NPR Music

Ruben Ramos' life story mirrors the history of what we now know as Tejano music. His family's musical roots in Texas go back to 1918, and as a boy he was brought into the family bands, first as a drummer and then as a vocalist. He's been playing big band-inflected Tejano music now for more than six decades, and just released a tribute album tracing that musical lineage, called 'Los Días de Calor.' In this episode, Felix chats with "El Gato Negro" Ramos about the history of Tejano music across the twentieth century, and how his own story fits inside of it. 

This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.

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NPR listeners share the songs they reach for when they need to reset the mood, their day or even their life.

This is a followup to our April episode on songs for starting over.  NPR’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton.

A good review helps! So, leave us one on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend to listen!

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org  

Featured artists and songs:

(00:00) Intro

(01:13) Quincy Jones: “Dead End”

(02:12) Bill Withers: “Lovely Day”

(04:51) Florence + the Machine: “Shake It Out”

(08:06) Jacob Collier: “Something Heavy”

(11:24) Des’ree: “You Gotta Be”

(16:32) Peter Gabriel: “Washing Of The Water”

(19:57) Cat Power: “Nothin But Time”

(23:02) John Denver: “Sweet Surrender”

(27:46) Isley Brothers: “Summer Breeze”

(31:22) Green Day: “Still Breathing”

(34:10) Vienna Teng: “Level Up”

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Vince Staples. Zoh Amba. Death Cab for Cutie. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Laura Grant from WEXT in New York about their favorite albums out Friday, June 5. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.

The Starting 5

(00:00) Album No.1
Death Cab for Cutie, 'I Built You a Tower' (ANTI-Records)

(08:18) Album No. 2
Vince Staples, 'Cry Baby' (Loma Vista Recordings)

(15:43) Album No. 3
Jalen Ngonda, 'Doctrine of Love' (Daptone Records)

(20:41) Album No. 4
Zoh Amba, 'Eyes Full' (Matador Records)

(27:19) Album No. 5
Laura Misch, 'Lithic' (One Little Independent Records)

(32:39) Lightning Round Recommendations

• Fightmaster, 'Tolerance' (Many Hats)
• Red Clay Strays, 'Grateful' (RCA)
• Slippers, 'Slippers 08' (Perennial)
• Suzanne Ciani, Metropole Orkest, Simon Dobson, 'CIANI/ORKEST' (AKP Recordings)
• Tara Clerkin Trio, 'Somewhere Good' (World of Echo)

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org.

Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Laura Grant, WEXT
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Robin Hilton, Hazel Cills and Lars Gotrich

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The best new tracks of the week include a raging, dance floor remix of Wet Leg’s “Catch These Fists,” a touch of vintage soul from rapper Vince Staples, Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien and more.

NPR Music’s Tom Huizenga joins host Robin Hilton.

A good review helps! So, leave us one on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend to listen!

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org  

Featured artists and songs:

(00:00) Intro

(01:03) Wet Leg

(07:05) Katia & Marielle Labèque

(15:23) Balming Tiger

(22:42) Wild Up

(31:00) Vince Staples

(36:06) Ed O’Brien

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Boards of Canada. Kurt Vile. Iceage. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Andrew Brown of KUTX in Austin about their favorite albums out Friday, May 29. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.

The Starting 5

(00:00) Paul McCartney
(02:00) Boards of Canada
(09:22) Kurt Vile
(17:01) Iceage
(22:18) feeble little horse
(27:45) Greg Mendez

(33:46) Lightning Round Recommendations

- The Greenberry Woods
- obli
- RaiNao
- ear
- Brian Jackson

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org.

Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Andrew Brown, KUTX
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Ann Powers, Robin Hilton and Anamaria Sayre

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy