On July 6, 1974, about a dozen people made their way to the Janet Wallace Auditorium at Macalester College in St. Paul for the first broadcast of a new radio show. Things went pretty well, so Garrison Keillor and his team produced another show, then another . . . close to 500 in the first 10 years alone.

Today A Prairie Home Companion is heard by more than 4 million listeners each week on 590 public radio stations. This new collection looks back at the early days, in particular early music, with pianist Butch Thompson, mandolin maestro Peter Ostroushko, Dakota Dave Hull, and the first Powdermilk Biscuit Band: Adam Granger, Bob Douglas, and Mary DuShane. This collection is a treat for longtime fans who love the show’s music.