The Evening Spin with Adam Morel

Marvin Gaye - Live at the London Palladium

A soulful and engaging performance with an adoring audience to match. All of Gaye’s big hits are here, interspersed with halting commentary where you can hear the legend’s ongoing struggle with stage fright. Tamla/Motown Records, 1977.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead at Avondale Brewing.

RL Boyce - Ain’t the Man’s Alright

“RL comes from a stream of the folk condition that is less concerned with ‘getting it right’ than getting it going…his performances are social, unpredictable, shout-outs…” - Adam Lore. If you love the percussive, boisterous sound of the Mississippi hill country, you’ll love this rollick.
Sutro Park, 2013.

Finally got the holder right ~

Steve Winwood - Arc of a Diver

Brit-groover Winwood played every instrument on this one: lead and backing vocals, Prophet-5, Minimoog, Yamaha CS-80, Hammond B3 organ, Steinway piano, Ovation, acoustic guitar, Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, Ibanez mandolin, bass guitar, Multimoog(also used for keyboard fretless bass), Hayman, and Ludwig drums. Warner Bros. 1980.

Sunday night? Herbie Hancock: Possibilities.

There was a moment in your life when you loved Gloria Gaynor. Don’t lie.

Saturday evening quiz.
What are their last names?

The best band in the world at the moment doesn’t have a drummer.

He’s controversial. And his post 70s work is mostly boring pop. But you can’t deny his place in the blues pantheon. In those early years, the man played like he was possessed by the guitar.

When I look back on Eric Clapton's career, I don't just see the story of a legendary guitarist. I see the story of a man who spent more than sixty years searching for truth through music.

From the early days with The Yardbirds, it was clear that Eric was different. While the music industry was pushing artists toward commercial success, Eric remained devoted to the blues. It wasn't the easiest path, and it certainly wasn't the most profitable one at the time. But he followed it because it was what he loved. That decision tells me everything I need to know about him. Eric never played music to become famous. He played because music was part of who he was.

As the years passed, he gave us one extraordinary chapter after another. John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. Cream. Blind Faith. Derek and the Dominos. His solo career. Each chapter revealed a different side of the man behind the guitar. Yet for me, Derek and the Dominos remains one of the most emotional periods of all. *Layla* was not simply a song. It was a wounded heart speaking through music. Every note carried longing, hope, frustration, and love. Few artists have ever exposed their emotions so openly.

What makes Eric's journey so inspiring is that it was never perfect. Behind the success were struggles, heartbreaks, personal battles, addiction, loss, and grief. There were moments when it seemed as though the weight of life might be too much to carry. Yet somehow he always found his way back to the music. The guitar became his companion through every chapter, helping him express emotions that words alone could never capture.

That is why I admire Eric Clapton so deeply. His story is not only about talent. It is about resilience. It is about surviving difficult times without losing the ability to create beauty. Through every triumph and every tragedy, he continued to share a piece of his soul with the world.

Today, when I listen to Eric Clapton, I hear much more than one of the greatest guitarists in history. I hear a lifetime of experiences. I hear joy and sorrow, love and loss, weakness and strength. I hear a man who never stopped growing, never stopped learning, and never stopped believing in the healing power of music.

Very few artists leave behind a legacy.

Eric Clapton left behind a soundtrack for generations.

And for that, I will always be grateful. ❤️🎸🎶