LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ Turn-Up Records) - Twenty years later - but in no way too late - the man often seen as a pillar of power pop has finally delivered the Great Lost Debut Album of his revered recording career.
Four years in the re-making, ACTUAL SIGHS (Turn-Up Records) is the re-recording by RICHARD X. HEYMAN of Actual Size, the six-song mini-album that started it all for the New York songsmith in 1986.
Well, it's the re-recording and then some. Quite a bit more, actually. There are 14 added tracks on ACTUAL SIGHS which were written for the original album, but never made it to vinyl because Heyman couldn't afford to cut them at the time. Righting that wrong this time, Heyman brings the total number of tracks on ACTUAL SIGHS to 20 - or one for each year that's passed since Actual Size was released. And again, he recorded them at home, though the 8-track Tascam machine has been replaced with updated technology.
If this is starting to sound quite astounding then consider this: In his liner notes, renown rock critic Parke Puterbaugh deems the ACTUAL SIGHS story "unlike any other in the annals of popular music, with the possible exception of Brian Wilson's re-recording of the Beach Boys' long-abandoned 'Smile' in 2005." Pretty heady company, but nothing to which Heyman hasn't become accustomed in the 20 years since the original Actual Size first surfaced. In fact, that very same Brian Wilson tops a list of greats with whom Heyman has performed as a backing musician, from Link Wray to Ben E. King, on everything from drums to keyboards to, well, whatever the occasion requires.
"In my mind, this is the debut album I wanted to make," says Heyman. "I didn't get to make it then, so I'm making it now. Same material. The only difference is I have more experience in the studio and the recording process."
Indeed, the sensational singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is a one-man studio band. He plays it all on ACTUAL SIGHS, moving easily from his original instrument, the drums, to keyboards, guitar and bass - not unlike the fluidity of his irresistible melodies. Indeed, the craftsmanship on ACTUAL SIGHS is as timeless as the music on all of Heyman's consistently heralded recorded output.
Produced by Heyman and engineered by his wife and musical muse, Nancy, the tracks on ACTUAL SIGHS were mixed by Heyman's old New Jersey friend Ed Stasium (Ramones, Smithereens, Living Colour, Marshall Crenshaw) and long-time Heyman engineer Tony Lewis, who's mixed the three previous RXH releases, Basic Glee; Heyman, Hoosier and Herman, and Cornerstone.
So whether you rely on a simple address book or a high-tech Powerpoint, make it a point to join RICHARD X. HEYMAN on this unique and undoubtedly rewarding trip back to the future.
