The welcoming phrase that serves as the title to the 18th volume in our Live at the World Cafe series puts you the listener in a very good place indeed. As we move to our new World Café studio these songs will always remind us of what will forever be the “old World Cafe.”

Born in New York, singer-songwriter David Mead spent most of his life in Nashville where he still lives. After spending several years as a member of a couple of Nashville’s most popular local bands, including Joe Mark’s Brother, David left the band and released his solo debut in 1999 with The Luxury Of Time. Mead specializes in sweet, melodic pop songs that often recall Paul Simon’s early solo work, the more romantic side of Paul McCartney and the pop wizardry of Fountains of Wayne.

Welcome to the shape of jazz to come. He is pianist and singer-songwriter Jamie Cullum, currently one of a handful of “twentysomething” “jazz” artists interpreting pop songs old and new, and writing originals on his own unique terms. Cullum’s album Twentysomething, and his charismatic, energetic shows land him in the States as a bonafide UK superstar. Superstardom in the UK rarely assures success in the States (ask the Smiths and Robbie Williams about that), however, early stateside reviews of Cullum’s new album and his sensational stage show are pointing towards something new and interesting coming our way.

One would think that after 7 years of near exile and having recently turned 45, that the concept of Morrissey – let alone his music – would be irrelevant in the world of music as we know it. You Are The Quarry – Morrissey’s first album since 1997’s disappointing Maladjusted - is anything but irrelevant. It’s a solid, completely important comeback from the former Smiths' front man whose music never quite found the level of popularity in the States as it deserved.

Extraordinary songwriting, brilliant production, remarkable performances and a voice that sounds as confident as it did when she debuted 40 years ago in Nashville mark one of the years best albums from a country legend pushing 70 and produced by one of rock’s alternative hot shots. Loretta Lynn’s collaboration with Jack White of the White Stripes, Van Lear Rose, is a collaboration that far exceeds any expectations about the album when it was being produced and recorded and word started circulating in the music world about the project.

The Wolves are back!

Los Lobos’s latest album pulls together some of the best songs from their back catalogue, throws in a handful of new tunes and features collaborations with some all-time great musicians.

Joining Lobos are guests with as wide-ranging musical styles as eclectic as those of Los Lobos themselves. New songs like “Kitate” feature Tom Waits, “Somewhere In Time” with Dave Alvin, “Hurry Tomorrow” was co-written with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, and “Ya Se Va” with Ruben Blades on vocals and Alberto Salas of Los Super 7 on piano.

Singer-songwriter Bob Schneider has been a fixture on the Austin music scene who made his solo debut in 1999 with the underrated album Lonelyland. Prior to his solo career a band project he’s most noted for was as a member of the Ugly Americans, a jam-influenced band that had some success opening for Dave Matthews and the HORDE festival.

Jem Griffiths hails from Cardiff, Wales - home of Tom Jones, and if you’re a fan of Beth Orton, Dido, or even The Sundays, and Everything But The Girl, you’ll appreciate Jem’s wonderful debut collection of pop-oriented and orchestrated beats.

On his new album, Eric Clapton covers 14 of the 29 songs that legendary bluesman Robert Johnson wrote during his lifetime. Robert Johnson has always been one of Clapton’s primary musical influences. “It is a remarkable thing,” writes Clapton in the liner notes to this record, “to have been driven and influenced all of my life by the work of one man. His music is like my oldest friend.” During his career - from John Mayall's Bluesbreakers to Cream and his own solo records

One of true architects and legends of reggae, Toots Hibbert & The Maytals are responsible for some of the reggae classics of our time, including “Pressure Drop,” ”Time Tough,” “Monkey Man,” “Funky Kingston,” and “54-46 Was My Number.”

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Toot’s musical legacy precedes this collection, True Love, a stunning, well executed star-studded affair. Taking a page out of Carlos Santana’s play book in his making of the Grammy award winning Supernatural, Toots gathered a wide range of guest stars for the making of True Love.