Vinyl-O-Matic

Vinyl-O-Matic

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Vinyl-O-Matic episodes

  • 45s and Other Revolutions: A-Sides beginning with the letter L.

    The Hombres [mm:ss]

    a side: "Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)"
    b side: "Go Girl, Go"
    Verve Forecast KF5058 1967
    Ugh, booze, cigarettes, women and rock 'n' roll, amirite? jk. A mighty fine Nuggets classic from Memphis's own garage rock band The Hombres.

    The Beat [mm:ss]

    a side: "Let Me Into Your Life"
    b side: "Walking Out on Love"
    Columbia Records 1-11161 1979
    Goddamn, all killer and no filler on this rad release from the (US) Beat. The a-side co-penned by Eddie Money.

    Jimmy McCracklin [mm:ss]

    a side: "Let the Door Hit You"
    b side: "This Thing"
    Minit MN-880 1967
    Great stuff from one of the Bay Area greats.

    David Bowie [mm:ss]

    a side: "Let's Dance"
    b side: "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)"
    EMI Records B-8158 1983
    Yes indeed, that is the illustrious Stevie Ray Vaughan on lead guitar. And the b-side is a little number co-written with Giorgio Moroder for the 1982 Paul Schrader version of Cat People.

    Les Cooper & the Soul Rockers [mm:ss]

    a side: "Let's Do the Boston Monkey"
    b side: "Owee Baby"
    Enjoy Records EN 34569 1965
    You know I love a good monkey song.

    The Cars [mm:ss]

    a side: "Let's Go"
    b side: "That's It"
    Elektra Records E-46063 1979
    They're hit single from Candy-O. Dig that Prophet 5! B-side features Benjamin Orr on vox.

    Raspberries [mm:ss]

    a side: "Let's Pretend (Stereo)"
    b side: "Let's Pretend (Mono)"
    Capitol Records P-3546 1972
    Some nascent power pop from Eric Carmen and company. This promo single features a contest for the Raspberries' Rollswagen. All you have to do is return the entry blank explaining which one of the Raspberries is the "foxiest" and why: Eric Carmen, Wally Bryson, Dave Smalley, or Jim Bonfanti. The lucky winner will be the happy owner of the Raspberries' Rollswagen (a VW bug with a Rolls Royce front end) with these "far-out" features:
    -Special Raspberry-Pearl paint and green vinyl top, personally designed by George Barris for the Raspberries.
    -Foxy fur upholstery! Created by California's leading auto interior designer Harold Mitchell.
    -Formula Super Stock Tires on Ansen Sprint Wheels.
    -Quadrasonic 8-Track Stereo System! Outasight sound with 4 speakers by Car Tapes, Inc of California.
    -A complete Library of 100 Capitol 8-track cartridges! Includes Beatles! Helen Reddy! Rick Springfield, Leon Russel! Many more favorites.
    Hoo boy.

    Wilbert Harrison One Man Band [mm:ss]

    a side: "Let's Work Together (Part 1)"
    b side: "Let's Work Together (Part 2)"
    Sue Records SUE 11 1969
    As true today as it was then. You may be familiar with versions by Canned Heat, Bryan Ferry and as we heard a few episodes, Dwight Yoakam. Fine stuff. An improved variation on his original 1962 "Let's Stick Together".

    Music behind the DJ: "Irena's Theme" by Giorgio Moroder.

    54 min
  • 45s and Other Revolutions: A-Sides beginning with the letter K and some that begins with the letter L.

    Queen [00:26]

    a side: "Killer Queen"
    b side: "Flick of the Wrist"
    Elektra Records E-45226 1974
    Totally killer. Queen's first foray onto the American charts, reaching #12 on the Hot 100. And it won Freddie Mercury his first Ivor Novello Award.

    Steve Martin (and the Toot Uncommons) [06:41]

    a side: "King Tut"
    b side: "Sally Goodin/Hoedown at Alice's"
    Warner Bros. Records WBS 8577 1978
    The pinnacle of comedy as far as my adolescent self was concerned.

    Lita Ford [13:44]

    a side: "Kiss Me Deadly (Special Radio Version)"
    b side: "Kiss Me Deadly (LP Version)"
    RCA Records 6866-7 1988
    From the promo copy on the back of the sleeve: "If early sales are any indication, she just might be the female Whitesnake." says Bob Bell, New Releases Buyer, Wherehouse Entertainment. Indeed.

    Dawn [21:46]

    a side: "Knock Three Times"
    b side: "Home"
    Bell Records 938 1970
    Yes, the label just says "Dawn".

    Paul Simon [28:28]

    a side: "Kodachrome"
    b side: "Tenderness"
    Columbia Records 4-45859 1973
    I think there's a filter for that.

    Round Robin [34:58]

    a side: "Land of a Thousand Dances (The Na Na Song)"
    b side: "Yea Yea"
    Domain Records DM 1420 1965
    Los Angeles's own dance-craze recordmeister Round Robin.

    The Mar-Keys [39:59]

    a side: "Last Night"
    b side: "Night Before"
    Satellite S-107 1960
    The first house band for Stax records, featuring Charles Axton on sax and Steve Cropper on... second organ.

    Chic [44:48]

    a side: "Le Freak"
    b side: "Savoir Faire"
    Atlantic Records 3519 1978
    According to Nile Rogers, the chorus was originally going to be "Fuck Off" but you can't get a smash radio hit with that kind of title.

    Music behind the DJ: "Quentin's Theme (from Dark Shadows)" by Joe Reisman and his Orchestra.

    57 min
  • 45s and Other Revolutions: A-Sides beginning with the letter J, and one that begins with the letter K.

    DEVO [00:48]

    a side: "Jerkin' Back 'n' Forth (mono)"
    b side: "Jerkin' Back 'n' Forth (mono)"
    Warner Bros. Records WBS50010 1981
    Both sides are mono!

    The Archies [06:52]

    a side: "Jingle Jangle"
    b side: "Justine"
    Kirshner Records 63-5002 1969
    Hooo boy, if only this were a promo single I'd totally play "Jingle Jangle" twice. At least.

    Outer Limits Recordings [12:43]

    a side: "Julie"
    b side: "Plastik Child"
    Olde English Spelling Bee OESB-709 2010
    Awesome weirdo pop.

    Shawne Jackson [21:01]

    a side: "Just as Bad as You (stereo)"
    b side: "Just as Bad as You (mono)"
    Playboy Records P 50053 1974
    Funky stuff from North of the border.

    The Main Ingredient [27:10]

    a side: "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely"
    b side: "Goodbye My Love"
    RCA Victor APB0-0205 1974
    Ahhh so smooooth. Don't know why it only reached number 60 on the Hot 100.

    Sonny and Cher [35:39]

    a side: "Just You"
    b side: "Sing C'est la Vie"
    ATCO Records 45-6345 1965
    Their first single on ATCO, and evidently one of Cher's favorites.

    The Cars [43:29]

    a side: "Just What I Needed"
    b side: "Tonight She Comes"
    Elektra Records 7-69589 1985
    Huh, well I'll be damned... "Tonight She Comes" is actually the a-side since this was released for their Greatest Hits album. Oh well. Ah yes, it's all coming back to me now.

    The Pretenders [51:05]

    a side: "Kid (stereo)"
    b side: "Kid (mono)"
    Sire Records SRE49533 1979
    Definitely my favorite Pretenders single. Those James Honeyman-Scott riffs are where it's at. Happy to play that one twice.

    Music behind the DJ: "Gomez" by Vic Mizzy.

    1 hr
  • 45s and Other Revolutions: A-Sides beginning with the letter I, and some that begin with the letter J.

    Desmond Dekker and The Aces [00:42]

    a side: "Israelites"
    b side: "My Precious World"
    UNI Records 55129 1969
    This Desmond Dekker and Leslie Kong penned tune became the first reggae single to reach #1 in the UK and actually made it to number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.

    Johnny Bond [06:09]

    a side: "It Only Hurts When I Cry"
    b side: "The Girl Who Carries the Torch for Me"
    Starday 45-893
    Hmmm. Almost a kind of ska beat going on there. And I think the b-side is certainly taking some liberties (pause for groan).

    Dwight Yoakam [11:26]

    a side: "It Only Hurts When I Cry"
    b side: "Let's Work Together"
    Reprise Records 7-19148 1990
    Ah yes, that's more like it. Mr. Yoakam and Mr. Miller do sure wrote a fine happy sad song.

    The Mindbenders [17:37]

    a side: "It's Getting Harder All the Time"
    b side: "Off and Running"
    Fontana Records F-1595 1967
    Not one, but two tracks from the film "To Sire with Love".

    The Uniques [23:20]

    a side: "It's All Over Now"
    b side: "All I Took Was Love"
    Paula Records PAULA 299 1968
    Shreveports own The Uniques bringing us a lively version of this Bobby & Shirley Womack tune. Some of you may recall their single "You Ain't Tuff" from the first Nuggets compilation.

    Talk Talk [27:40]

    a side: "It's My Life"
    b side: "It's My Life"
    EMI Records P-B-8195 1984
    A true 80s classic.

    Kevin Rowland & Dexy's Midnight Runners [33:05]

    a side: "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven when You Smile)"
    b side: "Let's Make this Precious"
    Mercury Records DEXYS 10 1982
    Can't go wrong recording this Van Morrison tribute to "Reet Petite".

    David Dundas [39:49]

    a side: "Jeans On"
    b side: "Sleepy Serena"
    Chrysalis Records CHS 2094 1976
    Lord?! Yes, son of the 3rd Marquess of Zetland.

    BONUS:

    "To Sire with Love" Trailer [48:25]

    "To Sir with Love" by Terry Baxter and his Orchestra.

    52 min
  • 45s and Other Revolutions: Yet Still More A-Sides beginning with the letter I.

    The Bangles [00:24]

    a side: "If She Knew What She Wants"
    b side: "Not Like You"
    Columbia Records 38-05886 1986
    Now that' how you do a 4 minute pop song.

    Joe Tex [07:19]

    a side: "If Sugar Was as Sweet as You"
    b side: "The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)"
    Dial Records 45-4026 1966
    Whoops, flipped the sides around again. Oh well.

    The Belle Stars [14:12]

    a side: "Iko Iko"
    b side: "Iko Iko"
    Capitol Records P-B-44343 1982
    Huh, I'll be darned... "From the original motion picture Rain Man." A very 80s rendition of the Dixie Cups classic.

    BONUS TRACK

    God Is My Co-Pilot [17:04]
    "Iko"
    The Making of Americans 1991

    Will Oldham a side: "In My Mind" [18:59]

    Rising Shotgun b side: "Spotlight"
    Palace Records PR18 1997
    Oh those rascally Oldham brothers.

    Helmet [29:08]

    a side: "In the Meantime"
    b side: "No Nicky No"
    Amphetamine Reptile Records SCALE 47 1992
    That is definitely a sound of 1992 NYC.

    Zola Jesus [34.33]

    a side: "In Your Nature"
    b side: "In Your Nature (David Lynch Remix)"
    Sacred Bones Records SBR-073 2012
    From the subtle to the sublime.

    The Animals [42:12]

    a side: "Inside - Looking Out"
    b side: "You're On My Mind"
    MGM Records K13468 1966
    Kinda sound like they recorded "in the garden of eden."

    Patsy's Rats [48:59]

    a side: "Is It Alright?"
    b side: "Givin' Up"
    Wink and Spit WAS-005
    Heck yeah, some quality power pop.

    "That's a Nice Hat (Cap)" by Geroge Martin and his Orchestra.

    59 min
  • 45s and Other Revolutions: Still More A-Sides beginning with the letter I.

    Keith Carradine a side: "I'm Easy"

    Henry Gibson b side: "200 Years"
    ABD Records ABC-12117 1975
    Don't worry, I assure you the b-side is ironic.

    Lester Young

    a side: "I'm in the Mood/Big Top Blues"
    b side: "Rose Room"
    Norgran Records EP N-113 1955
    Definitely digging Big Top Blues.

    Dwight Twilley Band

    a side: "I'm On Fire"
    b side: "Did You See What Happened?"
    bonus b side: "Looking for the Magic"
    abc XYZ YYYY
    What?! Crazy, I know. Two singles, two different b-sides. The latter being one for a "jukebox only" pressing from Columbia Records in 1979. It sort of reminds me of the dreaded classic rock radio trick of "Hey, Old Band You Like has new album out, let's listen to a tried and true classic of theirs you love so we don't hurt any chances they might have of selling out the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter MegaDome." All right, it isn't anything like that.

    Bruce Springsteen

    a side: "I'm On Fire"
    b side: "Johnny Bye Bye"
    Columbia Records 38-04772 1984
    What?! Another Bruce Springsteen song? Oh no... what's happening to me щ（ﾟДﾟщ）

    The Blasters

    a side: "I'm Shakin'"
    b side: "No Other"
    Slash Records SRS-110 1981
    The Blasters, like no other.

    The Staple Singers

    a side: "I'll Take You There"
    b side: "I'm Just Another Soldier"
    Stax Records STA-0125 1972
    Believe it or not, I did use record cleaner but clearly this single was very much loved.

    The Yardbirds

    a side: "I'm A Man"
    b side: "Still I'm Sad"
    Epic Records 5-9857 1965
    Whoah... that's a helluva choice for a b-side.

    The Bee Gees

    a side: "I've Gotta Get a Message To You"
    b side: "Kitty Can"
    ATCO Records 45-6603 1968
    Ok, that b-side more than makes up for The Yardbirds b-side.

    "Bond Meets Solitaire" by George Martin.

    1 hr 2 min
  • 45s and Other Revolutions: More A-Sides beginning with the letter I.

    The Muffs

    a side: "I Need You"
    b side: "Beat Your Heart Out"
    Sub Pop SP157 1992
    Super rad Sub Pop single on splatter aqua with a bitchin' Bomp classic b-side cover of a smash by The Zeros.

    Aretha Franlin

    a side: "I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You)"
    b side: "Do Right Woman - Do Right Man"
    Atlantic Records 45-2386 1967
    Simmering hot stuff. Careful, don't scald yourself!

    Roy Head & the Traits

    a side: "I Pass the Day"
    b side: "Apple of My Eye"
    Back Beat 555 1965
    Whoops... got the a-side/b-side swapped around. Which now seems obvious.

    Prince

    a side: "I Wanna Be Your Lover"
    b side: "My Love Is Forever"
    Warner Bros. Records WBS 49050 1979
    The best Prince single, or The. Best. Prince. Single. ?

    The Dwarves

    a side: "I Wanna Kill Your Boyfriend"
    Sympathy for the Record Industry SFTRI 132 1992
    Uh, well the 45 is a cool translucent purple.

    Bonus A-Side:

    The Dave Clark Five
    a side: "I Like It Like That"
    Epic Records 5-9811 1965
    A nice little Chris Kenner/Allen Toussaint cover.

    The Strangeloves

    a side: "I Want Candy"
    b side: "It's About My Baby"
    Bang Records B-501 1965
    The classic. Sure I love Bow Wow Wow's version too. Also, if you haven't seen Bang! The Bert Berns Story, I highly recommend it if you're into that sort of thing.

    Belle and Sebastian

    a side: "I'm a Cuckoo"
    b side: "(I Believe in) Travellin' Light"
    Rough Trade Records RTRADS157 2004
    No that is how you lift a riff. So catchy too. And the video almost makes me want to take up jogging again.

    The Spencer Davis Group

    a side: "I'm a Man"
    b side: "Can't Get Enough of It"
    United Artists Records UA 50144 1967
    Ah yeah, hit me with that Hammond. Also a rad b-side.

    Music behind the DJ: "Black Magic Woman" by Terry Baxter & his Orchestra.

    53 min
  • 45s and Other Revolutions: A-Sides beginning with the letter I.

    The Troggs

    a side: "I Can't Control Myself"
    b side: "Gonna Make You"
    ATCO Records 45-6444 1966
    Low slacks?! Good heavens!

    Silver Apples a side: "I Don't Know"

    One Cut Kill b side: "White Russian/Black Heart"
    Gifted Children Records GCV07-001 2007
    Picked this up at a Silver Apples show at Cafe du Nord in 2007 (obvs) which also happened to be my first exposure to Thee Oh Sees live. Hooo boy, that was a night.

    Neil Sedaka

    a side: "I Go Ape"
    b side: "Moon of Gold"
    RCA Victor 47-7473 1959
    Of course this is one of my go-to's when spinning live.

    Etta James

    a side: "I Got You"
    b side: "I Worship the Ground You Walk On"
    Cadet 5606 1968
    Huh, you'd think I'd have the Sonny & Cher versions of this, but this super funky version will do just fine indeed. Killer b-side as well.

    The Miracles

    a side: "I Gotta Dance to Keep from Cryin'"
    b side: "Such Is Love, Such Is Life"
    TAMLA T-54089 1963
    Certainly one of my most favorite singles ever. My toe is tapping just thinking about it.

    Frida

    a side: "I Know There's Something Going On"
    b side: "Threnody"
    Atlantic Records 7-89984 1982
    Yes, by the same man who brought us middling "Since You've Been Gone", Rainbow's meh hit single. And hey produced and drummed by the illustrious Phil Collins! But you know I will never speak ill of Anni-Frid.

    Joan Jett & the Blackhearts

    a side: "I Love Rock 'n Roll"
    b side: "You Don't Know What You've Got"
    Boardwalk NB7-11-135
    The short lived Boardwalk Records was Neil Bogart's follow up to Casablanca Records. And again, awesome b-side.

    Outer Limit Recordings a side: "I Need My T.V."

    The Sweethearts b side: "Burnin Through the Night"
    Olde English Spelling Bee OESB-710
    I think this arrived with a couple of R. Stevie Moore reissues.

    Music behind the DJ: "The Name of the Game" as performed by Richard Clayderman.

    1 hr
  • 45s and Other Revolutions: A-Sides beginning with the letter H, and one that begins with the letter I.

    Foxy [00:30]

    a side: "Hot Number"
    b side: "Call It Love"
    Dash Records 5050 1979
    Nice medium groove b-side, but that a-side! Awe yeah, rock that talk box. Follow up to their 1978 smash hit "Get Off". Label brethren to KC & the Sunshine Band (and Weird Al for that matter).

    Kim Deal [08:56]

    a side: "Hot Shot"
    b side: "Likkle More"
    Not On Label DEAL02-7 2013
    The 2nd of 5 solo singles released by Deal.

    Donna Summer [14:18]

    a side: "Hot Stuff"
    b side: "Journey to the Center of Your Heart"
    Casablanca Records NB 978 1979
    Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder of course, but also Skunk Baxter guitar solo? Hot stuff indeed!

    Bobby Hatfield [22:05]

    a side: "Hot Tamales"
    b side: "I Need a Girl"
    Moonglow Records M-220 1963
    You know I love a good food song.

    Ace [28:33]

    a side: "How Long"
    b side: "Sniffn' About"
    Anchor Records ANC-21000 1974
    This is about as close to hearing Mike + the Mechanics on Vinyl-O-Matic as you'll likely ever get.

    Bruce Springsteen [36.35]

    a side: "Hungry Heart"
    b side: "Held Up with a Gun"
    Columbia Records 11-11391 1980
    Written for the Ramones? What? I would love to hear a Ramones version of this song. The b-side seems a little atypical... but what do I know, I'm not much of a Springsteen afficianado.

    Chelsea Wolfe [42:10]

    a side: "Hypnos"
    b side: "Flame"
    Sargent House Records SH155 2016
    Beautifully doomy.

    Elvis Costello [49:49]

    a side: "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down"
    b side: "Girls Talk"
    Columbia Records 1-11194 1980
    Stand up, sit down, rah rah rah, Elvis Elvis, rah rah rah!

    Music behind the DJ: "Leopard Tree Dream" by Giorgio Moroder

    58 min
  • 45s and Other Revolutions: A-Sides beginning with the letter H, still.

    Pat Benatar [00:33]

    a side: "Hit Me with Your Best Shot"
    b side: "Prisoner of Love"
    Chrysalis Records CHS 2464 1980
    Made it to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. I have a distinct memory of a local cover band playing this song at an assembly during junior high school. The male lead singer was evidently concerned about his masculinity and swapped "put another notch in my lipstick case" with "put another notch in my guitar case". Whaddya gonna do.

    The Fantastic Johnny C [06:32]

    a side: "Hitch It to the Horse"
    b side: "Cool Broadway"
    Phil-L.A. of Soul 315 1968
    aka Johnny Corley, perhaps best known for (surprise) "Boogaloo Down Broadway". Hit #25 on the R&B charts.

    Thompson Twins [13:18]

    a side: "Hold Me Now"
    b side: "Let Loving Start"
    Arista Records AS 1-9164 1984
    A solidly middling new wave-ish number. Kinda doesn't go anywhere, and in the spirit of the More Is More 80s pop, the closing refrain of the chorus for a freakin' minute and a half. One might argue that synth pop had jumped the shark at this point. But hey, I picked this up for a buck. And the b-side is... something, variation on a theme perhaps?

    Johnny Nash [21:48]

    a side: "Hold Me Tight"
    b side: "Cupid"
    JAD Records J-207 1968
    Some great rocksteady from the man who brought you "I Can See Clearly".

    Brooklyn Dreams [29:46]

    a side: "Hollywood Knights"
    b side: "Hollywood Knights (Instrumental)" [omitted for your sanity]
    Casablanca Records CAROL 1463-0 1980
    Yes, the "hit" single from an actual movie. Evidently someone let Robert Wuhl have a lead role. Sort of a Grease-era Revenge of the Jocks romp, if that's your sort of thing. Perfect evidence that nostalgia is a disease.

    Naked Raygun [32:53]

    a side: "Home"
    b side: "Last Drink"
    Caroline Records CAROL 1463-0 1990
    The single from their 1990 record Raygun... Naked Raygun. The b-side is a cover of Nic Austin's band Chelsea. On lovely transluscent green vinyl, with the cover signed by the band.

    Junior Walker & the All Stars [39:21]

    a side: "Home Cookin"
    b side: "Mutiny"
    Soul Records S 35055 1968
    You ain't nothin if you can't cook. I reckon that applies to pretty much everyone, not just a prospective steady. Reached #42 on the Hot 100. Plus a jammin b-side.

    Palace Songs [46:09]

    a side: "Horses"
    b side: "Stable Will"
    Drag City Records DC47 1994
    Refer to episode S04E19 for a higher energy version of "Stable Will".

    Music behind the DJ: "Everybody's Talkin" by Terry Baxter and his Orchestra

    1 hr

About Vinyl-O-Matic

From the publisher's feed

Your Old Pal Will takes you on a journey through the peaks and valleys of all recordings vinyl. A through Z, organized alphabetically by artist/compilation title, irregardless of genre. Maybe it’s by title. Maybe it’s by album. Who knows what path we take next. New episode every Wednesday.