Vinyl Voyage Radio

Jackie Gleason was a very versatile entertainer.  I first became acquainted with Jackie Gleason not through Ralph Kramden from The Honeymooners , but through Sherriff Buford T. Justice from the Cannonball Run movies.  It wasn't until I was a teenager when I first watched The Honeymooners and was blown away by the comic timing of the entire cast.  I remember thinking, "They sure don't make shows like this anymore." Now, in my forties, I have become acquainted with another side of Jackie Gleason:  musical conductor and composer. In the early 1950s, Jackie Gleason put together a popular series of instrumental albums that catered to mood.  The first was  Music for Lovers Only , which was originally released in 1952.  A longer, stereo version came out in 1954.  I just happened to pick up a decent copy of that album at Half Price Books for fifty cents. The cover features a close up of a table, two empty wine glasses in the background.  A p...

Yep.  It's getting to be that time of year.  Terrestrial radio started playing Christmas music on November 13 here in Chicago.  Way too early, in my opinion.  Especially when they play the same 10 songs every hour. Last year, Vinyl Voyage went all Christmas for a week in what we called "Christmas Music that Doesn't Suck."   Get ready, the "2nd Annual Christmas Music that Doesn't Suck" is just around the corner. Over the last several weeks, I've been scouring the local thrift stores for Christmas vinyl goodies. This year, we are adding a few more to the rotation that now exceeds 450 songs.  That's a lot of Christmas music.  I read last year that the local terrestrial radio station that plays Christmas music has only 150 songs or so on their playlist.  And it is painfully apparent. New this year: I can't believe I didn't have this album:   The Carpenters:  A Christmas Portrait . This album came out in 1978 and features the oft-hear...

In 1963, Dick Biondi was the first DJ to play the Beatles.  The song was "Please Please Me" and the radio station was WLS-AM 890 in Chicago.  Fifty years later, Dick Biondi still spins records on WLS.  Although he has appeared on stations all over the country, Chicago has been his home for most of his career.  Now 81 years old, Dick Biondi is a Chicago tradition.  In fact, I have listened to Dick Biondi my entire life. Avoiding the crazy "Black Friday" crowds, I decided to stop at my local thrift shop today in order to peruse the selection of vinyl.  And there, in a stack of discs, a young Dick Biondi smiled up at me.  He had thick hair back in 1968, large black-rimmed glasses and a suave smile.  Here was the "Wild I-Tralian," as he liked to call himself. In 1968, Biondi was spinning records on WCFL AM 1000 , the first true rival to WLS, where he had worked for several years.  The album I held in my hands was Big 10 Summer Gold , released...

As usual, put some new albums into the rotation recently.  Some classics here.

I recently picked up this K-Tel album at our local library's book sale.  It was in great condition for an album that is 36 years old. This is a classic---K-Tel's Stars . The album, as usual, features an eclectic mix of music.  From disco standards to pop ballads to rock and roll, this album cuts across genres and offers a great glimpse of the year that brought us Star Wars , Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Annie Hall .  Most of the songs made it to the Billboard Year End Chart for 1977.  A couple are on the 1976 chart.  And one is on the 1973 chart. Here's the commercial: This is the album featured on Adventures in Vinyl this month.  Join us for a music trip back to 1977 through the magic of K-Tel.  We'll play the album in its entirety and discuss the music, movies and news of the day. Adventures in Vinyl can be heard to the following time (all Central): Sunday, 4 pm Tuesday, 1 pm Wednesday, 2 am Thursday, 10 am Saturday, 12 ...

This month on Adventures in Vinyl , we are taking a trip back to 1982 for the K-Tel compilation, Love  Is... This album has 13 songs and, if you know anything about music in the early 80s...yes, this has an Air Supply song. In fact, you can't have a collection of "love songs" from that year without including Air Supply.  They had 3 songs on the top of the chart in 1982. The album also features "Cool Night," by Paul Davis, "You Can Do Magic," by America and a song that was played all the time in my house back when I was in junior high, "Key Largo," by Bertie Higgins.  Plus Charlene, Quincy Jones, Mike Post, Dottie West and the Alan Parsons Project. Adventures in Vinyl can be heard at the following times on Vinyl Voyage Radio: Saturday, 12 pm (Central)   Sunday, 4 pm (Central) Tuesday, 1 pm (Central) Wednesday, 2 am (Central) Thursday, 10 am (Central)

Meet Me at the Edge of the World , Over the Rhine’s new release, finally arrived.  Although I’ve been listening to it for a couple of months now, nothing beats hearing it on vinyl. This album is strikingly different from the band’s 2010 release, The Long Surrender .  That album was darker and harder hitting, with such songs as “The Laugh of Recognition, “Rave On” and “Undamned.”  Save for the blues-infused “ Gonna Let My Soul Catch My Body ” and “ Baby if this is Nowhere ,” the bulk of these songs are more contemplative.  This is pure Americana. At the core of Over the Rhine is Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler, a couple who have been making music together for over 20 years.  This album is inspired by their pre-Civil War farmhouse they lovingly call “Nowhere Farm.”  The farm is located about an hour outside of Cincinnati, in Highland County.  In fact, one of the best songs on the album is a love song entitled “ Highland County .” How did you...

After an extended summer hiatus, Adventures in Vinyl is back with a very special K-Tel album from 1972.  First of all, this album is brand new--never opened.  You'll be hearing it first played on AiV. Secondly, this album was a K-Tel album, but also a "Top Star Festival" album, which was the record label of the United Nations. Yeah, that United Nations.  They had released several albums in the 60s and early 70s with all proceeds going to refugee aid.  As far as I know, this is the only one released by K-Tel. The album came out in 1972 and was advertised like any other K-Tel album on television.  It contains hits from James Taylor, Elton John, the Osmonds, Rod Stewart and many, many more--another great sampling of music from the time. And, as a special treat, it also has a very rare recording of Aretha Franklin covering Frank Sinatra's "My Way."  This was never released until 2008.  How K-Tel got a hold of that recording, I do not know. Not...

This week, I digitized some more vinyl.   Here are the latest editions to the Vinyl Voyage library: Elton John Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975) Barbara Streisand Memories (1981) Billy Joel Turnstiles (1976) Crosby, Stills and Nash Crosby, Stills and Nash (1969)  Sting The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985) Heart Dreamboat Annie (1976) 

When I was a kid, I used to check out record albums from the public library.  I was perusing the LP bins one day and came across  Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy .  At the time I was perhaps 10 years old and knew nothing about Elton John, other than the crazy outfits and sunglasses he wore.  I think my first introduction to Elton was via the sitcom,  One Day at a Time   (I had a slight crush on Valerie Bertinelli).    In one particular episode, the two Romano sisters, played by Bertinelli and Mackenzie Phillips, do a routine in a variety show dressed as Elton John and Kiki Dee singing "Don't Go Breaking My Heart."  That song I knew, as it was played ad nauseum on the radio at the time. Anyway, I checked out  Captain Fantastic  not because it was Elton John, but because the cover was so awesome.   Although I hadn't yet been exposed to  Hieronymus Bosch , the cover must have been influenced by the paintings ...

Join us this month on Cine/Spin for the motion picture soundtrack to Footloose .  This is a great album, released in 1984 and features some very  80s music.  Of course, the title by Kenny Loggins starts off the album.  Included is the classic ballad, "Almost Paradise."  Deniece Williams had a number one hit with "Let's Hear it For the Boy." This is the album that knocked Michael Jackson's Thriller out of the top spot, where it held on for a record 10 weeks.  Footloose remained there for just three weeks, but it would become the 7th highest grossing film of the year and launched Kevin Bacon into stardom. Cine/Spin can be heard on Vinyl Voyage Radio at the following times (central): Saturday, 8 pm Sunday, 1 pm Monday, 10 pm Wednesday, 10 am Friday, 7 pm

On this month's edition of Adventures in Vinyl , we are taking a time trip back to 1982 for K-Tel's .  This album featured Rick Springfield, Lindsey Buckingham, ABBA, George Benson, Air Supply...and many, many more. Perhaps not one of K-Tel's best, After Hours still has plenty going for it.  Over half of the songs appeared on the Billboard Year End Chart for 1982.  And, like all their albums in the 1980s, K-Tel went with quality over quantity.  This album has only 15 songs and very little editing.  These are mostly full versions, unlike those found on their compilations in the 70s when they tried to fit as many songs as possible on an LP. Adventures in Vinyl can be heard at the following times (central) Saturday, 12 pm Sunday, 4 pm Tuesday, 1 pm Wednesday, 2 am Thursday, 10 am

In 1976, K-Tel Records released Mind Bender , a compilation album featuring "22 Original Hits, Original Stars."  You know the drill. This album features War, Elton John, Jigsaw, Hot Chocolate, KISS and many, many more. Mind Bender is the featured K-Tel album this month on Adventures in Vinyl . Adventures in Vinyl can be heard at the following times (central): Saturday, 12 pm Sunday, 4 pm Tuesday, 1 pm Wednesday, 2 am Thursday, 10 am

This month on Cine/Spin, we are featuring the original motion picture soundtrack to Weird Science . Starring Anthony Michael Hall, Ilan Mitchell-Smith and Kelly LeBrock, the film tells the story about two geeks who decide to make a woman.  And, borrowing from other sci-fi films, they do just that...and hilarity ensues.  Well, maybe not hilarity.  The film is rather stupid and is the weakest of John Hughes' teen-based pictures.  However, there are some good performances and some good laughs, especially at the expense of Bill Paxton, who plays the older brother of one of the characters.  This film also featured Robert Downey, Jr. in a supporting role. Weird Science was released in 1985 to mixed reviews.  Currently, it hold only a 58% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes . The soundtrack features two very influential 80s tunes:  "Weird Science" by Oingo Boingo and "Eighties" by The Killing Joke.  Like all of Hughes' films during this time, music...

Everybody has at least one. You know what I am talking about: a song that you are embarrassed to admit you like. Maybe you have several.  I do. I can tell you this: doing the dishes becomes more enjoyable when Katy Perry's "Firework" comes on the iPod.  Yes, you read right.  I have Katy Perry on my iPod. Trust me, that is the only Katy Perry song I own. But, I have to admit, I love that song. And that is what a guilty pleasure song is---a song you love and you might not understand why. But it is something that you would more likely deny than admit to friends. I happen to have several "guilty pleasure" songs. Such as "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves." Yep.  Love that song too. "Guilty Pleasure Songs" will be the feature on Friday Night Live. We'll talk about those songs that we hate to love, but love them anyway. So, I need your suggestions.  What songs do you love but are afraid to admit?  Which are your "Guilty Pleasur...

This past week, I was able to put into the compter several vinyl albums.  That's the thing, we are always adding to our library here at Vinyl Voyage.  Here are the albums that you will be hearing soon on the radio.  And these albums give testament to our central theme:  eclectic.