Largely taking place before the widespread use of the internet, the 90s was arguably the last great decade when you can easily associate the time with distinct musical movements on a national and international scale. From the sound of grunge that helped mark the a distinct move away from the hair metal of the 1980s to to hip-hop’s golden age … Read More

The release of Fleetwood Mac’s self-titled album in 1975 saw the band move distinctly away from their British blues roots. The arrival of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham symbolized more than a change in personnel; it heralded the birth of a sound that would become iconic. (Huge thanks to VMP for supplying the reissue copy of this record). Founded in … Read More

The temperatures are dropping and the decorations are rising; it’s the most wonderful time of year once again and you’re starting to feel the festive cheer. Perfect… All you need now are some Christmas tunes to set the atmosphere. And what could be better than the warm and comforting sound of vinyl as you deck the halls and celebrate with … Read More

Few albums can claim the massive success, long-lasting appeal, and songwriting quality of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Every song is a hit. It helped Pink Floyd soar to a new level of success and popularity that hasn’t waned even though it was released 50 years ago.  Prior to 1973, Pink Floyd was regarded as the best psychedelic rock … Read More

By the beginning of the 70s the music world was in a significant transition state. The Beatles were done, and a combination of events, including the Stone’s notorious Altamont show in December 1969 signaled that the “peace and love” movement was dead. It was time to usher in a new era.  Despite the turmoil, The Rolling Stones were really hitting … Read More

The last installment in Bob Dylan’s so-called “rock trilogy” is an ambitious and accomplished creative crossroads that came to be the perfect pivot point to intersect his hippie minstrel poet past with the electric swagger of his trio of albums in the mid-1960s… The version of this album featured is the VMP Essentials release cut by Ryan Smith at Sterling … Read More

By 1986 Peter Gabriel had built a highly-respectable solo career after his acrimonious exit from Genesis almost a decade earlier. And although he had a strong cult following after four solo albums, he hadn’t found crossover appeal. His fifth studio album So would catapult him into the stratosphere creatively and successfully. It’s amazing to think that this album is as … Read More

Guest contributor, Brandon Stoner tells the story of Thin Lizzy’s 1976 breakthrough album, Jailbreak. By the time Thin Lizzy stepped into London’s Ramport Studios to begin production on their sixth studio record Jailbreak they were confident, flashy, and ready to take on anything. With a stiff upper lip and proverbial stiff middle fingers in the air they knew they had … Read More

Guest contributor Brandon Stoner tells the story behind Parallel Lines, a 70s classic that packaged up so much of what defined the era. A huge thank you to Vinyl Pursuit who provided the album for this Classic Albums feature. Learn how you can get vintage vinyl for 15% less at the bottom of this article. Make no mistake about it, Blondie was never your … Read More