This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music a fond remembrance of Ismael Ahmed’s wonderful gift to Detroit, The Concert Of Colors.

Also, some classic February releases from decades past, new music from Thundercat ft. Lil’ Yachty, a cool cover from Beck, Detroit Cobras, Aretha, Dames Brown and so 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 February 7, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “What’s Going On” – Los Lobos (Concert Of Colors)
• “Glad” – Amp Fiddler & Urban Art Orchestra (Concert Of Colors)
• “What It Gave Me” – Jordan Rakei & Jalen Ngonda
• “Purple Raindrops” – Jalen Ngonda
• “Operation Heartbreak” –Aretha Franklin
  
• “Love Hangover” – Diana Ross (Feb. 1976)
• “Let’s Go Get Stoned” – Ray Charles (Feb. 1966)
• “If You Leave” – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (Feb. 1986)
• “Last Donut Of The Night” – J Dilla (Feb. 2006)
• “I Did This To Myself” – Thundercat ft. Lil’ Yachty
• “Cha Cha Twist” – Detroit Cobras
• “Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime” – Beck
  
• “Rock & Roll Woman” – Buffalo Springfield
  
• “Love The One You’re With” – Isley Brothers
  

• “Africa” – Femi Kuti (Concert Of Colors)
• “It Don’t Come Easy” – Bettye LaVette (Concert Of Colors)
• “Victim Of Luck” – Metric
• “Why You Got Me Crazy” – Dames Brown + Amp Fiddler
• “When I Think Of You” – Janet Jackson (Feb. 1986)
• “Killing Me Softly” – Fugees (Feb. 1996)
• “High Note” – Mavis Staples (Feb. 2016)
• “Looking Up” – Elton John (Feb. 2016)
• “Streets Of Minneapolis” – Bruce Springsteen
• “Get Free” – Seratones
• “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” – Mayer Hawthorne
• “Hear It Through The Grapevine” – Gladys Knight & The Pips
  

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

Since we usually look at classic album anniversaries on the first Saturday of the month, this week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music we’ll do the same but look at the entire year!

In 2026, it’ll be the 50th anniversary for 2 classic Seger albums, a 30th for the late Aaliyah, a 20th for J Dilla’s “Donuts,” a 10th for The Raconteurs… plus debuts from The Ramones, Corrine Bailey Rae and many 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 January 3, 2026

HOUR ONE: CLASSIC ALBUM ANNIVERSARIES IN 2026

• “Rock And Roll Never Forgets” – Bob Seger ’76
• “Put Your Records On” – Corrine Bailey Rae ’06
• “Hold On I’m Coming” – Sam & Dave ’66
• “Wrap It Up” – The Fabulous Thinderbirds ’86
• “6th Avenue Heartache” – The Wallflowers ’96
  
• “Have A Talk With God” – Stevie Wonder ’76
• “Whole Lot Of Shakin’ In My Heart” – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles ’66
  
• “These Boots Are Made For Walking” – The Supremes ’66
  
• “Push It” – Salt N Pepa ’86
• “So Much To Say” – Dave Matthews Band ’96
• “Don’t Cry” – J Dilla ’06
  
• “Help Save The Youth Of America” – Billy Bragg ’86
  
• “SOS” – Rihanna ’06
  
• “Hasten Down The Wind” – Warren Zevon ’76
  

• “(I’m A) Road Runner” – Jr. Walker & The All Stars ’66
• “Roadrunner” – The Modern Lovers ’76
• “She Cries Your Name” – Beth Orton ’96
• “Tomorrow Never Knows” – The Beatles
• “Our Song” – Taylor Swift ’06
• “All I Want To Be (Is By Your Side)” – Peter Frampton ’76
  
• “Where Did Our Love Go” – J Geils Band ’76
• “Traveling Man/Beautiful Loser” – Bob Seger ’76
• “Hot Like Fire” – Aaliyah ’96
  
• “Tears Dry On Their Own” – Amy Winehouse ’06
• “A Simple Desultory Phillipic” – Simon & Garfunkel ’66
• “Blitzkrieg Bop” – The Ramones ’76
• “Guitar Town” – Steve Earle ’86
• “Love Hangover” – Diana Ross ’76

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