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Dem Vinyl Boyz — Music
Dem Vinyl Boyz

DEM VINYL BOYZ

Before music lived in the cloud, it lived in our hands.

It came wrapped in artwork big enough to study, tucked inside a paper sleeve, and carried the faint smell of cardboard, dust, and time. You lowered the needle, heard that first warm crackle, and for the next forty minutes, the album had your complete attention.

For years, vinyl lovers were told they were stuck in the past. While the world raced toward CDs, downloads, and endless digital playlists, Dem Vinyl Boyz kept moving at 33⅓ RPM—saving the records, protecting the sleeves, and never forgetting that music was meant to be experienced, not skipped.

Turns out, vinyl never died. It was only waiting for the rest of the world to slow down and listen again.

Each week, Dem Vinyl Boyz pull a classic album from the crates and take you back to the moment it entered the world. From the opening note of Side A to the final groove of Side B, they explore the songs, the artists, the studio stories, the cultural impact, and the little-known details that transformed a collection of tracks into a legendary album.

This isn’t just a review. It’s a musical time machine.

It’s the sound of sliding a record from its jacket. The anticipation before the needle drops. The lost art of listening to an album in the order the artist intended. And the memories that return the moment an old song begins to play.

So put on your headphones, pull up a seat beside the turntable, and rediscover the greatest music ever pressed into wax.

DEM VINYL BOYZ. DROP THE NEEDLE. HEAR THE HISTORY. RESPECT THE TECHNIQUE.

Latest Episodes:

Dem Vinyl Boyz EP 11 - Thriller Sep 16, 2022

Show notes

Thriller is the sixth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Michael Jackson, released on November 30, 1982, by Epic Records. It was produced by Quincy Jones, who had previously worked with Jackson on his 1979 album Off the Wall. Jackson wanted to create an album where "every song was a killer". With the ongoing backlash against disco music at the time, he moved in a new musical direction, resulting in a mix of pop, post-disco, rock, funk, and R&B sounds. Thriller foreshadows the contradictory themes of Jackson's personal life, as he began using a motif of paranoia and darker themes. Paul McCartney appears on "The Girl Is Mine", the first credited appearance of a featured artist on a Michael Jackson album. Recording took place from April to November 1982 at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California, with a budget of $750,000. With 32 million copies sold worldwide by the end of 1983, Thriller became the best-selling album of all time. It was the best-selling album of 1983 worldwide, and in 1984 it became the first album to become the best-selling in the United States for two years. It set industry standards with its songs, music videos, and promotional strategies influencing artists, record labels, producers, marketers, and choreographers. The success gave Jackson an unprecedented level of cultural significance for a black American, breaking racial barriers in popular music, earning him regular airplay on MTV and leading to a meeting with US President Ronald Reagan at the White House. Thriller was among the first albums to use music videos as promotional tools; the videos for "Billie Jean", "Beat It" and "Thriller" are credited for transforming music videos into a serious art form.

Dem Vinyl Boyz EP 10 - Ready to Die Sep 09, 2022

Show notes

The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die (1994) Dem Vinyl Boyz head to the home of Hip-Hop., New York City! East coast Rap at its finest. “Ready to Die” is a concept album chronicling the life and myth of the Notorious B.I.G., complete with stories of robbery, drug dealing, sex and even suicide. It was the first full-length album release from Bad Boy Records, a new imprint run by a young Sean “Puffy” Combs. Combs was very involved in the production and direction of “Ready to Die,” especially with the hit singles “Juicy” and “Big Poppa.” “Puffy was incredibly smart about branding,” Coker says, “and about how to sell this album to the masses at large.” The album features productions by Bad Boy founder Sean "Puffy" Combs, Easy Mo Bee, Chucky Thompson, DJ Premier, and Lord Finesse, among others. It was recorded from 1993 to 1994 at The Hit Factory and D&D Studios in New York City. The partly autobiographical album tells the story of the rapper's experiences as a young criminal, and was the only studio album released during his lifetime, as he was murdered sixteen days before the release of his second album Life After Death in 1997.

Dem Vinyl Boyz EP 09 - Appetite for Destruction Sep 02, 2022

Show notes

Dem Vinyl Boyz drop the needle on a rock record this week that ended up teaching us so much about this band. You will find out that GnR' was not a band from California, they were from Seattle, Indiana and Cleveland and only met in L.A. In an era of bad-boy rockers who weren’t terribly bad and wrote music that sounded too good, Guns N’ Roses were the genuine article. Their songs echoed with the love for rock and roll and the spirit of rebellion. When Geffen Records A&R man Tom Zutaut signed the band he had no idea what he had gotten into. No one else wanted GN’R because they were viewed as a liability, a band as likely to miss the show as perform a gangbuster set. Yet what Zutaut heard from vocalist Axl Rose, guitarists Slash and Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Steven Adler was inspiring and seemed to have the potential to be a profitable signing if they didn’t all die in an alcohol or drug related mishap. Appetite for Destruction is the debut studio album by American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. It was released on July 21, 1987, by Geffen Records. The album was released to little mainstream attention in 1987. It was not until the following year that Appetite for Destruction became a commercial success, after the band had toured and received significant airplay with the singles "Welcome to the Jungle", "Paradise City" and "Sweet Child o' Mine". The album peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200 and became the seventh best-selling album of all time in the United States, as well as the best-selling debut album. With over 30 million copies sold worldwide, it is also one of the best-selling albums of all time. Although critics were originally ambivalent toward the album, Appetite for Destruction has received retrospective acclaim and has been viewed as one of the greatest albums of all time. In 2018, it was re-released as a remastered box set to similar acclaim.

Dem Vinyl Boyz EP 08 - As Nasty As The Want To Be Aug 27, 2022

Show notes

(1989) 2 Live Crew - As Nasty As They Want to Be Dem Vinyl Boyz Review (Episode 08) recorded August 2022 Shakin' what ya Mama gave ya this week on Dem Vinyl Boyz Episode 08 "As Nasty As They Want To Be" from 2 Live Crew. This historical album features dope classics such as "Me So Horny", "C'Mon Babe" and "Dirty Nursery Rhymes"!!! The 2 Live Crew consists of Chris Wong Won aka "Fresh Kid Ice", David Hobbs aka "Mr. Mixx", Mark Ross aka "Brother Marquis", and Luther Campbell aka "Uncle Luke", aka "Luke Skyywalker", aka "Captain D" aka "Luke"!!! Luther Campbell was the Quarterback for 2 Live Crew. he is synonymous with Miami. It’s the city where he was born and raised. He first gained attention as one of Liberty City’s premier DJs. If you had $50, Campbell happily showed up to spin records. “I did parks, car washes, wedding receptions, baby showers, street corners,” Campbell tells SPIN from his Miami home. “I was available.” Those early sets would mostly feature Herbie Hancock, ‘70s British funk band Olympic Runners, and some reggae records. “Miami’s not really the South,” he says. “It’s a melting pot of Bahamians, Jamaicans, Cubans, Dominicans, and Puerto Ricans.” Campbell himself is the son of a Bahamian mother and Jamaican father. Then hip-hop came along, down from New York. Campbell was instantly hooked. “I started playing these records at the parks and skating rinks,” he says. Campbell then came across a California duo called 2 Live Crew. The early iteration of the group was very different from what the group would become. Their first single “Revelation” and didn’t contain a single bad word. “It was a ‘conscience’ record,” Campbell remembers. The record’s uplifting message wasn’t exactly setting the charts on fire. Not to mention the group’s lack of showmanship. “These guys were boring on stage,” he says. The 2 Live Crew’s “As Nasty as They Want to Be” is a watershed album in hip hop history. It stands to this day as arguably the dirtiest record ever laid to tape, or at least one that millions of kids heard. What made it relevant, aside from the fact it contains enormously catchy beats and rhymes (albeit stolen for the most part), is it was for a period of time declared “legally obscene.” In their infinite wisdom, the state of Florida made the act of selling this album an arrest-able offense, an enormously controversial measure that exploded in their faces like a Luther Campbell facial once they realized people will automatically defy the norm and acquire anything they are told they cannot have (the “banned” album moved 2 million copies)

Dem Vinyl Boyz Ep 07 - Dark Side of the Moon Aug 19, 2022

Show notes

This week Dem Vinyl Boyz are back with another classic “‘The Dark Side of the Moon’" . Revered as one of the greatest rock albums of all time, “Dark Side” — which tackles weighty themes of greed, conflict, religion, mortality and mental illness — was first released in the U.S. March 17, 1973. Despite only reaching the No. 1 spot for one solitary week, the album continues to hold the record for the most weeks charted on the Billboard 200 (over 800 weeks!) and was a constant feature on the Billboard 200 from its initial release until 1988 – returning to the chart in late 2009 after Billboard revised its chart eligibility rules regarding older releases. It is estimated to have sold over 45 million copies worldwide, while its artistic legacy is arguably even greater. The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 1 March 1973 by Harvest Records. Primarily developed during live performances, the band premiered an early version of the suite several months before recording began. The record was conceived as an album that focused on the pressures faced by the band during their arduous lifestyle, and dealing with the apparent mental health problems suffered by former band member Syd Barrett, who departed the group in 1968. New material was recorded in two sessions in 1972 and 1973 at EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios) in London.

Dem Vinyl Boyz Ep 06 - Marshall Mathers LP Aug 12, 2022

Show notes

This week's 12" inch piece of vinyl shows Slim Shady sitting on the porch of the home in which he lived as a teenager. The album sleeve visuals are in black and white but the sounds touch on different colors and sexual orientations. The Marshall Mathers LP is the third studio album by American rapper Eminem, released on May 23, 2000, by Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The album was produced mostly by Dr. Dre and Eminem, along with The 45 King, the Bass Brothers, and Mel-Man. Recorded over a two-month period in several studios around Detroit, the album features more introspective lyricism, including Eminem's thoughts on his rise from rags to riches, the criticism of his music, and his estrangement from his family and wife. Next week tune in to hear Pink Floyd's Dark Side of Moon. Honoring and examining the greatest vinyl of all time. Give us a review in the app store and send any feedback to demvinylboyz@gmail.com

Dem Vinyl Boyz Ep 05 - Purple Rain Aug 05, 2022

Show notes

Dem Vinyl Boyz going CRAZY for Prince (aka the symbol) and his legendary album from 1984. Purple Rain is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Prince, released on June 25, 1984, by Warner Bros. Records and the soundtrack to the 1984 film of the same name. Purple Rain was musically denser than Prince's previous albums, emphasizing full band performances, and multiple layers of guitars, keyboards, electronic synthesizer effects, drum machines, and other instruments. Much of the album had a grandiose, synthesized, and psychedelic sheen to the production and performances. The music on Purple Rain is generally regarded as the most pop-oriented of Prince's career, though a number of elements point towards the more experimental records Prince would release after Purple Rain. The music video for the album's lead single "When Doves Cry" sparked controversy among network executives, who thought its sexual nature was too explicit for television. The risqué lyrics of "Darling Nikki" raised complaints from Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center and contributed to the implementation of Parental Advisory stickers and imprints on album covers. Prince designed Purple Rain as the project that would make him a superstar, and, surprisingly, that is exactly what happened. Simultaneously more focused and ambitious than any of his previous records, Purple Rain finds Prince consolidating his funk and R&B roots while moving boldly into pop, rock, and heavy metal with nine superbly crafted songs. Even its best-known songs don't tread conventional territory: the bass-less "When Doves Cry" is an eerie, spare neo-psychedelic masterpiece; "Let's Go Crazy" is a furious blend of metallic guitars, Stonesy riffs, and a hard funk backbeat; the anthemic title track is a majestic ballad filled with brilliant guitar flourishes. Although Prince's songwriting is at a peak, the presence of the Revolution pulls the music into sharper focus, giving it a tougher, more aggressive edge. And, with the guidance of Wendy and Lisa, Prince pushed heavily into psychedelia, adding swirling strings to the dreamy "Take Me With U" and the hard rock of "Baby I'm a Star." Even with all of his new, but uncompromising, forays into pop, Prince hasn't abandoned funk, and the robotic jam of "Computer Blue" and the menacing grind of "Darling Nikki" are among his finest songs. Taken together, all of the stylistic experiments add up to a stunning statement of purpose that remains one of the most exciting rock & roll albums ever recorded. Enjoy this week's episode. Be sure to rate and review our podcasts. Thank you for listening.

Dem Vinyl Boyz Ep 04 - The Black Album Jul 29, 2022

Show notes

This week The Vinyl Boyz celebrate one of the greatest rock albums of all time. Metallica's Black Album. Metallica is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica. Released on August 12, 1991, by Elektra Records, it is commonly referred to as The Black Album because of its packaging design. Its recording took place at One on One Studios in Los Angeles over an eight-month span that frequently found Metallica at odds with their new producer Bob Rock. The album marked a change in the band's music from the thrash metal style of their previous four albums to a slower, heavier, and more refined sound. Metallica promoted Metallica with a series of tours. They also released five singles to promote the album: "Enter Sandman", "The Unforgiven", "Nothing Else Matters", "Wherever I May Roam", and "Sad but True", all of which have been considered to be among the band's best-known songs. The song "Don't Tread on Me" was also issued to rock radio shortly after the album's release but did not receive a commercial single release.

Dem Vinyl Boyz Ep. 03 - Midnight Marauders Jul 22, 2022

Show notes

This week the Vinyl Boyz drop the needle on the 90s classic hip-hop record from A Tribe Called Quest titled Midnight Marauders. Released on November 9, 1993, by Jive Records. John “Q-Tip” Davis a.k.a. Kamaal Fareed, Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor, and Ali Shaheed Muhammed had already earned the adoration of dedicated hip-hop heads and fans of other genres with their previous projects. But with Midnight Marauders, they cemented their legend. Tribe were in a difficult position when working to put together Midnight Marauders: how do you follow up literally one of the best hip-hop albums of all time? Following their debut People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths Of Rhythm (1990), their sophomore LP The Low End Theory (1991) showcased the group’s vastly improved production chops and rhyming abilities. With their second album, they created perfect music to chill and vibe out to. It was a masterful artistic achievement. This album we reviewed this week is ranked in the top 5 of all time when discussing the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. Commercially, Midnight Marauders is the A Tribe Called Quest’s highest selling album. The album sold over 1,000,000 copies within it’s first year, making it a platinum hit. It also peaked #70 on the UK album charts, #8 on the Billboard 200, and took the top spot Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. A lot of the album’s success is due to its timeless classic of a single “Award Tour” which peaked at #47 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s influence has spanned decades with the track being referenced by the likes of Wale, Kanye West, Common, Azealia Banks, and Justin Timberlake. Recording sessions for the album occurred at Battery Studios, Platinum Island Studios and Scorcerer Sound in New York City. Its production was mainly handled by Q-Tip, with contributions from Skeff Anselm, Large Professor and the group's DJ, Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A culmination of the group's two previous albums, it features an eclectic, gritty sound based on jazz, funk, soul and R&B samples, in addition to socially conscious, positively-minded, and humorous lyrics. Thanks for listening. Next week we will be reviewing Metallica's Black Album from 1991. Please subscribe and tell your friends about us!

Dem Vinyl Boyz Ep. 02 - Paid in Full Jul 16, 2022

Show notes

As the prototype album of Hip Hop’s “Golden Era”, everything from song arrangement, album artwork, and even their wardrobe on the album cover became iconic items of that time period. This week Dem Vinyl Boyz review the legendary album "Paid in Full" The album peaked at number fifty-eight on the Billboard 200 chart, number eight on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and produced five singles: "Eric B. Is President", "I Ain't No Joke", "I Know You Got Soul", "Move the Crowd", and "Paid in Full". Next week we will reviewing a rock album. Please subscribe to our podcast and tell your friends.

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