Who's dropping in at "The World Cafe" over the next two weeks? Among the musical notables host David Dye will welcome are singer-songwriters Trish Murphey (Wednesday, Jan. 14), Alanah Davis (Friday, Jan. 23) and John Hiatt (Monday, Jan. 26), jazz legend Grover Washington Jr. (Monday, Jan. 19), former Smithereens lead singer Pat Denizio (Tuesday, Jan. 20), Australian band Eva Trout (Thursday, Jan. 22) and Portuguese world/classical group Madradeus (Tuesday, Jan. 27), plus Joe Jackson recorded live at the Theater of Living Arts (Friday, Jan. 16).

"The World Cafe", which is heard on over 100 public radio stations nationwide, is produced by WXPN-FM (88.5) and airs locally from 2 to 7 p.m. weekdays. All live appearances air during the 3 to 4 p.m. hour.

'XPN listeners rank their 50 faves

The listeners have spoken: of all the albums featured on WXPN over the past year, these 50 were the audience favorites. As could be predicted, the listeners' choices covered a wide swath of the musical landscape, much like the programming on 'XPN. All 50 were played from bottom to top in a special year-end broadcast Dec. 30-31:

1. Sarah McLachlan, "Surfacing"
2. Dar Williams, "End of the Summer"
3. Ben Folds Five, "Whatever and Ever Amen"
4. Bob Dylan, "Time Out of Mind"
5. Jonatha Brooke, "10 Cent Wings"
6. Huffamoose, "We've Been Had Again"
7. Kim Richey, "Bittersweet"
8. Beth Orton, "Trailer Park"
9. Van Morrison, "The Healing Game"
10. Loreena McKennitt, "The Book of Secrets"
11. Indigo Girls, "Shaming of the Sun"
12. Bruce Cockburn, "The Charity of Night"
13. Ani DiFranco, "Living in Clip"
14. John Hiatt, "Little Head"
15. Steve Earle, "El Corazon"
16. World Party, "Egyptology"
17. James Taylor, "Hourglass"
18. Jeb Loy Nichols, "Lover's Knot"
19. The Sundays, "Static + Silence"
20. John Fogerty, "Blue Moon Swamp"
21. Radiohead, "OK Computer"
22. Boz Scaggs, "Come On Home"
23. k.d. lang, "Drag"
24. U2, "Pop"
25. B. B. King, "Deuces Wild"
26. Grey Eye Glances, "Eventide"
27. G. Love & Special Sauce, "Yeah, It's That Easy"
28. Tuatara, "Breaking The Ethers"
29. The Verve, "Urban Hymns"
30. Moxy Fruvous, "You Will Go to the Moon"
31. Portishead, "Portishead"
32. Rolling Stones, "Bridges to Babylon"
33. Bjork, "Homogenic"
34. Paul McCartney, "Flaming Pie"
35. Jill Sobule, "Happytown"
36. Paul Simon, "Songs From The Capeman"
37. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "Let's Face It"
38. Whiskeytown, "Stranger's Almanac"
39. Afro-Celt Sound System, "Whirl Y Reel"
40. Johnny Lang, "Lie to Me"
41. Erykah Badu, "Baduism"
42. David Byrne, "Feelings"
43. Delbert McClinton, "One of the Fortunate Few"
44. Laura Love, "Octoroon"
45. Michael Penn, "Resigned"
46. Patti Smith, "Peace And Noise"
47. Live, "Secret Samhadi"
48. Alison Kraus, "So Long So Wrong"
49. Taj Mahal, "Señor Blues"
50. Cornershop, "When I Was Born for the 7th Time"