Divinyl Intervention

Sometimes albums you enjoy disappear into the cracks of your collection, overlooked and underappreciated.  But when you do unearth them again, you're glad that you did.
On this episode we dig into the crevices of my record collection for some gems of "college rock" in the early-mid 1980s.  Whether you have never heard these albums before, or like me, you haven't listened to them in a while, we hope you enjoy the effort.  And we hope it spurs you to go re-visit you own collections for your favorite underplayed records!

Classic rock stations have hundreds of bands and thousands of songs to choose from, so why do they seem to play only a handful of songs from a limited number of bands?  Even albums and songs that were in regular rotation when they first came out have been relegated to the dustbin of history,  to be occasionally unearthed only by hardcore fans that have them in their own collections.  In the words of Roger Waters: "This will not do."
So, on this episode, we talk about the struggle and play some seemingly forgotten songs from unforgettable bands . . . bands that were and are staples of classic rock radio.  Give it a listen!

On this episode we follow the circuitous path of Ska music back across the Atlantic to the shores of the United States.  East Coast Ska, West Coast Ska, and a few special surprises to close out our three-part feature on this classic Jamaican music.  

It all started in 1970 when Miles Davis released Bitches Brew.  That spore of creativity gave rise to the Jazz Fusion movement, and many of its creators branched out into new musical ventures, carrying the movement forward in their own respective styles.  Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, The Headhunters, and Weather Report are also featured in this episode.  Free your mind . . . and you know the rest! 

In this episode we shine the spotlight on several underappreciated artists, hoping to give them some of the exposure denied them by radio and other media outlets - - a problem perhaps caused by difficulty in categorizing artists that don't fit neatly into established "boxes" by the music industry and listening audiences.  So, today we feature Victoria Williams, Kristen Hersh, Neko Case, Lucinda Williams, and Susan Tedesci.  Spread the word: these ladies are highly accomplished recording artists. 

Ska Sails for England!
Having discussed the origins of ska in Jamaica in part 1 of our 3-part series, we now trace the music to the late 70s - early 80s ska revivial in England, with primary focus on bands recording for the 2 Tone label.  The Specials, English Beat, Selecter, and Bad Manners are all featured.  Your Doc Martens are in for a workout...

Don't touch that dial!
Musical critiques of television began appearing more frequently in the post-punk era and the pattern persisted into the 90s, crossing many music genres. 
Was TV just a harmless distraction from real life or something potentially more sinister?  
Let's ask The Tubes, Public Enemy, Roger Waters, and several others.  
But, remember this offer is not available in stores.

Let's take a trip in time to 1960s Jamaica to chart ska's path over to the UK in the 1980s and eventually to the USA. 

Our multi-episode trip will take us through the evolution of ska, from its Jamaican roots, to the Second Wave with UK bands on the 2 Tone label, and finally to crowded clubs on both America's East and West coasts.

This episode will introduce you to the foundational artists of early ska and preview the explosion in its popularity when British artists begin to mine from Jamaican ska's rich reserve.

Fans of the Skatalites, Desmond Dekker and the Aces, and Prince Buster won't want to miss this one.

Some guitarists are immediately recognizable by their sound, others by their playing style, and sometimes both.  This episode is dedicated to such guitarists of distinction; you know the dude behind the guitar, even if you don't know the track itself.  

From pioneers like Dick Dale and Duane Eddy, unique rock talents like Adrian Belew and Andy Gill, and jazz stylist Stanley Jordan, there’s something here for everyone.  

We also include a couple surprise “appearances” that you will have to guess for yourselves.

When a successful rock band loses/fires its lead vocalist, it is not necessarily The End (beautiful friend, The End...) for the band- or the vocalist.  

In this episode, we explore three bands that found great- or even greater- success after a split.  

And the singers didn't fare so badly either.