Album of the Day

Percy Sledge was working in a hospital when he teamed with local DJ Quin Ivy to try his luck making records; the pair succeeded beyond their wildest dreams with “When A Man Loves A Woman.” Improvising lyrics at the microphone, Sledge poured his heart out on the song, which soared to the top of the U.S. singles chart and became one of the most iconic R&B singles of all time. Naturally his label, Atlantic Records, capitalized on the hit with an album, but WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN doesn't play like any cash-in. With simmering sides like “You're Pouring Water On A Drowning Man” and “Put A Little Lovin' On Me” among its 11 tracks, the collection ranks with the best deep Southern soul ever to emerge from Alabama's storied Muscle Shoals studio. Sledge was born on this day in 1940, so we'll give WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN another spin in his honor.