Chris Isaak – Heart Shaped World (Hybrid SACD)
Chris Isaak – vocals, guitar
James Calvin Wilsey – lead guitar
Rowland Salley – bass guitar, vocals
Kenney Dale Johnson – drums, vocals
Written by Chris Isaak
1 Hybrid SACD, mini Gatelod jacket
Limited numbered edition
Original analog Master tape : YES
Stereo
Studio
Label : Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab
Original Label : Reprise Records
Recorded at Dave Wellhausen Studios, San Francisco, CA, and Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA, 1988–1989
Engineered by Mark Needham
Produced by Erik Jacobsen
Remastered by Krieg Wunderlich at Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, Sebastopol, CA
Photography by Lex Van Rossen (front cover), Pamela Gentile (live photos), Rick Lopez (portraits)
Design by Jeri Heiden
Originally released in June 1989
Reissued on July 2026
Tracks:
- Heart Shaped World
- I'm Not Waiting
- Don't Make Me Dream About You
- Kings Of The Highway
- Wicked Game
- Blue Spanish Sky
- Wrong To Love You
- Forever Young
- Nothing's Changed
- In The Heat Of The Jungle
- Diddley Daddy
Reviews:
“When filmmaker David Lynch backed a disquieting scene in Blue Velvet with Roy Orbison's "In Dreams," he demonstrated the eerie atmosphere behind its pre-'60s innocence. Orbison disciple Chris Isaak played those qualities to the hilt in his shimmering, spare "Wicked Game," so it was no surprise when Lynch included the ballad in Wild at Heart. What was surprising, given the fact that it sounded like nothing else on pop radio in 1990, was that "Wicked Game" became a breakout Top Ten hit, pushing Isaak's accompanying album Heart Shaped World to platinum status. Of course, there's more than that one moody masterpiece of a single to recommend Heart Shaped World. Isaak faithfully recreates his influences with production that's infinitely cleaner than Sun rock & roll, drawing more on its form than its attitude, but he's particularly suited to the sort of Orbison/Presley-style balladry that brought him a mass audience. His rich, sobbing croon is simply a gorgeous instrument, whether he's in a sonorous baritone or quavering falsetto. And he uses that instrument to tremendous effect here, coming across as a brooding romantic with a broken heart and swoon-inducing style. Of itself, Heart Shaped World is a pretty effective mood piece, showcasing Isaak doing a whole lot of what he does best. He does attempt a couple of rockers, but they never really rock -- much like Orbison, it's clear that ballads are his true forte, and given the spirit Isaak wants to channel, the numbers feel much too tame. But aside from that flaw, the rest of Heart Shaped World is a supremely elegant late-night soundtrack, equally suited to steamy romance or solitary heartache.” AllMusic Review by Steve Huey
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4.5 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.8 / 5