In 1975, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy hit number one straight out of the gate, the first album ever to debut at the top of the Billboard charts. For Elton John and Bernie Taupin, it wasn’t just another record, it was their story, told in music. A semi-autobiographical concept album tracing their climb from struggling songwriters to international fame, Captain Fantastic marked both a creative peak and a turning point.

The magic lies in how seamlessly it all fits together. From the swaggering rock of “Tower of Babel” and “Bitter Fingers” to the wistful introspection of “Someone Saved My Life Tonight,” every track feels connected, a full-circle reflection on ambition, friendship, and the price of chasing the dream. Taupin’s lyrics are some of his sharpest, poetic and self-aware, while Elton’s melodies flex from country twang to glam-rock punch without missing a beat. It’s less a collection of singles than a true album, designed to be experienced from start to finish.

The 2025 reissue brings Captain Fantastic back into focus, remastered and expanded with rare extras, classic singles like “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” and “Philadelphia Freedom,” six never-before-heard session demos, and seven songs from a 2005 live show. Fifty years later, Captain Fantastic still feels like the sound of two artists in perfect sync, capturing lightning in a bottle and telling the world exactly who they were.

The ghosts of 1982 just got louder.

In 1982, Bruce Springsteen sat alone in a small New Jersey bedroom, hit record on a four-track cassette, and accidentally changed the shape of American songwriting. Now, more than forty years later, that moment gets the treatment it deserves with Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition, a deep dive into the shadows and brilliance of Nebraska.

This new five-disc box set (4LP/Blu-ray or 4CD/Blu-ray) goes way beyond the original. It includes 17 extra recordings, most of them unheard until now, including the mythical Electric Nebraska sessions with the full E Street Band. There’s also a 2025 remaster that brings new warmth to those lonely cassette takes, and a new concert film capturing Springsteen performing the album front to back at New Jersey’s Count Basie Theatre.

One highlight is the early, raw version of “Born in the U.S.A.”, first born from the same haunted soil as Nebraska. “We played it like punk rockabilly,” Springsteen said, “trying to drag Nebraska into the electric world.”

The expanded set also unearths long-whispered demos like “Losin’ Kind,” “Child Bride,” and “Downbound Train,” songs that would later echo across his career.

Paired with Deliver Me From Nowhere, the new Scott Cooper film starring Jeremy Allen White as the Boss, this release doesn’t just revisit Nebraska, it lets us step back inside it, dusty tapes, dim light, and all that quiet magic.

Already in the Classic Hits playlist.

When the journey turns inward.

Brandi Carlile has been everywhere these past few years, producing Grammy-winning albums, singing with her heroes, even sharing an Oscar nod with Elton John. But on her new record, Returning To Myself, she takes a rare detour inward, trading big stages for quiet rooms and bright lights for bare honesty.

It’s her first solo album since In These Silent Days (2021), and maybe her most personal yet. Ten songs, no filler, just Carlile surrounded by people who get her: Andrew Watt, Aaron Dessner, Justin Vernon, Phil and Tim Hanseroth, SistaStrings, and more. Together they’ve built something raw, tender, and human.

The title isn’t a victory cry, it’s an uneasy confession. “Returning to myself isn’t something I want to do,” she admits. “It’s lonely. It’s boring. And that’s exactly why I need to.” That push-and-pull between solitude and connection runs through every lyric, every breath.

From her roots in rural Washington to life on the road with her family, Carlile writes like someone trying to make peace with stillness. The sound of gravel under tires, the hush between two people breathing, that’s where her stories live now.

Returning To Myself feels less like a comeback and more like a quiet arrival, Brandi Carlile, unguarded, unhurried, and completely at home in her own heart.

Now spinning on Classic Hits

A smooth turn down jazz’s side streets.

Boz Scaggs takes the scenic route on Detour, his first album in seven years — and what a ride it is. Teaming up with pianist Seth Asarnow, Scaggs delivers a stripped-down, soulful trip through the Great American Songbook, full of warmth, ease, and quiet surprises.

“It all started casually,” Boz says. “I didn’t plan to make a record — I just wanted to sing these songs I’ve always loved.” But what began as a relaxed session turned into something deeply personal. The set drifts between the familiar — Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald — and the unexpected — Irma Thomas, Lonnie Johnson — blending eras with the kind of grace only a seasoned voice can pull off.

Scaggs doesn’t imitate; he inhabits. His voice, worn and wise, turns every phrase into a conversation. The opener, Allen Toussaint’s “It’s Raining,” is pure late-night magic — just piano, space, and soul. Every track feels like a moment shared, not performed.

Fans of Silk Degrees or Lowdown will find that same golden touch here, only in a softer, jazz-lit glow. Detour isn’t about perfection — it’s about feel. It’s Boz and Seth, two artists savoring the simple beauty of playing.

Sometimes the best roads are the quiet ones.

Take the Detour — now playing on Classic Hits.

When great voices meet, the magic happens.

Chrissie Hynde has always done things her own way — and her new project Duets Special proves it once again. Released under the name Chrissie Hynde & Pals, the album is a stripped-down, soulful collection of songs built on melody, emotion, and pure connection.

She’s joined by a dream lineup — Rufus Wainwright, k.d. lang, Mark Lanegan, Lucinda Williams, Cat Power, Dave Gahan, Brandon Flowers, Debbie Harry, and Shirley Manson. The first single, a beautiful version of “Always On My Mind” featuring Rufus Wainwright, sets the tone — intimate, timeless, and full of heart.

The project began almost by accident — just a casual phone chat that turned into something real. “It started as something fun and unplanned,” Chrissie says. From there came a handwritten list of songs and an open invitation to friends who share her love of great melodies.

Each duet brings its own vibe — haunting, warm, or quietly powerful — all carried by Hynde’s unmistakable voice. Following The Pretenders’ Relentless and her acclaimed live shows, Duets Special keeps her creative fire burning bright.

No nostalgia here — just artists connecting, soul to soul, song to song.

Listen, feel, and rediscover the art of the duet on Classic Hits.

John Lodge, the celebrated bassist and vocalist of the iconic British rock band The Moody Blues, has died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 82. His family announced on October 10 that he peacefully slipped away surrounded by loved ones and the sounds of The Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly. No cause of death has been reported. Lodge's passing marks the end of a remarkable six-decade career that helped shape the sound of progressive and orchestral rock.

Birmingham-born Lodge joined The Moody Blues in 1966, two years after the band's formation, alongside fellow singer Justin Hayward. This lineup would go on to create some of the most enduring music of the psychedelic and progressive rock era. Lodge penned some of the band's most memorable songs, including "Ride My See-Saw" and "Isn't Life Strange", which showcased his distinctive bass playing and melodic sensibility. His contributions were instrumental in developing the band's signature orchestral sound that blended rock with classical elements, influencing countless musicians who followed.

Beyond his work with The Moody Blues, Lodge maintained an active solo career, releasing albums including Natural Avenue (1977), 10,000 Light Years Ago (2018), and Days of Future Passed – My Sojourn (2023), with his most recent EP Love Conquers All released earlier this year. He continued to tour throughout 2024 and 2025, demonstrating his enduring passion for performing. As a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Lodge leaves behind a rich musical legacy and is survived by his wife Kirsten, daughter Emily, son Kristian, and extended family members.