Margaret Cho is not the first comedian to make the leap from doing stand-up to singing out. Sandra Bernhard and Lea DeLaria have both released musical albums. But Cho Dependent (Clownery) is in a category all its own. First of all, Cho can sing. She's no Jennifer Hudson, but she can hold her own and does throughout the album. Collaborating with some of the hottest musicians out there, including queer twin sisters Tegan and Sara ("Intervention"), Brendan Benson ("Baby, I'm with the Band"), Fiona Apple ("Hey Big Dog"), Andrew Bird ("I'm Sorry"), out singer/songwriter Garrison Starr ("Gimme Your Seed") and Ani DiFranco ("Captain Cameltoe"), Cho delivers a solid set of songs. She maintains her sense of humor from start to finish. I spoke with Margaret shortly before she danced her way onto our TV screens.

Gregg Shapiro: How much did your experience on the True Colors tour play a part in your wanting to record an album of songs?

Margaret Cho: It was a huge thing. I had a great time, and I did some music on that tour. Cyndi Lauper really encouraged me to work on my singing voice. Being on that tour really helped shape my musical direction.

You've written a few books and screenplays, as well as your comedy material. How does writing song lyrics compare to other kinds of writing?

There is much more restriction on what you can do in songwriting. You have to contain yourself within a rhythm. It's a lot more structured. But in a lot of ways it's similar, because there is an economy of words. The need to poeticize these experiences is what I think is the same.

How did you find collaborators for Cho Dependent?

Some people I knew beforehand, and it was easy to ask them. Like Ani DiFranco, Jon Brion and Grant Lee Phillips. Other people I am a huge fan of and pursued, like Andrew Bird and Rachel Yamagata. It was a different process with everyone to get them involved, but everybody really wanted to do it. Everybody was really patient in helping me.

Which usually came first, the lyrics or the music?

The lyrics would generally come first. The only time when that was not the case was working with Ben Lee, where he would write music first, then I would write lyrics.

There are a couple of recurring themes, like drugs, which figure in the songs "Intervention," "Calling in Stoned" and "Hey Big Dog."

I think the culture of addiction, dependency, drugs and alcohol is very fascinating. I've had my own issues with drugs and alcohol, and probably in a lot of ways I'm still there. It's a place to write from. There are also other elements of dependency on the album, that's why it's called Cho Dependent, because there are songs about dependency on people and on ideas of who people are.

I really liked the country numbers, "Hey Big Dog" and the murder ballad "I'm Sorry." Was it fun to put a little twang and two-step in your style?

Absolutely. I am a big country fan. Especially alt-country like Patty Griffin, who is phenomenal, and who wrote "Hey Big Dog" with me. I love Gillian Welch. There is a lot of country in my voice as well, so it makes sense to do it.

I also really liked the Dylan-esque "Lice." Do you know if Bob Dylan has heard this homage?

No, but I hope so. I hope he likes it! It's actually a parody of "Don't Think Twice It's Alright."

Your sizable LGBT fan-base will be thrilled by the dance track "Gimme Your Seed." Are there plans for remixes, and are you ready to become a disco diva?

I would love to be a disco diva, and I love that song. I haven't had any plans for remixes yet, but there should be some coming.

The hidden track is very funny.

"Lesbian Escalation" is a song I wrote with Rachel Yamagata, a wonderful singer/songwriter from Chicago. We wrote the song never actually having met each other. We sort of conducted this whole thing online. We didn't finally meet until we came together to record it.

Have you started thinking about possible collaborators for the next album?

Yes! I have songs that are ready to go. I've written and recorded one with Lucas Silveira of the Cliks.

We are speaking shortly before you make your debut on Dancing with the Stars. Are you looking forward to that?

Yes, I really am. I am rehearsing, and I can't wait to start.

Which of your songs would you like to dance to on Dancing with the Stars?

I'd like to do "Your Dick," because actually that is a perfect Viennese waltz.

Margaret Cho will perform on Dec. 4 at the Nob Hill Masonic Center in SF.