Sleep in a Wigwam

Sleep in a Wigwam: 30th Anniversary Edition

Thirty years after its release, Sleep In a Wigwam is regarded by many as one of the classic albums from a period when independent, guitar-oriented pop music was in a rebirth. And to celebrate the occasion, a specially-priced 30-Year Anniversary Edition is now available for download, complete with six bonus tracks!

In the manner of “Abbey Road’s” construction, the first half of Sleep In a Wigwam was comprised of self-contained songs, leading off with the jangly “Postmortem for Winston,” a tribute to John Lennon, and following with the song that had been Rich’s debut single, “Cambridge,” a catchy paen narrated by a blue-collar guy to a Harvard girl that was filled with overlapping melodies, criss-crossing harmonies, and ringing acoustic and 12-string guitars – descriptions that still characterize much of Rich Arithmetic’s music. “Foreign Cigarettes” was full of psychedelic touches, the Dylanisms of “13 Brides” borrowed Beatlesque chord progressions, while “I Wonder Why” could have been XTC-in disguise.

The album’s second half featured an extended medley of interconnected songs – all tied together by quirky-but-catchy melodies, complex harmonies, and hooky guitar riffs – ending with the sounds of a needle lifting from a scratchy vinyl record.

But the Indie-Pop Underground was a somewhat new thing when Sleep In a Wigwam was released in 1994, and Rich and Optional Arts Records were uncertain whether such an artsy and quirky album would find an audience. In fact, it lay almost unnoticed for almost a year until the “Pop Sunday Newsletter” gave the CD a 5-star review, and “Audities Magazine” — the then-Bible of indie-pop – listed it as Number 3 in their list of the Top 10 indie releases of 1995.

Here’s what they were writing about Sleep In a Wigwam when it was released 30 years ago:

“Riffs galore, hooks galore, harmonies galore. Stop whatever you’re doing
right now and somehow, anyhow, get Sleep In a Wigwam.” –Gajoob

“Sleep In a Wigwam is thinking man’s pop” – “Time & A Word”

“Rich Arithmetic is master of the guitar pop idiom.” – Audities

“Sleep In a Wigwam is a bittersweet jangle-fest that’s filled with memorable melodies,
quirky hooks and song structure and outstanding playing.” –Evil Eye

“Juggling hooks and art, Rich Arithmetic’s Sleep In a Wigwam is
ambitious, to say the least, initiated in fizzy-folk frenzy and
culminating in a sprawling Abbey Road-like suite.” –CD Review

“Tight Byrdsy arrangements, Allen Clarkes-ish vocals, and
ringing Abbey Road guitar heroics.” –The Bob

You can hear now Sleep In a Wigwam again in expanded form – or listen for the first time and see what they were talking about 30 years ago!