This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, John Prine would have turned 80 today, so we’ll hear some Prine tunes, including a couple from the Acoustic Cafe archives.

Also, new tunes from Detroit’s Dames Brown, Kylee Phillips and Empty Houses… plus a single from Kevin Morby, a cool cover from Meshell Ndegeocello, another 1976 outtake from Stevie Wonder and 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 October 10, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “Take Me As I Am” – Dames Brown
• “Never Can Tell” – Jake Bugg
• “PBJ” – Kevin Morby
• “Don’t You Want Me” – Meshell Ndegeocello
• “What Living’s Like” – Kylee Phillips
• “Bad Luck Hideaway” – The Rolling Stones
• “Who’s That” – Brother Wallace
• “Show You Love” – The Altons
• “Like A Ship” – Leon Bridges
• “Situation” – Johnny Blue Skies
• “That’s The Way That The World Goes ‘Round” – John Prine
• “Paradise” – John Prine (Acoustic Café in-studio performance, 1995)

HOUR TWO:

• “Summer Clothes” – Michael Kiwanuka
• “One And Only” – MT Jones
• “My Life Story Of Love” – Stevie Wonder
• “Tears Dry (demo)” – Amy Winehouse
• “Gravity” – Empty Houses
• “Used Copy of Monster” – Ryan Allen
• “What’s The Frequency Kenneth” – R.E.M.
• “Portland, Oregon” – Loretta Lynn & Jack White
• “Rated X ” – The White Stripes
• “Have You Ever Loved Somebody” – Freddie Jackson
• “I Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody” – John Prine (Acoustic Café in-studio performance, 1995)

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

This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, tickets for the Ann Arbor Folk Festival are on sale early this year (NOW!), celebrating their 50th Folk Fest… we’ll check out some of the artists on the bill.

Also, new tunes from Michigander, new albums from Beck, Beabadoobee… and some on the way from Sylvan Esso, Joy Oladokun + a couple leftover “guilty pleasure” songs from the fall fundaraiser shows!

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 September 26, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “Tumbthumping” – Chumbawumba
• “I Am You” – Prince
• “Sledge” – Sylvan Esso
• “Easy Company” – Joy Oladokun
• “Why You Got Me Crazy” – Dames Brown
• “This Is My Country” – Mavis Staples (A2 Folk Fest, 2027)
• “Tear Stained Letter” – Richrd Thompson (A2 Folk Fest, 2027)
• “High Heels” – The War & Treaty (A2 Folk Fest, 2027)
• “Red Eye To Memphis” – Bob Seger
• “Main Street U.S.A.” – Grace Potter
• “Did Ya Know?” – The Sinseers
• “Parade Of The Loons” – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

HOUR TWO:

• “Proxy” – St. Paul & The Broken Bones
• “Sun And Moon” – Danielle Ponder
• “Falling Through My Hands” – Beck
• “Radio” – Beabadoobee
• “Rebel Eve” – The Rebel Eves (A2 Folk Fest, 2027)
• “If We Were Vampires” – Dupont-Phillips (A2 Folk Fest, 2027)
• “Soon I Might Be Going” – Neil Young
• “Freaking Out” – Michigander (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Taxi” – Michigander
• “Soul Wandering ” – Paul Weller
• “All Around” – The Womack Sisters
• “You Could’ve Been A Lady” – Hot Chocolate

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