On this episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, The Decemberists capture our current political moment, plus classic Marvin Gaye, the late Laura Nyro‘s upcoming box set (with another Motown classic), and poetry from Lawrence Ferlenghetti + Ray Charles for an interesting mix!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for Nov. 16, 2024

• “One And The Same” – Thee Sacred Souls
  
• “Magnetic” – Tunde Adebimpe
  
• “Whipped Cream Daydream” – Tunde Olaniran
• “Nowhere To Run” – Laura Nyro
  
• “She’s Got What It Takes” – The Tragically Hip
  
• “America Made Me” – The Decemberists
• “Severed” – The Decemberists
• “Everything Is Awful” – The Decemberists
• “The Rest Of Me” – Michael Kiwanuka
• “In The City” – Lady Blackbird
• “Spirits” – The Devil Makes 3
• “Debra” – Beck (Midnight Vultures released this week, 1999)

• “Smoky Mountain DNA” – Dolly Parton
• “Dolly P/Jolene” – Beyonce
• “Ninety Three ‘Til Infinity And Beyonce” – Andre 3000
• “I’m Ready” – Nick Piunti & the Complicated Men
• “Never Alone” – Amythyst Kiah
• “My Kind Of Town” – Marvin Gaye (Hello Broadway released this week, 1964)
• “Sea Of Love” – The Honeydrippers (Vol. 1 released this week, 1984)
• “I’ll Go Anywhere” – Mustafa
• “Empty Trainload Of Sky” – Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings
• “Tear My Stillhouse Down” – Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings (Acoustic Cafe, 1996)
• “Sunshine Life For Me” – George Harrison & The Band
• “Milonga accidental” – Alisa Amador
• “Just My Luck” – Obongjayar
• “Pity The Nation” – Lawrence Ferlenghetti
• “America The Beautiful” – Ray Charles

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org.

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, Chris Smither is our in-studio guest, just as he’s turning 80! This is Chris’ eighth visit to Acafe, and the discussion and music is always brilliant.

Also this week, in-studio performances from our first year on the air (1995).

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for Nov. 17, 2024

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani Difranco
• “Memory Lane” – Elliott Smith
• “Man On A Boat” – Lady Backbird
• “Can’t Have It All” – Leon Bridges
• “Evergreen”– Soccer Mommy
• “Homegrown Tomatoes”– Guy Clark (in-studio performance, 1995)
• “Without A Leg To Stand On” – Cunningham Bird
• “All About The Bones” – Chris Smither (in-studio performance)
• “Still Believe In You” – Amy Helm (in-studio performance)
• “Sleepwalking Through Christmas” – Ben Folds
• “Let’s See Ourselves Out” – Amythyst Kiah
• “The Shadows’ – Laura Marling
• “Soulful Wind”– Nick Lowe (in-studio performance, 1995)
• “Re-Arson”- H. Sinno (SongWriter podcast)
• “The Boy And The Swan”– Jean Dawson
• “This Is How It Went” – Beabadoobee
• “Everyday Boy” – Joan Armatrading (in-studio performance, 1995)
• “Lotta Love” – Neil Young
• “Please Help Me I’m Falling” – Neil Young
• “I’ve Loved Her So Long” – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
• “The Action” – Keb’ Mo’ (in-studio performance, 1995)
• “Good Enough” – Joy Oladokun
• “Down In Thibodaux” – Chris Smither (in-studio performance)
• “In The Bardo” – Chris Smither (in-studio performance)

On this episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, some classic albums from Novembers of the past (1974, 1994), new Detroit music from Speed Circuit’s second album, and an hour long tribute to the musical genius of the late Quincy Jones!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for Nov. 9, 2024

• “Do You Realize” – Willie Nelson
  
• “Messy” – Lola Young
  
• “Psycho Killer (acoustic)” – Talking Heads
• “I’ll Go Anywhere” – Mustafa
  
• “Don’t Try” – Speed Circuit
  
• “Fire” – Ohio Players (released November, 1974)
• “Autobahn” – Kraftwerk (released November, 1974)
• “Die Slowly Without Complaint” – Amythyst Kiah (coming to The Ark 11/19)
• “Day By Day” – Samara Joy
• “X-Ray Eyes” – LCD Sound System
• “The Man Who Sold The World” – Nirvana (released November, 1994)
• “Waterfalls” – TLC (released November, 1994)

• “You’ve Changed” – The Jones Boys
• “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” – Michael Jackson
• “Fly Me To The Moon” – Frank Sinatra & Count Basie
• “Strawberry Letter 23” – The Brothers Johnson
• “The Streetbeater” – Quincy Jones
• “Just Once” – Quincy Jones & James Ingram
• “One Mint Julep” – Ray Charles
• “Beat It” – Michael Jackson
• “Smackwater Jack” – Quincy Jones
• “Caravan” – Dinah Washington
• “Bad” – Michael Jackson
• “It’s My Party” – Leslie Gore
• “Soul Bossa Nova” – Quincy Jones

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org.

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, Amy Helm joins us in the studio for songs from her new album “Silver City.” Amy’s parents are both musical late-greats (Levon Helm, Libby Titus), and family takes center stage on the new songs!

Also this week, in-studio performances from Billy Bragg, X Ambassadors, Marc Cohn and the trio Joseph.

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for Nov. 10, 2024

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani Difranco
• “White Rabbit” – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
• “Careful What You Wish” – Brett Dennen
• “Leaving Toronto” – MUSTAFA
• “No One Can Love Me Like You Do”– Lady Blackbird
• “Take Down The Union Jack”– Billy Bragg (in-studio performance)
• “You Don’t Know How It Feels” – Stephen Marley
• “Money On 7” – Amy Helm (in-studio performance)
• “Baby Come Back” – Amy Helm (in-studio performance)
• “Babylon” – Tamino
• “After The First Kiss” – Faye Webster
• “Ahead Of Myself”– X Ambassadors (in-studio performance)
• “You Make Me Feel So Young”– Ingrid Michaelson
• “Some People”– James Bay
• “On My Mind” – Thee Sacred Souls
• “Shine” – Aloe Blacc
• “Canyon” – Joseph (in-studio performance)
• “Don’t Talk To Her At Night” – Donovan Woods
• “Listening To Levon” – Marc Cohn (in-studio performance)
• “That’s What I Love” – Leon Bridges
• “Can’t Do Much” – Waxahatchee (in-studio performance)
• “If I Was King” – Amy Helm (in-studio performance)
• “Love Supreme” – Amy Helm (in-studio performance)

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, it’s another Words & Music Show, pulling select thoughts, stories and performances out of our archives from the likes of Sting, Arlo Parks, Regina Spektor, Amy Ray, the late John Prine, guitar great Leo Kottke and many more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for Nov. 3, 2024

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani Difranco
• “Bye Bye Blackbird” – J.D. Souther (2011)
• “I Am A Pilgrim” – Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal (2023)
• “Come Around And Love Me” – Jalen Ngonda (2023)
• “A Mighty Thing”– Amy Ray (2023)
• “Soundtrack”– Matt Nathanson (2022)
• “Fields Of Gold” – Sting (2024)
• “Hope” – Arlo Parks (2021)
• “Stay Out Of It” – Michigander (2022)
• “Cast Iron Skillet” – Jason Isbell (2023)
• “I Get A Kick (Out Of You)” – Jamie Cullum (2004)
• “When The Silence Falls”– Janis Ian (1996)
• “July Jones”– The New Pornographers (2023)
• “Fear, Fear”– Kat Edmonson (from the SongWriter podcast)
• “You Got Gold” – John Prine (1995)
• “Lover Come Back” – City & Colour (2015)
• “Everything Is Alright” – Peter One (2023)
• “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love & Understanding” – Curtis Stigers (2021)
• “Ballad Of A Politician” – Regina Spektor (2017)
• “Play God” – Ani Difranco (2018)
• “Tough Mother” – Shemekia Copeland (2024)
• “Pacing The Cage” – Bruce Cockburn (1997)
• “Oddball” – Leo Kottke (1997)

Coming up this Sunday on Acoustic Café, the in-studio guest will be rock ‘n’ roll icon Sting.

Sting’s voice arrived in the new wave era as the frontman for The Police. And up until that point the world really hadn’t heard anything like it. The Police made five iconic albums between 1978-1983, and then called it a day. By 1985, Sting was not only established in music, but film as well, and the movie roles didn’t slow his solo career at all — now having released 15 solo albums.

After the first night of his current North American tour, Sting brought guitarist Dominic Miller and drummer Chris Maas to our studio at Big Sky Recording in Ann Arbor for their brand new song, a couple from Sting’s vast catalog and a classic from The Police. Our discussion included this new phase of Sting’s career (Sting 3.0), recent collaborations, his Broadway musical (The Last Ship) which may become an opera soon, and lots more.

Tune in to Acoustic Café from 1-3 p.m. this Sunday on 101.9 WDET FM, on the mobile app or online at wdet.org to hear the full interview.

On this episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, another peek at the new Nick Piunti album (coming next week).

Plus, Stevie Wonder’s new song, some artists celebrating “Big-O” birthdays (50, 60,70 and 80), new tunes from The Cure and Maggie Rogers and much more.

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for Oct. 12, 2024

• “Live For You” – Thee Sacred Souls (at St. Andrews 11/3)
• “Practice” – Jamila Woods w/Saba (at The Majestic 10/22)
  
• “Can We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart” – Stevie Wonder (at LCA 10/22)
  
• “A Fragile Thing” – The Cure
  
• “Long Way Down” – Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men (Up and Out Of It coming Oct. 18, 2024)
• “Like A Woman” – Lady Blackbird
• “For Real” – Pharrell Williams
• “Ice Cream Man” – Van Halen (DLR turns 70 this week)
• “Ice Cream Man” – Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
• “In The Living Room” – Maggie Rogers
• “Baby Blues” – J.D. McPherson
• “Ain’t Got Nothing On You” – Leon Bridges
• “Escanaba” – Billy Strings
• “Be My Baby” – Cissy Houston (9/30/33 – 10/7/24)
  
• “Ain’t No Way” – Aretha Franklin (w/Cissy Houston)
• “Sick Of Myself” – Matthew Sweet (Matthew turns 60 this week)
• “I’ll Go Anywhere” – MUSTAFA
• “How Long” – Eagles (a J.D. Souther song, d. 9/17/24)
• “March March” – The Chicks (Natalie Maines turns 50 this week)
• “Can’t Go Back” – Sampha
• “Baby – Basia Bulat
• “Day By Day” – Samara Joy
• “Morning Thought” – Jr. Jr. (still around, retooling, expect more music!)
• “Skating Away…” – Jethro Tull (“War Child” out this week in 1974)
• “Shut Em Down” – Extra Arms
• “Harry Truman” – Chicago (Robert Lamm turns 80 this week)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org.

On this episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, a fond farewell to Kris Kristofferson — including some work with the Highwaymen.

Plus, another Nick Behnan preview of the new album coming Oct. 18, a song to shake the ground from Ypsi’s The Rebel Eves, October releases from 1994, 1964, 2014, 1984 and much more.

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for Oct. 5, 2024

• “That’s Life” – Lady GaGa
  
• “U Shake Me” – Roll Mega (Eric Krasno + Son Little)
  
• “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” – U2 (The Unforgettable Fire released Oct. ’84)
  
• “Picture Of You” – U2
  
• “Shake The Ground” – The Rebel Eves ft. The Accidentals
• “Kamala’s Dance” – Roy Hargrove
• “No. 1 Headband” – Lupe Fiasco
• “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down” – Kris Kristofferson
• “Heartbeat” – King Crimson
• “You and Me” – You + Me (Rose Ave. released Oct. ’14)
• “Sex Shooter” – Prince (Apollonia 6 released Oct. ’84)
• “The Highwayman” – The Highwaymen
• “Against The Wind” – The Highwaymen
• “Dancing Circles 2.0” – Sampha
• “Silk and Petals” – Amythyst Kiah ft. Butch Walker
• “Above Water” – Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men (Up and Out Of It coming Oct. 18, 2024)
• “Zombie” – The Cranberries (No Need To Argue released Oct. ’94)
• “You Really Got Me” – The Kinks (The Kinks released Oct. ’64)
• “Purple Haze” – Joy Oladokun (coming to El Club Jan. 18, 2025)
• “For The Good Times” – Al Green (a Kris Kristofferson cover)
• “Bird On A Wire” – Leonard Cohen
• “Panther City” – Leon Bridges
• “One And The Same” – Thee Sacred Souls
• “Androgynous” – Brad Roberts (Acoustic Cafe performance, 1999)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org.

On this episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, the fall fundraiser is over (thanks so much!), but there are still some cool cover songs to play.

Plus, hear a studio recording from Sting — who recorded a session with Acoustic Cafe last week — plus new work coming from Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men, a new single from Nick Behnan and much more.

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

• “Crying In The Night” – Cunningham/Bird
• “Evening Gown” – Alejandro Escovedo
• “Dance To The Music” – H.E.R.
• “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman ” – Aretha Franklin
• “Rejection Letter” – Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men
• “As” – Stevie Wonder
• “Mystery” – Allen Stone ft. P.J. Morton
• “Sugah Daddy” – D’Angelo
• “Gild The Lily” – Billy Strings
• “The One” – Lilly MacPhee
• “Working On The Highway” – Blitzen Trapper
• “Spirit In The Night” – Bruce Springsteen (happy 75th)
• “Spit On A Stranger” – Nickel Creek
• “Take Me With U” – Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
• “Hurt” – Johnny Cash
• “Heart Of Gold” – Bettye LaVette
• “Running Out Of Time” – Nick Behnan
• “silk” – Allysha Joy
• “Project Forever” – Alan Sparhawk
• “Holy Ghost” – LOW (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance, 2013)
• “Autumn Nocturne” – Samara Joy
• “Magic Dance” – David Bowie
• “I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart)” – Sting (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance, 9/18/24)
• “My Fun” – Suki Waterhouse
• “The River” – Bruce Springsteen (happy 75th)

On this episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, I’ll feature tracks from some cool albums released in September of decades passed.

Plus, hear a brand new song from Sting — who’s coming to the Fillmore Detroit for two shows next week — Nilufer Yanya, Shemekia Copeland and much more.

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for Sep. 7, 2024

• “Real Love Baby” – The Heavy Heavy (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
  
• “You Wrecked Me” – The War On Drugs
  
• “Is There Anybody Up There” – Shemekia Copeland
  
• “Demons” – Allison Russell
  
• “Simple Girl” – Jr. Jr.
• “One More Chance” – Notorious B.I.G. (released Sept ’94)
• “American Idiot” – Green Day (released Sept ’04)
• “Dancing Machine” – Jackson 5 (released Sept ’74)
• “I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart)” – Sting
• “Demolition Man” – The Police
• “All In Good Time” – Iron & Wine (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “It Don’t Come Easy” – Bettye LaVette
• “Crying In The Night” – Buckingham Nicks
• “Mutations” – Nilufer Yanya
• “Like 1999” – Valley
• “When You Know Someone” – Valley (Acoustic Cafe in-studio appearance)
• “The Future” – Dani Darling
• “Tonight” – David Bowie & Tina Turner (released Sept ’84)
• “Better Be Good To Me” – Tina Turner (released Sept ’84)
• “Pressure” – My Brightest Diamond (released Sept ’14)
• “Hater’s Anthem” – Infinity Song
• “I Don’t Wanna Surrender” – Extra Arms
• “Travelin’ Band” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
• “Trouble” – Ray Lamontagne (released Sept ’04)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET.

On this episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, hear artists performing at the 2024 Detroit Jazz Festival during Labor Day weekend.

Plus, Bilal Oliver’s first new work since 2016, Allen Stone and Dawes with new music forthcoming, and birthday wishes to Elvis Costello, who turned 70 last Sunday.

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for Aug. 24, 2024

• “County Seat” – Joshua Redman & The Bad Plus
• “Lesson” – Joy Clark
• “Hollywood” – Toro y Moi with Benjamin Gibbard
• “Here To Forever” – Death Cab For Cutie
• “Let’s Misbehave” – Elvis Costello (happy 70th!)
• “Respect” – Aretha Franklin (the song for Maryland)
• “What I Like About You” – The Romantics (the song for S. Dakota)
• “September” – Earth Wind & Fire (the song for Colorado)
• “Giant Drums Song” – OOPAPADA
• “Somebody New” – Jana Mila
• “Old Tape” – Lucius
• “Hold On I’m Coming” – Sam & Dave
  
• “Midnight Train To Georgia” -Jason Isbell w/Brittney Spencer
• “Magnificent Hurt” – Elvis Costello (happy 70th!)
  
• “Giving Up” – Michigander
• “Sunshine” – Bilal
• “Can’t Explain This Love” – Allen Stone
• “Money On 7” – Amy Helm
• “Signed Sealed Delivered” – Stevie Wonder (the song for Connecticut)
• “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell (the song for North Mariana Islands)
• “Lose Yourself” – Eminem (the song for Michigan)
• “Thrift Store Jewelry” – The Bad Plus
  
• “Nobody’s Soldier” – Hozier
• “Remember” – Tank & The Bangas ft. Samara Joy and Robert Glasper
  
• “Jackson & Monk & Rowe” – Elvis Costello (happy 70th!)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET.