The best I can say about "Best-Of" programs is they can be fun and momentarily interesting, but too often, they provide mindless and meaningless fodder for unending discussions that settle into a not too interesting web of nothing gained and nothing lost.

But it is possible for "Best-Ofs" to transcend that web and look forward. That's the case of "10 Greats You've Probably Never Heard," where your listeners get an opportunity to discover substantial "new music" from the past.

Host David Johnson and his "Texas Music Matters" (KUT) colleagues collaborate with author Tom Moon to play and discuss the merits of ten songs and pieces (classical music is included) that have never made the cut of any Top Ten or Top 100 Best-of List.

Tom Moon, you may know as one of several NPR Music Critics and the recent author of the daunting "1,000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die." By narrowing the list to just ten, and especially focusing on ten works we're not likely to know, Johnson and Moon make the show's concept more manageable and an easy joy to hear and process.

Musical tastes and preferences aside, the choices are credible. It's clear, with the first three composers and their music (Baby Huey, Vic Chestnut, Leos Janacek) that the discussion and music are worth your listener's time and your station's air time.

This entertaining, thoughtful and interesting hour of music and discussion is suitable to almost any time on your schedule, for fun on the 4th or during your regular documentary or program specials slot. Suitable for most formats, but a stretch for classical.

What is American Bluegrass? You may be surprised by the answer to the question. In his ongoing series, "Gems of Bluegrass," producer/host Phil Nusbaum shows us the playlist is short on celebratory, patriotic songs, and long on the other form of patriotism. That is, the protest song, from taxes to questionable politics from questionable politicians.

Phil Nusbaum has all of the radio goods for craft, writing and hosting, and this is an interesting, attention-grabbing program.

"Gems of Bluegrass: What is American Bluegrass?" is well suited for your July 4th programming. It's for bluegrass fans, but it's also for fans of storytelling that public radio does best.

(At the conclusion of this feature, there's a 28-second underwriting announcement that may or may not fall within your station's underwriting guidelines.)

My last driveway moment happened when I listened to this piece (or a similar version) while driving home to All Things Considered. Coincidentally, the opening segment of "Howard Levy: Reinventing the Harmonica" takes place in a car. In 7:22, harmonica virtuoso, and just plain super musician, Howard Levy lightens the load of harmonica misconceptions and updates any possible harmonica "underestimation."

This is another memorable and entertaining moment from the series "Musicians in their Own Words" and producer-mixmaster David Schulman.

Levy's harmonica rocks, sings, flies, sighs, and wails in many different languages including Cuban and classical. Highly recommended for a local AAA, Americana or eclectic music shift and for your arts magazine program.

What's the American or July 4th connection? The music (18th century French Baroque) is from a music collection presented to the nuns of the New Orleans Ursuline Academy. The music heard comes from "the sole-surviving collection" of music from 18th-century New Orleans.

There is, of course, a universal connection beyond July 4th. This sweet and engaging music projects both charm and innocence. Most of the music is by less familiar composers, but there are some absolutely delightful pieces by Francoise Couperin.

Performances by Le Concert Lorrain are skillful, and they effortlessly maintain and uphold that 18th century Baroque's sweetness, innocence and beauty.

Angela Mariani and writer Bernard Gordillo have their background information and musical introductions clearly prioritized to bring forward the relevant historical and musical points. (There's room for even more.)

The rarely heard and recorded flute music by French composer Michel Blavet makes up the balance of the program in a new recording by Jed Wentz and Musica Ad Rhenum.

The "Ursuline Manuscript: Music from 18th-Century New Orleans" has a tie-in to July 4th but the music has a universal connection all year long.