World Cafe Playlist for 10/26/2026

Josh Ritter Backtracking 35th Anniversary Encore

This month, World Cafe celebrates 35 years on the air. All month long, we’re looking back at memorable moments and milestones, just like we ask songwriters to do in our Backtracking sessions, where artists pick out tracks from their entire discography, and tell us the stories behind them. Josh Ritter digs into his catalog, next time on an Encore World Cafe.

Listen to the session here.

Today’s Playlist
Paula Cole “Happy Home” Harbinger
Lucinda Williams “Metal Firecracker” Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Sting “Love Is the Seventh Wave” The Dream of the Blue Turtles
Feist “1234” The Reminder
My Morning Jacket “Gideon” Z
Josh Ritter “Henrietta Indiana” Recorded Live for The World Cafe
Josh Ritter “Truth Is a Dimension (Both Invisible and Binding)” Recorded Live for The World Cafe
Josh Ritter “Dreams” Recorded Live for The World Cafe
Josh Ritter “Where the Night Goes” Recorded Live for The World Cafe
Josh Ritter “Girl in the War” Recorded Live for The World Cafe
Josh Ritter “Deputy Blues Part 2” Recorded Live for The World Cafe

Hour Two
Elvis Costello “Senior Service” Armed Forces
Devo “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Lo Moon “Satellite” (single)
The Smiths “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” Hatful of Hollow
Margo Price “A Little Pain” All American Made
Johnny Blue Skies “Situation” Mutiny After Midnight
Pete Yorn “On Your Side” musicforthemorningafter
Dick Dale “Nitrus” Recorded Live for The World Cafe
Semisonic “Chemistry” Recorded Live for The World Cafe
Madra Salach “Ribbon Factory” (single)
Talking Heads “Once in a Lifetime” Remain in Light
Coldplay “Life in Technicolor” Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Charlie Parr “Rooming House” Rooming House
Big Thief “Simulation Swarm” Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
Meshell Ndegeocello “Don’t You Want Me (feat. Cat Power)” Synonym
Moby “Porcelain” Play