Three new songs from established acts speak to the times: "Ghosts," by Bruce Springsteen; "Can't Put It in the Hands of Fate," by Stevie Wonder; and "Didn't Want to Be This Lonely," by The Pretenders.
The 96-year-old saxophonist, who began playing with Sun Ra in the late '50s and continued to lead the Arkestra after its namesake's death, discusses the band's first album in more than 20 years.
One lived through the Grateful Dead's heyday; the other was born after Jerry Garcia died. Alt.Latino host Felix Contreras and NPR producer Isabella Gomez Sarmiento trade notes on a shared obsession.
This October, NPR member stations bring you a mix of the most popular songs on their airwaves, including music from Nilüfer Yanya, Sierra Ferrell, Sharon Van Etten, Ani DiFranco and more.
The centerpiece of Copeland's latest album is a song born from the wreckage of the Clotilda — the last known slave ship to smuggle African captives to the United States.