Vinyl Voyage Radio

As always, we are constantly adding new music to Vinyl Voyage Radio.  Here are some new additions to our library for May, 2017.  Most of the albums are from the 80s--just in time for Manic Monday!

On the January 2014 edition of Adventures in Vinyl, we have a special K-Tel album from 1973. It is the  Bright Side of Music.  I picked up this album recently at a Goodwill store and when I brought it home, the first thing I noticed was its condition.  It was remarkably free of dust, scuffs and scratches.  And that's unusual for an album over 40 years old. Then I noticed the address label on the face of side one.  This album was owned by "Miss Rose Marie Palmes," who lived at 4920 W. Augusta in Chicago back in 1973. I have several used albums on which people either wrote their names or placed address labels. And these albums generally are in better condition that the other albums.  I guess someone who marks their albums takes their music very seriously. A couple of years ago, I found an album with a name and was able to make contact with the previous owner.  Unfortunately, I have been unable to to find Miss Rose Marie Palmes.  But I thank ...

On this month's Adventure's in Vinyl , we are going to the early years of K-Tel.  In fact, this is the oldest K-tel album I have.  It is Believe in Music and it came out 40 years ago, which is obvious from the garish cover void of any sense of the songs contained on the vinyl.  But that's okay, in 1972 K-Tel was still developing it's iconic look. This album has my favorite Cher song:  "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves." It also has the 70s favorite, "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)."  This, of course, is one of the greatest one-hit wonders of all time.  Although Looking Glass released two albums, nothing would not come close to the success of that song.  I recently came across a picture of the band.  Not what I expected:   The album also has a song by Rick Springfield.  Yes, that Rick Springfield.  The one who sang about "Jessie's Girl" in the 80s.  The song on this album is "Speak to the Sky," off of his debut album, B...

Dynamite is one of the better K-Tel record compilations.  It was the album that introduced me to Eric Clapton, Elton John and Al Capone. When a man named Al Capone Tried to make that town his own He called his gang to war With the forces of the law . You remember that song:  "The Night Chicago Died," a one-hit wonder by British band, Paper Lace.  I loved that song.  It was the song that I played most from Dynamite and it opens side one of this 20-track album.  Much of the song is historically inaccurate ("East Side of Chicago?").  I can say that with confidence because my real job is that of a history teacher.   In fact, when I discuss prohibition and the 1920s, I always play it for my students. And I may sing a little as well. And perhaps dance a bit. They look at me usually with horrified expressions. But at least it exposes them to Paper Lace.  What's more important than that?    I just hope that somewhere down the ...