Wednesday, October 1: Released in late 1968, Wonderwall Music was the debut solo recording from Beatle George Harrison. Serving as the soundtrack to the film Wonderwall, the album is composed almost entirely of instrumental pieces and is an example of Harrison’s longstanding fascination with Indian music. We’ll hear selections from that album on this episode of Strange Currency as well as music from Floresta, the latest release from singer-songwriter Mia Doi Todd. The eclectic musician turns her attention to the music of Brazil for this recording, reimagining songs by her favorite Brazilian songwriters including DorivalCaymmi, Dercio Marques and others.
Thursday, October 2: Sweet Old World is the 1992 album by Lucinda Williams featuring several early highlights from her recording career including “Something About What Happens When We Talk,” the title song, and “Six Blocks Away.” We’ll hear selections from that recording on this episode of Strange Currency along with music from High and Inside, the 2011 release by The Baseball Project, featuring members of REM, Young Fresh Fellows, Yo La Tengo, and Los Lobos.
Friday, October 3: It’s our New Month, New Music feature with selections from new releases by Marc Ford, Jackson Browne, Lucinda Williams, Minus the Bear, and more.
Saturday, October 4: McCartney is the 1970 solo debut from Paul McCartney and arrived with news that The Beatles had dissolved. It would be a decade before the former Beatle recorded another solo effort as he spent much of the next decade performing with the band Wings. We’ll hear selections from McCartney as well as from Cloud Nine, George Harrison’s highly successful 1987 album.
Monday, October 6: Art Official Age is one of two new releases by Prince, ushering in a renewed relationship with the Warner Bros. label, an organization he spent much of the 1990s trying to distance himself from. We’ll hear from it and from his other new release, Plectrum Electrum.
Tuesday, October 7: Released in 1970, All Things Must Pass was a triple album from George Harrison. Influenced by the music of Bob Dylan, The Band and others Harrison recorded the album with help from close friends Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr and Klaus Voorman. We’ll hear selections from that album as well as from Magical Mystery Tour, the late 1967 release from The Beatles.
Wednesday, October 8: Released in mid-1989 Gretchen Goes To Nebraska was the sophomore effort from King’s X. The concept recording, based on a story written by drummer Jerry Gaskill, was well received at the time of its release and featured the radio hit “Over My Head.” Featuring themes central to the band members’ spiritual belief it also turned a critical light on a number of problems in American culture during the late 1980s. We’ll hear from it and from Lucinda Williams’ classic album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.
