Rusted Root - When I Woke

Originally released in 1994, When I Woke was the breakthrough major-label debut from Pittsburgh’s Rusted Root, and it quickly went platinum on the strength of their unique fusion of jam-band grooves, worldbeat rhythms, and spiritual lyricism. The album’s signature track, “Send Me on My Way,” became a cultural touchstone—appearing in countless films and TV shows (from Ice Age to New Girl)—and was even broadcast into the cosmos as the official “wake-up” song for NASA’s Mars Rover Opportunity.

But When I Woke is far more than one iconic single. With its heady mix of Grateful Dead-inspired acoustic jams, Peter Gabriel-style chants, and the global rhythms of Paul Simon’s Graceland, the album captures a post-hippie optimism that feels both nostalgic and forward-looking. Songs like “Ecstasy” and “Martyr” showcase the band’s ability to move from raucous celebration to thoughtful reflection, anchored by Michael Glabicki’s searching, spiritually charged songwriting.

Now available on vinyl for the very first time, this deluxe 2LP edition has been newly remastered and pressed on stunning rust and blue sky colored vinyl, complete with an insert. Limited to just 2,500 copies, it’s an essential reissue of one of the most beloved jam-rock albums of the ’90s.