ALBUM REVIEWS

 

 

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“I was blown away by his performing and song writing” 
Eddie Van Halen


REVIEWS 'FACTORY’

Leigh Doyle - Head Of Music - Beat 102-103 - Waterford, Ireland"
"Got the album in the mail today, thanks! Its excellent. Love the cover too and the production is excellent!! I have spent the last hour trying to pick out my favourite tracks but I've come to the conclusion I love them all. Well done and best of luck with it, its a best seller in my eyes!”


REVIEWS 'FATHERLESS CHILD’

Andrew P. Smith – Radio Wycombe/High Wycombe – England
“I have listened to the CD and think it is great.” “Richard Branson would like it.”

Chris Hughes – Radio Hereford – England
“We have concluded that the album is terrific, and is getting a lot of airplay on our Station. ‘Fatherless Child’, we concluded should be released as a single in the U.K..” “Apart from the title track, there are plenty of excellent tracks on the album, these too, are appearing on our playlists.” “Well Done.”

Brian Purvis – Radio Hasler – England
“I have had a good listen to ‘Fatherless Child’ and was most surprised when I did, when I say surprised it was for the fact that it is very good which made listening to it a pleasure. In the days of rave and dance music all created by computer, to hear something as good as this made a fantastic change and I will continue to play it on Radio Hasler.” “Thank you for selecting me to listen to Rich Wyman’s ‘Fatherless Child’.”

Suart Milligan – EN94 Radio – England
“CD received and well received. Plenty of excellent tracks and our score is just 10 out of 10.” “My son enjoys it – he’s 24 and into modern stuff – thinks it’s cool.”

Gary Lakin – Hospital Radio Colchester – England
“I recommend that this track is released as a single in the U.K.. I think, no, I know that it would be a great succes.

Simon Adams – London Network Radio – England
“I have taken a listen to all the tracks and I am impressed with the quality of the music.” “Rich Wyman is a great artist and should be heard much more in the U.K..”

Eryl Price-Davies – Thames Valley University – England
“I’ll be honest – I didn’t expect to enjoy it… but I was very pleasantly surprised. He’s got a great voice, and many of the tunes are memorable.”

Paul Butler – 106 FM – Ireland
“All I can say is, UNBELIEVABLE! It’s the best album I’ve heard all year and we’ve heard hundreds.”

Leigh Doyle – KISS 102,7 – Ireland
“Rich Wyman is the most talented musician to ever pass through Wexford. I am truly awed at his performance and talent and I thank you for sending me his CD to play on the air.” “The response to the song ‘Fatherless Child’ is HUGE!! People are calling all the time requesting the song.”

Colm – ABC Power – Ireland
“I love the album and I haven’t even finished it yet.”

Gigi – Multiradio – Italy
“Album sounds great, we add it to our playlist as POWER PLAY this week.”

Larry Thalassinos – Antenna 97 – Greece
“Very good album, we add it in our playlist.”

Seth – 2MCE – Australia
“Selected cuts from ‘Fatherless Child’ have been on our playlist for months now.”

Jodie Summers – Y-102 – Pennsylvania – USA
“Glad to hear things are going well for the Rich Wyman CD. When a friend sent it in to me, I immediately thought it was very cool! Keep me posted on any updates!


REVIEWS 'WHERE WE STAND'

Oor Magazine, April 17, 1999 - written by Marcel Haerkens
Nice gimmick. The box of the ‘Where We Stand’ happens to contain two identical CDs. One to play at home and an other to play in the car. But Rich Wyman doesn’t need this kind of thing to get his music across. The fact that  this 31-year old  American songwriter was discovered by Edward Van Halen might give you the wrong impression. Because apart from some symphonic influences (‘Next Day, Last Night’ and ‘Renee’) and a touch of Southern Rock (‘Childhood Dreams’) he makes music that his fellow citizens would categorize as AOR. But major league stuff, that’s for sure!
Mr. Wyman’s got a voice like a hurricane, John Hiatt after a shot of anabolic steroids. His sparkling piano playing is accompanied by a choice of Dutch musicians, of which guitarist Marcel Singor in particular goes pretty wild at times. Rich Wyman is at his best in the melodic power ballads which he seems to dash off one after the other. Catchy gems like ‘I’m Alive’, ‘So What’ and ‘Last Time I Fell’ breathe an atmosphere of amazing grandeur. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if ‘the Piano Man from Park City’ became really big. Just start buying yourself a new set of cigarette lighters.

SUM Magazine (1999)
Finally, a record  which manages to rise high above all the others. American Rich Wyman is surely on his way to becoming the musician of the 90’s. For three consecutive years he has won the prestigious ASCAP Writer/Performance Award, and after listening to the album Where We Stand you immediately know why. Wyman’s music clearly shows he has been listening to fellow musicians such as Keith Jarrett, Elton John and Billy Joel. However, he blended the various styles in such a way that he has created an unmistakable sound of his own. The music on Where We Stand captures you from the first track to the last.


REVIEWS 'LIVE FROM THE HEART'

Oor Magazine
It is already three years since Rich Wyman made his debut in The Netherlands with the album ‘Where We Stand’. Then, you would think it is time for a follow up, and a concert registration is not the most usual choice. But ‘Live From The Heart’ is more than a in-between album. The CD, recorded live for a select audience at the New Road Studio contains next to successes like ‘Fatherless Child’, ‘So what’ and Mark Knopfler’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’ a few new songs and some older unreleased songs. Wyman’s best songs are the powerful melodic ballads. Themes such as life, love and the troublesome  relationship with his father, are sung with a voice like a hurricane that sounds like a mix of  John Hiatt and Peter Gabriel. His piano playing offers ample company, brave hammering supporting the sing along choruses or sparkling delicately as in the magisterial instrumental ‘The Water Song’. Wyman goes to the bone again, emotionally. The CD title is not very original, but for the Piano Man from Park City, it fits perfectly.

LiveXS Magazine - written by Roel Bouman
During the opener Not For The Money, I have my heart in my throat. Wyman is overstraining his voice and his piano playing is not very good. But then something happens that makes this “error” completely fade away. From the second song onwards, ‘Live From The Heart’ is a strikingly intimate and modest album. Listening to it over and over again it is a superb album, full of tantalizing songs and beautiful piano pieces. The compositions, which were recorded in the New Road Studios, with a small number of spectators at the scene, are brought to you with the well known Rich Wyman passion. Only a few songs of the previous album recorded for New Road Music were used for this release. It isn’t until the 10th song, the audience’s favorite ’So What’, that you actually hear the audience for the first time. Up till then they had been totally silent (maybe forced, but then again). Impressive disc and perfect title.


REVIEW 'FACTORY'

Powerful voice blending poprock songs with piano driven melodies

Reviewer: GJ4music

Rich Wyman has a powerful voice that blends poprock songs with piano driven melodies. His voice carries true emotions to the hearts of the listeners. This album starts with the song "Kiss a baby" about a president running for office. Facing now the promises he made clashing with reality. "Too late" is one of his best. A number 1 melody combining the problems in a relation that's about to burst. Upbeat songs like "Everybody loves you" "Everyday & everynight" (could be the theme of your favorite television series) "I saw an angel" (sing this to your lover!) are keeping you in a great mood. The song "Brand new factory" is a highlight you can't miss. It's a song about the environment and a factory breathing out fresh air instead of pollution.It reveals also where Rich's heart is where it comes to our planet.The song working towards a climax and a powerful message. "Sleeping bird" is a breathtaking song about Dutch Rockicon Herman Brood taking his own life. The album rocks on with "Rainbow" "Walkaway (a happy fuck you song)and "Satellite" and "Not for the money (also a great live song)". "Since I met you" and "Stay with me tonight" will fill your heart with romance. Get out there to see Rich performing his music live! It may change your life forever...