The Black Cab Sessions has a pretty simple tag line that pretty much sums up what they do quite nicely, One Song. One Cab. One Take. They invite a band, or some subset of a band, into the back of their cab, they then record in one take, one song — more or less.

It’s a very interesting idea taking the whole unplugged concept even further and more intimate. I’m quite surprised by the level of talent they’ve been able to record, as well as the recording quality itself.

I first discovered the sessions while browsing YouTube for New Pornographers videos and came upon their Black Cab Session performing, All the Old Showstoppers off of their then recently released Challengers album. I really liked this stripped down version featuring just the voices of Carl Newman and his niece, Kathryn Calder, plus an accompanying acoustic guitar and accordion. Plus, I think I have a crush on Kathryn Calder.

Another session that is a favorite of mine is Spoon’s I Summon You off of Gimme Fiction. This is another song that lends itself well to being stripped down to just the bare essentials of a Britt Daniel’s voice and guitar.

However, when I was recently browsing some of their newer archives I came across a real find, Brian Wilson and accompaniment, singing That Lucky Old Sun before breaking down into a short rendition of California Girls. I don’t think I need to say anything else, just see for yourself.