World Cafe Playlist for 11/25/2025

John Morrison joins host Raina Douris

If you turned on your radio in the mid-80s, odds are you were going to hear something bombastic and bold, like Van Halen or Madonna. That’s why World Cafe correspondent John Morrison says UK band Sade stood out with the smooth R&B of their 1985 album, Promise. Hear the story of Promise as it turns 40.

Listen to the session here.

Today’s Playlist

The Blasters “American Music” The Blasters

The Black Keys “Beautiful People (Stay High)” Ohio Players

Sade “Never as Good as the First Time” Promise

Sade “War of the Hearts” Promise

Sade “Sweetest Taboo” Promise

Sade “Fear” Promise

Sade “Smooth Operator” Diamond Life

Tame Impala “Lost In Yesterday” The Slow Rush

Pet Shop Boys “West End Girls” Please

Jesse Welles “Horses” Middle

Kathleen Edwards “When The Truth Comes Out” Billionaire

Sade “Is It A Crime?” Promise

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong “Calm Before The Storm” Feed The Fire

Father John Misty “Mr. Tillman” God’s Favorite Customer

Hour Two

Parquet Courts “Wide Awake” Wide Awake!

The Smiths “Panic” Louder Than Bombs

Ratboys “Anywhere” Singin’ to an Empty Chair

Sam Fender “People Watching” People Watching

Childish Gambino “Redbone” Awaken, My Love

Jack Johnson and Hermanos Gutierrez “Hold On To The Light” Surfilmusic

Air “Mike Mills” Talkie Walkie

Shawn Colvin “Sunny Came Home” Recorded Live for World Café

Jackson Browne “These Days” Recorded Live for World Café

Courtney Barnett “Stay In Your Lane” (Single)

New Order “Love Vigilantes” Low-Life

Frente! “Bizarre Love Triangle” Marvin The Album

The National “Bloodbuzz Ohio” WC Recording

Cat Power “Try Me” Redux

Alabama Shakes “Sound & Color” Sound & Color

My Morning Jacket “Wordless Chorus” Z

Dirty Projectors “What Is The Time” Lamp Lit Prose

Talking Heads “Uh-oh Love Comes To Town” Talking Heads ’77