Album of the Week: Robbie Robertson – Robbie Robertson

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE or on the web player.

This week we step back thirty six years to Robbie Robertson’s first solo album from 1987, over a decade after he parted ways with the influential The Band. He rewarded fans for waiting, recruiting an all star team of collaborators including U2, Maria McKee and Ivan Neville. The Guardian described it as “ambitious and cinematic”, a kaleidoscope of great music, moody and never straying back into the blues and country flavours he became famous for as a crucial part of The Band. More known for his guitar playing in the band, here he lets his voice take flight. We’ll enjoy this album as a tribute to his passing last week.

Robbie Robertson July 5 1943 – August 9 2023

Just Added: Prince – Nothing Compares 2 U

B0nesmFascinating to hear Prince’s original studio recording of Nothing Compares 2 U (of course a huge hit for Sinead O’Connor a few years later). Its just been released by his estate. We’ll give it a spin after 4 – listen on @tunein https://goo.gl/VL6m3N

https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/nat-music/audio/2018641550/prince-s-original-version-of-nothing-compares-2-u-released

Now Playing: Public Image Ltd – Rise

Music journalists love a genre label – Public Image Ltd is categorised as ‘post punk’ although it was a creation of one of the main exponents of punk – John Lydon/Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols. Formed in 1978, Rise was released some years later in 1986 on the album conveniently named Album.

A few years ago he talked about how he wrote the song about Nelson Mandela and apartheid. Go Johnny!

Like A Prayer

29 years ago today Madonna’s legendary single (and seventh US no. 1) was released. Still sounds just as fantastic today.