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Rock critic Ed Ward finds a forgotten chapter of American pop history: the 1940s sound of East Los Angeles. Hear original recordings of vintage Latin music collected on the new CD Pachuco Boogie, from Arhoolie Records.

Few people today remember E.T.A. Hoffmann, but most everyone is familiar with his most famous creation: The Nutcracker. NPR's Robert Siegel traces the history of everyone's favorite Christmas ballet all the way back to its much darker original version.

John Hodgman, master raconteur, will expand your spiritual horizons, with his compendium of lesser-known geists and ghosts. Then the Cabinet doors open wider with great music, comedy, and a true travel tale... worthy of a bad road-trip movie.

Laughs, musical mash-ups and a Conway Twitty cover on this episode of Cabinet. Comedian and actress Janeane Garofalo is a self-proclaimed bacon-eating vegan, but she takes a stab at the good citizens who shop at Whole Foods.

You might be getting your mom flowers, brunch, or a card this Mother's Day. But in Mexico, mariachi bands are snapped up to serenade moms well in advance of the holiday. Host Michel Martin speaks with Dan Sheehy of the Smithsonian's Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. He's also a member of Mariachi Los Amigos, a Washington D.C. mariachi ensemble.

When Detroit milliner Luke Song made Aretha Franklin's now-iconic 2009 inaugural hat — you know, the one with the big bow? — he had no idea he'd be making thousands more.

Following up on their platinum debut album, Into the Rush, the sister act Aly & AJ serves up Insomniatic, an album heavy on the teen-relationship tunes. Fresh Air's rock critic reviews the latest from the sisters Michalka.

The legendary Carlyle Café, which has played host to Elaine Stritch, Judy Collins and even Woody Allen, will have its grand reopening Sept. 18. Its first engagement will be with the equally legendary Eartha Kitt. Kitt talks about performing at the Manhattan lounge.

Fresh Air's classical music critic reviews several vintage Hollywood musicals that have recently been released on DVD. Titles include The Pirate, Words and Music, Royal Wedding and The Gang's All Here.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the new DVD of The Threepenny Opera. G.W. Pabst's 1931 film version of the Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weill musical, with Weill's wife Lotte Lenya as Jenny, is newly out from the Criterion Collection.