David Garland

The North Dakota singer-songwriter tackles such topics as being stuck on a roof, ambivalence about new beginnings, and our contemporary tendency to cradle our devices rather than our loved ones.

In this episode: Sunday marked the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ first TV appearance here in the U.S., so The Takeaway’s Movie Date co-hosts look back at the band’s many appearances on the big screen -- from A Hard Day’s Night to How I Won The War -- as well as the role that their music has played in film soundtracks over the years.

Then: If you’ve ever heard a song by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, or seen them in concert, or watched a music video, then you know that keyboardist Benmont Tench is an essential part of the Heartbreakers' sound. Now, for the first time, the longtime go-to sideman is releasing his own solo album. Hear Tench perform songs from You Should Be So Lucky in the Soundcheck studio.

And: For years, WNYC and WQXR host David Garland has been fascinated by “the Andalusian Cadence” -- a musical pattern that has been at the core of great music for more than 500 years. Hear how this distinctive sequence of four notes links together Beethoven, the Supremes, Bowie, Rihanna and many others. (Want more? Check out Garland's recent episode of Spinning on Air.)

There seems to be a trend in film scores these days. Instead of conventional melodies and themes, more and more composers are creating sonic atmospheres that blur the lines between score, sound design, and sound effects.

David Garland presents music from "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," "The Hurt Locker," "Another Happy Day," "The Grey," "Dark Shadows," and other contemporary films, plus earlier examples of the moody approach.

This 2001 episode of WNYC's Spinning on Air marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer Harry Partch. Host David Garland plays a mix of Partch's music and recorded speech, including introductions to and performances on Partch's exotic array of home-made instruments.