This is Vinyl Tap
267 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsShort talks about long players. We focus on great albums in their entirety. We are highly opinionated and outspoken. We hope to provoke you into sharing your own opinions on Albums. If you are serious about great music, this is your podcast. www.tappingvinyl.com
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Episodes
No. 41: Kiko, Los Lobos
August 30, 2021 01:00 - 1 hour - 54.1 MBHailed by critics as Los Lobo's best album, Kiko found the band in an experimental frame of mind. The band members themselves can't recall where some of the tunes and sounds came from. On this album, the band worked with famed keyboardist and producer, Mitchell Vroom (Crowded House, Elvis Costello, Paul McCartney), whose bank of keyboards color this album and make the fine songs sound textured and more interesting. Also, Tony introduces us the first all-covers album from the band, just relea...
SE 1, EP 39: Los Lobos - Kiko
August 30, 2021 01:00 - 1 hour - 54.1 MBHailed by critics as Los Lobo's best album, Kiko found the band in an experimental frame of mind. The band members themselves can't recall where some of the tunes and sounds came from. On this album, the band worked with famed keyboardist and producer, Mitchell Vroom (Crowded House, Elvis Costello, Paul McCartney), whose bank of keyboards color this album and make the fine songs sound textured and more interesting. Also, Tony introduces us the first all-covers album from the band, just relea...
No. 40 This Year's Model, Elvis Costello
August 23, 2021 02:00 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBDPA MacManus, also known as Elvis Costello, made some of the most interesting tunes of the late 20th Century. Part of his charm was his ability to write witty, intelligent, and interesting pop songs that straddled the boundaries of Punk, New Wave, and Power Pop. In this episode, we delve into his second album, This Year's Model, and the background that spawned one of the most critically acclaimed album of the 70s.
SE 1, EP 38: Elvis Costello -This Year's Model
August 23, 2021 02:00 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBDPA MacManus, also known as Elvis Costello, made some of the most interesting tunes of the late 20th Century. Part of his charm was his ability to write witty, intelligent, and interesting pop songs that straddled the boundaries of Punk, New Wave, and Power Pop. In this episode, we delve into his second album, This Year's Model, and the background that spawned one of the most critically acclaimed album of the 70s. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.
SE 1, EP 37: Overrated Albums
August 21, 2021 21:00 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MBIn this special episode we ridicule some albums you probably love by Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, and The Eagles. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.
No. 39 The Overrated Albums Show, Part 1
August 21, 2021 21:00 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MBIn this special episode we ridicule some albums you probably love by Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, and The Eagles.
No. 39 Overrated Albums
August 11, 2021 13:00 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MBIn this special episode we ridicule some albums you probably love.
SE 1, EP 36: Emmylou Harris - Wrecking Ball
August 05, 2021 18:00 - 1 hour - 64.4 MBEmmylou Harris' unmistakable voice has graced many artists' albums, both rock and country albums, usually as a backup singer or harmonizer. But on this, her 18th studio album, she takes a turn few would have imagined. Largely a collaboration with producer and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Lanois (U2, Peter Gabriel, Neil Young, Bob Dylan), Wrecking Ball is an album full of electronics and textures that provide Harris with a backdrop where she can really showcase her vocals. And her song choice...
No. 37 Emmylou Harris Wrecking Ball
August 05, 2021 18:00 - 1 hour - 64.4 MBEmmylou Harris' unmistakable voice has graced many artists' albums, both rock and country albums, usually as a backup singer or harmonizer. But on this, her 18th studio album, she takes a turn few would have imagined. Largely a collaboration with producer and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Lanois (U2, Peter Gabriel, Neil Young, Bob Dylan), Wrecking Ball is an album full of electronics and textures that provide Harris with a backdrop where she can really showcase her vocals. And her song choice...
SE 1, EP 35: Southside Johnny - Hearts of Stone
July 25, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 61.1 MBSouthside Johnny may not be a household name, but he is the very definition of the New Jersey sound. Heralded by the likes of Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen (who has written many songs for him), Southside Johnny has made an indelible mark on the music industry. And this album is very much a collaboration with producer/songwriter/guitarist Little Steven Van Zandt (aka, Silvio on HBO's "The Sopranos"). If you like horns, Motown, and Stax, you'll love Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. ...
No. 38: Southside Johnny, Hearts of Stone
July 25, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 61.1 MBSouthside Johnny may not be a household name, but he is the very definition of the New Jersey sound. Heralded by the likes of Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen (who has written many songs for him), Southside Johnny has made an indelible mark on the music industry. And this album is very much a collaboration with producer/songwriter/guitarist Little Steven Van Zandt (aka, Silvio on HBO's "The Sopranos"). If you like horns, Motown, and Stax, you'll love Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.
SE 1, EP 34: Big Star - No. 1 Record
July 13, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 68.3 MBThere are three bands from the early 70s that defined "power pop": The Raspberries, Badfinger, and Big Star. Named after a famous grocery in the Memphis area, Big Star became one of the most influential bands this side of the Atlantic. Perhaps their influence wanes only in comparison to the Velvet Underground. The two main personalities of this band, Alex Chilton (who sang one of the top smashes of 1967 with the Box Tops, "Letter") and Chris Bell (a meticulous studio-phile), wrote heartbreak...
No. 36: Big Star, No. 1 Record Album
July 13, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 68.3 MBThere are three bands from the early 70s that defined "power pop": The Raspberries, Badfinger, and Big Star. Named after a famous grocery in the Memphis area, Big Star became one of the most influential bands this side of the Atlantic. Perhaps their influence wanes only in comparison to the Velvet Underground. The two main personalities of this band, Alex Chilton (who sang one of the top smashes of 1967 with the Box Tops, "Letter") and Chris Bell (a meticulous studio-phile), wrote heartbreak...
SE 1, EP 33: Little Feat - Dixie Chicken
July 07, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 54.8 MBHailed by critics, but mostly ignored by the recording buying public for several years after its release, the album, Dixie Chicken by Little Feat, highlights the songwriting, singing, slide guitar playing, and flute playing by the band's defacto leader, Lowell George. This is a band's band. And many other artists had hits with songs from this album. Listening to how this album seems steeped in the swamp rock of the south, it's hard to imagine the band had a mentor and proponent in Frank Zapp...
No. 35 Little Feat: Dixie Chicken
July 07, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 54.8 MBHailed by critics, but mostly ignored by the recording buying public for several years after its release, the album, Dixie Chicken by Little Feat, highlights the songwriting, singing, slide guitar playing, and flute playing by the band's defacto leader, Lowell George. This is a band's band. And many other artists had hits with songs from this album. Listening to how this album seems steeped in the swamp rock of the south, it's hard to imagine the band had a mentor and proponent in Frank Zapp...
No. 34 Bruce Springsteen, The Wild, The Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle
June 27, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 59.9 MBThis episode looks at the second album by the man many consider the epitome of anthem rock. Yet on this album, the songs seem more loose, more oriented on toward the town Springsteen and his bandmates knew so well, Asbury Park, NJ. This is not your typical Springsteen album and it is territory he has not really revisited since this album was released in 1973.
SE 1, EP 32: Bruce Springsteen -The Wild, The Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle
June 27, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 59.9 MBThis episode looks at the second album by the man many consider the epitome of anthem rock. Yet on this album, the songs seem more loose, more oriented on toward the town Springsteen and his bandmates knew so well, Asbury Park, NJ. This is not your typical Springsteen album and it is territory he has not really revisited since this album was released in 1973. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.
Bonus Episode: Fornicating Frogs (Another Collection of Outtakes)
June 19, 2021 18:00 - 9 minutes - 6.43 MBThese are some outtakes that we just couldn't keep in the last couple of episodes. For amusement only. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.
Fornicating Frogs (Recent Outtakes)
June 19, 2021 18:00 - 9 minutes - 6.43 MBThese are some outtakes that we just couldn't keep in the last couple of episodes. For amusement only.
No. 33 Johnny Cash American Recordings
June 18, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 67 MBIn Episode 33 we look at Johnny Cash's 81st(!) album, American Recordings. Produced by legendary rap and hard rock producer Rick Rubin, the album is a comeback of sorts for and introduced him to a new group of younger listeners. It's a sparse album, just Cash and his guitar, and serves to showcase Cash's voice and songwriting talents. It's Cash at his most vulnerable, standing it stark contrast to the mythology of "The Man in Black". NOTE: The audio on this edition is not on par with previou...
SE 1, EP 31: Johnny Cash - American Recordings
June 18, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 67 MBIn Episode 33 we look at Johnny Cash's 81st(!) album, American Recordings. Produced by legendary rap and hard rock producer Rick Rubin, the album is a comeback of sorts for and introduced him to a new group of younger listeners. It's a sparse album, just Cash and his guitar, and serves to showcase Cash's voice and songwriting talents. It's Cash at his most vulnerable, standing it stark contrast to the mythology of "The Man in Black". NOTE: The audio on this edition is not on par with previou...
No. 32 ELO, Eldorado
June 07, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 62.7 MBELO started off as a side project by two members of the very successful band from Birmingham, England, the Move. Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood wanted to explore ways to incorporate symphonic arrangements into their progressive, yet poppy, chord progressions that each had begun to perfect. Soon after, Wood absconded with integral members of the newly formed ELO, leaving Jeff Lynne in charge with a skeleton crew. On this, the band's fourth album, the vision seemed to become reality and perhaps that ...
SE 1, EP 30: Electric Light Orchestra - Eldorado
June 07, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 62.7 MBELO started off as a side project by two members of the very successful band from Birmingham, England, the Move. Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood wanted to explore ways to incorporate symphonic arrangements into their progressive, yet poppy, chord progressions that each had begun to perfect. Soon after, Wood absconded with integral members of the newly formed ELO, leaving Jeff Lynne in charge with a skeleton crew. On this, the band's fourth album, the vision seemed to become reality and perhaps that ...
SE 1, EP 29: Randy Newman - Good Old Boys
May 31, 2021 02:00 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBIn this episode we look at an album that has explicit lyrics written by a man who now writes children's tunes for Disney: Randy Newman's, Gold Old Boys. It's a character-driven album with songs carefully crafted and arranged by a man who comes from an extended family that has made a name for itself composing film scores. Randy Newman himself became a sought-after composer soon after releasing this album. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.
Ep. 31 Randy Newman, Good Old Boys
May 31, 2021 02:00 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBIn this episode we look at an album that has explicit lyrics written by a man who now writes children's tunes for Disney: Randy Newman's, Gold Old Boys. It's a character-driven album with songs carefully crafted and arranged by a man who comes from an extended family that has made a name for itself composing film scores. Randy Newman himself became a sought-after composer soon after releasing this album.
No. 30 Blondie: Parallel Lines
May 23, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 55.4 MBReleased in 1978, Blondie's third album, Parallel Lines, became their biggest album largely off the strength of the most popular song of 1979, Heart of Glass. The making of this album is interesting: the band was given six months to make the record, yet it was finished in six weeks, despite the producer calling Blondie the worst band he'd ever worked with. Loathed by members of the burgeoning 1970s NYC music scene for its disco appeal, Blondie, one of the last bands to sign a recording deal ...
SE 1, EP 28: Blondie - Parallel Lines
May 23, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 55.4 MBReleased in 1978, Blondie's third album, Parallel Lines, became their biggest album largely off the strength of the most popular song of 1979, Heart of Glass. The making of this album is interesting: the band was given six months to make the record, yet it was finished in six weeks, despite the producer calling Blondie the worst band he'd ever worked with. Loathed by members of the burgeoning 1970s NYC music scene for its disco appeal, Blondie, one of the last bands to sign a recording deal ...
SE 1, EP 27: Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece
May 14, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 55.9 MBThis week's episode focuses on a relatively obscure Van Morrison album, Veedon Fleece. It's an album about wondering around Southern Ireland, despite being recorded in Los Angeles and New York. It's a personal album for Morrison, recorded soon after his divorce from Janet Planet. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.
No. 29 Van Morrison, Veedon Fleece
May 14, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 55.9 MBThis week's episode focuses on a relatively obscure Van Morrison album, Veedon Fleece. It's an album about wondering around Southern Ireland, despite being recorded in Los Angeles and New York. It's a personal album for Morrison, recorded soon after his divorce from Janet Planet.
SE 1, EP 26: Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
May 03, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 57.7 MBRay Charles loved country music and it is evident on what most call his most successful album artistically. It was also his most successful album commercially and introduced a lot white audiences to "the genius". In this episode we explore what made this album so compelling and why Charles decided to cover traditional country songs with sophisticated arrangements that made a lot of these songs really swing. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.
No. 28 Ray Charles' Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
May 03, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 57.7 MBRay Charles loved country music and it is evident on what most call his most successful album artistically. It was also his most successful album commercially and introduced a lot white audiences to "the genius". In this episode we explore what made this album so compelling and why Charles decided to cover traditional country songs with sophisticated arrangements that made a lot of these songs really swing.
SE 1, EP 25: Peter Gabriel - Us
April 26, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 51.6 MBPeter Gabriel's sixth solo studio album, Us, was the culmination of years of studio experience with his original band, Genesis, and as a solo artist. After spending time on the road with Amnesty International and soaking in the music of different cultures from around the globe, Gabriel set out to incorporate those rhythms and instrumentation into a very personal album dealing with a divorce, a subsequent break up, and a petulant teenager. And we recommend an album by a fixture of the Austin...
No.27 Peter Gabriel Us
April 26, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 51.6 MBPeter Gabriel's sixth solo studio album, Us, was the culmination of years of studio experience with his original band, Genesis, and as a solo artist. After spending time on the road with Amnesty International and soaking in the music of different cultures from around the globe, Gabriel set out to incorporate those rhythms and instrumentation into a very personal album dealing with a divorce, a subsequent break up, and a petulant teenager. And we recommend an album by a fixture of the Austin...
No. 26 Album War: Ramones vs. Sex Pistols
April 21, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBThis week's episode is a battle between the Ramone's first album and the Sex Pistols first and only album, Nevermind the Bollocks. Learn how these albums are so very different, yet often discussed together and learn more about how these two bands have influenced so many other artists.
SE 1, EP 24: Album War! Punk Edition: The Ramones vs. Sex Pistols
April 21, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBThis week's episode is a battle between the Ramone's first album and the Sex Pistols first and only album, Nevermind the Bollocks. Learn how these albums are so very different, yet often discussed together and learn more about how these two bands have influenced so many other artists. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.
Bonus Episode: We're Late - A salute to Hawaii
April 18, 2021 19:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBWe're late with this week's episode, but luckily our good friends at Alka Seltzer are at the ready with a salute in song to the island of the red hibiscus, Hawaii! We'll get the next episode up later this week and we'll be back on schedule next week. And why are we late? Well, our host Doug Cooper spent a lot of his free time this week getting married and Tony and J.M. were involved in some of the events, which ate into the time we spend editing and mixing the podcast. If you're so inclined...
We're Late: A salute to Hawaii
April 18, 2021 19:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBWe're late with this week's episode, but luckily our good friends at Alka Seltzer are at the ready with a salute in song to the island of the red hibiscus, Hawaii! We'll get the next episode up later this week and we'll be back on schedule next week. And why are we late? Well, our host Doug Cooper spent a lot of his free time this week getting married and Tony and J.M. were involved in some of the events, which ate into the time we spend editing and mixing the podcast. If you're so inclined...
No. 25 The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society
April 11, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 54.3 MBThe Kinks were known in their earliest days for power chords and songs about lust. But the main song writer, Ray Davies, began to turn his attention to his native England and life there after WWII. On this album, we explore the circumstances that gave rise to this often praised and often overlooked masterpiece by the four original members of the Kinks.
SE 1, EP 23: The Kinks - The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society
April 11, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 54.3 MBThe Kinks were known in their earliest days for power chords and songs about lust. But the main song writer, Ray Davies, began to turn his attention to his native England and life there after WWII. On this album, we explore the circumstances that gave rise to this often praised and often overlooked masterpiece by the four original members of the Kinks. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.
SE 1, EP 22 - Paul Simon, Graceland
April 04, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBThis episode focuses on Paul Simon's masterpiece, Graceland, an album that found Simon at his peak as a song writer. The making of this album was an adventure starting with a cassette lent to Simon, which resulted in a trip to South Africa during the height Apartheid, with stops in London, Louisiana, Los Angeles, and New York along the way.
No. 24 Paul Simon Graceland
April 04, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBThis episode focuses on Paul Simon's masterpiece, Graceland, an album that found Simon at his peak as a song writer. The making of this album was an adventure starting with a cassette lent to Simon, which resulted in a trip to South Africa during the height Apartheid, with stops in London, Louisiana, Los Angeles, and New York along the way.
SE 1, EP 22: Paul Simon - Graceland
April 04, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBThis episode focuses on Paul Simon's masterpiece, Graceland, an album that found Simon at his peak as a song writer. The making of this album was an adventure starting with a cassette lent to Simon, which resulted in a trip to South Africa during the height Apartheid, with stops in London, Louisiana, Los Angeles, and New York along the way. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.
No.23 Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
March 28, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 63.8 MBIn this episode, we examine Bob Dylan's second, and perhaps most influential album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. It was a harbinger of things to come, not just for Dylan, but for rock, country, and folk artists for decades to come. Plus, find out why Dylan may be one of the funniest songwriters ever.
SE 1, EP 21: Bob Dylan - Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
March 28, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 63.4 MBIn this episode, we examine Bob Dylan's second, and perhaps most influential album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. It was a harbinger of things to come, not just for Dylan, but for rock, country, and folk artists for decades to come. Plus, find out why Dylan may be one of the funniest songwriters ever. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.
SE 1, EP 21- Bob, Dylan, Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
March 28, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 63.4 MBIn this episode, we examine Bob Dylan's second, and perhaps most influential album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. It was a harbinger of things to come, not just for Dylan, but for rock, country, and folk artists for decades to come. Plus, find out why Dylan may be one of the funniest songwriters ever.
SE 1, EP 20: REM - Reckoning
March 20, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 48.5 MBThe second album from the band that dominated much of the eights and nineties. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.
SE 1, EP 20 - REM, Reckoning
March 20, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 48.5 MBThe second album from the band that dominated much of the eights and nineties.
REM Reckoning
March 20, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 48.9 MBThe second album from the band that dominated much of the eights and nineties.
SE 1, EP 20 - REM, Reckoning
March 20, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 48.5 MBThe second album from the band that dominated much of the eights and nineties.
SE 1, EP 19: The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed
March 14, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 57.4 MBIn this episode, we look at the second album by the quintessential British band who were not so big in the native country, the Moody Blues' Days of Future Passed. This band and album has a pretty fascinating history and it makes prodigious use of a new electronic keyboard originally intended for use at parties: the Mellotron. Find out more about how this album was made and how a rhythm and blues band became an art rock pioneer in just a few months. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.