This is Vinyl Tap

SE 6, EP 9: The Velvet Underground - Loaded

Send us Fan Mail On this week's episode, we dive into Loaded, the fourth LP by the Velvet Underground, and the last one to feature founding member Lou Reed, who left before the album was released. Loaded is roundly regarded as the Velvets at their most accessible. After leaving MGM/Verve for Atlantic, the band was "encouraged" by their new label to focus on making hits (hence the title, alluding to the album being "loaded" with hits). Reed gave up some the reigns of the band he co-founded to newcomer Doug Yule, an multi-instrumentalist with an uncanny knack for sounding a lot like Reed. The album features some of the band's best-known and enduring songs, including "Rock & Roll" and "Sweat Jane." Even though one more album would be released Under The Velvet Underground moniker, drummer Mo Tucker and guitarist Sterling Morrison left soon after the tour to support to support Loaded, making it arguably the last true Velvet Underground album. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

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SE 6, EP 8: Cotton Mather - Kontiki

Send us Fan Mail On this week's episode, we discuss 1997's Kontiki, by Cotton Mather. Produced by the band's songwriter and lead singer Robert Harrison and recorded on 4-track cassettes and ADAT, Kontiki is a low-fi sonic masterpiece that has garnered comparisons to the Beatles and Big Star. Originally released in 1997, Kontiki was not an initial commercial success. A re-release in the UK in 1999 breathed new life into the album and led to Noel Gallagher of Oasis to praise the album in the press as one he wished he'd recorded. Kontiki is quite simply a brilliantly crafted album, one that channels the melodic brilliance of classic '60s pop while creating something that is fresh, unique, and deeply personal. Every track is packed with hooks, rich harmonies, and clever lyrical turns, making it an album that rewards repeated listens. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

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SE 6. EP 7: The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Will the Circle Be Unbroken

Send us Fan Mail On this episode we talk about the historic seventh studio album by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band,Will the Circle Be Unbroken. Having proved their worth with a hit cover of the Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mister Bojangles," the Dirt Band and were given the go ahead to work on an unusual yet inspired project: an album of old county and bluegrass tunes where the Dirt band would act as a supporting a cast for several legendary bluegrass and country artists, such as Roy Acuff, Mother Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis, and Jimmy Martin, to name a few, allowing them to be the real stars. The songs were performed live, and often in one or two takes, giving the album immediacy and warmth. Released in November 1972, the album bridged the generational and musical gap between the old guard of Nashville and the burgeoning country rock scene of the early 1970's and was an unlikely, yet huge success. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

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SE 6, EP 6 A Game of Connectiions with Beaver Nelson

Send us Fan Mail As long-time listener's know, as a part of all of our discussions, we have a segment called Connections, where we connect the artist and album we are currently talking about to artists and albums we have discussed on previous episodes. For our interview with singer-songwriter Beaver Nelson, we played an extended version of Connections with him. Beaver has worked with a ton of people in the music industry, and as a result, he came prepared to show us what a real game of Connections is all about. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

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SE 6, EP5: Violation Podcast: An Interview with Beaver Nelson

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of This Is Vinyl Tap, we do something a little different from our typical fare and interview Austin singer-songwriter Beaver Nelson. Beaver Nelson has been on the Austin scene since before he graduated from high school. His talent as a songwriter was almost immediately recognized by some of the finest singer-songwriters at the time, which gave him the opportunity to perform and record with some of the biggest names in the Austin music scene at the time. His songs are full of clever, introspective, and personal lyrics backed by a fantastic array of musicians. We talk to Beaver about some of those songs and stories behind them, as well as his history as a working musician in the Austin scene. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

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SE 6, EP 4: Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band - Safe as Milk

Send us Fan Mail On this episode we tackle the LP that introduced the world to Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band: 1967's Safe as Milk. Captain Beefheart, né Don Van Vliet, is best known for having recorded one of the most heralded rock albums of all time -Trout Mask Replica. But for many, that double album is a confounding listen with it's atonal song structures, disconcerting time signatures, and bizarre vocals. However, before that was Safe As Milk. Thanks to the presence of 20-year-old Ry Cooder, some of Beefhearts's more eccentric instincts were reigned in. As a result, Safe as Milk is an intriguing listen. It can be challenging in places, as it does have elements of what the future holds for Captain Beefheart and His magic Band. But it also has moments of whimsy and some good old 1967 rock n' roll (albeit through a Beefheart lens). And then there's Beefheart's chameleon-like vocals which are often strange, sometimes brilliant, and always compelling. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 6: EP 3 Dave Alvin - King of California

Send us Fan Mail On this episode we discuss Dave Alvin and his 1994 LP, King of California. Dave Alvin started his storied career in Los Angeles with the Blasters, a band he founded with his brother Phil. Full of energy and attitude, the Blasters found themselves embraced by the LA punk scene. The band did find some commercial success, but they fought like cats and dogs, which while it added to their intensity, but not their long-term possibilities, leading Dave to strike out on his own. After a couple of attempts at solo recordings, he finally found his voice on King of California. Taking his tried and true approach of complimenting new songs with re-recording, and some outstanding covers, he stripped-down the arrangements on King of California and hit pay-dirt. Considered by many to be his best collection of songs, King of California is the album where Alvin's abilities as a performer mesh with his talent as a song writer. It contains some of his best original songs, including a superb version of "Fourth of July," and a stunning duet with Rosie Flores that in itself is worth a listen. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 6, EP 2: Robbie Fulks - Upland Stories

Send us Fan Mail On this episode we discuss one America's great modern singer-songwriters -Robbie Fulks, and his wonderful 2016 album Upland Stories. Produced by the late, great Steve Albini, Upland Stories combines folk and traditional country elements into a rich collection of narrative-driven songs. The album and the fantastic opening track “Alabama at Night” both earned a Grammy nominations, recognition for what is considered by many to be Fulks' finest batch of songs. The album is full of poignant character studies, told with emotional and literary lyrics that are deeply rooted in American storytelling (Let Us Now Praise Famous Men - James Agees' Great Depression account of impoverished tenant farmers is a major touchstone). Like much of Fulks' discography, the album is an eclectic yet highly satisfying mix of tunes, both serious and humorous. Upland Stories explores diverse themes sung by a remarkably rich voice, backed by some topnotch musicianship, and told by a songwriter at the absolute top of his game. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 6, EP 1: Joni Mitchell - Blue

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Joni Mitchell’s 1971’s LP Blue, regarded by most critics as a masterpiece and consistently is listed on best of lists of the greatest albums ever made. A bit of a sea change for Mitchell, incorporating jazz stylings in both her phrasing and the music, it’s sparse on instrumentation, yet the songs feel full largely due to Mitchell's own vocals. Created just after her breakup with Graham Nash and during her relationship with James Taylor, Blue explores the various facets of relationships from love, to insecurity, to disappointment, and contains some of the most poignant and personal lyrics ever composed. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 5, EP 16: Sly and the Family Stone - There's a Riot Goin' On

Send us Fan Mail It's a listener pick! On this episode we look at one of the most influential musical groups of the twentieth century - Sly and the Family Stone, and their 1970 LP There's a Riot Goin' On. By 1970, Sly Stone and his band had already had a huge impact on modern music. It was a mixed-race and mixed-gender band that spoke of love and harmony among all people. Hits like "Everyday People," "Dance to the Music," and "Stand" had gained the band crossover success and spawned numerous copy cats. However, by the time work had begun on There's a Riot Goin' On, the band was beginning to splinter. Sly was under increasing pressure by militant groups like the Black Panthers to make his music more "black" and he began to find solace in drugs and isolation. Forgoing the usual input from his band, Sly wrote, arranged, and recorded most of There's a Riot Goin' On himself. He brought in outside musicians, such as Billy Preston and Ike Turner to give the songs added dimension. The resulting LP was the big bang for the fledgling genre of funk and an album that is consistently regarded as one of the best and most influential albums ever made. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 5, EP 15: Ian Hunter - You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic

Send us Fan Mail This week we discuss Ian Hunter and his 1979 LP You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic. Hunter worked a long time to find success. His band Mott the Hoople were instrumental in advancing glam rock by giving it a rougher edge. David Bowie was such a fan of the band that he even gave them the song "All the Young Dudes" which became the title track for their most popular album, which he also produced. Hunter eventually left Mott the Hoople to concentrate on a solo career and made several albums with Bowie collaborator, and guitarist extraordinaire, Mick Ronson. The results were a series of fine albums, featuring Hunter's (admittedly limited, but expressive voice) against Ronson's classic Marshall stack sound. You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic not only features Ronson, but several members of Bruce Springsteen's E Street band, grounding the album with a solid foundtion. The song "Cleveland Rocks" became an anthem for the birthplace of Rock-n-Roll and "Ships" was even covered by Barry Manilow, becoming one of his biggest hits. But don't let the Manilow cover fool you, You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic is chock full of rock and roll energy and is considered by many as Hunter's crowning achievement. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 5, EP 14: The New York Dolls - The New York Dolls

Send us Fan Mail On this week's episode, we discuss the self-titled debut by the New York Dolls, one of most influential albums of the 1970s. The New York Dolls blended the Rolling Stones' swagger with garage rock aggression and glam rock theatrics, that both embraced the sounds of early rock and roll and foreshadowed punk rock. Produced in what seems like an unusual hands-off approach by Todd Rundgren,The New York Dolls presents the band with minimal polish. Its full of high energy songs about teenage angst, heartbreak, sex, drugs, and city life played with sloppy abandon. The New York Dolls is a blast from the get go and is must listen for anyone into punk, glam, or just plain good ol' rock & roll. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 5, EP 13: The Lemon Twigs - A Dream is All We Know

Send us Fan Mail On this week's episode, we discuss an album that came out in 2024, the fifth album by the Lemon Twigs, A Dream is All We Know. Consisting of multi-instrumentalist brothers Brian and Michael D'Addario, the music of the Lemon Twigs often feels like it’s been plucked straight from the 1960s or 1970s. Echos of the Beatles, the Kinks and the Beach Boys are obvious, in fact they brothers call the sound of this LP "Mersey Beach." However, the Brothers D'Addario make it all sound fresh and relevant. Coming just a year off of their critically heralded LP Harmony Everything, the wonderfully constructed songs on A Dream Is All We Know feels like as the culmination of everything the Lemon Twigs recorded before it. A shimmering pop gem full of multi-layered ear worms, quirky song structures, and beautifully lush harmonies. There is a breadth and depth here not found on many modern rock albums that rewards the listener with each repeated listen. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 5, EP 12: The La's - The La's

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we discuss one of the most heralded debut albums of the early 1990's: The La's by the La's. Heavily influenced by the 1960s British Invasion bands, The La’s is full of bright, jangly, melodic guitar pop, ear-worms all. The single “There She Goes” has become a classic, and is possibly one of the most perfectly constructed pop songs ever recorded. The album’s history, however, is one of the most tortured in the annals of rock and roll. The band’s leader, Lee Mavers became known for his uncompromising perfectionism in search of the perfect sound. He obsessed over everything: from the perfect placement of the microphones, to the required vintage feel of instruments and tape machines (even claiming that cleaning the 1960’s era dust off them significantly affected their sound). As a result of Mavers’ never-ending dissatisfaction with the inability to replicate the sound in his head, it took over three years to complete the album, 12 separate studio sessions, 7 producers, and several lineup changes along the way. The band actually walked out during the final recording session, leaving the album to be completed by the producer, Steve Lillywhite. Predictably, the band publicly disowned the album after its release and even discouraged people from buying it. Despite all of that, the album became a critically acclaimed and extremely influential pop classic, and in the decades since its release, is considered one of the finest albums released in the 1990’s. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE5, EP 11: The Youngbloods - The Youngbloods

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we discuss one of the first albums of 1967, the eponymous debut by the Youngbloods. 1967 is one of the most heralded years in rock music, and The Youngbloods was a good primer to the music that would come culminating in the Summer of Love. Originally from the East Coast, the Youngbloods took inspiration from the folk music and acoustic blues they heard and played in the coffee houses of the in The Village in New York and fused it with the sounds of coming from the West Coast. Best known for the top 5 single "Get Together," The Youngbloods is an eclectic LP, full of by amazing and unique harmonies and sound that is equal parts rock, folk, and West Coast jangle. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 5, EP 10: Gram Parsons - Grievous Angel

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, we discuss Grievous Angel, the last album recorded by one of the most interesting, tragic, and influential people in modern music: Gram Parsons. In just six short years, from 1967 until his death in the fall of 1973, Gram Parson help pioneer what would become known as country rock, or what he preferred to call "Cosmic American Music." In those six years, he made several landmark albums with the International Submarine Band, the Byrds, and the Flying Burrito Brothers, as well recording two solo albums. None were commercially successful at the time of their release, but they cast a long shadow on the music of the later half of the 20th Century, and continue to do so today. Its difficult for modern listeners to understand how unique and innovative Parsons vision of blending elements of country, rock, folk, and (most importantly) soul was at the time because it has influenced so much that came after that its uniqueness gets lost crowd. For Grievous Angel, Parsons was able to get some of the best musicians in the business backing him. He also could recognize talent when he saw it and knew having Emmy Lou Harris as his duet partner would create magic, which it most certainly did. Released just months after Parsons untimely death, and containing some of his most beautiful, songs Grievous Angel is a remarkable and poignant album that chronicles Parsons influences and his devotion to traditional country music, while showcasing his ability to blend those influences with other genres into something entirely original. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 5, EP 9: John Wesley Harding - John Wesley Harding's New Deal

Send us Fan Mail On this weeks episode, we discuss an LP by John Wesley Harding (né Wesley Stace), 1996’s John Wesley Harding’s New Deal. After releasing two EPs and three full length albums with a full band for Sire Records, Harding decided to strip down his sound for his debut on his new label Forward Records (an imprint of Rhino Records). Harding much preferred the intimacy of acoustic live performances and created an album that embraced that aesthetic whole heatedly. Described by Harding as “gangsta folk,” John Wesley Harding’s New Deal is a beautiful record and a fan favorite. It was the first time Harding had the freedom to make the record he always wanted to make. The song arrangements are simple and direct, putting the focus of the lyrics., which are both sly and whimsical, and full of British charm. And as an added bonus, the album even includes a fantastic sequel of sorts to the Kink’s “Waterloo Sunset.” Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 5, EP 8: Jimmie Dale Gilmore - Spinning Around the Sun

Send us Fan Mail On this weeks episode, we take a listen to a true Texas legend, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and his 1993, Spinning Around the Sun. With his high, lonesome voice, Jimmy Dale embodies the very essence of that land from which he hails, the Texas Panhandle. Even thought he was in his forties when his first solo album was recorded, he had already made his mark on the musical landscape of the Lone Star State, having been in the legendary Flatlanders (along with Joe Ely and Butch Hancock) and the Hub City Movers (the first band to play the Armadillo World Headquarters). By the time he recorded his fourth solo outing, Spinning Around the Sun, Jimmie Dale had found his voice. Hailed as his break out LP, Jimmie Dale sings his heart out on songs he penned and a choice selections of tunes written by other notable songwriters, and features fantastic duet with Lucinda Williams. Spinning Around the Sun is a remarkable album filled with songs of beauty and heartbreak, earning him his first of three Grammy nominations. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 5, EP 7: Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak

Send us Fan Mail On this week's episode, we take a listen to another Listener's Pick: Thin Lizzy's sixth studio album, Jailbreak from 1976. It took some time, but by the time they recorded Jailbreak, Thin Lizzy's had figured out their formula and Jailbreak became their breakout LP. Showcasing the tuneful songs of Phil Lynott and the expert twin guitar interplay of Scott Gorman and Brian Robertson, the album is the ultimate combination or power and melody.Lyrically, Lynott tapped into mythos of both Irish folklore and the American west to create his own version of story songs written by the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison. Musically, Jailbreak is an absolute blast to listen to, providing future inspiration for both punk bands and bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.

SE 5, EP 6: The National - Boxer

Send us Fan Mail On this week's episode, we dig into the the forth album by the band the National, 2007's Boxer. The National is a band, literally, of brothers (two pairs) and a friend all from Ohio that formed after all parties moved to New York. From the get go, the band's music leaned heavily on and atmospheric and stood out due to the deep baritone vocals of lead singer and lyricist Matt Berninger. After slowly but steadily building up a following, Boxer, their second album on the Beggar's Banquet label, was the band's breakthrough LP. Its full of melancholy songs about relationships and existential struggles about being an adult. The album received widespread critical acclaim, and was included in many end of year "Best Of" lists for 2007, topping several of them, and is often mentioned as one of the best album of the 2010s. Visit us at www.tappingvinyl.com.