William Dart presents an appropriately seasonal mix of naughty and nice, with more than a few tributes to the Big Man in Red and a little blues on the side.

William Dart gathers together a bunch of songs that he had to leave out of previous programmes: songs from João Gilberto, Inara George and Jeff Goldblum, The Topp Twins, David Pine, Patti Smith, Penelope Isles, and Barbra Streisand.

William Dart features songwriters on both sides of the Atlantic, from the soul-searching of Michael Chapman and M C Taylor to cute and occasionally cutting slices of life from Amy O.

They're still here … singers Paula Cole and Patty Waters both took long career breaks but came back as strong as ever. William Dart reviews their latest albums.

William Dart takes a listen to three recent releases from our own shores: new CDs from The Floral Clocks and Kingsley Spargo, and a collection of Miley Cyrus covers curated by Bryce Galloway.

William Dart considers The Beatles – re-released with the 50th Anniversary Edition of Abbey Road; and re-imagined with Matthew Bannister's individual take on Rubber Soul.

New and atmosphere-soaked music by Patrick Watson, Angel Olsen, and the wonderful pairing of singer Gaby Moreno and arranger-producer Van Dyke Parks.

William Dart looks at local music determined to find its way into your mind - new releases from Mermaidens and Purple Pilgrims and a CD of classic Kiwi ad jingles.

William Dart goes back half-a-century to perhaps the most celebrated of all music festivals, Woodstock, and reviews a new 10-CD set of recordings called Back to the Garden.

William Dart puts Wellington singer Louis Baker in the spotlight following the release of his debut album of remarkably taut and tight soul, Open.

William Dart listens to sister acts: Rosemary and Betty Clooney, The Shangri-Las, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, The Roches, and especially a new album from Tegan and Sara Quin.

It’s not only what you sing but whom you sing with. William Dart tests out that hypothesis using new highly collaborative albums by Sheryl Crow and Iggy Pop.

William Dart travels to the moon and beyond, charting two decades of Tom Ludvigson and Trevor Reekie's Trip to the Moon albums, and looking at their new two-man improv album, Roto.

William Dart goes globe-trotting, sampling ska from Melbourne, the almost indescribable Korean band SsingSsing, punk from Russia, and ending up in Scotland for folk-singer Karine Polwart's gorgeous new album.

William Dart indulges himself in the back catalogue of Rickie Lee Jones - all 40 years of it. Plus there's a new album called Kicks.

William Dart listens to Bruce Springsteen … on movie soundtrack, from the Broadway stage, and in a new studio album, Western Stars.

William Dart listens to the new album from British band The Leisure Society, Arrivals and Departures. Songwriter Nick Hemming is the master of melancholia in his lyrics, but the band clothes it all in exquisite alt-pop finery.

The Bird and The Bee's new album in their Interpreting the Masters series reveals that Greg Kurstin and Inara George are closet fans of Van Halen. A surprised William Dart takes a listen.

William Dart sizes up two local releases: the ear-catching miniatures of SJD and the expansive ballads of Eyreton Hall.

Rebecca Pidgeon is perhaps best known as an actor (The Winslow Boy, Red) but she's also a consummate singer-songwriter. After some releases that have been rather tough listening, her tenth album, Sudden Exposure to Light, is music that will woo you.

William Dart listens to the recordings of Scottish folksinger Alasdair Roberts in anticipation of his new album, The Fiery Margin, due out soon.

American singer-songwriter Tom Russell describes himself as a blend of Jack Kerouac and Johnny Cash. William Dart finds him in top form on his new album October in the Railroad Earth.

The world of bossa nova is much poorer with the loss of the great João Gilberto, who passed away on 6 July. William Dart pays tribute to the Brazilian master.

Jazz bassist and singer, Esperanza Spalding's new album 12 Little Spells is surely about as personal as you can get: a collection of songs about various parts of the body. William Dart checks out the album itself and the journey to get to it.

William Dart makes good for some of the tracks that he regrettably had to leave out of previous programmes this year. You'll hear a kooky Doris Day tribute, a Menotti opera aria; we'll take a visit to Julia Holter's Aviary and remember the great Dr John, whom we lost only a month ago.