Studs Terkel interviews blues singer song-writer Janis Joplin. This program discusses the following: Joplin's song "Turtle Blues"; Joplin's idols Bessie Smith and Lead Belly; Joplin's style of singing; Joplin's song writing; the blues; Joplin's interpretation of "Summertime"; and various renditions of the jazz song "Summertime". The following musical excerpts were presented: "Turtle Blues"; "Summertime" (interpreted by Janis Joplin); "Summertime" (interpreted by Mahalia Jackson); "Summertime" (interpreted by Billie Holiday); "Ball and Chain"; "Piece of My Heart"; and "Billie's Blues".

Janis Ian discusses her career, life, and her songs. The songs she talks about are "Society's Child", "Janey's Blues", "Honey D'Ya Think", "There Are Times", "Shady Acres", and "Lonely One". Janis Ian also discusses society, race relations, and responsibility. Includes Studs Terkel reading Janis Ian's poem "Poem One". Includes Janis Ian reading her poem.

Jan Eaglen, British soprano, discusses her career as an opera singer and trends in opera music.

Jan Peerce discusses his career as a tenor, both in opera and on Broadway. He discusses his vocal technique and trends in sacred music.

Bandleader, jazz musicologist and composer James Dapogny discusses his work in reviving the sound and art of jazz. Dapogny's work is mainly associated with his group James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band and his career in publishing lost works of Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton.

Mr. Blake talks to Studs about his book "The Joint." The book is a collection of letters written by Mr. Blake while in prison off and on for 13 of 20 years. He reads out loud some of the letters from the book.

Studs interviews Jabbo Smith and presents some of his musical performances. The musical pieces are removed from this edited version of the original recording. Smith shares the story of his childhood in the Jenkins Orphanage and how he came to learn music there. He discusses the songs he wrote and people he played with throughout his career and how he came out of retirement in Holland on the trombone.

Ivan Moravec discusses his career, classical pianists, and composers. He also discusses his colleagues or contemporary pianists.

Ira Sullivan, multi-instrumentalist and musician, discusses jazz music. Recorded songs are interspersed throughout their conversation.

The Solidarity Chamber Players is comprised of nine members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was formed to raise money on behalf of workers locked out at A. E. Staley Manufacturing.