Michael Giblin is one of those super-talented musicians who practice their art in smaller cities (in Michael’s case, Harrisburg, PA), sometimes playing bigger gigs but mostly performing for a local following. Peter Case introduced us back in 2007. Michael’s band, Parallax Project, recently made an album with the great Don Dixon producing.

Anyway, Michael has an abiding love of ’70s AM radio hits, of which this song is a prime example. He sang it while opening for Peter back in March at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, a wonderful venue at the corner of Third and Herr in downtown Harrisburg.

Sam Baker of Austin is a songwriter with deep roots in the West Texas soil. His songs of small-town characters and everyday experiences combine a keen journalistic eye for detail and a deep empathy with downtrodden folks. This song, “Truale,” is from the first album of his “Mercy” trilogy, and is inspired by the fight song of a Texas high school so unassuming that its mascot is the humble crawdad.

Accompanying Sam are Gurf Morlix on guitar and Audrey Auld on backing vocal. Recorded on the night I first met Sam, following a torrential thunderstorm at Fred Eaglesmith’s Charity Picnic in Aylmer, Ontario, August 2005.

Although they’re mainly known for their songwriting, sometimes these troubadours will pull out a song that they learned growing up and play it just for fun. That’s what this little outtake collection is all about.

First up, Garrison Starr with a lusty singalong version of the Bangles’ biggest hit from 1989. Then, Slaid Cleaves and Charles Arthur channel Pete Townshend and the Who. Finally, Peter Case, who doesn’t drink, sings an old rock & roll chestnut about … drinking.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!