World Cafe Playlist for 02/04/2026

John Morrison joins host Raina Douris

For Black History Month, correspondent John Morrison brings you a new weekly series exploring the influence of The Music of the African Diaspora. In the first installment, he talks about the technique of “Call & Response”, something you can hear in songs like “Shout” from The Isley Brothers.

Listen to the session here.

Today’s Playlist

B.B. King “The Thrill Is Gone” Deuces Wild

Fela Kuti “Shakara” Shakara

Ring Henry Scott “Hammer Ring” Wake Up Dead Man: Black Convict Worksongs from Texas Prisons

The Isley Brothers “Shout (Pt. 1&2)” Shout!

Cardi B “I Like It” Invasion of Privacy

Gary Clark Jr. “Low Down Rolling Stone” WC Recording

Ray Charles “What’d I Say” The Best of Ray Charles

Redbone “Come And Get Your Love” Wovoka

Edwin Hawkins Singers “Oh Happy Day” Soul Hits of the 70’s

Prince “I Would Die 4 U” Purple Rain

Gladys Knight & the Pips “Midnight Train To Georgia” Imagination

Talking Heads “Once In A Lifetime” Remain In Light

The Staple Singers “I’ll Take You There” Be Altitude: Respect Yourself

Harry Belafonte “Day-O (Banana Boat Song) Calypso

Hour Two

The Roots “You Got Me” Things Fall Apart

Geese “100 Horses” Getting Killed

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings “100 Days 100 Nights” 100 Days 100 Nights

Jobi Riccio “Buzzkill” Face The Feeling

The Airborne Toxic Event “Sometime Around Midnight” The Airborne Toxic Event

Dan Deacon “Baltihorse “Bromst

Daryl Hall & John Oates “I Can’t Go For That” Recorded Live for World Cafe

Rainbow Kitten Surprise “Fever Pitch” Recorded Live for World Cafe

TV on the Radio “Will Do” Nine Types of Light

Bjork “Human Behavior” Debut

Bjork “Venus As A Boy” Debut

Bartees Strange “Ain’t Nobody Making Me High” Shy Bairns Get Nowt

The Hold Steady “Sequestered In Memphis” Stay Positive

The Black Keys “No Rain, No Flowers” No Rain, No Flowers

David Bowie “Oh! You Pretty Things” Hunky Dory