Music
Press
5.05.05
Deep down at heart, Wiggins is a rock and roll musician, with one foot in the present and the other planted in the music of the Sixties and Seventies that he grew up on.
Adult Themes is Wiggins’ ninth effort on his own Chilidog Records. The ten songs on the album reflect many of the things he encounters in his life, songs written by a middle age man about middle age things. Wiggins does most of the writing, singing, and guitar playing. David Lawrence helps with the writing and plays a variety of background instruments.
On Adult Themes Wiggins gives us insightful lyrics and quality guitar work, backed by simple rhythms with a touch of organ. Some of the songs on this album will remind you a little of Harry Nilsson, and others of Matthew Sweet. “All I’m Asking of You” opens the disc with Wiggins shining on organ as well as guitar. “Irreconcilable” and “Hey” both do a good job telling of the pain and confusion at the end of a relationship. “Amber Sun” closes the album on an up note, telling us there are better moments ahead in our lives filled with everyday occurrences.
The production of the album is top shelf, not only with Wiggins’ ample talents, but with Eric Sarafin doing the mixing and Dave Collins doing the mastering. Sarafin has worked with Barenaked Ladies and Collins with The Police.
Tommy Wiggins continues to make major contributions to the music scene here in Cleveland. Since 2001, he has hosted the television shows "Crooked River Groove", and the Emmy winning songwriter interview program "Words&Music". He also directs the Recording Arts & Technology program at Cuyahoga Community College. That fact that he also makes good music is almost like icing on the cake.
If you are a fan of honest music and talented singer/songwriters, and looking for something new, check out Adult Themes by Tommy Wiggins. You won’t be disappointed.
- Greg Cielec
It's not what you think. Tommy Wiggins' "adult Themes" tackles, as he puts it in his liner notes, "love, longing, pain and regrets, bad things that happen to good people, getting up every day to go to work, a little melancholy, and a song about protecting your daughters from greasy musicians."
Wiggins, head of Cuyahoga Community College's Recording Arts & Technology program and the host of two local cable music shows, plays most of the instruments on this 10-song release that is aimed at the rock-n'-roll heart of everyone who's grown up enough to have a mortgage and kids, but still has a soft spot for spinning vinyl. Whether he's lamenting being broke onf the fun and funky "All I'm Asking of You' or borrowing a page from singer Chris Isaak on the arresting "Sunny Getaway", Wiggins has created a disc that's not for anyone still glued to MTV. And that is exactly the way he wants it. Jim Vickers - Cleveland Magazine
Discography
Just Arrived ! "10" chilidog CD11 2008
Freeland:Headin'Back The 1972 LP Remastered and FINALLY on CD
chilidog CD10 2005
Adult Themes chilidog CD9 2004
Big Apple Hum FFE 7018 2 2001
All Night Driving chilidog CD7 1998
Wiggy & the Skin Man chilidog CD6 1994
Cool Saturdays noveau 957-2 1989
Tracers chilidog CD4 1988
Angels of Warsaw chilidog CD3 1987
Black Velvet Elvis chilidog CD2 1984
Expensive Fun chilidog CD1 1980
Freeland:Headin'Back moonchild 62972 1972
Photos
Bio
Even before singer/songwriter Tommy Wiggins eased onto the national music scene in 1990 with the Nouveau/K-Tel release Cool Saturdays, he had years of recording experience behind him. The Minnesota native made his first appearance on a recording in 1972, when Freeland, the hippie country-folk-rock band he then belonged to, released Headin' Back. Wiggins' solo work began appearing in 1980, when he released his Expensive Fun LP.
Three more releases followed before his first Nouveau/K-Tel national release. Black Velvet Elvis appeared in 1984, with soundtrack recordings Angels of Warsaw in 1987 and Tracers a year later. His musical artistry did not go unnoticed on the local Minneapolis and St. Paul music scene, and he drew nominations from the Minnesota Music Awards, including one in 1983 in the category of Best New Artist, and another five years later in the category of Best Soundtrack LP. Also during the 1980s, Wiggins established his own label, Chilidog Records, which concentrates on alternative music.
The singer/songwriter first picked up a musical instrument when he was eight years old. Inspired by Lawrence Welk's weekly television program that featured polkas and popular standards, Wiggins turned to the accordion (Welk’s Myron Florin was Tommy’s first musical idol). When the Beatles' hit the shores of the U.S., however, his attention turned to the music of the British Invasion. During his teens, he drew inspiration from such groups as the Lovin’ Spoonful, the Youngbloods and the Animals, and most especially the latter group's keyboard player, Alan Price.”
Since 2001, Tommy has hosted the Cleveland cable television shows "Crooked River Groove", (featuring performances by regional artists), and the 3 time Emmy® winning songwriter interview program "Words&Music". Tommy’s more recent recordings include All Night Driving (1998), Big Apple Hum (2001) and Adult Themes (2004). Get ready for Tommy's newest and tenth CD, appropriately titled "TEN". It's his livest, most rockin set yet.
Tommy directs the Recording Arts & Technology program at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, continues to write songs and performs live whenever he can.
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