the 1980s I had always relied upon having a record deal and making records to have a career, but I found out that in my case one was not necessarily linked to the other. It was a great thing to find out because the process of recording for me is not one I really enjoy."

Q: But has this limited your fan base to those who knew you in the 1970s and 1980s?

A: "No. At these concerts you get a mixture of people my age, young people, middle aged. In the summer we do summer gigs in the parks and fairs and everyone still knows the Motown songs. Kids are out there singing that stuff."

Q: So you don't enjoy recording?

A: "My real passion is entertaining and I love the response I get from the audience. They sing with you and get up and dance. If I was a singer/songwriter type with songs I wanted to get out it would be different. But for me writing is a long, drawn out process so the performance level is what I love. I like when I can do a combination of acting and singing."

Q: Is having a signature song like "Don't Leave Me This Way" a blessing or a curse?

A: "Thank God I had a song like that because it is the biggest hit I have had in my 40-year career. People love that song and it has sustained my career. I no longer have to sing the "aaaaahhh baby" bit as the audience always sings it."

Q: Do you still like the song?

A: "My first manager once told me to be very careful when you select a song even though it might be catchy because if it is a hit then you are going to sing it for the rest of your life. When I chose "Don't Leave Me This Way" I loved it and I still enjoy singing it. You have to pick a song you are not going to be embarrassed by."

Q: Why did you choose to do an album of male songs?

A: "My favorite female singer of all time is Aretha Franklin and she has lots of songs that are my favorite songs. But when Aretha or Gladys Knight or Chaka Khan have done a song they have done a song and there is not too much else you can do with it. I leave them alone."

Q: I hear you like to stay fit?

A: "I try to work out at least five times a week and on Saturday I hike. I go to a track where I do a lot of core work and use resistance bands and the medicine ball. I run around the track. You are outdoors and get great fresh air. I have a personal trainer, a really cute trainer, who motivates me. When I turned 35 I started a deliberate campaign to do something for my health and exercise wise."

Q: Will you ever stop singing?

A: "I don't plan to ever retire from it. I love this so very much."