Vinyl Voyage Radio

This month on Adventures in Vinyl we are taking a trip back to early 1978 for K-Tel's Star Power . This is a good one. And it's mostly because the "Theme from Star Wars " by Meco starts off the album.  I was turning 10 in 1978 when this album came out and Star Wars was my life.  Of course, I had all of the figures, bought trading cards on a weekly basis, wrote George Lucas telling him I'd work for free in his next movie.  That didn't happen. Meco was actually Domenico Monardo, a record producer and musician. Star Wars made him big, at least for a while, in the late 70s.  He put together a band and they played in disco clubs across the country. He recorded several albums, mostly of movie themes.  Star Wars figured prominently in his repertoire.  He even produced a Star Wars -themed Christmas album in 1980.  I have never heard this album, but it features a song entitled, "What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb?)...

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 ...

New for 2014---the Vinyl Brunch is back!  Every weekend morning from 8 am to 12 pm Central time, we will play the best eclectic music, perfect for easing into your weekend routine.   The Vinyl Brunch will feature music not normally in rotation on Vinyl Voyage.  On the Vinyl Brunch you will hear some classical, some jazz, and some showtunes.  In addition, we will feature some of the best classic vocals by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis and many, many more. Join us every weekend for the Vinyl Brunch . Only on 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.