Category Archives: music

Countdown to Record Store Day 2016

Woo hoo! We are just one month away from Record Store Day. We are super excited about it and hope you are too!

Last week, the folks at Record Store Day announced “the list” of titles that will be available on April 16^th. You can take a look at the entire list here. There are about 350 titles. We want to please as many customers as possible, so, as Dawes would say, we ordered “a little bit of everything.” Many releases are limited editions and there are a lot of record stores participating in this special day so we may not get everything we ordered.

We hope that you’ll stop in our store on April 16^th beginning at 10 a.m. to helps us celebrate independent record stores. We are planning a few events including a Vinyl and CD signing with Brazilian jazz group, Minas, a book signing with rock and roll pioneer Charlie Gracie, with more events to be announced. We’ll have complimentary light refreshments and beer and wine all day. Check our Facebook page for event details as we’ll be adding more to it as we confirm things. #RSD16

2015 in Review

2015 has been a great year and we have our customers to thank!

The popularity of records continues to grow and in addition to our regulars, we also have new customers stop in all the time.

Many of you attended events here or came in to buy the latest releases and special Record Store Day titles. Let’s take a look back at some of the fun we had this year!

We screened great indie films with FirstGlance Film Festival and Film Festival Flix and Italian Cinema with Ciao Bella! Living Italian Style.

We hosted concerts in The Vault featuring original music as well as covers with local musicians Tommy Davis, Third Man In and Electric Fallback.

We had great new, exclusive, limited edition releases for Record Store Day and Record Store Day Black Friday, new releases from Kurt Vile and Jeff Lynne’s ELO plus hard to find vintage MFSL versions of Dark Side of the Moon and Magical Mystery Tour.

We also had books signings with authors Charlie Gracie, Jim Rosin, Wyatt Doyle, Andrew Biscontini and Richard Adelman.

As we look to 2016, we hope to offer a wider variety of new and vintage vinyl and program more unique events that you can enjoy in Lansdowne!

Record Store Day Black Friday November 27th

Record Store Day recently announced the list of special titles available at independent record stores on Record Store Day Black Friday, November 27th. Vinyl Revival will have some of these titles for the holiday shopping season for sale on the 27th when we open at 11 a.m. Below is a list of what we ordered. Quantities are limited so we’re not sure what we’ll end up getting.

The B-52’s, Live! 8-24-1979

Beck, Dreams [12″]

David Bowie, Earthling

Buzzcocks, Another Music In A Different Kitchen

The Cardigans, Long Gone Before Daylight

Johnny Cash, Man In Black : Live In Demark 1971

Chip Taylor & John Prine, 16 Angels Dancing ‘Cross The Moon

The Clash, The Clash

Coheed and Cambria, The Color Before The Sun: Official Band Demos

Phil Collins, In the Air Tonight

Egyptian Lover, Egypt, Egypt Girls

Ben Harper, Fight For Your Mind

Neal Hefti, Batman Theme / The Batusi

John Lee Hooker, Two Sides Of John Lee Hooker

Howlin’ Wolf, The London Howling’ Wolf Sessions

The Isley Brothers, Groove With You…Live!

Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company, Live at Winterland ’68

Jeff Buckley/Sly and the Family Stone, Everyday People

The Jesus And Mary Chain, Barbed Wire Kisses

Judas Priest, Painkiller

B.B. King, The Thrill Is Gone

The Kinks, Kwyet Kinks

The Kinks, Dedicated Kinks

Les Paul /Mary Ford, Christmas Cheer

Jerry Lee Lewis, Jerry Lee Lewis

Megadeth, The Threat Is Real

MGMT, Time To Pretend

Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Live at the Middle East

Rich Robinson, Oh, Sweet Nuthin

Outkast, Stankonia

Jaco Pastorius, JACO

Carl Perkins, Dance Album of Carl Perkins

Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody

Schoolly-D , P.S.K. What Does It Mean? / Gucci Time

Spoon, TV Set

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, A Legend In The Making

Animals As Leaders, Animals As Leaders

Dressy Bessy, Lady Liberty

The Offenders, Live at CBGB’s 1985

Royce da 5’9″, Skillz / Diamond D – One For The Money

The Arcs, The Arcs vs. The Inventors, Vol. 1

Jimi Hendrix, Burning Desire

Wes Montgomery, One Night In Indy (Feat. The Eddie Higgins Trio)

Frank Zappa, Feeding The Monkies At Ma Maison

There may be a few more so check back here for updates.

We also have a couple of special in-store events planned for Black Friday, November 27th and Small Business Saturday, November 28th, so check the events tab at vinylrevivalrecords.com to find out what’s going on at our store.

Paul McCartney Brings It Every Time

Last night’s Paul McCartney show at the Wells Fargo Center in Philly was a real treat for first-timers and fans like me who catch him every time he’s in town. He played close to 40 songs over an almost three hour set that included Beatles’ songs, some Wings’ numbers, and a few tracks off his new album, New. As someone who regularly goes to see him, I was pleasantly surprised to see him perform a few songs that I’ve never seen him play – “All Together Now,” which was fun for young and old alike, and “Temporary Secretary,” which he had never before performed live. I particularly enjoyed “Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite” and “Lovely Rita,” both off of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, too. Some other highlights of the night included the fire explosions during “Live and Let Die,” his tributes to John Lennon and George Harrison, and of course, the crowd sing-a-long of “Hey Jude.”

Paul’s voice was in fine form. My daughter commented that he sounded like an angel and I’d have to agree. My friend noticed that he didn’t even take a drink all night which I found hard to believe. I, on the other hand, was constantly popping Tic Tacs in my mouth to moisten it from all my singing and cheering. McCartney is such a huge talent you might think that musicians playing with him might not be able to perform up to par but that’s not the case with his band. Paul Wickens (keyboard), Brian Ray (bass/guitar), Rusty Anderson (guitar), and Abe Laboriel Jr. (drums) did a fabulous job keeping up with the always energetic, playful and entertaining McCartney.

Some people ask how I could go see Paul time after time, and for me the answer is simple. Even though I obviously don’t know him, I feel like he’s an old friend. For 35 years, his music has touched my heart and soul and given me such joy. I think he feels the same way about me, about us, his fans. Sir James Paul McCartney always puts on one hell of a show and I always want to be there to thank him for that. May God bless him and may he keep on rockin!

2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

The 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony aired this weekend and although I am not a huge fan of any of the inductees (with the exception of Ringo Starr), I thought this year’s group of inductees represented a nice cross section of music. Not knowing a whole lot about a couple of the inductees, The 5 Royales or The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, I enjoyed learning more about their music and the influence each had on the music scene. What I particularly enjoyed about the show was hearing each inductee’s speech. Many of the speeches gave sincere thanks to the Rock Hall and to the fans and conveyed their sheer love of music. I loved seeing the admiration of the artists who were presenting the awards as well. In some cases, it was a new generation of rocker presenting to a veteran, and in others, it was a peer. In either case, there’s no denying that no matter age you are or what type of music you prefer to listen to, music really touches the lives and souls of people and that’s why so many of us love it.

What We Hope to Have for Record Store Day

Record Store Day is right around the corner and we’ve been busy shopping for you! We ordered way more records for this year’s event so we hope we’ll have the titles you’re looking to get. A complete list of what we ordered is below. Since quantities are limited, we may not get everything, but stop by on April 18th to see what’s in-store. We’ll have extended hours – 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

311	Grifter b/w “Who’s Got The Herb?”
101ers	Elgin Avenue Breakdown (Revisited)
1975, The	Facedown EP
A$AP Rocky	LPFJ2 (White vinyl 7″)
Adam &the Ants	Kings of the Wild Frontier / Ant Music
Adams, Ryan	Come Pick Me Up
a-ha	Take On Me
Allman, Gregg	TBD
Animals, The	The Animals No. 2 EP
Antorchas	Antorchas
Armstrong, Billie Joe, Travis Barker, Jane Wiedlin	Live Freaky! Die Freaky!
Atkins, Chet	My Brother Sings – 180 gram LP
Atreyu	So Others May Live
Avicii	The Days/Nights REMIX EP
Badbadnotgood & Ghostface Killah	Sour Soul (Instrumentals)
Banks	The Remixes Part 2
Barnett, Courtney	Brand New Song (song title to be revealed later)
Barrett, Syd / R.E.M.	Dark Globe
Beck, Jeff	Hi Ho Silver Lining/Beck’s Bolero – 7” vinyl
Beck, Jeff	Love Is Blue / I’ve Been Drinking – 7”vinyl
Beck, Jeff	Tallyman/Rock My Plimsoul – 7” vinyl
Bee Gees	Extended EP
Black Keys, The / Junior Kimbrough	Meet Me In The City
Black Star (Mos Def & Talib Kweli)	Fix Up b/w You Already Knew
Blue Mountain Eagle	Blue Mountain Eagle
Blue Oyster Cult	Bad Channels (Soundtrack)
Bowie, David	Changes
Bowie, David / Tom Verlaine	Kingdom Come
Braid	Kids Get Grids
Brown, Junior	Better Call Saul: Theme 7″
Buzzcocks	The Way
Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band	Rough Raw and Amazing
Case, Neko	Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Cash, Johnny	Koncert v Praze (In Prague- Live)
Citizen Dick	Touch Me I’m Dick
Clutch	From Beale Street To Oblivion Special Edition
Cobra Skulls	Live At The BBC
Cold War Kids	Five Quick Cuts
Comeback Kid	Rain City Sessions +1
Cotton, James	Cut You Loose
Country Joe and The Fish	Together
Cypress Hill	The Phuncky Feel One/How Could I Just Kill A Man
D Generation	Queens Of A
D’Angelo	The Charade
Davis, Miles	The Prestige 10-Inch LP Collection, Vol. 2 [5-LP Box Set]
Dead Milkmen, The	Beelzebubba
Death Cab for Cutie / Freedy Johnston	Bad Reputation
Decembrists, The	Picaresque
Deep Purple	Black Night b/w Speed King
Dixie Cupes, The	Chpel of Love
Doors, The	Strange Days
Dylan, Bob	The Basement Tapes (Mono)
Dylan, Bob	The Night We Called It A Day (Blue Vinyl 7″)
Earle, Justin Townes	Live at Grimey’s
Earle, Steve	Terraplane
Electric Century	Electric Century EP


Eno, Brian	My Squelchy Life
Erasure	The Violet Flame Remixes
Father John Misty	“I Love, Honeybear” (Acoustic Version) b/w “Never Been a Woman”
Flaming Lips	Bad Days
Flaming Lips	Brainville
Flemons, Dom	What Got Over
Florence And The Machine	What Kind on Man
Foo Fighters	Songs From The Laundry Room
Garbage	TBD
Garcia, Jerry	Garcia (Compliments)
Getz, Stan & Joao Gilberto	Getz/Gilberto ’76
Gov’t Mule	Stoned Side of the Mule Volume 2
Grandmaster Flash / Stiff Little Fingers	The Message
Grateful Dead	Wake Up To Find Out: Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale NY 3/29/90
Greene, Jackie	Light Up Your Window – 7″
GWAR	America Must Be Destroyed
Hedwig And The Angry Inch	Hedwig And The Angry Inch Original Broadway Cast Recording
Hendrix, Jimi	“Purple Haze” b/w “Freedom”
Herrmann, Bernard	Psycho (Soundtrack)
Hold Steady, The	Boys and Girls in America
Interpol	Everything Is Wrong
John Butler Trio	Ocean
Jones, Sharon & The Dap-Kings	Little Boys With Shiny Toys – 7″
Kenny Wayne Sheperd Band	A Little Something From The Road, Vol. 1 [Live EP]
Kid Cudi	KiD CuDi presents SATELLITE FLIGHT: The Journey to Mother Moon
Kinks, The	Kinksize Hits 7″
Kinks, The	Kinksize Session 7″
Kinks, The	You Really Got Me (Live)/Milk Cow Blues (Live)
Leave the Planet	Sarah, Where Are You Going
Lee, Alvin	Still On The Road To Freedom
Lemonheads, The	Bored on the 4th July
Lord Sitar	Lord Sitar
Loveless, Lydia & Cory Branan	Prince Covers Split Single
Marley, Bob	Bob Marley Interviews – So Much Things To Say
Marvin Gaye	How Sweet it Is (To Be Loved By You)/Once Upon A Time
Mastodon	Atlanta
McCartney, Paul	The Family Way: Original Soundtrack Recording
Metallica	No Life Til Leather
Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The	Question The Answers
Monk, Thelonious	London Collection, Volume 2
Mothersbaugh, Mark	The Lego Movie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Mumford & Sons	Believe / The Wolf
Musselwhite, Charlie	Stand Back!
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds	In The Heat Of The Moment
N.W.A.	Straight Outta Compton
Oates, John	Close/Let’s Drive
OFF!	Live from the BBC
Parker, Charlie	The Charlie Parker Story
Parsons, Gram / Lemonheads	Brass Buttons
Pastorius, Jaco	The Warner Bros. Years VBO
Phish	New Year’s Eve 1995, Live at Madison Square Garden (Record Store Day Exclusive)
Phoenix Foundation, The / Eyelids	A Can of Moles
Pierson, Kate	Don’t Sting The Bee
Pizza Underground, The (feat. Macaulay Culkin)	PU Demo’s
Plant, Robert	More Roar maxi single
Prine, John	September 78
Procul Harem	Homburg EP
Public Enemy	Harder Than You Think picture disc
Replacements, The	Alex Chilton
Reverend Horton Heat	It’s A Rave-Up b/w Beer, Write This Song
Rise Against	Eco-Terrorist In Me
Rivers, Joan	The Next to Last Joan Rivers Album
Rockabye Baby	Lullaby Renditions of Grateful Dead
Rocky Horror Picture Show	The Time Warp (EP)
Ross, Rick	The Maybach Edition
Rundgren, Todd / Emil Nikolaisen / Hans-Peter Lindstrom	Put Your Arms Around Me – 12″
Run the Jewels	Record Store Day Release
Sic Kidz	Rhythm Girl
Simon & Garfunkel	Homeward Bound b/w “Leaves That Are Green”
Sinatra, Frank	Songs For Young Lovers (10-inch)
Snider, Todd	Impending Doom
Social Distortion	Social Distortion
St. Paul and the Broken Bones	Live From The Alabama Theatre
Slayer	When The Stillness Comes
Sly & The Family Stone	Live at the Fillmore
Small Faces	Afterglow Of Your Love
Stooges	Have Some Fun: Live at Ungano’s
Sugarhill Gang	The Best Of Sugarhill Gang (180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl/Limited Edition/Gatefold Cover)
Sun Ra	Calling Planet Earth
Tegan & Sara	Live at Zia Records
Temples	Mesmerise Live EP
Tomorrow	Tomorrow
Torogood, George	George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers
Trey Anastasio Band	Bounce / Never
Twenty One Pilots	The LC LP
U2	Songs Of Innocence
Vampire Weekend	Step
Various Artists	I’m Here (A Soundtrack To The Short Film By Spike Jonze)
Various Artists	The Darjeeling Limited (Original Soundtrack)
Various Artists	AMC’s The Walking Dead: Original Soundtrack Vol.2
Various Artists	An On-U Journey Through Time & Space
Various Artists	DogFish Head Sampler
Various Artists	Furious Hoops Vol.01
Various Artists	Sun Records Curated by RSD – Vol 2
Violent Femmes	Happy New Year
Warzone	Fight For Justice
White Stripes, The	Get Behind Me Satan
Wilson, Brian	The Right Time / Sail Away – RSD XCL
Wilson, Cassandra / Billie Holiday	You Go To My Head & “The Mood That I’m In”
Winter, Johnny	It’s My Life, Baby
Wu-Tang Clan	Protect Ya Neck
Young the Giant	Mirrorball / Mind Over Matter (Evolution Tour Version)
Zappa, Frank	200 Motels
Zombies, The	R.I.P Album

Record Store Day’s Black Friday is November 28th

Record Store Day’s Black Friday

Wish list or holiday shopping list? Where do the Record Store Day Black Friday releases belong? Hopefully, on both lists! There are exclusive releases, small run/regional releases and Black Friday firsts. Check out the list of Record Store Day Black Friday titles for 2014. We hope to have many in-stock for you! Stop in first thing on November 28th as quantities are limited. #RSDBF

Queen Rule Again

Queen and Adam Lambert rocked the Wells Fargo Center in Philly on July 16, 2004.

I have seen many, many bands play live over the years but there was always one band that I wished I had seen but hadn’t… until the other night. The band I’m talking about is Queen. Queen’s last American tour was in 1982 and I remember when they played the Spectrum. A friend of mine saw them and loved them. I always said I’d catch them the next time but unfortunately there wasn’t a next time.

When Queen got together with Paul Rodgers around 2006, I just couldn’t bring myself to go. It’s difficult to see a band you really like play without all of the original members, but I think it’s even more difficult when the original front man isn’t there.

When I heard Adam Lambert would be touring with Queen, I actually gave some serious thought to going. I was a big Lambert fan from his days on “American Idol” and thought he certainly had the singing chops to do Queen’s songs justice. Although, once again, it just didn’t seem right to me that they’d have another lead singer, but when I got a last minute invite from a friend who had an extra ticket, I decided to go.

I am so glad I did! Although NO ONE could ever take Freddie Mercury‘s place, Adam’s voice was amazing and he really put on one hell of a show. With costume changes, an audience sing-off, effortless interaction with the band members, and his own unique styling, I think Freddie would’ve been pleased with his performance. It sure seemed like the audience was pleased and happy to hear all of Queen’s wonderful music live again. Queen’s remaining original members were pretty terrific too! Brian May’s guitar playing was sick! I especially loved his trippy guitar solo and his tribute to Freddie. Then there was Roger Taylor who was totally rockin’ out on the drums. He gave the younger drummer playing with them a run for his money! Overall, the entire band sounded great and they looked like they were really having a fun time on stage. They gave the audience a great show over two hours long with just the right mix of hits and lesser known numbers. I would definitely see them again.

If you went to the show, what did you think and would you see them again?

Wages of Spin II Soundtrack Songs Available

About a month ago, I had the pleasure of attending the Philadelphia premiere of the documentary film, “Wages of Spin II,” by Shawn Swords, at Bryn Mawr Film Institute. The film continues the payola story from “The Wages of Spin” but also chronicles the corruption in the music industry in the 80’s and uncovers some of the players involved. You won’t believe some of the people who are implicated!

In addition to the great buzz the film is receiving, the soundtrack has been getting positive feedback from the music industry too. There are lots of great Philly talent and friends of Vinyl Revival on the soundtrack so check out some of the songs in the links below.

“Never Be Forgiven” Performed by Effusion 35 Written by Randy S. Robbins and Pat Manley © 2014 Great Blasket Music, ASCAP/What is This Crap Music, ASCAP https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/borrowed-time-reluctant-rhymes/id867812991

Several songs by Mitch Schecter of The Rip Chords: www.homeroomrecords.com www.ripchords.com

“No Sad Song” is the new single from Skip Denenberg. Composed and performed by Skip. Produced, engineered and mixed by George Manney at Geo Sound Studio in Philadelphia. Download here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/skipdenenberg2

Several songs by Dan Brown: http://www.reverbnation.com/danieljohnbrown

Several songs by Frank Caravella: https://soundcloud.com/frank-caravella

The instrumental version of “It’s a Gas That Makes You Laugh Before it Kills You” is available all over (iTunes Amazon etc.) or at www.johnbyrneband.com “It’s a Gas That Makes You Laugh Before it Kills You” – The John Byrne Band Written by John Byrne Various Verses BMI Character Driven Productions

I hope to screen this documentary at The Vault at Vinyl Revival in the fall but if you’d like to purchase the DVD now, it is available at www.characterdrivenfilms.com. Here’s a trailer for a sneak peek.

Record Store Day Re-Cap

: Our Concert Promoters

: Historic Lansdowne Theater

: Wildrompit

: Big Tusk

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate Record Store Day with us last Saturday!

Thanks especially to our customers, concert promoters who worked hard to organize the day’s events, Jim Rosin for doing a book signing, and all the bands and performers who generously played at our celebration too!

I hope you found what you were looking for on RSD but if you’re still searching for a title, here’s a list of the RSD releases we still have in stock. These are mostly single copies so if you if’d like one, come in as soon as possible before we sell out.

Adventure Club – Calling All Hereoes

Aerosmith – Draw the Line

Aerosmith – Rocks

Allicara 2743

Joan Baez – Blessed Are

Bastille – Of the Night

Beauregarde – Testify

Bleachers – I Want to Get Better

Hollis Brown – Hollis Brown Gets Loaded

Neko Case & Jason Little – Satellite of Love

Nick Cave & Warren Ellis – West of Memphis

Michael Chapman – Playing Guitar the Easy Way

Eric Church – The Outsiders

The Civil Wars – Live at Eddie’s Attic

Dillinger, Trinity, Wayne Wade, Al Campbell, Junior Tamlin – Five Man Army

Disclosure – Apollo

Ramblin Jack Elliott – Jack ElliottIce-T,

Everly Brothers – Roots

Frightened Rabbit – Live From Criminal Records

Mayer Hawthorne – Wine Glass Woman

Heavens to Betsy – Calculated

Ice -T – Greatest Hits

Rick James – You and I

Waylon & Shooter Jennings – Fenixon

Jimi Hendrix – Live at Monterey

Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes – Live at the Greek

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – She’s on It

Stephen John Kalinich – A World of Peace Must Come

Jorma Kaukonen – QUAH

Kings of Leon – Wait for Me

Kodaline – Coming Up

Ray Lamontagne – Supernova

Henry Mancini – Sountdrack to Pink Panther

Dean Martin – Dream with Dean

Jim McCarty – Frontman

Randy Newman

John Oates – Stone Cold Love

The Orwells – Righteous One

Outkast – SOUTHERNPLAYALISTICADILLACMUZIK

Nina Persson – Sometimes

Pussy Galore – PUSSY GOLD 5000

Rodion G.A. – Misuinea Spatiala Delta (Delta Space Mission)

Bobby Rush – Upstairs at United, Vol. 11

Gil Scott-Heron – Nothing New Slipknot – Vol. 3 The Subliminal Verses

Spanish Gold – Out on the Street

Regina Speckor – You’ve Got Time

Sun Ra – Outer Spaceways Incorporated

Tayla Lynn – Coal Dust

Tears For Fears – Ready Boys & Girls

Whirlwind Heat – Do Rabbits Wonder?

James Williamson, Carolyn Wonderland – Open Up And Bleed

Johnny Winter – Live Bootleg Special Edition

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