Streetwise - released by Virgin Records

Link to the LA Times article about the Streetwise release

Virgin Records photo shoot

Dan Peebles shot the photos for Streetwise. It was like shooting a movie on location with a dressing room and catering truck. There was a crew of about 9 people that set up for each location in downtown LA. We shot photos for an hour and then moved on to the next location. Virgin's classical label recorded the music. The packaging and promotion were done by the rock label.

Back cover

This photo was shot in East LA just before sunset. The Virgin Records art department added my name to the back of the leather vest.

Streetwise Sales Charts

Top 100

Streetwise was #88 on the Top 100 sales chart in Chicago in March of 1991. It peaked at #78. This is consistent with the charts at retail chains in cities across America. I was told by distribution reps for Warner Electra Atlantic that the last solo piano release to make the top 100 in retail sales was Horowitz in Moscow in 1982.

Top 5

This is the top five on the rock chart in Chicago. The Three Tenors were #5 that week, knocked out of the #1 spot by REM. Virgin Records had me visit record stores in many cities and meet the buyers. This chart is consistent with the charts at retail chains in cities across America.

I made the top ten in sales at this individual store in Lake Zurich where I sold more records than Joni Mitchell, Sting and Queen that week.

Sales Chart

This is the second page of the full rock sales chart for the biggest retail chain in Chicago. Streetwise was #88 that week. Placido Domingo was #74. The Three Tenors were #5.

Sales Report - August 1991

This is the Warner Electra Atlantic national sales report in August 1991. Five months after the release, Streetwise was still selling well. The 10 day sales were 455 with the total WEA purchases to date at 23,825. The President of Virgin Classics and I traveled to the WEA Distribution branch in Philadelphia that week. They showed me my sales on the computer as well as other concert pianists and symphony orchestras with current releases. The other pianists were selling 0 to 3 records every 10 days. The orchestras with new releases were only selling about 5 or 6 records every 10 days.