Listen Now

On this week's Weekly Flashback: Styx found the missing piece of their puzzle when they recruited Tommy Shaw to replace John Curulewski on guitar. Although "Crystal Ball" wasn't their breakthrough, it foreshadowed their years of superstardom, which weren't far off now.

Outlaw country - so what is it? How does it stand out from country as a whole? I talked to Aaron Perlut, host of the Load Out Music Podcast, to shed some light on this diverse sub-genre. We also discussed politics in music, and how his podcast has come along recently. You won't want to miss this episode!

It was 1969, the year of Woodstock and the Isle of Wight festival; The Band had performed at both of these events. In September, they released their self titled follow-up album. “The Band,” also known as The Brown Album, featured several of their most well known songs of all time, including the track “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.”

It was September 1974. Fleetwood Mac released their final studio album with Bob Welch, closing off a transitional period that was quickly followed up with the Buckingham/Nicks era, giving way to the band's superstardom. But just like with Styx, the building years of Fleetwood Mac are just as important as the years where everything has been built. Heroes are Hard to Find is one of many underrated albums from their back catalog.

This week, we kick off the Meet Your Record Store episode series. I spoke with Brian Hansen, owner and founder of B's Music Shop in central Michigan. B's is a music store that sells instruments, offers music lessons, and now has a wide selection of new and used vinyl records as well. What record store do you want featured next? Drop us a line in the comments below!

On this Weekly Flashback, we commemorate the 19th anniversary of 9/11. Little over a month after the World Trade Center was destroyed in a terrorist attack, a concert organized by Paul McCartney filled Madison Square Garden and boasted a star-studded lineup featuring The Who, Billy Joel, Elton John, McCartney himself, and many more. New York City first responders and their families were treated to more than five hours of music; a much needed break from the chaotic, turbulent times.

This week, a look back at the Eagles' final studio album before their ultimate collapse: The Long Run, released in 1979. In spite of being burned out in more ways than one, the band was still able to churn out 10 songs, 3 of which became top 10 hits in the US. But they were not the same country-rock band that they were when they had started.

In 1980, Queen released their eighth studio album "The Game." The fourth single, "Another One Bites the Dust," was their foray into disco, which had become a dying trend by that time. In spite of this, the song has become one of Queen's most well-remembered tracks of all time.

This week on The Vinyl Tone: compilation albums.... who needs them? Whether you're a casual music fan looking to get the hits, or a diehard fan collecting everything, compilation albums are a great addition to your record collection. Some are essentials, even for those who have all the studio albums. Soundrise host Vladimir Mihajlović joins us to discuss his favorite compilation albums and why they are relevant.

23 years ago today, Fleetwood Mac's most successful lineup - Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood - released the live album "The Dance," their first album in 10 years. This band has a track record of dramatic interpersonal tensions, and yet, they were able to put it all aside to achieve a higher purpose.

On this episode: what makes a good live album? What are some of the best live albums in music history? Today, we talk with Bill Wegner of Records and Tapes Galore about several live LPs that brought artists to superstardom and defined their careers.

On this Weekly Flashback: in honor of Ian Anderson's 72nd birthday (August 11), we take a look back at the Jethro Tull album that brought the British progressive rock band to their identity, and kicked off a decades-long legacy that has shown no signs of fading away.

On the debut of The Vinyl Tone, the COVID-19 pandemic has killed a vast majority of live concerts, and some fear that they may never be the same again, even when they come back. JB Anderson, owner and creative director of Gaslight Studios in St. Louis, MO, shares his thoughts on the future of live concerts.

The Vinyl Tone Weekly Flashback is a short-form podcast series where we take a look at interesting moments in rock history. The first episode of the main podcast debuts this Friday (August 7) at 9 a.m. Eastern. In the meantime, check out my review of Styx's self-titled debut album, which came out 48 years ago this month. Before achieving superstardom, Styx was a local band in Chicago that stayed largely under the radar but showed great potential from the get-go.

Welcome to the official launch trailer for The Vinyl Tone Podcast! Here's a quick rundown of what to expect from the new podcast, as well as the episodes coming up.