Helen Humes discusses her career and touring with Count Basie and his orchestra. John McDonough is present for the interview and contributes. Songs sung by Helen are played throughout the interview: "He May Be Your Man", "Song of the Wanderer", "If I Could Be with You for One Hour Tonight" (2 recordings- one from 1940 and one from 1977), "Unlucky Woman", "They Can't Take That Away From Me", "Today I Sing the Blues", and "They Raided the Joint". Music has been removed for copyright reasons.

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.

Conductor Christopher Keene and composer Gian-Carlo Menotti dscuss the major themes of the opera"Tamu-Tamu", other opera performances, and the kind of work that goes into creating these works. Recordings are played during the interview: "Aria", sung by Eileen Farrell from the opera "The Consul", "Gloria" sung by an ensemble from the opera "The Saint of Bleecker Street", and "Have You Seen a Child" sung by an ensemble from the opera "Ahmal and the Night Visitors". Music has been removed for copyright reasons. This also includes part of an earlier recorded interview with both subjects.

Six members of The Klezmorim discuss their musical upbringings, the history of klezmer music, and explain how song structures work and overlap. Songs played throughout are: "Moldovanke" by The Klezmorim, 2 songs by an unknown klemer band from the mid 1920s,"Papirosn" by The Klezmorim, "A Glezele Vayn (A Little Glass of Wine)" by The Klezmorim, and a live performance of "Papirosn" by The Klezmorim. All music performed by The Klezmorim were prerecorded off site. Music has been removed from this recording for copyright reasons.

Lotte Lehmann, legendary opera soprano, discusses her book "Five Operas and Richard Strauss" about her portrayals of famous roles. Interviewing Lotte Lehmann, recorded at the Orrington Hotel, Evanston (including excerpt from master class at Northwestern and recording excerpts from Walkure with Melchior).

Short wrap-up of interview and a few words about some of her favorite recordings - "Morgen" and "Die Walküre" / "Valkyrie" by Strauss. Interviewing Lotte Lehmann, recorded at the Orrington Hotel, Evanston (including excerpt from master class at Northwestern and recording excerpts from Walkure with Melchior).

Abram Loft discusses his career, his book "Violin and Keyboard", art, and music education. Includes Abram Loft reading a passage from his book "Violin and Keyboard". Includes Abram Loft reading excerpts from newspapers.

Studs interviews Joe Venuti, who reflects on his career with various bands and shows. John McDonough cohosts the interview with Studs. Venuti speaks about various instruments he and others use in Jazz. He shares a story of how the depression affected him. Venuti discusses the pranks he pulled on people and other musicians he has worked with. The musical numbers are removed from this edited version of the original recording.

Don McLean discusses his career and his music. Don McLean discusses his influences, life experiences, and his songwriting.

Studs interviews Jimmy and Marian McPartland. The McPartlands reflect on the people who influenced their music in Jazz. Studs quotes Jimmy McPartland and reads part of a critic's column about Marian in the Chicago Sun Times. Marian shares a little about what it is like to be a female musician in Jazz. Both discuss their past career and their futures. Jimmy reflects on his hard times in the 1920s-1930s. The musical numbers are removed from this edited version of the original recording.