The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Copyright: © TheVinylGuide.com interview is property of Nate Goyer. Featured songs are the property of their copyright holders, used with their permission.

Latest Episodes:

Ep449: CJ and Spike of Me First & the Gimme Gimmes May 20, 2024

Show notes

9 years since the last album, CJ Ramone and Spike Slawson discuss the new album "Me First & the Gimme Gimmes ¡Blow It…at Madison's Quinceañera!" - the victories and challenges of the band, disgruntled audience members, picking annoying songs to cover and what's next for the band.

Topic Include:

What is a quinceañera?
MFATGG music wasn't familiar to 15 year old girls
Traditional Spanish songs in the album
Making the live album at a quinceañera
MFATGG is a live band – best way to capture them on record
Spike and band enjoys the live awkward moments
A nasty email from a disgruntled audience member
Dealing with difficult audience members
American schlager culture / antagonizing the audience
The process of selecting Madison for the quinceañera
The family struggled through parts of the show
Comparing to MFATGG Ruin Johnny's Bar mitzvah album
The quinceañera was filmed, when will we see it?
MFATGG hearing back from artists they covered
CJ comparing MFATGG to Ramones doing "Acid Eaters"
Spike hates the original versions of songs MFATGG play
How are the songs selected for a MFATGG project?
Nate screws up the "Queen of Hearts" lyrics
What other songs would Spike like to cover?
They like covering songs that give them negative responses
Folding in punk riffs into covers
Memories of Steve Soto and Manic Hispanic
Will there be more MFATGG albums in the near future?
Interview wrap up

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Ep448: Preserving Punk with Trust Records May 13, 2024

Show notes

Joe Nelson is co-founder of Trust Records, which specializes in preserving and extending classic punk and hardcore records for future generations including Circle Jerks, 7 Seconds, DFL, SSD and more.

Topic Include:

Interview kick off
Origin & Mission of Trust Records
Creating a legacy, giving back to community
Adding materials to allow new listeners to understand the history
Engaging Circle Jerks securing "Group Sex" and "Wild In The Streets"
Building the trust for a new model of managing punk legacy
Keith Morris is punk rock Yoda
Gathering materials, tapes, pictures, artwork for reissues
Brokering deals for various stakeholders
Initial pressings often aren't the best the music can sound
Using stems for remixing, listener participation
Difficult projects to pull together
Upcoming releases: SSD "Get It Away", Stalag 13 "In Control", SNFU "... And No One Else Wanted To Play", Royal Crown Review
Hepcat – Greg Lee's special request, Aggression, 7 Seconds "New Wind" and extras
The story of Descendents / Circle Jerks split – 1st non-reissue
Trust Records sell out quick – any upcoming repressings?
SSD "The Kids Will Have Their Say" reissue is true to the original – cover variations
Pressing records during the pandemic
Is Trust mainly vinyl? Any CDs or Cassettes, etc?
7" singles within some of the Trust releases – 7 Seconds, Agression
Youth Brigade – Sound and Fury Deluxe Edition – original album
Negotiating with multiple band members
What does he think will happen with SST Records?
The recent sale of Dead Kennedys catalogue
Interview wrap up

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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Steve Albini (1962-2024) - The Vinyl Guide Interview May 08, 2024

Show notes

Steve Albini, musician, engineer and producer of some of the most memorable records of the 90s up through today. His ears and musical sensibilities were stellar and his wit and attitude made him appreciated and revered by most. RIP Steve Albini.

Topic Include:

Steve doesn't consider himself an audiophile
Steve's turntable and home audio system
Taking care of records
Favourite record shops
Liquidating his record collection
Discovering the Stooges & Ramones in Montana
Entering the punk scene of Chicago
Big Black "Lungs" items and inserts
Experimenting and making each record unique
Quantities, repressings and collectability
The Mentally Ill's "Gacy's Place" single
Reverse shoplifting at a record store
Collecting consignment money
"Do you know what a hooker DOESN'T want to do on her night off?"
Seeing bands, taking care of ears and hearing
Still hearing most detail but aware of decline
Never comfortable delegating critical tasks
How does Steve protect his hearing?
Shifting from "Engineer Steve" to "Creative Musician Steve"
Balancing priorities, studio bookings and personal music
What's the best rumour you've ever heard about yourself?
Who is a band you haven't worked with that you'd like to?
Working with The Stooges
Slint spills tea across the recording console
Interview wrap up

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Ep447: Matt Pike & Coady Willis of High on Fire May 06, 2024

Show notes

Matt Pike (Sleep) and Coady Willis (Big Business, Melvins) discuss their latest High on Fire album "Cometh The Storm", the many vinyl variants, touring, winning a Grammy and much more.

Topic Include:

Coady and Matt fighting with Zoom
Great response to the new album
When is it time to do a new High on Fire album
The process of writing a new album
Lessons learnt with Melvins brought to High on Fire
Any outtakes or over-recording?
Involvement in the vinyl variants
Quantities of vinyl pressings
Forming and sequencing the album
Where Matt keeps his Grammy
Memories of Lemmy
Reaction when the Grammy nomination was announced
Busting Coady's chops
Touring the new LP first in Europe
Is post-Covid touring normalizing?
Potential Australian tour dates to be announced?
Integrating tours with various other bands
What's up with Big Business?
Balancing multiple bands
Sleep Dopesmoker pot leaf vinyl from Third Man
Al is great at marketing and merch ideas
The Sleep Vault materials
The recent reissue of "The Art of Self Defence"
Interview wrap up

Get High on Fire "Cometh The Storm" on vinyl here.

Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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Ep446: Handmade Vinyl Boxsets of DEAD and We Empty Rooms Apr 29, 2024

Show notes

DEAD and We Empty Rooms regularly releases extremely ambitious vinyl packages and boxsets. Today we speak with proprietor Jem on the making of these collections, the recent "Burn Us Clean" 9-7" boxset, working with Hard-Ons, Melvins and what's next for this creative label.

Topic Include:

Zoom anxiety / interview start
Jem's skills in manufacturing and music
Keeping limits of record numbers
Variations of "The Laughing Shadow"
Using various record pressing plants and materials
Manufacturing challenges
Discovering records – much cheaper than CDs
Zenith records made the "Burn Us Clean" records
Deciding to make a boxset of 9 – 7" records
Working with 9 other bands to have b-sides for each single
The Melvins and Hard-Ons split – 70g 7"
Hard-Ons 30 Years boxset
Guidance from Hard-Ons for their boxset
Recording the new album with all-analogue intentions
Announcing their new Double Album
The various versions of "Burn Us Clean" boxset
The logistics of coordinating "Burn Us Clean" boxset
Minimal guidance given to the other bands
Packaging for the "Burn Us Clean" boxset
The surprise flexi-disc
Will DEAD consider another major boxset?
Hand-silkscreened record sleeves
Upcoming new double LP set
Other projects with ambitiously underestimated complexities
The endearing qualities of hand-crafted record packaging
Interview wrap up

Follow DEAD and We Empty Rooms' Bandcamp pages here.

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

Ep445: Dweezil Zappa - Return of the Son of... Apr 22, 2024

Show notes

Dweezil Zappa returns to The Vinyl Guide to share stories of Frank, the recordings, Frank's record collection, an unreleased track with Eddie Van Halen, discuss his tour celebrating 50 years of "Roxy & Elsewhere", "Apostrophe'" and more!

The changing world of touring
50 years since "Roxy & Elsewhere" & "Apostrophe"
Memories of the making of Roxy and Apostrophe
"Roxy and Elsewhere" arrangements and approach for live shows
Frank's approach to being "in the moment" in a guitar solo
Dweezil's live interaction with other band members
The Rox(postroph)y touring band
Did Dweezil recognize the uniqueness of his upbringing?
Dweezil's history with playing guitar
Seeing the guitar neck as shapes
Working with his dad and musicians that were around the house
Frank's response to Dweezil becoming a musician
How did Frank look back on "Roxy & Elsewhere" and "Apostrophe"?
Various entry points to Frank's music
Does Dweezil have his father's archivist mentality
Dweezil has had no involvement for Zappa Family Trust releases
Thoughts on the recent Roxy box sets
What Zappa music is Dweezil still aspiring to play?
ROX(POSTROPH)Y tour plans, international tour dates?
Dweezil's version of "Stayin' Alive" with Ozzy Osbourne
Frank and Ozzy's interactions
Frank's vinyl collection and listening habits
When the Zappa family would receive Frank's latest album
Did Dweezil have any time with Randy Rhoads?
The unreleased "What The Hell Was I Thinking?" track w/ Eddie Van Halen, Brian May, Angus and Malcolm Young & lots more
Dweezil is remixing projects for ATMOS (Deep Purple 'Machine Head' recent project)
The history and future of "What The Hell Was I Thinking?"
Working with Brian May, Joe Walsh and Eddie Van Halen
Any special guests on the ROX(POSTROPH)Y tour
Dweezil's podcast "Running with the Dweezil"
Interview wrap up

Check out Dweezil's tour dates here.

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

Michael Cuscuna (1948-2024) - The Vinyl Guide Interview Apr 21, 2024

Show notes

Michael Cuscuna (1948-2024) spent several decades preserving record label archives and compiling rare recordings, sessions and 'vault material' through Mosaic Records. In theis 2019 interview he discusses this fascinating journey through the vaults of Blue Note, Atlantic, Impulse and more to make this material available to music lovers around the world.

Starting his career, joining Atlantic
Producer and A&R for Atlantic Records
Working with the Atlantic Records tape warehouse
Early tape finds – Mingus at Antibes
Convincing Ahmet Ertegun to reissue lost material
Unissued material lost in a building fire
Starting to document and archive Blue Note tapes
Joining Blue Note, organizing the archive
Finding Alfred Lion's notes and files in Japan
Obtaining the Francis Wolff photography negatives
Improving the condition of the negatives and imagery
Was Alfred aware of the legacy of Blue Note Records?
Did Blue Note have the original artwork and cover layouts?
Memories of the Blue Note Reissue Series
Much of the Blue Note vault materials have been issued
Trainwreck sessions that haven't been released
Blue Note artwork in the 70s and 80s
Listening to hours and hours of outtakes
Idea for Mosaic Records boxsets
Working with various labels and rights holders for reissues
Columbia reissuing Miles Davis
Mosaic shift from LP to CD
Deciding what's next for Mosaic Records releases
Challenges of developing boxsets
Most rewarding Mosaic Releases
Current pricing of Mosaic Records boxsets
Story of the Monk/Coltrane at Carnagie Hall
Story of the Charlie Parker / Dean Benedetti tapes
Interview wrap up

Support this podcast at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

Ep444: Recording Melvins with Buzz Osborne & Toshi Kasai Apr 08, 2024

Show notes

Buzz Osborne and Toshi Kasai have been musical collaborators for several decades of Melvins and related releases. They discuss their partnership, history, studio lessons and memories, recording "Tarantula Heart", future releases and more.

Buzz and Toshi met at a Tool recording session
Toshi and Buzz have similar humour and work ethic
Melvins work on defined time schedules
How "Tarantula Heart" was recorded
Melvins have to re-learn the songs from Tarantula Heart
Potential relation to "Plan D" recording approach
Making the 20 minute track "Pain Equals Funny"
How to approach playing "Tarantula Heart" tracks live
Melvins activity during the pandemic
Recording session with Melvins & Napalm Death
Lots of Melvins unreleased material
What has Buzz Learned from Toshi?
Buzz would like to re-record the Atlantic albums
What has Toshi learned from Buzz?
How will Buzz approach the next album?
Constraints during recording
Trying to not overthink material
Examples of sessions that were not successful
Husker Du's "Data Control" was recorded multiple times before the Helms Alee version
Upcoming HAZEXXL remix of "Pain Equals Funny" / Boris split
Melvins recent vinyl reissues
"(A) Senile Animal" vinyl screwup
Any preparation for the end of Melvins?
Upcoming projects, albums
Interview wrap up

Order "Tarantula Heart" at Ipecac or Blixt Merchandise

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

Ep443: Chester Thompson (Genesis, Zappa and more) Apr 01, 2024

Show notes

Drumming legend Chester Thompson has played with many great artists including Frank Zappa, Wayne Shorter, Genesis and more. Today we discuss some career highlights, his new solo LP "Wake Up Call" and more.

Chester's music collection
Seeing Art Blakey, Elvis Jones and more
Being a gigging drummer at 13 years old
Recording with O'Donel Levy – 1st appearance on record
Moving to California, playing for Frank Zappa
Recording "Roxy & Elsewhere" w Ralph Humphrey
Playing with multiple drummers
Frank was very fair paying musicians for all output
Steering clear of the Los Angeles lifestyle
Joining Weather Report, working with Wayne Shorter
Recording "Black Market"
Playing with Jaco Pastorius / Columbia Records supportive of fusion
Playing with a Broadway show, getting the gig with Genesis
1st tour with Genesis / evolving style to play Phil's tracks
Chester's perspective of the evolving music of Genesis
The growth of Genesis / expanding fanbase
The recent discussions of Genesis reunions with Peter Gabriel
The biggest shows / Memories of The Prince's Trust
Approaching solo material
Making the album "Wake Up Call"
Writing with drums first before melody
The reasons for title "Wake Up Call"
Some drummers needing to relearn technique
Upcoming plans for live gigs
Getting involved in ProgRock.com label
Is Chester surprised by the vinyl revival?
Interview wrap up

Get the vinyl version of "Wake Up Call" here.

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

Ep442: What's Next for Keith Morris (Circle Jerks, OFF!) Mar 28, 2024

Show notes

Keith Morris returns to discuss the new Circle Jerks & Descendents EP, new Circle Jerks recordings and vinyl reissues, OFF!'s "FREE LSD" movie, additional acting opportunities, movies & more!

Keith is on tour – Circle Jerks, Descendents & Adolescents
Growing up with The Descendents
Circle Jerks & Descendents covering one another's songs
Limited quantities of the EP – on tour
Outtakes from the EP
The story of Black Flag's "White Minority"
"Hope" is Keith's favourite Descendents song
Any special combination of bands on the tour? Potential FLAG performance?
Keith has to pee – First time
Balancing the various projects (OFF!, The Bronx, etc)
What's happening with OFF!
The impact of "The Sparks Brothers" documentary on the band
Video of Sydney OFF! Show mixed by "Party Dozen" drummer
Keith's preparation for acting in "FREE LSD" movie
Upcoming acting opportunities / future movies and projects
Keith's autobiography "My Damage" has been optioned for a movie
Upcoming Circle Jerks recordings – D.O.A. and Gun Club covers
New Circle Jerks album is going to happen
Working with Trust Records
Upcoming reissues of "Golden Shower of Hits", "Wonderful" and more
Legal issues with older materials
When will we see the new Circle Jerks album?
What's happening with Keith's hat / Punk Rock Museum
Interview wrap up
Keith has to pee – again
Circle Jerks announcement for Australia

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

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