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

Most record collectors use Discogs each day - so what does the data tell us about the state of record collecting? Founder & CEO Kevin Lewandowski and COO Lloyd Starr talk to us about the data and future of this pivotal platform.

Topic Include:

• Introductions – CEO and COO roles
• A brief history of Discogs
• Original visions and business model of Discogs
• Dealing with users that have high expectations
• Classical music posed some challenges to catalogue
• Is Discogs built for non-physical media?
• Dealing with strange data points and entries
• What is the most expensive items sold through Discogs
• Data trends of record and music buyers
• The architecture of Discogs
• Early challenges supporting with website
• Recent focus on modernizing the Discogs architecture
• Planning new Discogs features
• Dark Side of the Moon is the most catalogued item in Discogs
• New features for the Discogs wantlist
• Events that create surges in purchasing activity
• What role will AI play in Discogs?
• Managing user feedback and priorities for features
• Helping new users become contributors
• Training new users to make edits
• Will Discogs do an IPO someday?
• What will Discogs look like in 5 years?
• Interview wrapup

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

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The 1971 album "Moon Blood" by Fraction has fascinated record collectors for decades. The perfect intersection between great musicianship, intriguing backstory and supreme rarity, Fraction "Moon Blood" is now getting an official reissue through Riding Easy Records. Dillon Smith (Noble Records), Lance Barresi (Permanent Records) & Daniel Hall (Riding Easy) share the story of the legend.

Topic Include:

• Fraction "Moon Blood" cover art challenges
• The origin story of Fraction
• Jim Beach of Fraction wants little to do with the reissue
• What do we know about Fraction before "Moon Blood"
• "Moon Blood" had Christian themes
• Only 200 copies were pressed in 1971
• The Doors LA Woman may have influenced the packaging
• The challenge of duplicating the cover art in modern times
• Lack of information on Fraction just adds to the mystery
• Fraction "Moon Blood" musicians never had another public music credit
• What we know about the extra tracks
• The Mexican Summer reissue of "Moon Blood"
• When record collectors started seeking "Moon Blood" in the 80s and 90s
• The influence of Acid Archives
• The Doors heavily influenced Fraction
• The source of the new reissue – comparing to an original
• How Mexican Summer arranged for a reissue
• Dillon's journey with Fraction "Moon Blood"
• Lance's original copy of Fraction "Moon Blood"
• Daniel's experience getting Fraction reissue approved
• The breakdown of reissue vinyl pressings
• Interview wrap up

Order Fraction "Moon Blood" vinyl at Riding Easy Records, Noble Records and Permanent Records.

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

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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

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

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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, 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

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

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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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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

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

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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

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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