Words and Music from Studio-A

Trixie Whitley may be a 25 year-old with a debut album, but she sounds more like a supreme soul singer with history. After releasing a few EPs and working with Daniel Lanois and Black Dub a couple of years ago, Trixie has now stepped out on her own with her first solo album, Fourth Corner, and she performed a few of the songs in Studio A using a guitar with an interesting story.

Eric Burdon has always had one of the most distinctive voices in Rock 'n' Roll. As the lead singer of The Animals, he presented a style and sound unlike any of the other British Invasion bands. A young Bruce Springsteen was watching him perform on the Ed Sullivan Show back in 1964, and he told the SXSW audience in last year's keynote address just how influential Eric and The Animals would come to be in shaping his future career.

Carolyn Waters is a relative newcomer to music as a professional, having spent many years working in criminal justice, but her songs reflect a concern for social justice and spiritual matters. A member of the Boston music scene, she's been mentored by the great Southern songwriter, Kate Campbell, who produced Carolyn's second album, "On the Verge," showcasing her extraordinary voice and feel for all kinds of African-American music. Carolyn joined me for a probing and soulful session in Studio A.

Robyn Hitchcock's otherworldly wit and off-kilter melodies haven't made him mainstream material, but his storytelling and singular point of view are certainly worthy of his passionate fanbase. He returns the affection with the new album Love From London — which is out next week — and Robyn gave us a live, acoustic preview in a recent Studio A session.