For today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs that reference books would you like to hear?

John Lennon took a new middle name; the Who performed “Tommy” at the Bolton Institute of Technology; the Blues Brothers made their debut; Charles Mingus, Glen Campbell and Peter Frampton were born; and Atmosphere released a big album, today in music history.

For today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs related to the planet or conservation would you like to hear?

Visual highlights from Agharta Records in St. Paul, the Electric Fetus in Minneapolis, the Record Spot in Minneapolis, Urban Lights in St. Paul, and Vyntage Vinyl in Red Wing.

The Current presents The Afghan Whigs 40th Anniversary Tour at Varsity Theater on Sunday, May 10, 2026.

Elvis had another No. 1 hit; the Beatles wrapped recording on Sgt. Pepper; Sinead scored a hit on an incomparable Prince cover; Peter Buck raised hackles at high altitude; Nina Simone died; Robert Smith and Michael Franti were born; and we lost Prince, today in music history.

Noah Kahan's songs radiate empathy for loved ones and places from his past. After a gradual rise, the Vermont singer-songwriter finally makes his Tiny Desk debut.

A new song from Prince’s vault, “With This Tear,” was released on Monday, April 20. The song was recorded by Celine Dion in 1992.

The scholar Rashad Shabazz offers a compact but sweeping historical overview of the music in Minneapolis that made its way into Prince’s own.

Deep Purple made their live debut; George Burns was in the Hot 100; numerous artists paid tribute to the late Freddie Mercury; Aerosmith got a grip with their 11th studio album; “The Sound of Philadelphia” became the first disco song to reach No. 1 in the singles charts; and American Idiot opened on Broadway, Today in Music History.