Episode 158, “Number-name Groups,” features The Five Red Caps, the Four Tunes, The Four Lads, The Kingston Trio and 13 other singing groups with numbers in their names. Songs include “You Are My Inspiration,” “Standing on the Corner,” “Marie,” “The Glory of Love,” and “The Blob.”

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Episode 157, “Three in One,” explores three separate themes in one hour. First, the phenomenon of “ghost singers” in movies. Second, the story of Randy Wood and his DOT Records label. Third, the long-running Chicago-based National Barn Dance radio program, which spawned many prominent country stars.

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Episode 156, “The Real Patsy Cline,” compares and contrasts the sound of her polished studio style with her performances at the Grand Ole Opry and on the road. Recordings include “When I Get Through With You,” “Just a Closer Walk With Thee,” “Honky Tonk Merry-Go-Round,” “Crazy,” “Walkin’ After Midnight,” and her description of a severe automobile accident before a live audience.

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Episode 155, “New Life for 1940s Music,” features nine #1 hit songs from the 1940s and compares each one to the same song as it was recorded later by others. Performers include Doris Day, Ricky Nelson, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Frank Sinatra, Terri Stevens, Margaret Whiting, and The Ink Spots.

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Episode 154, “Jerome Kern,” focuses on one of the premier songwriters of the 20th century. Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day, The Andrews Sisters, Mel Torme, Dean Martin and a dozen others deliver many familiar songs and a few oddities, including one called “My Husband’s First Wife.”

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Episode 153, “Easy Listening,” presents 17 recordings from the late ‘50s and early ‘60s that were typically chosen to appeal to adult radio audiences Performers include Connie Francis, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, Pat Boone, Anita Bryant, The Brothers Four, and Dave Brubeck.

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Episode 152, “Lawrence Welk,” features the music of one of the most beloved orchestra leaders of the 20th century. Recordings include “The Moon is a Silver Dollar,” “Grandfather’s Clock,” “The Wah Watusi,” “Blue Velvet,” “Annabelle,” “Yellow Bird,” “Beer Barrell Polka,” and Stan Freberg’s spoof “Wun’erful, Wun’erful!”

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Episode 151, “Great Ladies of Jazz,” features 18 accomplished jazz singers including Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Peggy Lee, Julie London, and Sarah Vaughan.

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Episode 148, “Tony Bennett,” features the legendary singer’s hit singles and tracks from his first few studio albums, all released in the 1950s. Songs include “Just in Time,” “Ol’ Man River,” “Stranger in Paradise,” “Cold, Cold Heart,” “Because of You,” “Rags to Riches,” “Firefly,” “Love Letters,” “Watch What Happens,” and 10 more.

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Episode 149, “Total Christmas,” celebrates the holiday with 17 recordings that include country, classical, jazz, pop and rock. Sam Waldron profiles a popular Christmas criminal, then describes summertime Christmas traditions south of the equator. Performers include Guy Lombardo, Elvis Presley, Doris Day, Tony DeSare, the St. Louis Symphony, Louis Armstrong, Blake Shelton, and Andy Williams.

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