New Albums to Watch for in December 2017

December starts this Friday, which means the year in new music is almost over. With only a few more big releases set to come out this year, it’s time to take a look at what new albums the final weeks of 2017 have in store for us.

Though the output in December is significantly more scant than in previous months, there are still some highly anticipated albums set to come out. On Friday alone, U2, Neil Young and Van Morrison are all putting out new albums. Eminem’s new album will be coming out just in time for the holidays as well. December will also see the first new albums from hardcore bands Glassjaw and Story of the Year in 15 and seven years, respectively.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, loves new music. That’s why we’re taking a look at some of the most anticipated albums coming out in December 2017. Here are eight titles we think will be worth watch for in the coming month.

1.       U2, ‘Songs Of Experience’: After the mediocre and controversial release of 2014’s ‘Songs Of Innocence,’ U2 are looking to follow it up with ‘Songs Of Experience’ this Friday. The new album is meant to compliment ‘Innocence,’ this time reflecting on what they have learned from being a band for more than three decades. In one last promotional push, the band will be releasing a radio show spanning music from throughout their career on Amazon Music that will run until Friday’s release. (12/1)

2.       Neil Young & Promise of the Real, ‘The Visitor’: Neil Young has once again teamed up with Promise of the Real for a new album, ‘The Visitor,’ his third with the band in three years. Young unsurprisingly gets political with this album, singing about things like standing up for what you believe in (“Children of Destiny”) and how America doesn’t need anyone to change it (“Already Great”). (12/1)

3.       Van Morrison, ‘Versatile’: Van Morrison makes his foray this December into jazz with his upcoming album ‘Versatile,’ his second album in three months. The album features covers of nine vocal jazz standards, as well as seven original songs (12/1)

4.       Glassjaw, ‘Material Control’: It’s been more than six years since Long Island hardcore band Glassjaw released new material and 15 since they last released a full-length album. That changes this Friday when the band releases ‘Material Control.’ The band released the album’s melodic first single, “Shira,” last week. (12/1)

5.       Story Of The Year, ‘Wolves’: It has been seven years since hardcore band Story Of The Year released their last album, ‘The Constant.’ Now the band is making up for lost time with a new album, titled ‘Wolves,’ out in December. The singles I’ve heard so far feel like a more mature version of the band’s sound, bringing new, more melodic influences to their tried and true sound. Those that preordered the album on Pledge Music will receive the album a week earlier on December 1. (12/8)

6.       N.E.R.D., ‘No_One Ever Really Dies’: N.E.R.D. has regrouped to release their first album together in seven years, ‘No_One Ever Really Dies.’ The album is set to feature collaborations with Rihanna, Outkast’s Andre 3000, Kendrick Lamar, Future, Gucci Mane and Wale. First single “Lemon” (feat. Rihanna), has done modestly well on the charts so far. (12/15)

7.       Eminem, ‘Revival’: Eminem will be releasing his highly anticipated ninth album, ‘Revival,’ this month. The follow-up to 2013’s Grammy-winning ‘The Marshall Mathers LP 2,’ ‘Revival’ has big shoes to fill. Promotion for the album has also been creating a lot of hype, with fake ads for a fake drug teasing it for the last two months.The first single from the album, “Walk On Water,” hits hard both lyrically and emotionally, which, to me, seems like a good sign for the rest of the album. (12/15)

8.       Linkin Park, ‘One More Light Live’: Over the summer, Linkin Park embarked on a world tour behind their new album, ‘One More Light.’ It was also this summer that frontman Chester Bennington took his own life. As a tribute to him, the band is releasing one last album, recorded live during this summer’s tour. These are Bennington’s final recordings and are meant to give a glimpse into what he had called the “best tour [they] had ever done.” (12/15)

As the year is winding down, there are still a handful of highly anticipated new releases coming out in December, just in time for the holiday season. These are just some of the new titles that we think will be worth spending your hard-earned money on. Keep an eye out for these and let us know which ones your excited for in the month to come.

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Whether you’re looking for something new or trying to rediscover the classics, Vinyl Bay 777 has you covered. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Grammy Awards 2018 Nominees Announced: Six Takeaways

The nominations for the 2018 Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday morning. Now in its 60^th year, the show is slated to air January 28 on CBS.

The Grammy Awards has been honoring the best in all genres of music for six decades now. Leading the pack in nominations this year is Jay-Z, whose new album, ‘4:44,’ received a total of eight nods. Following close behind are Kendrick Lamar with seven and Childish Gambino and Bruno Mars with five each.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a closer look at some of this year’s Grammy nominees. From diversity to posthumous awards and history-making nominations, here are six interesting takeaways from this year’s list.

1.       Rap was very popular this year: In recent years, the Grammys has been plagued by criticism over the lack of diversity in their nominees. That gap decreases slightly this year, as hip-hop and R&B are finally getting their due. As stated previously, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino and Bruno Mars are all dominating the nominees list. Rap also fills the New Artists category this year with Khalid, Lil Uzi Vert and SZA all vying for the award.

2.       The lines of dance and alternative were blurred: There are always a couple of head-scratchers when it comes to nominations. The one that sticks out this year is the nomination of Gorillaz and LCD Soundsystem for Best Dance Recording. While Gorillaz did make an album this year with electronic leanings, both are a big surprise to find in this category. Both are also nominated in the Best Alternative Album category as well, which seems more understandable.

3.       Posthumous rock nods: The rock world lost a lot of icons this year and the Grammys are recognizing a few of them. Leonard Cohen, whose final album ‘You Want It Darker’ was released in October 2016, three weeks after the eligibility cut-off for last year’s ceremony, is nominated in the Best Rock Performance category this year for the album’s haunting title track, as well as in Best American Roots Performance for the non-single “Steer Your Way.” Late Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell is also nominated for Rock Performance, picking up a solo nod for his one-off single “The Promise,” which was released as a charity single benefiting the International Rescue Committee. Finally, Gregg Allman is up for two awards: Best Americana Album for ‘Southern Blood’ and Best American Roots Song for “My Only True Friend.”

4.       ‘La La Land’ continues to shine: There is no doubt that ‘La La Land’ was a huge success when it came out in December of 2016. The film won six of its 14 Oscar nods and dominated the Golden Globes. Apparently the film is still riding high because it is nominated for four awards, including all three Visual Media categories and a composition award for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals.

5.       “Despacito” is the first Latin track in a while to be nominated for the big awards: It was very hard to escape the sound of “Despacito” coming out of every speaker over the last year. The break-out crossover single from Luis Fonsi was everywhere and the Grammys are giving it its due. The song is nominated for Song of the Year and Record of the Year, as well as Pop Duo/Group Performance. According to Billboard, the last time a Latin crossover song took the English-speaking world like this was in 2000 when Ricky Martin’s “Living La Vida Loca” was blowing up.

6.       Kesha got her first Grammy nods: Over the last seven years, Kesha has been a pop powerhouse with a handful of top 10 singles and two top 10 albums to her name. But in all that time, she has never received a Grammy nomination. That is until now. Her latest album, ‘Rainbow,’ has produced two nominations for her, one for Best Pop Vocal Album and one for Best Pop Solo Performance for the beautiful and powerful “Praying.”

With the announcement of the 2018 Grammy nominees this morning, the Recording Academy continues to honor some of the best music of the year. Honoring a more diverse group of artists this year, as well as artists who truly had banner years in their careers, the award show’s 60^th year is looking to be a good one.

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Find award-winning music from these artists and more at Long Island’s top new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777. We have thousands of titles to choose from in a wide variety of genres. Browse our selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location or shop online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Week in Review: New Songs / Music Videos You Need to Check Out this Weekend (November 12-25, 2017)

Happy Thanksgiving weekend! Now that the turkey is all gone and the Christmas rush just beginning, the weekend is a great time to catch up on all the new music that came out over the last couple of weeks.

There have been some great new songs and music videos released in the worlds of pop and rock. P!nk, Paramore, Fall Out Boy and St. Vincent released new videos for singles from their recently released albums. Green Day put out their first new song in a year. U2 officially released a new single from their upcoming album, as well as a Record Store Day release of the album’s first single, “Blackout.” We also got new songs from Black Label Society and Dashboard Confessional.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has been scouring the internet for the latest new singles and music videos that came out over the last two weeks. Here are nine of our favorites that we think you should check out.

1.       P!nk, “Beautiful Trauma”: P!nk finally released the video for her single “Beautiful Trauma” and it is hilarious. The video stars P!nk and Channing Tatum in a dysfunctional relationship, not unlike the one in the song’s lyrics. The two dance with each other throughout their house while secretly self-medicating just to cope. (video)

2.       Black Label Society, “All That Once Shined”: Hard rock band Black Label Society released “All At Once” this week, the latest single from their upcoming greatest hits album. The song’s dirge-like verses it in a dark direction in the beginning. By the end however, the song erupts into a heavy, decidedly less bleak guitar solo that lifts the entire mood. (video)

3.       St. Vincent, “Pills”: Speaking of being blessed out on happy pills, the video for St. Vincent’s latest single, “Pills,” was released this week and it’s just about as creepy as a video about medication culture should be. There’s a lot of glitch-y effects, head-bobbing, forced smiling and glazed eyes, making the song and video’s message very clear. (video)

4.       U2, “American Soul”: Sometimes it takes an outsider to remind us that there are still possitives in life. U2 do just this with their latest single “American Soul.” The song is an ode to the American dream, trying to remind us that this is still a land of opportunity and diversity, even though it might not seem like it. (video)

5.       Dashboard Confessional, “We Fight”: Over the last 15 years, Dashboard Confessional has been growing up with his audience, inching away from the self-deprecating lyricism of his third-wave “emo” roots and moving more towards sunnier themes. “We Fight,” the band’s first single from their upcoming Fueled By Ramen debut, goes even further, finding self-confidence and taking a stand for something. It has a bit of a harder edge to it, but it doesn’t feel out of place within what you would expect sonically from the band. (video)

6.       Lindsey Sterling feat. Becky G, “Christmas C’mon”: When an instrumentalist and a vocalist collaborate on a song, a lot of times the instrumentalist will get drowned out by everything else: the vocal track, the backing track. Not on the latest single from violinist Lindsey Sterling’s new Christmas album, “Christmas C’mon.” The violin acts as a second voice in the song, playing off Becky G’s voice very well. (video)

7.       Fall Out Boy, “Hold Me Tight or Don’t”: The latest single from Fall Out Boy’s recently released album ‘M A N I A,’ “Hold Me Tight or Don’t” manages to pull from the same bank of self-deprecating lyrics that made their early albums so successful. Patrick Stump declares in the chorus so confidently that he wants to be held, but then sheepishly negates it by saying “or don’t” quickly afterwards, as if he’s been passed by without that hug. (video)

8.       Green Day, “Back in the USA”: Last week, Green Day released a video for their new song “Back in the USA,” the sole new track from their freshly released second greatest hits album, ‘God’s Favorite Band.’ No strangers to being politically outspoken in their music, the song vocalizes the band’s concerns over the bleakness of Trump’s America. The video is a tribute to the sci-fi film ‘They Live,’ except instead of aliens, the sunglasses is used to open peoples’ eyes to what is going on in their own country. (video)

9.       Paramore, “Fake Happy”: Last week, Paramore put out a video for their song “Fake Happy,” off their latest album, ‘After Laughter.’ The song does a great job of grasping the feeling of having to seem happy to please the rest of the world. Starting off acoustically with just singer Hayley Williams’ voice and a guitar in a sound booth, the song picks up pace to blend with the band’s new new wave sound. But just like the lyrics suggest, the peppiness is an act, a mask that she’s using to hide her feelings. (video)

These are some of the best new songs and music videos that were released over the last two weeks. Check these out and start your holiday season with new music.

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Discover music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking discover something new or rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with new titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you will find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Record Store Day Black Friday 2017: The Importance of Independent Record Shops on Black Friday

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, takes a look at what makes Record Store Day’s Black Friday event important

The wait is finally over! Today is Record Store Day Black Friday! Like its parent event in April, Black Friday is a chance to find exclusive releases while supporting the independent record shops that foster the music community.

Now in its seventh year, Record Store Day Black Friday emerged out of a necessity to bring independent shops back into the fold of holiday shopping. According to their website, the event “gives record stores exclusive releases as part of an attempt to redirect the focus of the biggest shopping day of the year to the desirable, special things to be found at local stores.” This year’s event will feature titles from the likes of Paul McCartney, the Grateful Dead, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Tori Amos, Twisted Sister, Queen, Willie Nelson and hundreds more. All exclusives are released in limited quantity and once they are gone, they are gone.

Black Friday itself has been around since 1952. Taking place the day after Thanksgiving, it is considered to be the start of the holiday shopping season. The first profitable sales day of the year, the event is named for the black ink used to mark profits in a business’ sales ledger (losses are marked in red). In more recent years, Black Friday has become even more of a phenomenon, with scores of shoppers lining up at ridiculously early hours (sometimes ON Thanksgiving) to take part in deep discounts and sales.

Much of the time though, Black Friday feels like it is reserved for the big retailers. Those are the stores that run the biggest deals and draw the biggest crowds. And while Small Business Saturday is a thing, it’s not quite as big as the behemoth that is Black Friday.

Such is the need to celebrate local, independent record shops during the holiday season, as well as all year long. These are the places where music communities grow and thrive, where people discover new music and the classics. There no better place to find gifts for the music lovers in your life than from people who know and love music.

Record Store Day has been a very profitable event for locally-owned and independent record shops all over the world for the last ten years. The annual April event has played a large role in the vinyl revival, helping it to become the only physical medium to grow in albums sales year over year. Record Store Day has also been proven to raise retail sales at independent stores. This past April’s event earned the biggest non-Christmas retail sales in more than a decade. So if anyone can bring attention to local stores during the holiday season, it’s Record Store Day.

While Black Friday is often geared more towards larger retailers, Record Store Day is aiming to bring some of that attention back to locally-owned and independent shops with their Black Friday event. After all, it is these Independent record shops that have had a big part in creating community around music. Through exclusive releases, the event hopes to help draw in business and give music lovers an added reason to shop locally this holiday season.

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Shop for music gifts locally this holiday season at Vinyl Bay 777. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres. Check out exclusive Record Store Day Black Friday exclusives while supplies last or browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store and online at vinylbay777.com. New titles are being added to our selection all the time, so you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Record Store Day Black Friday 2017: Seven Exclusive Album Reissues to Watch For

For the last 10 years, Record Store Day has been a great avenue for launching album reissues. The event gives artists and labels the opportunity to celebrate these tremendous works while also giving back to the fans who buy the albums and the independent stores that sell them. This Record Store Day Black Friday will be no different as there are many specially-packaged and long-out-of-print reissues being released this Friday, November 24.

In anticipation of Record Store Day Black Friday, Vinyl Bay777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the album reissues we can look forward to this coming Friday. Here are seven titles we can’t wait to get our hands on. (Note: Vinyl Bay 777 may not have all of these titles in stock on RSD. Please drop by the store on Friday to see what we will have.)

1.       Tori Amos, ‘Y Kant Tori Read’: Tori Amos has two releases coming out for Record Store Day Black Friday that bookend her career. The first is the ‘Russian EP,’ which features four songs from her 2017 album ‘Native Invader’ on orange vinyl with labels printed in Russian. The other is a reissue of her synth-pop band Y Kant Tori Read’s 1988 self-titled album, which doubles as Amos’ very first recording for Atlantic Records.  Long out-of-print and usually shunned by Amos herself, the album is being remastered and released in original track list order.

2.       Grateful Dead, ‘Grateful Dead Records Collection’: Between 1973 and 1977, the Grateful Dead were releasing music on their own label, Grateful Dead Records. Come this Friday, fans of the jam band will be able to own all four albums released on the label together in one neat package. The ‘Grateful Dead Records Collection’ features ‘Wake of the Flood,’ ‘From the Mars Hotel,’ ‘Blues for Allah’ and the double LP ‘Steal Your Face,’ all “faithfully replicated, housed in rigid slipcases” and coming with books “containing liner notes and iconic photos of the band.”

3.       Richard Hell & the Voidoids, ‘Blank Generation’: Richard Hell & the Voidoids’ iconic debut album ‘Blank Generation’ turned 40 in September. In celebration of the anniversary, the band is issuing a 40^th anniversary edition of the album for Record Store Day Black Friday. This new edition was remastered by Greg Calbi, who originally mastered the album at Sterling Sound, and features a bonus disc/LP with unreleased tracks that include alternate studio versions, out-of-print singles, and bootleg live recordings of the band’s first performance at CBGBs in 1976. The package also contains previously unpublished photos of the band from Roberta Bayley, an essay by Richard Hell and an interview conducted by Hell with guitarist Ivan Julian.

4.       Willie Nelson, ‘Yesterday’s Wine’ and ‘Spirit’: Willie Nelson has not one but two reissues coming out for Record Store Day Black Friday. The first is ‘Yesterday’s Wine,’ which hasn’t been pressed on vinyl in more than three decades. Part of Friday Music’s 180g Audiophile Vinyl Series, the album will be released on burgundy vinyl and packaged in a gatefold sleeve with a poster of the album’s cover art. The second reissue is of Nelson’s 1996 album ‘Spirit,’ which is being pressed on vinyl for the first time. Newly remastered and pressed on colored vinyl, the album will come in a “deluxe gatefold, ‘tip-on’ uncoated jacket.”

5.       Iggy Pop, ‘New Values’: Another addition to Friday Music’s 180g Audiophile Vinyl Series, Iggy Pop will be reissuing his 1979 Arista Records debut ‘New Values,’ his third solo release, for Record Store Day Black Friday. This new edition features the album on blue and black swirled vinyl packaged in a gatefold cover with a 24x24 poster included.

6.       Steve Earle, ‘El Corazon’: Released in 1997, ‘El Corazon’ is one of Steve Earle’s most eclectic albums to date. After twenty years, the album will be seeing its first ever vinyl release for Record Store Day Black Friday. The new edition will come with an exclusive lithograph.

7.       Neil Young, ‘Harvest Moon’: Neil Young’s classic album ‘Harvest Moon’ turned 25 this month. To celebrate, the iconic singer-guitarist is releasing a special 25^th anniversary edition of the album, pressed on vinyl for the first time in North America, for Black Friday. The vinyl will feature two LPs, with the album’s artwork etched on the second side of the second LP.

In true Record Store Day fashion, this year’s Black Friday event will feature some outstanding special-edition reissues. These are just some of the reissue titles coming out this Friday that we feel are worth getting excited over. A mix of landmark anniversary releases, vinyl first-presses and long out-of-print titles, these reissues would be a great addition to any music fans’ collection.

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Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop, is excited to be a part of Record Store Day Black Friday this year. Drop by our Plainview location on November 24 between 9 AM and 10 PM to find exclusive Record Store Day releases and to browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia. Vinyl Bay 777 has thousands of titles in store and online at vinylbay777.com year-round with new titles being added all the time.

Record Store Day Black Friday 2017: Seven Exclusive Christmas Releases

One of the things that set Record Store Day Black Friday apart from its parent event in April is the holiday releases. As Black Friday marks the beginning of the holiday season, that makes it the perfect time for artists to spread a little holiday cheer.

In preparation for Record Store Day Black Friday, Vinyl Bay777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the exclusive Christmas releases coming out this Friday. Here are seven that will get you in the holiday spirit. (Note: Vinyl Bay 777 might not have all of these titles. Please visit the store on Friday, November 24 to see what we will have.)

1.       Twisted Sister, ‘A Twisted Christmas’: Rock out to classic Christmas songs from one of metal’s most hard-rocking bands. Twisted Sister originally released ‘A Twisted Christmas’ in 2006, turning out to be the final studio album the band would release together. For Black Friday this year, the album is being rereleased on green vinyl. Only 2000 copies are being made.

2.       Paul McCartney, ‘Holidays Rule’:  For Black Friday, former Beatle Paul McCartney will be putting out two 7” releases. Both feature a new take on his 1979 original Christmas classic “Wonderful Christmastime,” accompanied by Jimmy Fallon and The Roots.  The first release, on green vinyl, will feature The Decemberists on the b-side performing “Jesus Christ.” The second release, on red vinyl, will feature Norah Jones on the b-side performing “Peace.”

3.       Greg Lake, “I Believe In Father Christmas”: It’s been almost a year since King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer singer Greg Lake passed away. To honor his legacy, BMG Rights Management is releasing at 10” of “I Believe In Father Christmas,” Lake’s debut solo single and holiday hit. The b-side features an updated 2002 version of the song that has been out-of-print since then. Only 2000 have been pressed.

4.       Cheap Trick, ‘Christmas Christmas’: While many of the Christmas releases coming out on Black Friday are reissues, Cheap Trick have put out an entirely new Christmas album that will make its debut during the event. The album features a mix of classic holiday tunes and covers of rock holiday tunes by The Ramones and The Kinks. The release is limited to only 2000 copies.

5.       The Minus 5, ‘Dear December’: Why even cover other peoples’ music at all? The Minus 5’s Scott McCaughey wrote 12 new holiday tracks for the band’s Record Store Day Black Friday release, ‘Dear December.’ Limited to 1500 copies on white vinyl in an Advent Calendar-style gatefold jacket, the album features guest appearances from Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard, M Ward and Chuck Prophet.

6.       ‘Christmas on Death Row’: Originally released in 1996, the famed Christmas compilation album is being pressed on vinyl for the first time ever, making its debut for Record Store Day Black Friday. Featuring music from Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg and the Dogg Pound, the LP will be pressed on colored vinyl with only 1000 copies being released.

7.       Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, “Baby It’s Cold Outside”/ “Santa Baby”: Rateliff and his band will be putting their Americana spin on two jazzy Christmas classics for their Black Friday release, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and “Santa Baby.” The 7” will be pressed on black vinyl with only 3000 copies available.

Just in time for the start of the holiday season, these are some of the holiday releases coming out during this year’s Record Store Day Black Friday. Be sure to watch for some of these releases, as well as other exclusive and limited-quantity releases, when the event takes place this Friday, November 24.

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Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop is excited to participate in Record Store Day Black Friday this Friday, November 24. Pick up exclusive and limited edition vinyl releases in store during our extended business hours: 9 AM to 10 PM. While you’re here, check out thousands more titles on new and used vinyl, CD and cassette, as well as music DVDs and memorabilia. More titles are being added to our selection all the time, so it always pays to stop by Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com, to see what’s new.

Record Store Day Black Friday 2017 Coming Soon to Vinyl Bay 777

Record Store Day Black Friday Logo.

It’s almost that time of year again! With Thanksgiving coming up this Thursday, the holiday season is fast approaching.  It also means that Black Friday, largely considered to be the official kick-off to the holiday shopping season, is around the corner. And while you may be hyped on all the big deals at the big retailers, Record Store Day is hoping that you might spread the love to the local shops too.

Now in its seventh year, Record Store Day Black Friday will be bringing limited edition releases to independent record shops, like Vinyl Bay 777, just in time for the holiday season. According to their website, the event is designed to “give record stores exclusive releases as part of the attempt to redirect the focus of the biggest shopping day of the year to the desirable, special things to be found at local stores.”

This Black Friday’s collection of exclusives boasts a wide array of releases, from high-profile reissues and anniversary rereleases to exclusive first-releases. There are even a handful of Christmas albums and singles coming out for the occasion to get you in the holiday spirit. A full list of Black Friday releases can be found on the Record Store Day website (Note that not everything on this list will be available at Vinyl Bay 777).

Past Record Store Day releases.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is excited to be participating in Record Store Day Black Friday once again. The store will be extending its hours for the day, opening from 9 AM until 10 PM. We will be carrying many of the listed items in super limited quantities, so make sure to get here early to have the best chance of finding the album you are looking for.

Record Store Day has been at the forefront of the vinyl revival for more than a decade. Every April, the event has been drawing in more and more fans of the physical medium, including those that may not have grown up with it. This past April, the event drew its highest sales numbers ever, raising vinyl sales for that day 3.4 percent over the previous year and 484 percent for that entire week.

Kick off the holiday shopping season by checking out the exclusive and limited edition Record Store Black Friday items being released this Friday, November 24. Vinyl Bay 777 will be open all day to celebrate the event, so make it a point to drop by and check out what’s new. Help in Record Store Day’s effort to preserve the local, independent record shop and find the perfect gifts for your friends and family at the same time.

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Find gifts for the music lover in your life at Long Island’s top new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777. We have a wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia to choose from. Browse thousands of titles in an array of genres in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. More titles are being added to our selection all the time, so you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Rock Shows To Check Out in New York This Weekend (November 17-19, 2017)

Another weekend is fast approaching. If you’re still searching for an awesome way to spend your weekend, why not check out some live music.

Even if you’re not into seeing Billy Joel rock Madison Square Garden for the 30-some-odd time, there are still a lot of big rock shows happening in New York this weekend to get excited for. The Jesus & Mary Chain and American Football will both be on tour promoting their first albums in nearly two decades. HIM will be bringing their goth-rock to New York one last time before breaking up. Established artist like King Crimson and Squeeze will also be in town giving fans the nostalgia experience. Punk, hardcore and indie-rock are also well represented this weekend with the likes of Circa Survive, Thrice, Hot Water Music, Silversun Pickups and Minus the Bear all rocking the city that never sleeps.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, loves live music. That’s why we’ve once again searched the internet for the hottest shows happening in New York this weekend. Here are nine that we think will be worth heading out to the city for and spending your hard-earned money.

1.       Circa Survive & Thrice: Early 2000s hardcore bands Circa Survive and Thrice have teamed up for a power-packed fall tour. Circa Survive released their sixth album, ‘The Amulet,’ in September, while Thrice released their ninth album, ‘To Be Everywhere Is to Be Nowhere,’ last year. Joining them on this leg of the tour is one of the hottest new(ish) bands of the “emo” revival, Balance and Composure. (Friday, Terminal 5)

2.       Silversun Pickups: Nearing the end of a two-year promotional cycle for 2015’s ‘Better Nature,’ indie-rockers Silversun Pickups recently released an EP featuring remixes of a few of the album’s songs. After touring over the summer opening for Third Eye Blind, the band heads out on their own headlining tour with support from Minus the Bear, who released their new album, ‘Voids,’ in March. (Friday, Brooklyn Steel)

3.       The Jesus & Mary Chain: Known for their work in the 1980s and 1990s, alt-rock band The Jesus and Mary Chain reunited in 2007. However, it took them 10 more years to cement the reunion with a new album. ‘Damage and Joy,’ their album since 1999, was released this past March to rave reviews and a top 10 spot on the US independent albums chart. Catch the band tonight as they end the second half of their US tour in New York. (Friday, Playstation Theatre)

4.       HIM: After 26 years together, Finnish goth-rock band HIM are calling it a day. But before they go, they’re giving fans all over the world a proper goodbye with the ‘Bang and Whimper’ farewell world tour. The tour’s North American leg ends tonight with a show in New York. Following this show, HIM heads over to Europe for the rest of November and December, playing their final show on New Year’s Eve in their hometown of Helsinki, Finland. (Friday, Hammerstein Ballroom)

5.       King Crimson: After playing shows in Brooklyn and Long Island earlier this week, King Crimson will be concluding their week-long run of shows in New York this weekend with two shows in Manhattan. Earlier this year, the band released a live EP, a full live album and a box set featuring “rehearsal extracts, live recordings, partial and full studio tracks, alternate takes and finished recordings” gathered throughout their career. (Friday & Saturday, Beacon Theatre)

6.       Hot Water Music: Punk band Hot Water Music released their latest album, ‘Light It Up,’ in September. The band is now touring behind the album with Strike Anywhere and Big Jesus as support. (Saturday, Warsaw)

7.       American Football: American Football released their first album in 17 years, ‘American Football,’ last year after reuniting in 2014. If you’re a fan of third-wave “emo,” you’ll definitely want to check these guys out. (Sunday, Brooklyn Steel)

8.       Squeeze: 1980s UK new wave band Squeeze are back with a new album, ‘The Knowledge,’ released in October, and are currently in the US promoting it on their “Join the Dots” tour. If you can’t make this weekend’s show, the band will be back in the area at the end of the month, playing two shows in Port Chester on November 29 and 30, and one on Long Island on December 2. (Sunday, Beacon Theatre)

9.       IAmDynamite: Indie-rockers IAmDynamite will be playing two one-off shows in New York this weekend with Wild Adriatic, one in Albany and one in Manhattan. The band released their second album, ‘Wasa Tusa,’ in 2015. (Sunday, Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2)

These are some of the rock shows happening in New York this weekend that we think will be worth the money. If you’re still looking for something to do, check out these or any of the other amazing shows going on in area this weekend.

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Before heading out to the show, drop by Vinyl Bay 777 to find music from these artists and more. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location during our new winter hours or online anytime at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

American Music Awards 2017: Six Interesting Facts about This Year’s Event

The 45^th annual American Music Awards (AMAs) are happening this Sunday, November 19. This year’s event will be broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California starting at 8PM Eastern Time on ABC.

Hosting this year’s show is ‘Black-ish’ actress Tracee Ellis Ross and will feature performances from Selena Gomez, BTS, Portugal. The Man, Imagine Dragons, Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson, Florida Georgia Line, Niall Horan, Nick Jonas, Alessia Cara and Zedd, Hailee Steinfeld and Alesso, Demi Lovado, P!nk, Shawn Mendez and more. There will also be a rare performance from Diana Ross, who will be getting the Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as a tribute to Whitney Houston and ‘The Bodyguard’ by Christina Aguilera.

As the American Music Awards approach, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the more interesting aspects of this year’s broadcast. From world-premiere performances to where and how to watch to voting for more than just that evening’s winners, here are six facts about the 2017 AMAs.

1.       BTS will be making American television history: K-Pop has become a huge phenomenon stateside, but it hasn’t really broke into the mainstream yet. That could all change when BTS, one of the genre’s most popular artists, take the stage Sunday night, making their US television debut. The group is set to perform their latest single, “DNA,” for the first time in the US.

2.       This year’s show will reach global audiences: The AMAs will be broadcast outside the United States for the first time this year. Since BTS will be performing, Mnet will be carrying the show live in Korea starting at 10AM on November 20.

3.       ‘American Idol’ will make its comeback that night: While the premiere of ABC’s ‘American Idol’ revival won’t happen until March, viewers will get a preview of some of the talent they can expect during Sunday’s broadcast. Judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie chose a few aspiring artists who didn’t make it to round two to re-audition and have America vote during the broadcast on who they want to see move on to the Hollywood round. Then, Richie will present the results during ‘Dancing with the Stars’ the next night.

4.       You can still vote for some awards: While most of the voting categories closed on Monday, you can still vote for certain awards. Voting for Artist of the Year ends Thursday evening at midnight Eastern Time. The Best New Artist and Best Collaboration awards can both be voted on until 9PM Eastern Time November 19.

5.       The red carpet is being streamed live again: Last year, the AMAs broadcast their pre-show red carpet on Facebook. This year, the pre-show will be streamed again, this time on Twitter. Viewers will be able to participate in real time with the stream by tweeting questions for the stars with the hashtag “AskAMAs.”

6.       The show is being streamed live too: If you can’t get to a television to watch the AMAs this year (or don’t have one), there will be other ways to see the show. Besides the award show streaming on ABC’s own app, people who subscribe to Hulu, Playstation Vue and Sling’s Broadcast Extra service will also be able to watch the show live.

The 2017 Music Awards will be packed with the hottest talent on the mainstream music scene right now. Between the world-premiere performances, tributes and fan-voted awards, this is sure to be a big night for music.

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Find music from American Music Award nominees and performers past and present at Vinyl Bay 777. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location during our new winter hours or shop online from the comfort of your own home anytime at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Global Record Shops Per Capita: Looking at the Vinyl Resurgence on a Global Scale

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, takes a brief look at the vinyl revival’s impact through the lens of global record shop saturation

Last week, new statistics on the quantity of record shops around the world were published by online vinyl catalog Discogs and sister site Vinyl Hub. The community-compiled lists featured in the article distribute the information in various ways, including the amount of shops by country, population and city. And while the information is far from complete, it is a good indicator of the extent of the vinyl revival’s reach.

We already know that vinyl records have been making a major comeback over the past decade. In a report from earlier this year, vinyl records were the only physical music format to increase in sales over the previous year in both the United States and the United Kingdom. New pressing plants have been able to open up around the world because of these increased sales. And it’s not only older adults and hipsters that are purchasing music in physical formats. Forbes reported Monday on a survey conducted by eBay UK which found that more than half of all vinyl purchases made this year were by people in the 18 to 24 age bracket with classic artists such as The Beatles, David Bowie and Pink Floyd among the most purchased artists. The survey also found that 83 percent of that demographic purchased an item of physical media in the last year, higher than the average of all sales demographics. Vinyl has gotten so popular that even big chains like Urban Outfitters and  Barnes & Noble have gotten in on the trend, the latter even hosting their own Vinyl Weekends (probably because they can’t participate in Record Store Day).

When talking about the amount of record shops per country, it comes as no surprise that the US comes in at number one. After all, it is one of the largest countries in the world with one of the largest populations in the world. With 1,482 shops, it has nearly double that of the country in the number two spot, the UK, which has 537 shops. There are only 11 countries that have more than 100 shops, 10 of which are in the western hemisphere (the only exception being Japan).

The statistics become more interesting when you look at how many stores a country has based on population. Breaking the list down to how many shops a country has per 100,000 citizens, the small island country of Palau takes the top slot. They have three record shops for a population of 21,186, an average of 14.1603 stores per 100,000 people. Iceland comes in a far second with eight stores for 335, 631 citizens, or 2.3836 stores per 100,000 people. The only two countries from the original top ten are Sweden (1.2687 shops per 100,000 citizens) and the Netherlands (1.0595 shops per 100,000 citizens).

Discogs has also broken down their statistics to find out which city has the most shops. Tokyo, Japan takes the number one spot on this list with a whopping 93 stores within the confines of the city. Berlin, Germany comes in a close second with 87 shops. The US city with the highest concentration of record shops is New York with a total of 47 stores among the five boroughs, putting it at number six on the list, followed by Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA and Portland, OR at numbers 12, 13 and 14 respectively.

Finally, if you wanted to know where the places with the most record stores within a miles’ radius of each other, their statistics give that information too. The top spot here belongs to Berlin with more than half of their stores (46 of 87) in walking distance of each other with Paris, France close behind at 43 shops clustered together.

Discog’s new statistics on record shops around the world prove that the vinyl resurgence is not just a US and UK phenomenon. Collectors and shops can be found almost everywhere in the world now, from populous countries like the US and Japan to small island nations like Palau. The reach of vinyl has become global and will only spread as its resurgence grows.

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Find vinyl records right here on Long Island at Vinyl Bay 777. As the island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location or shop online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what gems you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Week in Review: New Songs / Music Videos You Need to Check Out (November 5-11, 2017)

It’s the Weekend! That means it’s time once again to take a look back at all the new songs and music videos you may have missed over the course of the week.

This was another great week for new music. Eminem released the first single from his upcoming album. Ed Sheeran released another video from his latest album, as did Enter Shikari, Harry Styles, and Neck Deep. We also got more new music from Story of the Year and Sheppard, as well as a new video from Thirty Seconds to Mars.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has once again scoured the internet for the best new songs and music videos that came out over the last week. Here are nine that we know you’ll enjoy.

1.       Humming House, “Hope In My Head”: “Hope In My Head” is an energetic garage-rock party jam. Its steady beat keeps the song moving at a lively pace while the powerful guitar riff pulls the song together. The video is a party, literally, as well, which helps keep you in the mood of the song. (video)

2.       Enter Shikari, “The Sights”: Enter Shikari has released another music video from their latest album, ‘The Spark.’ This time it’s for the energetic new 80s-synth rock-inspired pop-punk single “The Sights.” The video takes the space theme of the song and amps it up, staging a video within a video where the band plays in “outer space,” then breaks down the fourth wall to show you how dumb that idea is. (video)

3.       Thirty Seconds to Mars, “Walk On Water”: Thirty Seconds to Mars went patriotic with the video for their latest single “Walk On Water.” Compiled from clips of frontman Jared Leto’s ‘Day in the Life of America’ documentary, the video attempts to show a cross-section of America’s diverse population. While the song, and therefore part of the video, does get political, it doesn’t try to favor one side over another. (video)

4.       Eminem, “Walk On Water”: Rumors have been swirling the last week or so that Eminem was about to make his comeback. That day ended up being Friday when the rapper released a new track with Beyonce called “Walk On Water.” The song is surprisingly emotional and raw. You can hear the pain in his voice and his delivery as he spits lines about the pressures of having to outdo himself every time he releases new music. Beyonce sings the chorus so effortlessly. This is a wonderful comeback track. (video)

5.       Harry Styles, “Kiwi”: No matter how much one tries to avoid One Direction and its members’ solo efforts, it seems hard to dispute that they are legitimately talented. Harry Styles latest single, “Kiwi,” is proof of that. The song has a bit of a Vines-meets-Jack White vibe with a muddy bass line that keeps you stuck in that groove. (video)

6.       Neck Deep, “Parachute”: Neck Deep have released another single and video from their fantastic breakout album ‘The Peace and The Panic’ this week. “Parachute” is a catchy, uplifting pop-punk song about getting away and living life. The video features the band rocking out in a living room, shaking the walls and flickering the lights. (video)

7.       Ed Sheeran, “Perfect”: Ed Sheeran is still melting hearts with new videos from his album, ‘Divide.’ The latest is for the swoon-worthy ballad “Perfect,” and it is just that…perfect. The video follows the lyrics to a t, showing Sheeran going on a ski weekend with his friends and a girl that he used to have a “thing” for. Throughout the video, the two end up reacquainting and spending some alone time together eating pizza and “dancing in the dark.” (video)

8.       Sheppard, “Coming Home”: Australian family band Sheppard released another brand new song from their upcoming sophomore album and it is really good. Like a lot of their songs, “Coming Home” is very upbeat and sunny, playing up this sort of excitement and zest for life. Punctuated by a rhythmic snare beat and hand claps, there is no way you won’t be tapping your foot through the entire song. (video)  

9.       Story of the Year, “I Swear, I’m Okay”: Demure and melodic are not something you would have expected from Story of the Year in the early 2000s. But “I Swear, I’m Okay,” the new single from the band’s upcoming album ‘Wolves,’ has a strong melodic edge to it that screams hard rock but doesn’t throw it in your face with unnecessary screaming. (video)

These are some of our favorite new songs and music videos from the past week that we think are worth a listen. Check these out and kick off your weekend with the best in new music.

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Find music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles to choose from in a wide array of genres. Browse our selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or shop online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking to discover something new or rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Shows in New York to Check Out This Weekend (November 10-12, 2017)

New York is one of the best places in the world to see live music. No matter what genre you’re into, there is something going on every night of the week, all year round. And with the weekend rolling around once again, this is the perfect chance to jump into the scene and check out a live show.

There are a lot of great shows happening around New York this weekend, especially when it comes to rock. From classic rock bands (Blue Oyster Cult, Jefferson Starship, The English Beat, Dead & Company) and pre-rock ‘n’ roll groups (Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons) to pop-punk and punk (Knuckle Puck, Swingin’ Utters), hard rock (Evanescence, Die Pretty) and indie-rock (The Mountain Goats), there is rock music to fit everyone’s tastes.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, loves live music. That’s why we’ve collected a list of live shows happening in New York this weekend. Here are 11 that we think will be worth spending your hard-earned money to check out.

1.       Knuckle Puck: Chicago pop-punk band Knuckle Puck released a new album, ‘Shapeshifter,’ last month, the follow-up to their 2015 debut. The band is currently on a headlining tour behind with Movements, With Confidence and Homesafe providing support. (Friday, Irving Plaza)

2.       Die Pretty: Local hardcore band Die Pretty has an energetic live show that you won’t want to miss. Their 2012 album ‘Beyond Fate,’ while long, has some great tunes on it, particularly the singles “Medicated Nation” and “Voices.” (Friday, Arlene’s Grocery)

3.       Blue Oyster Cult, Jefferson Starship: Blue Oyster Cult and Jefferson Starship will be joining together for one-night-only to bring you a night of their biggest hits. Earlier this year, a contest was held to find a band to open this show, with Bourbon Stills Band winning the coveted spot. (Friday, Tilles Center)

4.       Evanescence: See Evanescence like you’ve never seen them before… with a live orchestra behind them. The band is recreating the sound from their latest album, ‘Synthesis,’ on their current tour, which hits New York tonight. (Friday, Kings Theatre)

5.       Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons: Relive the 1960s with Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons all weekend long when the famed vocal group brings their current tour to Long Island. Valli might be the only original member, but that doesn’t mean the shows won’t be filled with the same four-part harmonies you’ve always loved. (Friday, Saturday & Sunday, NYCB Theater at Westbury)

6.       The English Beat: The English Beat (the U.S. version with Dave Wakeling) is getting ready to release a new studio album sometime this year, their first since 1983 (not counting the UK version of the band with Ranking Roger, who released an album last year). Ahead of its release, the ska band is touring around the country, hitting New York this weekend. (Saturday, Highline Ballroom)

7.       Swingin’ Utters: Last week, California punk band Swingin’ Utters announced that they will be releasing a best of album in December to celebrate its 30^th anniversary. The band is currently on a headlining tour, which will include a special solo set from the band’s guitarist Darius Koski and a support set from Western Settings. (Saturday, Bowery Electric)

8.       Turkuaz, The Suffers: Local New York funk-rock band Turkuaz is currently on a fall / winter tour that will take them through December. Joining them through November and December is The Suffers, whose soulful sound and amazing stage presence are worth seeing all on their own. (Saturday, Brooklyn Steel)

9.       Dead & Company: Dead Heads rejoice! The Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann are back in New York with John Mayer for two nights on their current fall / winter tour. If you didn’t catch them over the summer (or even if you did), this is your chance to hear all of the Grateful Dead’s hits and crowd favorites again! (Sunday & Tuesday, Madison Square Garden)

10.   LeAnn Rimes: Country singer LeAnn Rimes is wrapping up her “LovE is LovE” acoustic tour this weekend with a show in Staten Island Sunday. Rimes released her latest album, ‘Remnants,’ last year. (Sunday, St. George Theatre)

11.   The Mountain Goats: Indie-rock band The Mountain Goats released their latest album, ‘Goths,’ in May to rave reviews. If that weren’t enough new Mountain Goats for you, Merge Records will be releasing an album in April featuring artists covering tracks from the band’s breakout album ‘All Hail West Texas.’ Catch the band as they bring their current tour to New York this weekend with Mothers as support. (Sunday, Brooklyn Steel)

With shows happening every night, New York is one of the best places to see live music. These are just some of the many live shows happening in the area this weekend. Check out these or any of the other amazing shows going on around the area and spend your weekend rocking out.

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Before the show, drop by Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop, to find music from many of these artists and more. We have thousands of titles to choose from in a wide array of genres. Browse our selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.