Dale Ann Bradley, ‘Wheel in the Sky’ Music Video [Exclusive Premiere]
Bluegrass artist Dale Ann Bradley is premiering the new music video for her twangy take on Journey's '70s rock classic "Wheel in the Sky" exclusively for readers of The Boot. Press play above to watch.
With her powerhouse vocals and plucky mandolin playing, Bradley brings traditional bluegrass sensibilities to this beloved rock tune. In its accompanying music video, she's joined by a crew of talented musicians on banjo, guitar and dobro, and watching them play the hell out of their instruments is just as satisfying to listening to Bradley sing.
A Journey fan herself, Bradley found something familiar in the lyrics of this anthem lamenting the forward movement of time: ""Wheel in the Sky" has the lyrics and melody of first-generation artists; it's almost Old West- or Appalachian-sounding," Bradley tells The Boot.
"I think Steve Perry is one of the best vocalists to ever live. The whole band was at that point, and all of their songs really got your attention," she adds. "It was incredible music you couldn’t turn away from. They’re just next level."
Written by Robert Fleischman, Neal Schon and Diane Valory for Journey's fourth studio album, 1978's Infinity, "Wheel in the Sky." It reached No. 57 on the Billboard Hot 100.
A member of all-female five-piece band Sister Sadie, Bradley has a storied career as one of the bluegrass genre's most talented vocalists. She's won the International Bluegrass Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year trophy five times since 2007, and at the 2019 Grammy Awards, her band's Sister Sadie II album was nominated for Best Bluegrass Album.
This version of "Wheel in the Sky" appears on Bradley's latest solo album, The Hard Way. The project was released on March 22 via Pinecastle Records and is available for purchase and streaming on various platforms.