sleeping with strangers

singer/songwriter richard cortez explores the darker side of the gay community on his highly anticipated second full-length studio album sleeping with strangers —with a rock n' roll flare.

the project, lined with wailing electric guitar solos and weeping distorted cellos, touches on the ever-present universal issues of promiscuous sex, drugs and alcohol, and the never-ending quest for love in the gay bar scene.

from its catchy and radio-friendly pop songs like "be alright" to the dark depths of its heart-wrenching title track "sleeping with strangers," this all-encompassing autobiographical memoir tugs at the heart strings of anyone who has ever woke up hung over, heart broken and alone.

connect with music on a whole new level with this unmissable independent album by experiencing sleeping with strangers like you never have before.

track list

1 be alright - 2 body of water - 3 sleeping with strangers - 4 missing - 5 ode to johns - 6 the mourning after - 7 crazy fool - 8 warrior - 9 realization in d - 10 trainwreck

craving something beautiful

known mostly for his infamous first single, "craving something beautiful," (or, "the 'smoking pot and watching cartoons' song"), which appeared on cortez's first full-length studio album, it was clear from the get-go that richard cortez was not your average recording artist. the record, appropriately entitled craving something beautiful, started appearing for sale online and in small gay retail shops in the summer of '05, and has become somewhat of a gay folk cult classic. lyrically raw and uncensored, the album showcases the voice of a heartbroken but determined cortez striving to find meaning in the crowded streets of new york city as he leaves the only love hes ever known. from its catchy title track to the intricate string arrangements written by cortez himself, craving something beautiful was a major success and helped put both richard cortez and wollenberg records on the map.

track list

1 it's over - 2 unsure waters - 3 craving something beautiful - 4 asshole (live) - 5 the song for when everyone's gone - 6 of thee i sing - 7 big brown overcoat - 8 nick's song - 9 implode - 10 paradox

live @ the red room

almost immediately after releasing his debut musical effort, richard embarked on his first tour with friend and cellist greg bortnichak of sparta philharmonic. the tour consisted of an intimate array of coffee houses and dive bars along the east coast. it was this high level of intimacy and performance quality that brought to the table the idea of recording a live album similar to the likes of these shows. on june 16th, 2005, in a room filled with only his closest friends, richard cortez recorded his sophomore record, live @ the red room. this personal and musically profound follow up to his debut record showcases new and improved renditions of pre-wollenberg records compositions, songs off craving something beautiful, and raw first takes of songs off he loves me not. with material spanning his entire career as a writer and musical arrangements that will leave you breathless, this high-energy album is the perfect introduction to what richard cortez really has to offer as a live performer.

track list

1 if it weren't for me - 2 it's over - 3 birdhouse - 4 greg's song - 5 craving something beautiful - 6 he loves me not - 7 100 and some odd minutes - 8 the song for when everyone's gone - 9 saying goodbye - 10 nick's song

he loves me not

in the summer of 2006, richard cortez traveled to new jersey to record a new ep in five days. teaming up with longtime friends and fellow musicians greg bortnichak and tom giammanco-ravina, along with jon lorman, richard recorded what was to be his third release.

“I don’t remember why I shelved this project – it had so much potential as an EP. Each song is oozing with orchestral peaks and personal fanfare. I think it had a lot to do with my insecurity as an artist – I wanted everything to be perfect, to sound perfect, to look perfect… and at the time, I didn’t think this project was.” – richard cortez

for the first time ever, this five-song ep is available free for download by richard cortez fans. click here to visit the he loves me not download page.

get your key to he loves me not now!

track list

1 to be beautiful - 2 false alarm - 3 he loves me not - 4 the greatest new thing - 5 saying goodbye

albums

order information

wollenberg records partners with cdbaby.com, itunes and amazon to bring you music from richard cortez. however, you can also find richard's music on amazon mp3, emusic, tradebit and more. we use paypal for all our own transactions.

• csb
  
  
  
  live @ the red room
  
  
  
  misc live performances
  
  
  
  boomtown theatre
  
  
  
  south carolina
  
  
  
  out and about
  
  
  
  fan art
  
  
  
  naked grape wine co.
  
  
  
  live @ georgie's alibi, ft. lauderdale
  
  
  
  live @ georgie's alibi, st. petersburg
  
  
  
  the staff @ the berg
  
  
  
  sc pride promo
  
  
  
  pride tour 08 - columbia, sc
  
  
  
  sc pride 2008
  
  
  
  Pride Charlotte
  
  
  
  pridefest 2009