The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Nate is a record collector, music lover and vinyl maniac. Join him on his journey to discuss, share and review all things related to vinyl records. We feature stories about and interviews with musicians, artists and people of knowledge in the area of vinyl records. Additionally we share information on desirable pressings of records, how to tell a $5 pressing from a $500 pressing and care and maintenance for your cratedigging hobby. Subscribe and share with your record-nerd friends. Cheers!

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds is a music podcast hosted by The Vinyl Guide, with 575 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

The Vinyl Guide hosts The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds, a music show with 575 episodes published.

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  Episode #560

  Ep560: Captain Sensible of The Damned

  Aug 17, 202647 min

  The Damned 's Captain Sensible talks vinyl rarities, back catalogue, scented records, chasing the "perfect album," and what may be their final Australia and New Zealand tour dates . Topics Include: Captain Sensible is a record nerd - Still plays childhood favorites: Groundhogs, Pretty Things, Moody Blues, loves Bee Gees' first album Grew up around his dad's pub singing, informally musical Paper round savings meant records played obsessively, analyzed deeply Cites Shane Fenton's "I'm a Moody Guy" as formative Joe Meek's Telstar and tiny Holloway Road studio praised Recalls magical Motown Hitsville USA studio tour in Detroit "Sonar Deceit" track was band's Motown tribute song Lyric inspired by marine biologist's whale-stranding sonar theory Describes uncanny ability to instantly recall and replay songs Hosted radio challenge replaying requested songs live for charity New Rose confirmed as first UK punk single release Stiff Records signed them with a bribe of cheeseburgers Beating the Sex Pistols to release still amuses him Sydney Opera House gig ironic given past band bannings Royal Albert Hall sent rejection letters into the 1980s Mentions unlikely celebrity fans, including Australia's prime minister Recalls Barney Bubbles' art department and album cover mishap First pressing's mismatched back cover became a collector's item Says he collects 60s psych, not punk records himself Discusses Brian James tribute covers album made after his death Five reunion shows almost didn't happen, no live release planned Loves live show chaos, unpredictability, and Rat Scabies' drumming Confirms no hidden unreleased Damned tracks remain in vaults Notes band rarely controls or profits from its own catalog Explains "Strawberries" album concept and its scented vinyl insert Describes love of vinyl artwork, liner notes, and physical ritual Talks pursuit of first editions and test pressings today Names rare Cowsills albums as his current collecting holy grail Tells story of Sid Barrett nearly producing their second album Recalls haunted, sleepless sessions recording Machine Gun Etiquette Reflects on creative bond and offstage humor with Dave Vanian Closes with tour dates, S.F. Sorrow recommendation, and one-step vinyl talk H igh resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #559

  Ep559: Rhino Records Co-Founder Richard Foos

  Aug 10, 20261 hour

  Rhino Records co-founder Richard Foos reveals how a scrappy record shop invented reissue culture, chasing master tapes, getting arrested for selling bootleg records, memories of Frank Zappa, Darby Crash and more. Topics Include: Foos discusses being called originator of reissue culture, credits early employee's phrase. Started as a Los Angeles record shop in 1973. Recalls how scarce and cheap rare records were before collecting culture existed. Describes hunting records at warehouses, swap meets, and Salvation Army stores. Notes punk rock's DIY ethos sparked broader music fandom and collecting. Rhino's shop became a punk hangout; Darby Crash was banned for chaos. Explains how punk bands pressed 45s since albums were too costly. James Brown's out-of-print catalog became Rhino's breakthrough first major reissue. Details licensing process: major labels' passive licensing departments simply approved requests. Rhino insisted on original master tapes, never secondary sources or stampers. Engineer Bill Englott restored recordings purely, never altering original mixes. Some projects stalled without usable masters, like a punk box set. Nuggets compilation missed "96 Tears" for years due to licensing issues. Foos explains Rhino's sequencing philosophy: welcoming newcomers, not strict chronology. Doo-wop box set, initially unpopular internally, became Rhino's best-selling release. Discusses 20-25 year nostalgia cycles driving collectibility of past decades' music. Notes scarce 2000s vinyl pressings now make that era highly collectible. Rhino focused on best listening experience over rarities for rarity's sake. Foos recounts pre-Rhino bootlegging ties and friendship with bootleg artist Bill Stout. Reveals he was arrested for selling bootlegs during a warehouse sale. Discusses how record labels misunderstood fandom, limiting artist output and bootlegs. Reflects on vinyl's spiritual appeal despite many records never being played. Compares cassette-era scarcity to streaming's shifting availability of licensed content. Predicts streaming remains the future, praises YouTube's vast musical accessibility. Doubts catalog values will keep rising, questions which artists endure historically. Criticizes a post-Rhino "L.A. Nuggets" box set for prioritizing rarity over listenability. Recalls Kinky Friedman rejecting a hits compilation over disliking his originals. Explains publishing hurdles licensing music for Freaks and Geeks and WKRP DVDs. Describes working with Frank Zappa on Beat the Boots and elaborate packaging. Shares current work: Shout Factory, wife's Narrative Method, and a new podcast. H igh resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #558

  Ep558: John McCrea of CAKE

  Aug 3, 202632 min

  John McCrea of CAKE discusses their elusive catalogue on vinyl, rarities of the band, upcoming Australian tour, new recordings, record nerdery and more. Tickets & info on CAKE's Australian tour is here Topics Include: John McCrae discusses collecting records, revisiting old favorites like Perez Prado He describes "chasing goosebumps" — the feeling of rediscovering great music Shares vivid teenage memory seeing Led Zeppelin at Knebworth, England Recalls dancing to washing machine rinse cycles as a toddler Names early formative records: Beatles, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie His parents played accordion and folk guitar, shaping his musicality Discusses his dad's Eastern European minor-key accordion versus polka music Talks about "Rancho Seco," his first recorded song, a protest track Song addressed a nuclear plant illegally releasing radioactive steam locally Connects Dylan influence and poets to his built-in social justice streak Reflects on growing up near Sacramento, Berkeley, and Nevada City, California Compares old Bay Area culture to today's flashier Silicon Valley wealth Describes Cake's early '90s formation, self-financed four-song EP release EP funded through show earnings and merch, later expanded into album Album got European distribution and unexpected early popularity in France "Rock and Roll Lifestyle" got college radio play before wider fame Cake signed to Capricorn Records, a small Southern rock label East Bay Ray advised McCrea to fight for keeping album masters McCrae says most bands don't retain their masters like Cake did Vinyl of Cake albums historically hard to find, tied up licensing Discusses 2014 box set now reselling for $700–$1,000 secondhand New Cake album is finished, awaiting mixing, targeted early 2027 Explains he avoids forced album themes, focuses song by song Reflects on why Cake albums come infrequently, citing family, industry fatigue Criticizes modern music industry as increasingly exploitative and financially unsustainable Explains reduced touring due to travel dislike and environmental concerns Considers eco-friendly vinyl options and shifting kids' preference toward CDs Discusses Cake's DIY visual identity, homemade posters, and lino-cut aesthetic Talks rare live vinyl pressings, including $300 Crystal Palace release Wraps up promoting Cake's Australian tour dates and Sydney ticket sales H igh resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #557

  Ep557: The Secret Return of Neurosis with Steve Von Till

  Jul 27, 20261h 4m

  Neurosis 's Steve Von Till reveals how the band secretly rebuilt itself, creating a career-defining album and making future plans for the Neurosis victory-lap that few thought possible. Topics Include: The Secret recording of An Undying Love for a Burning World Neurosis walked away seven years ago under uncertain circumstances Four remaining members reunited quietly at end of 2024 Aaron Turner brought in to help complete the musical puzzle Reunion tied to Firekeeper Alliance , a suicide-prevention nonprofit Heavy music framed as protective factor for indigenous mental health Steve reflects on tribal rhythms and humanity's forgotten earth connection Band knew instantly the new material had to be Neurosis Reunion forced confrontation with ego, identity, and aging as musicians Firekeeper Alliance's Fire in the Mountains offer pushed them forward Album written and recorded in secret across three studio sessions Secrecy maintained even among close friends touring together in Australia Fan reaction described as unexpectedly emotional, healing, and hope-filled Steve discusses reduced stigma around vulnerability in heavy music today Vinyl pressing strategy explained: budget-driven first run, quick sellout Running Neurot Recordings on a teacher's salary, tight cash flow Multiple color variants pressed across regional distributors and mail orders Debate over black vs. clear vinyl sound quality explored Steve's approach to buying vinyl: music over pressing obsession Talk turns to Melvins, Hazel Meyer, and DIY label camaraderie Where the line sits between fan service and variant exploitation Vinyl side-length considerations shaped decision to make a double LP Aaron Turner's artwork process detailed, sketched live in the studio Album title changed at the last minute, forcing new artwork Neurosis' visual style rooted in myth, symbolism, and Jungian archetypes Older catalog rights partly held by Relapse and other labels Steve wants a "forever version" repress of the band's earliest albums Original master tapes and artwork found corrupted or lost to time Talk closes on solo tour plans and hopes for Australia H igh resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #556

  Ep556: Shapel Lacey - Punk, Comedy & Rising Above

  Jul 20, 20261h 2m

  Comedian Shapel Lacey discusses the power of music, inspiration and how a 1981 Black Flag video sparked a lifelong punk obsession that shaped his identity, art, and resilience. Shapel Lacey tour dates | comedy special | Mad Peaceful band Topics Include: Talks local record stores, Amoeba, old Sunset location Discovers deep-cut Swedish hardcore at Eastside Records, Arizona Reflects on pre-streaming era, hunting records in person Notices rosary on Crash's grave, debates his beliefs Traces punk discovery to junior high guitar class Friend introduces him to ska punk, then Black Flag Watches 1981 Target video of Rollins-era Black Flag Rise Above vocals trigger emotional, tearful revelation Explains Black Flag filled a void from turbulent childhood Contrasts Korn/Deftones' anger with punk's empowering message Credits Rollins with teaching self-understanding and personal growth Recalls performing onstage with Rollins at Ohio festival Anger management counselor used Rollins to redirect his aggression Growing up Black, punk, skateboarding in Arizona desert Faced criticism from all sides for musical taste Explored funk, hip-hop, grunge without genre boundaries Connects N.W.A. and Black Flag's shared themes of injustice Discusses punk and hip-hop confronting police brutality parallels Champions open-mindedness across seemingly opposite music scenes Describes local DIY scene at Mesa's Nile basement Panhandled for five dollars to attend all-ages shows Cheerleading came after punk, called "most punk rock" act Discusses tattoos, straight-edge culture, Minor Threat connection Shares personal encounters meeting Henry Rollins and Ian MacKaye Praises Rollins and MacKaye's discipline, historical knowledge, friendship Draws parallels between punk and comedy's DIY authenticity Talks band Mad Peaceful, growing sold-out comedy success Discusses Australia tour interest, interview wrap up H igh resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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