In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music we featured a new album of covers from Smokey Robinson, now 85, coming out next week. JR JR has announced an upcoming local show, The War and Treaty 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 Apr. 19, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Son Of Sam” – Elliott Smith (Figure 8 released 25 years ago this week)
• “People” – Galactic + Irma Thomas
• “Be Thankful For What You Got” – Smokey Robinson
• “Call It A Draw” – Uwade
• “Back To The Land” – JR JR
• “Day One” – Bon Iver
  
• “What To Make Of Me” – Olive Klug
  
• “I Don’t” – Madison McFerrin
• “World’s Worst Girlfriend” – Shura
• “Love Me Any Ole Way” – Valerie June
• “Garden Grove” – Jakob’s Castle (Jakob Nowell)
• “Ride” – Loren Kramar
• “Henry, Come On” – Lana Del Ray
  
• “Learn To Let Go” – The Doobie Brothers

• “Bottom Of A Barrell” – Julien Baker & TORRES
• “The Giver” – Chappell Roan
• “Late Night Get Down” – Southern Avenue
• “Can I Get An Amen” – The War and Treaty
• “Above Water” – Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men
• “The Black Dog & The Wandering Boy” – James McMurtry (2025)
• “Fuller Brush Man – James McMurtry (1995)
• “Lady Liberty” – Galactic + Irma Thomas
• “Boneyard” – Jon Cleary
• “Tangled Up In You” – The Altons (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
• “Because” – Elliott Smith (Figure 8 released 25 years ago 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 week’s episode of Acoustic Café, Matt Nathanson dropped by before his March show at Royal Oak to share thoughts on his new album “King Of (Un)Simple” and so much more!

Also this week, John Prine in our studio 30 years ago, Death Cab here 20 years ago, new music from Kelela, The War & Treaty and lots 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 Apr. 13, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Independence Day” – Elliott Smith
• “Hourglass” – Hurray For The Riff Raff
• “Hey Driver” – Zach Bryan & The War & Treaty
• “Leads Me Home” – The War & Treaty
• “Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody” – John Prine (1995 in-studio performance)
  
• “Long Ride Home” – Ghost Hounds
  
• “Whitney Houston’s National Anthem” – Matt Nathanson (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “Pablo Picasso” – Matt Nathanson (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “Curtain Call” – Basia Bulat
• “Found A Friend” – Southern Avenue
• “Man Of The House” – Maya Delilah
• “Sleeves Up” – Crys Matthews (2025 in-studio performance)
  
• “Porcupine Tattoo” – Everything Is Recorded
• “I Knew” – Paul Thorn
• “10 Ways (To Lose A Crown)” – Saya Gray
• “Half A Man” – Felix Ames
• “Crooked Teeth – Death Cab For Cutie (2005 in-studio performance)
  
• “Magnolia” – Matt Andersen w/Bahamas
  
• “Foxes In The Snow” – Jason Isbell
  
• “All The Way Down” – Kelela
  
• “Coming Back To Me” – Blind Pilot
• “Map At The Mall” – Matt Nathanson (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)
• “Move To The Moon” – Matt Nathanson (Acoustic Cafe in-studio guest)

This week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music covers another busy week of newly released music from Lizzo, Lucy Dacus and Detroit’s Jack Spivey — plus a couple of weird moments from 50 and 40 years ago. We also open and close the show with a couple soon-to-be octogenarians!

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 Mar. 29, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Down To Joy” – Van Morrison
• “Forever Is A Feeling” – Lucy Dacus
  
• “Superlover” – Allison Russelll & Annie Lennox
• “I Put A Spell On You” – Annie Lennox
• “Can I Get An Amen” – The War & Treaty
  
• “Lonesome Loser” – Little River Band
  
• “Still Bad” – Lizzo
• “Lazarus” – David Bowie
• “Sleeves Up” – Crys Matthews
• “Where Do We Go From Here” – Wilder Wods
• “Show You Love” – The Altons (Acoustic Cafe in-studio performance)
  
• “Imma Be” – Black Eyed Peas (Fergie turns 50!)
  

• “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” – Wang Chung
• “Cruel Cruel World” – Felix Ames
• “Feel Like Makin’ Love” – Roberta Flack (released 50 years ago this month)
• “Feel Like Makin’ Love” – Bad Company (also released 50 years ago this month)
• “Cold Honey” – Jack Spivey
• “Love Is Like A Rock” – Donnie Iris (82 and still rockin’… sorta)
• “Knock On Wood” – Buddy Guy
• “Moving On And On” – Q
• “Never Felt Better” – Everything Is Recorded
• “Look At The State Of Me Now”– Maya Delilah
• “Gone Again” – Sunny War w/John Doe
• “The Core” – Eric Clapton w/Marcella Detroit (Clapton turns 80 this weekend)

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.