Hosted by David Dye (World Cafe) and produced by Tracey Tanenbaum (WXPN's "A Musician's Life").

A brief look at Woodstock (and its recent 40-year anniversary), but that's really just the starting point for this very fine 4-minute performer snapshot. Consider this either an introduction or tribute to a sometimes forgotten artist and thinker who was well ahead of his time.

That being said, the retelling of his Woodstock break out, and how he rescued the Festival, is a story that never gets tired. Interesting, fun, thoughtful; superbly hosted, produced and mixed.

Overheard on the second floor of Tower Records in Westwood in 1990-something: "Yeah, it's great music watch your plants grow to."

It was a local LA musician's reference to what was then called "New Age" music.

Windham Hill, the label, is alive and well, celebrating its 30-year history with a documentary hosted by John Dilberto (Echoes).

Among its innovations, like selling tons of records, CDs and cassettes, Windham Hill came to be known as "a style of music" rather than a label. In truth it was both. In the body of the program, Windham Hill founder, Will Ackerman drops a few surprises — including the commonalities between Windham Hill and the Punk movement, and how they tried to avoid the label, "New Age." Hearing the artists talk about the difference between good and bad New Age music is a program highpoint.

Performances, thoughts and memories come from Will Ackerman, George Winston, Michael Hedges, Liz Story, Shadowfax and Carly Simon...at the end. This is a nice look back at music and a music option that grew on many of us — and did it quietly.

It was good to hear some of these tunes again, especially Liz Story playing "Wedding Rain."

The program charts the early days but also shows how Windham Hill worked through and extended beyond its original sound, texture and concept — like adding vocals.

With the variety of music your listeners have been exposed to over the past thirty years, I think they will hear the music in a new way in 2009.

Suitable for News/Music formats, and especially AAA and eclectic music formats. For News stations, "Windham Hill A Quiet Revolution" is worth considering for your Doc slot.

And please wait for the "washing lettuce" story at the end.

For stations that are more music-directed: the music-to-talk ratio is at times more on the doc side.

Overall, the music, subject matter and information are, in balance, I think, for a variety of station formats.

A pleasing, breezy review of the songs written in the '30s and '40s when the workers of the world united...and sang about it.

"Popular Songs on the Picket Lines" is a musical avenue that offers your listeners a different perspective on Labor Day.

This 59:00 show could serve as an addition, and possible contrast, to the more labor intensive employment and economic programming you've already scheduled for this Labor Day.

With all of the employment and economic stories that were heard on your station during this past season of economic and employment uncertainty, "Popular Songs on the Picket Lines" offers both historical perspective and a diversion that is entertaining, thoughtful and substantial.

Nice mix, and choice of songs, that are evenly sad, sentimental and satirical, including Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Ethel Waters, Bing Crosby and two stark tunes from "The Cradle Will Rock" (Mark Bliztein).

Music content is jazz and show tune-laced song and dance from the '30s and '40s, but the subject matter and timeliness makes the
program worthy of consideration on a variety of formats.