Jimmy Cliff "One More"

One of the great benefits of being an independent station, is that we can play songs that more tightly controlled, corporate stations, won't play.

One of the great benefits of being a Triple A Format station, is that we can play songs that less eclectic stations, won't play.

So a lot of times, when we hear a song that is on a periphery of the mvyradio sound---be it soul or alternative or world music---we ask ourselves this question:

If we don't play it, who will?

This comes up whenever a reggae song comes on the radar.  Simply, no Top 40, Urban, Hot AC, Country, Easy Listening, Classical or Folk station is ever going to play a reggae song.  And if they don't play reggae, who will?

Well, mvyradio does play reggae.

We have a nice, but limited reggae library, which mostly consists of classic, roots reggae from Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and the like.  Jimmy Cliff is there too.

But is this Jimmy Cliff song enough of a standout to take up a spot in rotation?  On first few listens, I didn't think so.

But I keep coming back to the question, if mvyradio doesn't play it, who will?

Is that enough of a reason to play this song?


Hear the song on Youtube.

Esperanza Spalding "Radio Song"

Let's start with 4 sentences of history.

The format mvyradio plays is called Triple AAA, which coalesced as a format in the early nineties. There was a wide swath of great artists who didn't fit in with your local Adult Contemporary station, but weren't hard enough or hip enough or ironic enough or whatever, for your local Alternative station. Adult Album Alternative flourished because it gave a home to harder-to-categorize artists who---like Susan Tedeschi and Lyle Lovett, Jeff Buckley and Chris Isaak---might bridge a couple of genres or be deemed eclectic. It's hard to imagine, but those artists I just named were hard to find on the radio, circa 1994.

Since the early 90s, Triple A has evolved into a home for singer-songwriters and for alternative acts that a hip 40 year old can enjoy.

But it still can be a home for those uncategorizable artists, who are great, but don't really fit in anywhere.

How about Esperanza Spalding?

She is getting rave critical reviews, won a Grammy last year for Best New Artist and was a stunning presence when she performed at the Oscars this year.

But have you heard her on the radio? Anywhere?

Is it incumbent on a station like mvyradio, to give her a platform?

Theoretically, yes.

Check out "Radio Song." If you heard this on the station, would you say "What the hell?" or "Right on!"

(Note that this is the full 6-plus minute version. We would probably play the 3:30 radio edit, which is more concise and to the point.)


Hear the song on Youtube.


Hear Esperanza at The Oscars on Youtube.