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Songs in the Key of Life stands apart, even next to the other four albums in Stevie Wonder's classic period. It resulted in the most hit singles: "I Wish", "Sir Duke", "As" and "Another Star".

Chris Molanphy of the Hit Parade podcast leads us through this album's incredible charts story. Not only did it produce FOUR singles, but it inspired two other chart-topping hits: Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" and Will Smith's "Wild Wild West".

Plus — Peter and Adam nerd out on the keys, dissecting every track to highlight the musical complexity that makes Songs in the Key of Life a favorite among jazz musicians. You may have heard Songs in the Key of Life ... possibly many times. But you've never heard it quite like this!

00:00 - Intro Jam: "As"
02:13 - The Chart Story Behind SITKOL
05:40 - The Long Wait for Songs in the Key of Life
12:45 - "Love's In Need of Love Today"
19:40 - Comparing Stevie to Prince
20:30 - "I Wish"
24:00 - The Ultimate Crossover Hitmaker
27:25 - "Sir Duke"
32:30 - Making Jazz Fun
37:25 - "Passtime Paradise"
40:00 - Stevie the Synth Innovator
43:50 - How Stevie Commanded the Charts
46:40 - How Was This Track Not a Hit Single?
52:00 - This Hit Was NOT On an Album
56:00 - The SITKOL Jazz Standard
1:00:30 - "Another Star"
1:04:05 - "As"
1:15:00 - How SITKOL Singles Broke Ground
1:22:20 - Our Favorite SITKOL Tracks
1:25:35 - The Best Moments on SITKOL
1:29:50 - Bespoke Spotify Playlists
1:32:45 - What to Listen to Next
1:35:20 - Quibble Bits
1:37:50 - How "Snobby" is This Record?
1:40:50 - Is it Better than Kind of Blue?
1:42:40 - Packaging Gets a 10/10
1:45:00 - Outro: "As"

1959 gave us Kind of Blue, Time Out ... and Mingus Ah Um. Adam and Peter dig into Charles Mingus’s most adventurous, soulful record: gospel, bebop, and pure Mingus genius. You’ve never heard it quite like this.

Charles Mingus was one of jazz's greatest bass players AND composers. Listen with us as we break down the genius in every track of his best-selling record, and share stories of the brilliant, chaotic, occasionally volatile man behind Mingus Ah Um.

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00:00 — Opening Jam: "Better Git It In Your Soul"
01:40 — What's happening at Open Studio
3:15 — 1959: What a Great Year!
5:40 — Early Mingus
10:40 — "All the Things You Can C#" from Mingus at the Bohemia
11:40 — "A Foggy Day" from Pithecanthropus Erectus
16:15 — "Better Get Hit In Your Soul"
23:35 — This One is For the Nerds
27:50 — "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat"
34:36 — "Boogie Stop Shuffle"
38:30 — "Self-Portrait in Three Colors"
40:30 — The Duke Ellington Influence
45:10 — "Open Letter to Duke"
48:05 — "Bird Calls"
49:00 — "Fables of Faubus"
56:40 - "Pussy Cat Dues"
58:15 — "Jelly Roll"
1:00:15 — Categories
1:10:50 — GALA

At Town Hall captures a pivotal moment in Nina Simone's story, when she left behind her dream of being a concert pianist and embraced her identity as an indefinable and remarkable talent.

At Town Hall shows off Nina’s classical chops, infused with the jazz influences from working in nightclubs and mixed with the folk and gospel sounds of her youth. Adam and Peter pull apart the tracks to highlight each element of her unique musical blend.

This may not be one of her most recognizable albums, but it is one of her most interesting. It's made even more fascinating by the fact that Nina met bassist Wilbur Ware and drummer Ben Riley only as they walked on stage! Listen to hear her arranging and composing on the spot.

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