Spindale Cycle™

Following his great success with "Bring the Family", John Hiatt assembled his road band The Goners (including Sonny Landreth and Bernie Leadon) into the studio to record 1988's "Slow Turning." From the opening "Drive South", "Trudy & Dave", and "Tennessee Plates", to the closer "Feels Like Rain", it's an album of hard-won lessons about life and love...as we've come to expect from one of 'NCW's favorite singer-songwriters.

In the summer of 1970, The Grateful Dead released the first of two classic albums showcasing their Americana roots of country, blues, and even bluegrass.

From the first notes of "Uncle John's Band" (their first radio hit) to the favorite "Casey Jones" wrapping it up, it's a great soundtrack for WNCW's celebration of the life of Jerry Garcia and the anniversary of Woodstock this month.

As we dig into Robert Cray's brand new release this month, we also look back at his 1986 recording to celebrate his birthday this Wednesday. 

As critic Bill Dahl writes, this blend of blues, R&B, and pop "rendered him the first sex symbol to emerge from the blues field in decades, but it was his innovative expansion of the genre itself that makes this album a genuine 1980s classic."

On 11/22/81, The Stones were in Chicago in the midst of a mammoth U.S. tour, when Mick Jagger, Ron Wood, Keith Richards and Ian Stewart stopped by Muddy Waters' own club to check out one of their biggest inspirations.  Fortunately, Muddy called them on stage to jam, along with Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, and also fortunately, it was recorded.  A cleaned up DVD/CD of this great union has been released this week.  

This Saturday the 14th is the 100th birthday of Woody Guthrie, the most significant American folk musician of the 20th Century (with the possible exception of Bob Dylan, who was inspired immeasurably by him.) Originally released in 1962, this collection of '40's recordings includes Leadbelly, Cisco Houston, Sonny Terry, & Bess Hawes, and helped establish Woody as the Father of the Folk Revival.

British punk troubadours Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, and the rest of The Clash first performed together on July 4th, 1976 in London.  This groundbreaker album includes "Guns of Brixton", "Lost in the Supermarket", "Train in Vain", and "Revolution Rock", as The Clash incorporated reggae, jazz, rockabilly, and more into their sound.  One more British Invasion before Independence Day, WNCW-style!  

We celebrate the birthday of one of R&B's greatest voices on The Spindale Cycle with Eddie Floyd's 1967 release Knock On Wood.  This classic Memphis Soul album from Stax Records includes Wilson Picket's "634-5789", J.J. Jackson's "But It's Alright", and of course Floyd's #1 hit title track.  Tune in, and turn it up! 

Recently reissued with bonus material, this is one of two solo releases from Sir Paul between the dissolution of The Beatles and formation of Wings.  Celebrate McCartney's 70th birthday today on WNCW!  

This 1976 classic features Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola, and Lenny White at the top of their game; weaving a medieval theme throughout this blend of jazz-rock and jazz-fusion, this album went gold, making it Return to Forever's most popular one to date.  Join us as we celebrate Corea's birthday a day early!  

Recorded at Cornell University and Town Hall in New York in 1970, this live recording, originally a double-LP release from 1971, captures Doc & Merle at the top of their game, with tunes from Mississippi John Hurt, Jimmy Rodgers, and the near-limitless repertoire of traditional mountain tunes that Doc was so known for.  Join us as we remember these two legends and the great work they left behind.