Seven Artists Who Have Released Children’s Albums

Last month, Evanescence lead singer Amy Lee announced that she will be releasing a children’s album through Amazon Music. ‘Dream Too Much,’ which was inspired by the birth of Lee’s son, will be released on September 30^th and will feature kid-friendly songs that are as far away from Evanescence as you can get. You can see a video of the album’s title track right now.

Lee isn’t the only rock singer or band to put out a children’s album. Many others have tried to play to the softer side of the spectrum to reach new fans (or the children of their aging fan bases).

Here are seven artists who have made the leap to children’s music without losing what makes them great.

1.       Barenaked Ladies: In 2008, Canadian alt-rock band Barenaked Ladies released ‘Snacktime.’ A children’s album doesn’t really seem like that much of a stretch for the BNL sound, so it’s not that odd that they took their music in this direction. The album features a list of guest voices filled with heavy hitters, including Geddy Lee of Rush, singers Lyle Lovett and Sarah McLachlan, comedians Harland Williams and Janeane Garofalo, and the incomparable “Weird Al” Yankovic.

2.       They Might Be Giants: Not only has this alternative band released a children’s album, they’ve released three. The band released ‘Here Come the ABCs’ in 2005, then released ‘Here Come the 123s’ and ‘Here Comes Science’ in succession in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Again, these albums don’t take a big departure from the band’s sound, so they’re not hard to listen to. And, you can teach your children their letters and numbers. It’s a win-win.

3.       Ziggy Marley: In 2009, famed reggae singer Ziggy Marley released a collection of children’s songs titled ‘Family Time.’ Only the artist’s third album, it earned him his first solo number one album and a Grammy for Best Children’s Album. The album also guest starred members of the Marley family.

4.       The Verve Pipe: Best known for their single “The Freshman,” The Verve Pipe switched gears for a time in 2009 and released ‘A Family Album.’ As the band’s comeback album (it was their first in eight years), it garnered a lot of praise from critics, who called it a good career move before returning to the rock roots for their next album.

5.       Jewel: When Jewel puts out a children’s album, she does it right. The songstress has released two children’s albums, both with the help of toy manufacturer Fisher Price. Her first, ‘Lullaby,’ even went to number one of the Kid’s Albums chart in the United States.

6.       Kimya Dawson: As a member of the anti-folk band Moldy Peaches, Dawson rose to fame with her work on the soundtrack to the film ‘Juno.’ However, in 2008, she would be inspired by the birth of her son to release her own children’s album, ‘Alphabutt.’ As the title suggests, some of the album is literal toilet humor, but it got pretty good reviews from critics.

7.       The Terrible Twos: After leaving pop-punk band The Get Up Kids in 2005, Matt Pryor started a new band, The New Amsterdams. When The New Amsterdams decided to write a children’s album, they decided to do it under the name The Terrible Twos. The Terrible Twos released two albums, 2007’s ‘If You Ever See An Owl…’ and 2008’s ‘Jerzy the Giant.’

These and many other artists have released music for young children. Now, Amy Lee is joining the ranks with her new solo album. But that’s not to say that she is losing her rock roots. Evanescence has reunited and is currently on tour, though no new music has been announced.

Find many rock and children’s titles at Vinyl Bay 777! We have one of the largest selections of vinyl, CDs, cassettes and more on sale right now for you and your children. It’s never too early to get your kids into vinyl!

What You Need To Know About the 2016 Class of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame

Long Island has long been a hotbed for music talent, producing some of the most well-known artists in the world.

Since 2004, the Long Island Music Hall of Fame has shed a spotlight on some of the brightest stars that have called Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk County home. Every two years, the hall holds a ceremony inducting a handful of Long Island artists who have made a lasting impact on the area’s music scene, as well as music as a whole. Previous inductees have included Debbie Gibson, Pat Benatar, Tony Bennett, Blue Oyster Cult, Mariah Carey, Barbra Streisand and Simon & Garfunkel, as well as Taylor Dayne, Dream Theater, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Jett, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Ramones, Lou Reed, Run DMC, Salt-N-Pepa, ¾ of Kiss and Twisted Sister, among many others.

During a press conference on Tuesday, September 13, the LIMHoF announced their 2016 class of inductees. Included on this list are hip-hop artist Big Daddy Kane, film composer Carter Burwell, music executive Charles Koppelman, singer/songwriter Garland Jeffreys, songwriters Santo & Johnny, guitarist Steve Vai, bandleader Vince Giordano and music venue the Westbury Music Fair. The special Harry Chapin Award will be going to Steven Van Zandt.

With so much talent being inducted this year, here are some reasons why these artists (and venue) are worthy of such an honor.

1.       Big Daddy Kane: Kane has had a long and innovative career in the hip-hop game. Before Kanye was making all those artistic fashion and stage choices, Big Daddy Kane was there to do it first. According to the LIMHoF website, he played two sold-out shows at the Apollo to an audience of only women, as well as incorporated elaborate theatrics and costumes to his shows. He’s also had a many hits and worked with the biggest names in the hip-hop game, including LIMHoF alumn Public Enemy.

2.       Carter Burwell: Burwell has scored many classic films, including ‘Fargo,’ ‘Gods and Monsters,’ ‘Being John Malkovich,’ ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ and ‘Twilight.’

3.       Charles Koppelman: Working behind the scenes of the music industry for more than five decades, Koppelman has been a key player in music publishing and entertainment law. He is also responsible for signing artists like Wilson Phillips and Vanilla Ice to his SBK Records label, and for aiding in the success of artists such as Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, Diana Ross, the Four Tops, Cher, Michael Bolton, New Kids on the Block, Eric B. & Rakim and more.

4.       Garland Jeffreys: For more than four decades, Garland Jeffreys has been releasing socially conscious rock music. His single “Wild in the Streets” became a youth anthem in the mid-1970s. The singer has also seen somewhat of a renaissance in the last five years, releasing his first album stateside in 19 years, ‘The King of In Between,’ in 2011.

5.       Santo & Johnny: You may not know it, but Santo & Johnny have recorded some of your favorite instrumental classics. They had a huge hit in the late 1950s with a song called “Sleep Walk,” and in 1973, they recorded a cover of the theme to ‘The Godfather,’ which earned them a gold record in Italy.

6.       Steve Vai: Vai is best known as one of the greatest guitarists in the world. He has worked with innumerable famous musicians, such as Frank Zappa, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, Mary J. Blige and Ozzy Osbourne, as well as released eight studio albums on his own (he is currently working on number 9).

7.       Vince Giordano: A multi-instrumentalist on his own, Giordano has been working with his band, the Nighthawks, since the mid-1970s. He’s played at galas and events all over New York, as well as composed music for and appeared in television shows such as ‘Boardwalk Empire’ and ‘Grey Gardens,’ and movies such as ‘Revolutionary Road,’ ‘The Aviator,’ and more. The band still plays out weekly in Manhattan.

8.       Westbury Music Fair: Now known as the NYCB Theatre at Westbury, the venue started out as the Westbury Music Fair, a venue meant to bring Broadway to the island. Over the years it became a more permanent fixture of the local touring music scene, holding performances from top acts such as Jack Benny, Judy Garland, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Tony Bennett and more.

9.       Steven Van Zandt: Though he’s best known as a guitarist for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, Van Zandt has had a pretty big music career outside of that. He’s produced and written countless songs for big name artists, worked on television shows and movies, started his own record label and created an internationally syndicated radio program. ‘Little Steven’s Underground Garage’ has helped to launch the music careers of many unknown artists.

This year’s induction ceremony will take place at The Space at Westbury on November 3. Tickets for the event are available now.

Find music from many of this year’s nominees, as well as from previous Long Island Music Hall of Fame inductees at Vinyl Bay 777! We’re helping make music history with one of the largest collections of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes and more on Long Island!

Seven Bands Playing Mondo.NYC Festival That You Need to Check Out

The first ever Mondo.NYC Music Festival starts today, September 14, bringing together underground artists and industry insiders for five days of non-stop music and discussion.

Started by the creators of the CMJ Music Marathon, Bobby Haber and Joanne Abbot Green, Mondo.NYC will delve into what’s new in the music industry, including trends and technology. During the day, attendees can sit in on industry panels, while at night they can rock out to some of the best new artists from New York and around the world.

Here are seven artists that you should check out who are playing the Mondo.NYC Festival this week. Perhaps one day these artists’ music will grace the shelves of Vinyl Bay 777.

1.       Jocelyn and Chris Arndt: Sister/Brother duo Jocelyn and Chris Arndt aren’t even out of college yet and are already making a name for themselves in the music industry. And it goes without saying that the two are very talented musicians. The way Jocelyn vocalizes seems effortless and Chris is a master guitar player. (The Delancey , Friday)

2.       Cute Is What We Aim For: Not a new band, but they are celebrating the 10^th anniversary of their debut album, ‘The Same Old Blood Rush with a New Touch.’ (The Studio at Webster Hall, Tonight)

3.       Aunt Ange: Out of Brooklyn, NY, Aunt Ange has an amazing sound. Take a listen to their single “Black Funeral Dress,” which features these clanging bells that sound like chains and gears clinking together. It’s so creative and fun that I’m hooked just after one song. (Pianos, Thursday)

4.       Tauk: Tauk doesn’t need words to get their point across. They just let their instruments and easy vibes do all the talking. The band will be releasing their new album, ‘Sir Nebula,’ on Friday, as well as playing two album release shows during the Mondo festival. (Brooklyn Bowl, Friday and Saturday)

5.       The Republic of Wolves: Right here from Long Island, The Republic of Wolves is continuing the mid-2000s emotional pop-punk that has made our scene thrive over the last 10 years. (Bowery Electric, Saturday)

6.       The Commuters: These guys sound like they are right out of the 1990s alternative scene. “As I Make My Way” is a great song with a lot of forward movement. (Cake Shop, Tonight)

7.       Active Bird Community: This band has some catchy tunes that range somewhere between alternative rock and indie pop. (Pianos, Saturday)

Give these artists a listen and catch them all during the inaugural Mondo.NYC Festival this week. More amazing artists are playing as well, so keep an ear out.

Not into the new music scene? Rediscover the classics with a visit to Vinyl Bay 777! Check out our large selection of vinyl records, CDs, cassettes and more.

Top Seven AC/DC Singles

AC/DC are one of the most iconic bands to come out of the 1970s rock scene. Releasing their debut album, ‘High Voltage,’ in 1975, the Australian band, led by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, have gone on to release 17 studio albums over the course of their career. The band’s singles have continued to stand the test of time and are still being played constantly on rock radio.

AC/DC is currently on tour supporting their 2014 album, ‘Rock or Bust.’ The tour, whose final leg was rescheduled due to Brian Johnson leaving the band and subsequent addition of Axl Rose filling in, hits New York on Wednesday, September 14, when the band will take to the stage at Madison Square Garden for a night of hard rock and melting faces.

In honor of their MSG show, here are seven of AC/DC’s best singles, ranked by just how much they rock.

1.       “Highway to Hell”: “Highway to Hell” is one of those songs that were made for singing along to loudly in your car or on a karaoke night with your friends. The chorus to the song is simple, but the outburst of those title words really hooks the listener in. It’s also one of the band’s most popular, reaching number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1992.

2.       “You Shook Me All Night Long”: Another song that was made for singing along, “You Shook Me All Night Long” has this power chorus that really engages the listener.

3.       “Back in Black”: The band’s return to form after the death of singer Bon Scott and the addition of Brian Johnson in his stead, “Back in Black” was meant to be a tribute to Scott. This song has one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in rock music, and some of the most boastful lyrics as well. But it does drive home the point; Bon Scott’s legacy will never die.

4.       “For Those About to Rock”: This song feels like the opening to some really rocking stage show. It’s a bit theatrical to begin with, and then it crescendos into this grandiose mass of vocal overdubbing and guitars that really make it hard to forget.

5.       “Hell’s Bells”: Never has there been a more hard-rocking song about being bad than “Hell’s Bells.” The song has another one of those gang-vocal outburst choruses that wake you up and make you shout along.

6.       “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”: Who can forget that low, rumbling bass line as the chorus is repeated over and over? It really gives the music the same dirty feeling that the lyrics do.

7.       “T.N.T”: One of the band’s first singles, the song continues to be a massive success today. It’s powerful, with its thumping bass line and use of gang vocals to give it a sense of danger.

Think we got it wrong? What’s your favorite AC/DC single? Let us know!

Pick up any one of AC/DC’s many titles right here at VinylBay 777, including the band’s latest album, ‘Rock or Bust!”

How Nirvana Changed the Face of Alternative Rock in Four-and-a-Half Minutes

Alternative rock was starting to come into its own in the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s as a genre of music. Inspired by punk and new wave bands from the 1970s and 1980s, bands such as R.E.M., the Violent Femmes, Sonic Youth and Pixies were beginning to hit the mainstream and others, like Fuguzi and Rites of Spring, were dominating the underground scenes in their respective states.

Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic started Nirvana in 1987 as high school students in a small town in Washington State, with Dave Grohl joining them in 1990 after their original drummer left the band. In 1989, the band released their first album, ‘Bleach,’ to good reviews, but only moderate success. That would change with their second album just two short years later.

Nirvana released ‘Nevermind’ in September of 1991. Unlike ‘Bleach,’ ‘Nevermind’ caught on quickly, becoming the band’s ticket to mainstream success. And leading the way was “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

 “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which debuted on September 10 as the album’s lead single, became a massive hit around the world. Slow, lightly melodic, and with a calculatedly manic delivery, the song was just pop-y enough for radio stations to play it and for the general public to pick up on it. The song peaked at number one on the Alternative Songs chart in the United States, as well as in the top ten in other countries around the world.

The success of the album and single led to an increased interest in alternative rock. Major labels were shopping around for any band that sounded like Nirvana. Bands like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Bush became popular, even though they had been making music just as long as or longer than them, a sound that became known as “grunge.” A shift in Top 40 radio occurred, with alternative rock dominating pop on the airwaves for the first time ever.

By 1994, other styles of alternative rock were hitting the mainstream as well. Green Day, The Offspring and Rancid brought a more melodic version of punk to listeners’ ears while Weezer and Sunny Day Real Estate ushered in a third-wave renaissance for “emo.”

Nirvana continued to have an effect on rock music long after Cobain’s death in 1994. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” continues to make “best of” lists and many music magazines consider it to be one of the greatest songs of the 1990s and of all time.  In 2014, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with newer artists Lorde and St. Vincent paying tribute by playing on stage with Grohl and Novoselic.

In part, the success and impact of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is due to the song being so relatable. The song speaks to any young adult who’s bored in life and trying to figure things out. Its concepts are not complicated, even if it is hard to tell what words are coming out of Cobain’s mouth at times.

With one four-minute song, Nirvana changed the way alternative rock was heard forever. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” opened the door for other rock bands to play in the limelight and reach more listeners than ever before. It helped make what started as a regional sound into a major subgenre of music that we are still talking about and listening to today. Nirvana’s music is still influencing young alternative bands today, even those that don’t necessarily sound like Nirvana.

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Visit Vinyl Bay 777 this weekend to find titles from all of your favorite alternative bands and more. With our extended weekend hours, now it is even more convenient to shop our ever evolving selection of titles!

Seven Musicians with Famous Musician Parents

Earlier this week, Frances Bean Cobain released her debut mixtape, a six-song EP of covers that show off the singer’s vocal chops. Songs featured on the mixtape include “Get Free” by The Vines, “She Said” by Longpigs, “Son of a Gun” by The Vaselines, “Cut Your Hair” by Pavement, “Honey Bunny” by Vincent Gallo and “Purfume” by the Jesus and Mary Chain.

Cobain teased her own version of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle” on Instagram last month, but that did not make it onto the mixtape.

Best known for being the daughter of musicians Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) and Courtney Love (Hole), Frances Bean may have been destined for a music career from the start. Lately she has been very prominent in the media talking about her father’s legacy, even going as far as to produce a documentary about him, ‘Montage of Heck.’

Frances Bean is not the only offspring of talented musicians to follow in their parents’ footsteps. Here are seven more that have done well for themselves, ensuring that their family name will continue on in music.

1.       Miley and Trace Cyrus: The entire Cyrus clan is made up of talented folks. Taking after her father, country musician Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley started her own career, first in acting, then singing. Her brother Trace is also following his father’s musical footsteps, working with his band Metro Station, who recently got back together. Sister Brandi Cyrus went in a different creative direction and became an actress.

2.       Jakob Dylan: Lead singer of The Wallflowers, Jakob Dylan is the son of music icon Bob Dylan. The Wallflowers have had their own success though, releasing popular singles in the 1990s such as “The Difference” and “One Headlight.”

3.       Norah Jones: With that name, you would never know that Jones was the daughter of famous sitar player Ravi Shankar. Taking her mother’s maiden name, Norah released her successful debut album, ‘Come Away with Me,’ in 2002, which garnered her various Best New Artist awards in 2013. All of this done without the help of her famous father.

4.       Ziggy, Damian and Stephen Marley: Bob Marley has many successful offspring. Three of his sons, Ziggy, Stephen and Damian Marley have all made a name for themselves in the business. Ziggy had a band called the Melody Makers, which included Stephen, as well as sisters Sharon and Cedella, before moving on to a solo career in 2003. Stephen also went solo at that point, releasing his first studio album in 2007. Damian, the youngest Marley child, is best known for his 2005 album, ‘Welcome to Jamrock.’

5.       Enrique Iglesias: Having released multiple platinum-selling Latin pop albums since the late 1990s, it is safe to say that Enrique Iglesias has made a name for himself as a solo artist, despite being the son of Spanish singer Julio Iglesias. In fact, he wanted to distance himself from the name so badly at first, that he recorded his demo tapes under the surname Martinez.

6.       Rufus and Martha Wainwright: The son of folk singers Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III, Rufus made a name for himself as a pop singer and has written two full-fledged operas. Martha has also followed in their parents musical footsteps, releasing her debut album in 2005. Rufus and Martha recently played together during his two-night stint at Carnegie Hall.

7.       Nancy Sinatra: As the daughter of legendary lounge singer Frank Sinatra, Nancy already had the name recognition when she started her music career in the 1960s. But it was her breakout hit “These Boots Were Made for Walking” that made her a star in her own right.

Making a name for yourself in the music industry is hard, particularly when you have famous shoes to fill. But these artists have done just that and then some. Having all been passed down the musical gene, these musicians have been able to leave their parents’ shadows and find their own place in the industry.

Frances Bean Cobain has a good voice. Let’s hope that her music career takes off from here.

To check out titles from most of these artists, come down to Vinyl Bay 777 this weekend! New titles are being put out all the time!