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NPR's Julie McCarthy reports from Prague on the opening of The World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings. To counter the expected protests, the World Bank is trying emphasize that they are listening to pleas for social justice...and they're doing that with Bono...the lead singer of the Irish rock band, U2.

David Greenberger reviews a new CD by Dave Alvin, titled Public Domain: Songs from the Wild Land. The tracks are all traditional folk songs, like "Shenandoah,' and "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down."

NPR's Michele Kelemen reports from Moscow that an overwhelming majority of CDs purchased in Russia are illegal copies, sold openly and cheaply at stores and open-air markets. Pirating has taken a heavy toll on Russian musicians. Deprived of income from their recordings, they're almost always on the road, forced to keep to a grueling live performance schedules.

Singer-songwriter Teddy Thompson may only have one CD to his name, but the Thompson name has been a major force in folk music since the 1960s. Teddy's father, Richard, formed the seminal folk rock band Fairport Convention, then later paired with Teddy's mother, Linda, to record six acclaimed albums. The pair divorced shortly after recording their last record, which eerily previewed the breakup. Teddy Thompson was just 7 at the time; he talks with Frank about his debut CD, the inspiration behind the music, and the effects of growing up in the English folk tradition.

Anima, a group from Brazil, mixes its classical training and early music experience with an interest in Brazilian folk music and instruments. The band will tour the United States later this month. Susan Kaplan, of member station WFCR, reports. (7:45) Anima's CD's, entitled Especiarias and Espiral Do Tempo (Time Spiral) are available from MCD World Music. Websites in Spanish:Especiarias and Espiral Do Tempo

Glenn Gamboa reviews the new CD by Joseph Arthur Come to Where I'm From (Real World/Virgin)

Hip Hop Artists De La Soul. Formed in 1985, De La Soul released their latest record Art Official Intelligence this August. Once dubbed "the hippies of hip hop", De La Soul continue to pen songs without gangsta rap influence, focusing instead on the use of samples, jazz vamps, and wordplay. Consisting of Posdnuos, Trugouy the Dove, and Pasemaster Mace, the male trio began recording at the same time as Queen Latifah, Monie Love, and A Tribe Called Quest. De La Soul hails from Long Island, New York.

From Athens, Georgia Steve Lickteig reports on the city's struggle to preserve an unusual monument — the railroad trestle pictured on the cover of native rock band REM's break-out album Murmur.

Scott talks to Detroil blues singer Alberta Adams who recorded her first album at the age of 77.

Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. He was mentored by Oscar Hammerstein, and went on to revolutionize musical theatre. His first major success was writing lyrics for West Side Story. Sondheim wrote the lyrics for Gypsy. He composed the music and wrote the lyrics for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeny Todd, Sunday in the park with George, and Into the Woods. In 1954 he wrote the musical Saturday Night but it wasn't performed for 40 years. There's a new cast recording of it.