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