KQMQ (Honolulu, HI)
- Stuck On You-Ekolu (I never imagined this Lionel Richie hit in a Hawaiian reggae context, but it works, thanks to strong lead and backing vocals.)
- Here I Am (Come And Take Me)-Al Green (To many listeners, Green is best known for "Let's Stay Together." I'd contend that "Here I Am..." deserves the same level of airplay, for its memorable hook and the way the tune builds.)
- The Glamorous Life-Sheila E. (A strong groove from 1984 that still holds up lyrically as a testament to inner strength.)
- Eyes-Miki Yamanaka (Swingin' piano and rhythm section.)
- Reunion Blues-Alvin Queen Trio (Impressive interplay between piano and drums on this tribute to Oscar Peterson.)
- Botany Bay-Kate Rusby (Beautifully sung lyrics about the sorrow of being separated from one's beloved. The sentiments here mesh with "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore" by The High Kings.)
- La Petite Marche/Life Is Good Jig/The Physicist-Laura Cortese (From a pastoral melody to a rollicking jig to a romp of a reel, this is some captivating Celtic fiddling.)
- You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)-The Stylistics (One of the better-phrased warnings in pop music, sung in excellent falsetto. Be sure to check out Dionne Warwick's original version, as well.)
- Spanish Harlem (Live At The Fillmore East)-Laura Nyro (Most listeners would cite Aretha Franklin or Ben E. King as the definitive singer of this tune, but Nyro makes a convincing case for just a voice and a piano. Nyro's voice is ideal for the octave leaps.)
- Spring And All-Mary Chapin Carpenter (There's a mournful, "Nothing gold can stay" outlook in Greg Brown's lyrics, and this is the voice that makes them resonate.)
