Word In Your Ear Stevie Wonder’s masterpiece and the daft, chequered history of Ties In Rock!
Sep 28, 2026
A lively tour through rock’s strangest detours: Van Morrison dodging the hits, U2 hinting at a farewell, and Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life triumphing despite its sleeve. The conversation ties stage fashion to rock mythology, uncovers Brian Epstein’s swinging address book, and asks why some brilliant bands never break big, from the Plimsouls to Josh Rouse.
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Ticket Prices Shape Setlist Expectations
- Audiences may expect major hits when paying high ticket prices for a rare concert experience.
- At an intimate, inexpensive venue, artists can explore obscure material without creating the same sense of betrayal.
U2 Echo Abbey Road On New Cover
- U2’s announced album Carnival de Luz uses an unmistakable Abbey Road-style cover, showing the Beatles’ continuing influence.
- The hosts speculate that this visual echo might signal U2’s final album, since Abbey Road was the Beatles’ last recorded album.
Stevie Wonder’s Masterpiece Has A Bad Sleeve
- Album artwork once carried enormous cultural weight because listeners saw large twelve-inch sleeves repeatedly.
- Songs in the Key of Life challenges the idea that every beloved album eventually acquires a great cover.