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Banning Eyre reviews the new CD Oh What a World by Irish singer-songwriter Paul Brady. Brady used to be known as one of the greatest voices in traditional Irish music, but now his reputation as a pop songwriter is quickly growing. He's written songs for Bonnie Raitt, Tina Turner, Carlos Santana and many others, a fact that causes a little anguish for die-hard fans of traditional Irish music. Paul Brady's CD is Oh What a World on Compass Records, catalog number 7-4304-2. Compass Records can be contacted at info@compassrecords.com.

Japanese singer-songwriter Ayano Tsuji bucks her nation's J-pop trend. In high school, she loved folk music, but found her hands were too small to play guitar. So she turned to the ukulele. Producer Robert Rand has a profile.

All music is not created equal — and some songs are best at certain times of the year. That's the theory of art student Gwen Zabicki. Her tastes range from 1940's lounge music to the very latest in Japanese pop.

Real Estate's shimmering pop-rock seems to echo out of the past with melancholy beauty. Watch the band perform its third album, Atlas, in its entirety at New York's SubCulture.

Home Before Dark, the 46th album from singer-songwriter Neil Diamond, is No. 1 on the pop charts. It's the first time Diamond has claimed that spot in a career that's spanned nearly five decades. He talked to Terry Gross in 2005.

Singer Sam Phillips began her music career as a Christian singer. She took her faith with her and began to make pop music that are modern torch songs, songs of love and pain. The music on her latest CD, A Boot and A Shoe, is stark, with production from T Bone Burnett. NPR's Melissa Block talks with Phillips about the characters and many angles the writer uses to compose music that is more impressionistic than storytelling.

Singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor, WILLIE NELSON. He's recently released two new albums. With "Spirit," NELSON is the first country musician to record with Island Records. NELSON wrote the 12 new songs and they demonstrate influences of country, gospel, and pop. He recorded "How Great Thou Art" (Fine Arts Records) with his sister, Bobbie Nelson. That CD is a collection of gospel standards, like "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and "Just A Closer Walk With Thee." (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW

It's been 30 years since he created the gender-bending Ziggy Stardust, and produced the now classic album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Over the years Bowie has produced albums for Lou Reed and Iggy Pop, and collaborated with Brian Eno. Bowie also starred in the films The Man Who Fell to Earth, Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence and Basquiat. This interview first aired September 4, 2002. [The audio for this segment is unavailable due to Internet rights issues.]

Singer Jill Sobule has been charming critics with her smart and witty pop music for more than a decade. For the artwork of her latest CD, Underdog Victorious, she incorporated her love of crossword puzzles. Sobule talks with NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and NPR's Liane Hansen.

Years ago, Joe Sample's group the Crusaders joined singer Randy Crawford to record the hit single "Street Life." Now, they're back together — and they say that they've aged like fine wine. Their new CD is Feeling Good. The duet album — Crawford sings and Sample plays his own compositions — is a mix of soul, jazz, gospel and pop.