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Dobie Gray, in his hit "The In Crowd," famously said, "The original is still the greatest." But is it? Ace Records in London has put out a CD called You Heard It Here First!, with 26 original versions of hit songs. Rock historian Ed Ward takes a look.

Nicole Mitchell's Renegades matches exploratory playing with deep grooves and a tight ensemble blend. The new group is Black Earth Strings, consisting of flute, three strings and percussionist Shirazette Tinnin.

One of the most soaring voices in the world has taken a dive, but we don't mean that unkindly. This fall in Berlin, Placido Domingo, the great tenor, is singing the title role in Simon Boccanegra as a baritone. It's a testament to his ambitious spirit.

The third album by country singer Miranda Lambert, features complex original songs and a stellar choice of covers.

Listening to Davis' propulsive funk, it's apparent that her image was just as important to her albums as a guitar or a keyboard or her voice. In 1975, she seemed to represent her era, but she probably pushed boundaries too far for mainstream music. Here, Meredith Ochs reviews a recent reissue of Davis' groundbreaking album Nasty Gal.

President Biden started on a series of deals in Israel meant to show the ties between the two countries. The subject of a Palestinian-American journalist killed in the West Bank may be on the agenda.

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Sisters of Life's Sister Bethany Madonna and Mike Phelan of the Office of Marriage and Respect Life about the church's work with people carrying unexpected pregnancies.

If you must see one rapper this year who happens to be Muslim, albino and legally blind, it should be Brother Ali. Inspired by the music of Rakim and other old school rappers, Ali sought out the Quran and converted to Islam.

A simpler suicide hotline launches July 16. The three digits are meant to be easy for those in a mental health crisis to remember and dial. But most states aren't prepared to meet the volume of calls.

The news that Bob Dylan was making a Christmas album came as a surprise. Now that Christmas In The Heart has been released, with the announcement that all profits will go to charity, it's caused even more consternation, with commentators divided as to whether it's an earnest effort or one big put-down. Rock critic Ken Tucker offers his opinion.