We’re diving back into Stevie Wonder with Innervisions, right in the heart of his classic period from 1972 to 1976. There’s something magical about this stretch of music history, and Innervisions stands as one of the greatest albums to emerge from it.

Stevie wrote every song on this album, and played every instrument on many tracks. From "Too High" to "Living For The City" to "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing", we pull apart these incredible songs to spend time with the many sides of Stevie Wonder: bass player, drummer, lyricist, and vocalist. Plus -- we're bringing back the keys for this one so Peter and Adam can pull apart all the musical nuances that make jazz musicians love Stevie Wonder so much.

Adam gets into why jazz musicians love Stevie so much in our newsletter You'll Read It. Sign up for personal reflections and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of You'll Hear It.

This episode references our episode on Talking Book, "Is This Stevie's Greatest Album?" Check it out here: https://youtu.be/ymcy3ot116w

There is no more important relationship in this era of music than that of Miles Davis and John Coltrane; two masters ever-present in the musical and cultural landscape. Someday My Prince Will Come marks the last time Coltrane and Davis played together, and it couldn't be more perfect.

We dive into how their partnership played out on stage and in the recording studio over the years, and how their dynamic on Someday My Prince Will Come marks a handoff from ’50s jazz to the rock and roll sound of the ’60s, with Coltrane leading the way.

And Miles Davis, even more so than a masterful trumpet player or composer, was a tastemaker. From the musicians he picked, to the chord changes, to his choice of album art, we explore how this record brings it all together in one phenomenal package.

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Your destination for laid‑back jazz chats, nerdy chords, and genuine conversations with Adam Maness and Peter Martin.

If you love spontaneous piano sessions, deep dives into jazz theory, or discovering community around two laid‑back hosts, you’re in the right place.

When does Afro Blue and Smells Like Teen Spirit belong on the same record? When it's a Robert Glasper album! In 2012, Glasper's Black Radio brought together artists like Erykah Badu to bring a jazz standard, Afro Blue, back into the popular music canon. Black Radio hit #1 on the jazz charts, while simultaneously reaching #4 on the hip-hop R&B charts and #15 on the Top 200.

The Blue Note pianist has been bending genres since the 90s, bringing together the best of traditional jazz and weaving it seamlessly with R&B, hip-hop, soul and rock & roll. And it all fits, because Glasper is equally at home in all of these categories. He grew up listening to all kinds of music, like Nirvana, Billy Joel, Busta Rhymes -- everything. Black Radio, he says, was a way to put his "life on wax".

Rob Harvilla from 60 Songs to Explain the 90s: The 2000s joins Adam and Peter to dive into what makes this album great, and how it refutes from any attempt to categorize it. From the J. Dilla Influence, to Casey Benjamin's album-defining flute, to the Erykah Badu of it all, you'll never hear this album the same way again.

And this album inspired what is possibly our best YHI outro yet. Let us know if you agree!

Fleetwood Mac's Rumours is undoubtedly one of the best pop rock albums ever. But the story behind its creation reads like a soap opera. Everyone -- Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mic Fleetwood -- were enduring heartbreak during its recording. Stevie and Lindsey were breaking up. The McVies had already split, but John wasn't ready to let go. Even Mic Fleetwood was separating from his wife back home. For three months, they were stuck in a recording booth together nearly round the clock, singing each other's breakup songs and harmonizing with their exes.

Heartbreak is encoded in every song, from Lindsey Buckingham's "Never Going Back Again" to Christine McVie's "You Make Loving Fun" to Stevie Nick's "Dreams". But in spite of ... or maybe because of? ... this termoil, Rumours has become one the best selling albums of all time.

Peter and Adam listen to this pop rock masterpiece front-to-back, deconstructing each song (and the stories behind them) to understand what makes this album great.

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Keyboards? Albums we haven't covered. "Boomer" talk. We know you have opinions about this show. Help us make You'll Hear It better by sharing your feedback with us and answering a short survey. You could win one of three $100 Amazon gift cards! Visit youllhearitsurvey.com to learn more and fill out the survey.

Today we're going on an aquatic journey with Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage. Herbie calls the title track the best tune he's ever written. We dive deep into the music to explore what makes this tune, and this album, great.

The roots of Maiden Voyage date back in 1963, when Herbie began hearing rumors that Miles Davis wanted to hear him play. He didn't believe it at first -- Miles was at the height of his celebrity by this point. But soon he got a call. He went over to Miles's house and played with him, George Coleman, Tony Williams and Ron Carter for three days. On the third day, Miles asks the group to come to studio to record Seven Steps to Heaven. Herbie says, "Does that mean I'm in the band?" Miles says, "You're making the record, mother f**cker!"

After two years playing in what many call the one of the greatest jazz ensembles of all time, Herbie would release Maiden Voyage in 1965. Along with George, Tony and Ron, plus saxophonist Freddie Hubbard. Although it is one of his simplest tunes -- with a rhythm inspired by a cologne commercial -- Maiden Voyage would become a favorite and a standard among jazz musicians.

In this episode, you'll hear:
- Adam and Peter pick apart the greatest moments from the album, including some perfect solos
- The story of the commercial roots of this jazz standard
- Where the record got its aquatic theme
- Why a great song starts with a great bassline (just ask Ron Carter)
- How this record could have been even better ... if it weren't for that piano sound
- Where we land on Van Gelder Sound controversy

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Start your free Open Studio trial for ALLLLL your jazz lesson needs.

Keyboards? Albums we haven't covered. "Boomer" talk. We know you have opinions about this show. Help us make You'll Hear It better by sharing your feedback with us and answering a short survey. You could win one of three $100 Amazon gift cards! Visit youllhearitsurvey.com to learn more and fill out the survey.

Want more Herbie Hancock content? Learn why Herbie's greatest era is not even jazz on last season's episode on Headhunters.

Broken Record's Justin Richmond joins us to talk Still Crazy After All These Years. Paul Simon's Grammy-winning album was born out of divorce, and produced some of his greatest songs of all time, like 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, My Little Town and I Do It For Your Love.

We dive into the story behind this remarkable album, including Steve Gadd's famous drum beat and how Stevie Wonder's Innervisions may have been the catalyst for Paul Simon's divorce?! Plus - Adam shares why this has been such a transformative album for him, and how it influenced his playing.

And, we ask: Is this the ultimate sad boy album? Is this the apex moment of boomerism? We kick off our new season with these questions and so much more!

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We turn our own categories back on ourselves! We're looking back on the past 20 epiosdes, which we're calling You'll Hear It Season 12, and ask:

- What are our apex moments?
- What are our desert island tracks?
- Is season 12 better than Kind of Blue?!

And - we hear from you, dear listeners. You sent in your questions on Speakpipe, and we answer them. Plus - look ahead at what's coming up next season.
☎️ Leave us a Speakpipe

New to You'll Hear It? Start with these apex moments:
🔴 What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
🔴 Talking Book - Stevie Wonder
🔴 (Honorable mention) Voodoo - D'Angelo

Larry Goldings' Jazz Organ Essentials:
🟠 Listen to Larry's favorite organ tracks
🔵 Start your FREE TRIAL to Larry's new course