Every album has a unique story with the making process and the contributing names, and Orianthi’s ‘Radio Free America’ also has a history of its own. Recently, the guitarist chatted with Guitar World to discuss her discography, her approach to songwriting and working with Richie Sambora on her blues-infused album.
“I recorded this album with Richie [Sambora],” Orianthi said as she recalled producing ‘Radio Free America.’ “It was a lot of fun, but it was a very different kind of sound, almost like a new-age blues. This is one that people love to hear live. I think it resonates for people, and it certainly does for me; ever since I was a kid, I’ve had this feeling that the blues won’t leave me alone.”
She continued, “I guess I listened to way too many Robert Johnson records. My father had such an amazing record collection, which was predominantly blues – B.B., Freddie and Albert King, Gary Moore, Eric Clapton, [and] Howlin’ Wolf – growing up listening to that, it’s always going to be the foundation of my playing.”
Orianthi grew up with the blues’ influence in every way of her musical life, so it was only fair to name this particular album as an homage to her childhood memories and some of the blues heroes. Richie Sambora also worked on the album, which undoubtedly added to the record’s spirit, and the pair produced what the guitarist called a different kind of sound.
