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This week, we wanted to know: What are you listening to? Here are some great recommendations for music and podcasts to keep your ears happy.

Music

“My favorite music to listen to is some CDs of opera, or of past music of the baroque concerts.” – submitted by Mary Brugliera

Artists

John Prine – submitted by Sabra Goldman

Fleetwood Mac – submitted by Sabra Goldman

Albums

Gregory Porter – Liquid Spirit Deluxe Version – submitted by Edie Scala-Hampson

Gregory Porter – Nat King Cole and Me – submitted by Edie Scala-Hampson

Gregory Porter – Take Me to the Alley – submitted by Edie Scala-Hampson

OOIOO – Nijimusi – submitted by Bill Cordier
I’ve been playing Japanese band OOIOO’s new album Nijimusi  almost every day since shutdown began. Each song contains multitudes – if you don’t like where one is heading, wait 30 seconds and it will change!

Songs

Diana Ross – “Love Hangover (2020 Eric Kupper Remix)”
“My favorite bop of 2020 is a remix of one originally released 44 years ago: Diana Ross’s “Love Hangover (2020 Eric Kupper Remix).” A lot of others are liking it too, because it is currently #1 on Billboard’s dance music chart.” – submitted by Mike McMains

Willie Nelson – “Always on my Mind” – submitted by Leigh Gates

Django Reinhardt – “Jazz in Paris” – submitted by Leigh Gates

Concerts

Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration
“A friend in New York told me about Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration, a two hour virtual concert of stage performers, each doing a favorite Sondheim song, with a few charity promos and celebrity “Happy Birthday” greetings sprinkled in. With minimal accompaniment, it is a particular opportunity to hear and appreciate the range, depth, humor and sophistication of Sondheim’s lyrics. For any Sondheim fan, or for someone who would like to hear a sample of his music performed in a unique and intimate way, this is something I highly recommend. – submitted by Doug Hurdlebrink

“Watching a lot of the remote concerts being put on by various orchestras, but one of the best so far is a performance of Ravel’s Bolero done by Julliard students (musicians and dancers) helped out along the way by a few alumni (most of whom you’ve probably heard of already. Great fun!” – submitted by Charles Gurian

Podcasts/News/Other

 

Podcasts

New York Times’ “The Daily” – submitted by Sabra Goldman

“In the Bubble with Andy Slavitt” – submitted by Polly Kawalek

Pod Save America – submitted by Edie Scala-Hampson

Lisa Pickell’s many recommendations include:

“Revisionist History” – Malcolm Gladwell; an examination of history for things overlooked or misunderstood.
“Sidedoor” – produced by the Smithsonian. They take different objects from the Museum and discuss the history behind them.
“99% Invisible” – Roman Mars; an exploration of the power and process of design.
“Broken Record” – Rick Ruben and Malcolm Gladwell; interviews and studio sessions with a wide variety of musicians (from Norwegian Death Metal to John Legend)
“Against the Rules” – Michael Lewis; a look at fairness and the rules we live by.
“The Next Big Idea” – about big, game-changing ideas.

News

WFMT – submitted by Sabra Goldman

Governor Pritzker’s daily briefing – submitted by Sabra Goldman

Other

Studs Terkel interviews – submitted by Sabra Goldman

Malcolm Gladwell – Talking to Strangers audiobook
“It is produced like a podcast rather than just the author reading the book (actors read parts, musical transitions, etc) I think it will change how we listen/read books, truly first of its kind.” – submitted by Lisa Pickell