This is Vinyl Tap

This Is Vinyl Tap

Short 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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SE 4, EP 16: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced

SE 4, EP 16: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced

Send us a Text Message.On this episode, we tackle a BIG album, the 1967 debut LP by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced. Heralded by many as the greatest rock guitarist of all time, to many Jimi Hendrix, along with his band the Jimi Hendrix Experience (bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell) seemingly came out of nowhere. However, in reality, Hendrix more than paid his dues, playing in relative obscurity backing a myriad of musicians on the "Chitlin' Circuit," including the Isely Bothers and Little Richard. Endlessly restless, his stints with these bands was often short lived because he would eventually tire of being in the background and get fired for upstaging the star he was hired to support. He was finally "discovered" in New York by Chas Chandler (bassist of the Animals) who convinced him to go to England where he finally found the success that had alluded him in his own country. But Are You Experienced proves Hendrix was more than just an amazing guitarist. It showcases what a gifted singer (if a shy and underappreciated one) and songwriter he was. It underscores his imagination and creativity in how he used the studio in his quest to find new sounds from his guitar. After its release, Hendrix became a star and would eventually become the highest paid rock musician of the era. While he would continue to stretch the boundaries of what both the guitar and the studio could do over his next two LPs, Are You Experienced is where it all began, and the the music within sounds as innovative and imaginative as it did in the over the five-plus decades since its release. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

Episodes

SE 4, EP 16: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced

SE 4, EP 16: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced

Send us a Text Message.On this episode, we tackle a BIG album, the 1967 debut LP by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced. Heralded by many as the greatest rock guitarist of all time, to many Jimi Hendrix, along with his band the Jimi Hendrix Experience (bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell) seemingly came out of nowhere. However, in reality, Hendrix more than paid his dues, playing in relative obscurity backing a myriad of musicians on the "Chitlin' Circuit," including the Isely Bothers and Little Richard. Endlessly restless, his stints with these bands was often short lived because he would eventually tire of being in the background and get fired for upstaging the star he was hired to support. He was finally "discovered" in New York by Chas Chandler (bassist of the Animals) who convinced him to go to England where he finally found the success that had alluded him in his own country. But Are You Experienced proves Hendrix was more than just an amazing guitarist. It showcases what a gifted singer (if a shy and underappreciated one) and songwriter he was. It underscores his imagination and creativity in how he used the studio in his quest to find new sounds from his guitar. After its release, Hendrix became a star and would eventually become the highest paid rock musician of the era. While he would continue to stretch the boundaries of what both the guitar and the studio could do over his next two LPs, Are You Experienced is where it all began, and the the music within sounds as innovative and imaginative as it did in the over the five-plus decades since its release. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 4, EP 15: The 13th Floor Elevators - The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators

SE 4, EP 15: The 13th Floor Elevators - The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators

Send us a Text Message.On this episode we discuss the debut LP by the seminal psychedelic rock band, the 13th Floor Elevators: 1966's The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators. The 13th Floor Elevators were one of the the first well-known bands to come out of the Austin music scene in the 1960's, and one of the first band's nationwide to purposely embrace the term "psychedelic rock." The band possessed a lead singer with a one of a kind voice (and screech) in Roky Erickson. The music was played with a fierce garage-rock intensity. But the thing that made them stand out was the use of the "electric jug," which imbued their songs a dark, uneasy, and otherworldly drone. The jug player was also the architect of the band's image and message, which relied heavily on the use of drugs as a means to "free your mind." Unfortunately the band embraced the message a little to fully, which resulted in drug busts and helped facilitate the decline of Erickson's mental health. But the music is something else. Their hit single, "You're Gonna Miss Me," is a undisputed classic, and their music was innovative and influential well beyond their short time as a working band. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 4, EP 14: The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet

SE 4, EP 14: The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet

Send us a Text Message.On this episode we tackle the Rolling Stones 1968 LP Beggars Banquet. 1968 was a tumultuous year for much of the world and a transitional time for the Rolling Stones. Their founder and original leader, Brian Jones, was increasingly absent due to his drug use, and their long-time manager/producer Andrew Loog Oldham had grown disinterested in the band due to his own drug and alcohol use, leaving them to produce their next album on their own. The result, 1967's Their Satanic Majesties Request, was widely considered a misstep for the band and the Stones were looking for a fresh start. They found it with producer Jimmy Miller, who helped the Stones get back to their roots, and found ways to inspire the band to create what most believe to be the first album of their classic period, showcasing acoustic blues and hard-hitting social commentary. While not without its controversies, Beggars Banquet does contain some of the most compelling music this classic band has ever made. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 4, EP 13: Spirit - Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus

SE 4, EP 13: Spirit - Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus

Send us a Text Message.On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Spirit and their fourth album Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus. The band Spirit sports an impressive pedigree. Drummer Ed Cassidy (20 years older than the rest of the band) was an established jazz musician, having played drums with many jazz greats throughout the 1940s and 1950s. His stepson Randy California (né Randy Wolfe) was a young guitar prodigy, who at 15 years old impressed Jimi Hendrix enough to be asked to join his band Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. Released in 1970, Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus, is Spirit's most beloved album, and considered by many to be an all-time great. With one foot firmly planted in the idealism of the 1960s, and the other planted in the experiential and harder-edged music of the 1970's, it musically straddles both decades, but is unlike almost anything else released at the time. Combining elements of folk, jazz, progressive rock, psychedelia, and even proto-metal, Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus effortlessly slides from folk ballads, to hook-laden rockers, to far out space jams. And while the album, like the band itself, may not be easy to categorize, Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus is an immensely compelling and consistently entertaining listen. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 4, EP 12: Aztec Camera - High Land, Hard Rain

SE 4, EP 12: Aztec Camera - High Land, Hard Rain

Send us a Text Message.This week, we dig into the debut LP by the Scottish jangle pop band Aztec Camera , 1983's High Land, Hard Rain. The creative force behind the band was Roddy Frame, a fine singer, remarkable guitarist, and very gifted songwriter, who started his career at 15, and was 18 when this album was recorded. Completed in just three weeks, the album is filled with wonderful pop songs that touch on jazz and soul, and often defy categorization. Upon its release it was a commercial success in the UK and received critical raves on both sides of the pond.High Land, Hard Rain is an inconceivably mature and complex album given the age of the songwriter. And while the album suffers some from 1980's production issues (most notably the use of synth drums), thankfully the strength of the songwriting transcends this weakness. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 4, EP 11: Guy Clark - Old No. 1

SE 4, EP 11: Guy Clark - Old No. 1

Send us a Text Message.On this week's episode we look a one of the finest songwriters to come out of Texas, Guy Clark, and his 1975 debut LP Old No. 1. While Clark is considered one of the great county and folk songwriters of the latter half of the 20th Century, he is also one of the least appreciated when it comes to recording his own songs. On Old No. 1, he records his own songs, many of which had already been made famous by the likes of the Everly Brothers and Jerry Jeff Walker, among many others. Originally recorded in a way that did not meet Clark's vision, that version was ultimately scrapped. The version that was released was essentially a collection of demos, that took on new life when guests musicians and friends such as Rodney Crowell, Emmy Lou Harris, Johnny Gimble, Steve Earl, and David Briggs joined in. The album puts the focus squarely where it belongs, on the songwriting and provides a wonderful framework for Clark's poetic and reflective storytelling. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 4, EP 10: Supertramp - Breakfast in America

SE 4, EP 10: Supertramp - Breakfast in America

Send us a Text Message.On this weeks episode, we take on a big LP, the 1979 monster hit by Supertramp, Breakfast in America. Supertramp struggled early in their career to find an audience. The two main song writers brought different strengths to the band. Founding member Rick Davies leaned more to the progressive rock side of things, where as Roger Hodgson was more pop oriented. Every album after their breakout LP Crime of the Century showed them gaining popularity. But Breakfast in America is their magnum opus. It is the definitive Supertramp album, the culmination of Davies and Hodgson blending tier individual strengths into a distinctive sound (aided in no small part by heavy use of a Wurlitzer electric piano). Full of well crafted (and catchy) tunes like "The Logical Song," "Take the Long Way Home," and "Goodbye Stranger," and possessing one of the most iconic album covers of all time, Breakfast in America captured the hearts of millions of listeners worldwide. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 4, EP 9: Raspberries - Fresh

SE 4, EP 9: Raspberries - Fresh

Send us a Text Message.On this weeks episode, we take a listen to the second LP by one of the foundational bands of 1970's power pop: Fresh by the the Raspberries. The Raspberries were an intentional antithesis to everything that was going on in the early Seventies. Instead of focusing on the extended (and as they saw it, self-indulgent) musical jams, the Raspberries would craft three-and-a-half-minute pop songs that leaned heavily on early British Invasion groups like the Beatles, the Who and the Kinks. Fresh, is full of catchy melodies, infectious hooks, and glorious harmonies. And while the band did see success during their all too short career, it is their legacy that is worth celebrating. Enormously influential (modern power pop would not be the same without them) the band had an impact on everyone from John Lennon to Mötley Crüe. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE4, EP8: Beck - Morning Phase

SE4, EP8: Beck - Morning Phase

Send us a Text Message.On this week's episode, we discuss Beck and his twelfth studio album, 2014’s Morning Phase. Beck is known for embracing a wide-range of genres, to include folk, lo-fi, funk, soul, hip hop, electronic, alternative rock, country, and psychedelia (just to name a few). He often glides between genres on the same album, and sometimes even on the same song. What makes Morning Phase stand out is Beck’s willingness to maintain a beautiful consistency throughout. Beck has traveled similar ground before with 2002’s Sea Change. Morning Phase is considered a companion piece to that album, even using most of the same personnel to record it. And while they are cut from the same cloth, Morning Phase seems a more mature effort that is lyrically melancholy, yet hopeful, and musically complex and utterly gorgeous.Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE4, EP7: Blind Faith - Blind Faith

SE4, EP7: Blind Faith - Blind Faith

Send us a Text Message.When Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood started hanging out and jamming together after the dissolution of their previous bands (Cream and Traffic respectively), there was no set plan to start a band together. That changed when Cream drummer Ginger Baker joined the fun. With the addition of bassist Ric Grech from the band Family, Blind Faith was born. Their one and only album combined the best (and sometimes the worst) of both Cream and Traffic. It doesn’t always work, but when it does it transcends both bands with a unique mix of blues, jazz and folk, all topped off with Winwood’s amazing blue-eyed soul crooning.Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 4, EP 6: Pete Townshend - Empty Glass

SE 4, EP 6: Pete Townshend - Empty Glass

Send us a Text Message.On this week's episode, we dig into Pete Townshend's official debut solo LP, 1980's Empty Glass. As the main songwriter for The Who, Pete Townshend crafted songs that let singer Roger Daultrey flex his powerful voice and lets the rhythm section stretch out and indulge their bombastic sides. But on Empty Glass, Townshend is able to show that he can write songs that require a softer, perhaps more nimble, touch. His voice is sweet, almost delicate in places, but its the musicianship where Townshend really shows that he is capable of nuance and subtlety. The songs are tight, precises (very much the opposite of the Who), and deftly straddles the the old-guard rock world 1970's and the bright, synth heavy world of a still burgeoning post-punk/new wave movement. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE4, EP 5: Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory

SE4, EP 5: Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory

Send us a Text Message.On this episode, we turn our attention to one of the most successful bands from the late 1960s and early 1970's, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and what is considered by many their masterpiece, Cosmo's Factory. 1970 was a fertile year for music. While the English Invasion was still dominating the airwaves and the psychedelic scene was still influencing everything from movies to fashion to music, CCR formed near the center of all that was "happening" and making music that hearkened back to a different era and being quite successful at doing so. John Fogerty was the mastermind behind the the music and the band's success. "Swamp Rock" is often the label applied to CCR, but regardless of what you call it, it was often fun, always heartfelt, and quintessentially American. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE4, EP4: The Beach Boys - Sunflower

SE4, EP4: The Beach Boys - Sunflower

Send us a Text Message.On this week's episode we discuss Sunflower, the1970 LP by the Beach Boys. The Beach Boys' songwriting was mainly Brian Wilson's department, especially after their masterpiece, Pet Sounds. But on 1970's Sunflower, all members contributed to the songwriting, instrumentation, vocals (with some help from other background singers and members of the great Wrecking Crew ), and even the production. And they are fine contributions indeed. Though this was their lowest selling album at the time of its release, it was hailed by many in the rock industry as their best post-Pet Sounds LP, and in retrospect is considered one of the best albums of the 1970's, and included on manynlists of all-time greats. Sunflower is a collection of fantastic songs that branches out from the "typical" Beach Boys sound, to include songs that embrace soul and R and B, and anticipated the advent of Chillwave decades later. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE4, EP3: The Flamin' Groovies - Shake Some Action

SE4, EP3: The Flamin' Groovies - Shake Some Action

Send us a Text Message.This week's podcast is a listener's pick and boy are we grateful to have it be Shake Some Action by the Flamin' Groovies. Shake Some Action is nothing short of a power pop masterpiece. With its British Invasion vibe, it's hard to believe it came from 1976. There a bunch of great covers, including one that goes back to 1914. But it's the originals where the band shines. The songs are full of hooks and great harmonies, that will make you want to dance or sing a long at the the top of your lungs while you're driving down the road. The title track is power pop royalty. The Flamin' Groovies are a remarkable band that are critics darlings, but for some reason mostly unheard by the record-buying public. Join us as we dig into the story of the band, and discuss this remarkable set of songs, on one of the best albums of 70s.Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE4, EP2: Van Morrison - No Guru, No Method, No Teacher

SE4, EP2: Van Morrison - No Guru, No Method, No Teacher

Send us a Text Message.On this week's episode, we revisit an artist we discussed during our first season - Van Morrison when we talked about his 1974 album Veedon Fleece. This time we discuss his 1986 LP No Guru. No Method, No Teacher. Morrison is known for making albums rich in spiritual themes and Celtic lore. Around the time of No Guru, he was also writing songs from the perspective of a curmudgeonly angry guy complaining that "copycats have ripped off his songs". While this album has more than it should of the latter, it is also steeped in the former, with lush string arrangements, beautiful oboe and cor anglais parts (played by the Dream Academy's Kate St. John), and a band firing on all cylinders. It is an album of thematic contrasts, held together by its production; and one portending things to come for Morrison. It is also an album cited by many as a favorite among Van Morrison album. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 4, EP 1: Genesis - Selling England by the Pound

SE 4, EP 1: Genesis - Selling England by the Pound

Send us a Text Message.On this week's episode, we explore the 1973 LP by one of progressive rock’s most interesting (and entertaining) bands, Selling England by the Pound by Genesis. Considered by many to be the best album of the Peter Gabriel era of Genesis, it is definitely the most accessible, and even gave the band their first Top 40 single int he UK with “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) which peaked just shy of the Top 20. The overall theme of the album laments the Americanization and commercialization of English culture. The songs are full of vivid imagery, played by outstanding musicians, and sung by one of the best voices in rock. A thing that sets Genesis apart from other progressive rock bands of the time is their ability to make complex music that is not showy. Gabriel’s vocals adds a level of soul that is absent from other bands of the genre. All of this makes for a compelling listen, and puts Selling England by the Pound up there with the greatest progressive rock albums ever released.Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

S3, Ep. 28: Kris Kristofferson - Kristofferson

S3, Ep. 28: Kris Kristofferson - Kristofferson

Send us a Text Message.On this week's episode, we discuss the debut album by Kris Kristofferson 1970's Kristofferson. A man of many talents, Kris Kristofferson is a scholar, an athlete, a pilot, an actor, a performer, and most importantly, one of country music's most beloved (and most successful) songwriters. On par with Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, and John Prine, he has penned some of country music's most endearing songs. Many of the songs on this album have been covered before and since this album was made, some arguably performed by better singers. But Kristofferson voice has character that imbues these songs with an earnestness that makes for compelling listening.Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 3, EP 27: Doug Sahm - Doug Sahm and Band

SE 3, EP 27: Doug Sahm - Doug Sahm and Band

Send us a Text Message.This week it is another listerner's pick as we dig into the debut solo LP by Texas music legend Doug Sahm, 1972’s Doug Sahm and Band. Doug Sahm was by all accounts a musical prodigy, having mastered the guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, and fiddle by age 8. Born and raised in San Antonio, TX, Sahm was attracted to a variety of music: blues from the black clubs of his neighborhood, the horn heavy conjunto music of the west side, country, polka, rock n' roll, really anything that had soul. Like a sponge, Sahm soaked it all up and used it to create his own sound, first with the Sir Douglas Quintet and later on his own as a solo artist, that was a unique blending of all of it. For his first real solo effort Doug Sahm and Band, Sahm was joined by one heck of a studio band, with Bob Dylan, Dr. John, David "Fathead" Newman, Flaco Jimenez, David Bromberg and Kenny Kosek (to name a few). Instead the ego driven mess this could have been, the album is a fun and energetic romp that draws upon all of his musical influences. Its eclectic and its a joy to listen to. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 3, EP 26: Tomorrow - Tomorrow

SE 3, EP 26: Tomorrow - Tomorrow

Send us a Text Message.On this week's episode, we discuss Tomorrow, the criminally underappreciated 1968 self-titled debut album by the band Tomorrow.Mostly known as a band that featured future Yes guitarist, Steve Howe. Alongside bands like Pink Floyd and the Soft Machine, Tomorrow was a pillar of the British underground scene, and their song "My White Bicycle" was considered by many to be its its anthem. While heralded by critics, the album saw little success (an almost year long delay in its release didn't help). It has become somewhat of cult classic, but it deserves a much wider audience. Quintessentially British, the music is whimsical and fun, even when the subject matter isn't. And while the LP cover may be absent of color, the songs are not. Full of amazing musicianship (especially Howe's guitar playing) and unique studio trickery, Tomorrow is easily some of the best psychedelic rock ever committed to vinyl. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE3, EP25: The Band - The Band

SE3, EP25: The Band - The Band

Send us a Text Message.On this week's episode, we discuss the Band and their second LP, The Band (also affectionately known as the Brown Album). With 50 plus years having passed, its difficult to understand the impact the Band had on the music industry, but it was HUGE. It is also hard to find a band that incorporated more American music traditions into their sound than the Band did, which is odd when you consider all but one of the members was Canadian. After years of honing their skills in individual groups, they found each other while playing together as unit backing rockabilly great Ronnie Hawkins and later backing the newly electrified Bob Dylan. On this, their second album, the Band continues the exploration of musical genres and lyrical themes they started with the debut album: Music From Big Pink. Like its predecessor, The Band is a collection of outstanding songs played expertly by some of the best musicians in all of rock. Yet The Band feels like a more cohesive statement and may arguably be their masterpiece. And it is fitting that we explore this album in the wake of the recent passing of main songwriter and guitarist, Robbie Robertson.Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.