Seven Artists Who Have Performed Live as Holograms

Last week, it was announced that Dio tribute band Dio Disciples will be touring the U.S. this year with a special guest, Ronnie James Dio. Starting with a set at the Pollstar Awards in Los Angeles on February 2, the band will be performing with a hologram of the late frontman, with permission from his widow, of course. Dio Disciples guitarist and former member of Dio Craig Goldy said of the shows during the “Talking Metal” podcast, “We know how much the fans miss Ronnie and the special and unequaled element that he brought to his live performances. Being able to recreate that same kind of magic for his fans at Wacken was incredible. For so many years, Ronnie always invested big in his live shows as his way to give back to the fans, and that is exactly what we aimed to do with this latest performance.”

While this might be one of the first times a hologram will be going on tour, but it is certainly not the first time a musician has been brought to the stage using such a method.  Especially in recent years, bringing deceased musicians back to life via hologram or CGI has become increasingly popular. Even artists who are very much alive are getting in on the action, transporting them from one stage to another (or five).

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, has gathered seven of the most recent instances of artists being “beamed” to the stage as a hologram. The list includes artists both living and dead who have used the medium to give fans a unique and one-of-a-kind performance.

1.       Tupac: In 2012, Snoop Dogg was headlining the Coachella Music Festival with Dr. Dre and one other guest of particular note: Tupac Shakur. Shakur, who was murdered in a drive-by shooting in 1995 (although he continued to release music posthumously for years after his death), was brought back to life via CGI to perform two songs with Dre and Snoop. The projected image, which used an effect called ‘Pepper’s Ghost,’ was very realistic down to the last detail.

2.       Michael Jackson: Michael Jackson has been brought back to life a few times since his death in 2009; including for a Las Vegas ‘Cirque Du Soliel’ show. But he was most notably brought back for a performance at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards. The projection, another ‘Pepper’s Ghost’ scenario, performed an energetic version of “Slave to the Rhythm” with live dancers backing him up. The way he practically walked of the screen was life-like, as was his interaction with the dancers.

3.       Patsy Cline: Hologram USA, the same company behind the Tupac and Michael Jackson holograms, decided in 2015 that they would create one of country artist Patsy Cline. She would be the first female country artist to get such a treatment. A tour was supposed to happen in 2016, but it never materialized (no pun intended).

4.       Frank Sinatra: In 2008, hologram technology wasn’t as advanced as it has become today, but that doesn’t mean that people weren’t still doing it. During a performance at the Grammy Awards that year, Alicia Keys took on a duet with a virtual version of Frank Sinatra. The hologram was pretty basic and was only from the waist up. However, this wasn’t the only time Ol’ Blue Eyes was brought back to life using this technology. There’s also video of him singing at Simon Cowell’s 50^th birthday party in 2013.

5.       Elvis Presley: Many people try to impersonate The King, but nothing is like having the real thing singing next to you. In 1997, daughter Lisa Marie performed a rendition of “Daddy Don’t Cry” with a hologram of her father. Ten years later, through rotoscoping, Celine Dion performed “If I Can Dream” on the ‘American Idol’ stage with him. There have been a few tours and talk of a new Las Vegas show starring a hologram of the late singer as well.

6.       Mariah Carey: You don’t have to be dead to become a hologram, just the will to be in multiple places at once. In 2011, Mariah Carey decided to take her Christmas show around Europe, in one day. The stunt, which saw Carey’s likeness belt out classic Christmas tunes in Germany, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Poland, was actually part of an ad campaign for Deutsche Telekom.

7.       M.I.A. and Janelle Monae: What better way to sell cars than to have a bi-coastal concert event. When Audi launched their A3 in 2014, they enlisted the help of M.I.A. and Janelle Monae to perform for events in New York and California. However, the two performed side by side, even though M.I.A. was in New York and Monae was in California, through the magic of holograms.

Using holograms and CGI to resurrect dead singers or to transport living ones somewhere else has become very popular as of late. Idea that someone doesn’t need physically be somewhere to “be there” is something that still fascinates people and boggles the mind. And though it is still up for debate as to whether people parading deceased artists around for financial gain is morally right or not, it is nice to see how technology has advanced in such a capacity that such a stunt can happen.

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Find real, physical music from these artists and more at Long Island’s top new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777. Browse our extensive selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and cultural memorabilia. We have thousands of titles to choose from in store, as well as online at vinylbay777.com. With new music being added all the time, you never know what you’ll find when you stop by!

Week in Review: Seven New Music Videos / Songs You May Have Missed (January 22-January 28, 2017)

It’s the end of another long week. Now is the perfect time to kick up your feet and forget about the daily grind for a couple of days. And there’s no better way to do that than to listen to some new tunes.

There were a lot of amazing new songs and music videos released in the last week that you may have missed.  Rapper Missy Elliott continued her comeback while electro-jazz rockers Jamiroquai started a comeback of their own. We got new tunes from the likes of Elbow, Goldfrapp and Imelda May, among many others.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, has gathered seven of this week’s best new music video and song releases. Check these out and kick your weekend off right with new tunes!

1.       Jamiroquai, “Automaton”: You can always count on Jamiroquai to come up with entertaining videos to back up their funky electronic-jazz sound. “Automaton,” the first single from the band’s upcoming eighth studio album of the same name, is no different. The video features lead singer Jay Kay walking through tunnels, singing and acting like a robot while wearing an electronic, LED headpiece. It’s a funky fun song too, definitely worth a listen. (video)

2.       Ed Sheeran, “Castle On The Hill”: I already mentioned this song when it was first released two weeks ago, but now we have a video for it and its once again, amazing. The video features a group of young adults enjoying their time together while Sheeran sings on longingly, wishing he could go back to those days.  (video)

3.       Skillet, “Stars”: A video for the acoustic version of Skillet’s song “Stars,” which appears on the soundtrack to ‘The Shack,’ was released this week. The video is not much, splicing scenes of the band performing the song in a shack with footage from the movie, but the song is haunting and beautiful. Solely backed by acoustic guitar, singers John Cooper and Jen Ledger’s voices are able to soar and really finding their places in the melody. (video)

4.       Missy Elliott featuring Lamb, “I’m Better”: Compared to the big beats and fanfare that Missy Elliott’s late 1990s/early 2000 had, “I’m Better” has a pretty minimal sound. The only instrumentation in the entire song is a drum loop that Elliott raps and Lamb sings (although a bit off-key) over. It’s strange, but a bit hypnotic at the same time. The video though… classic Missy Elliott. Sporting mirrorball lips and oversized tracksuits, this video fits right in aesthetically with her other videos. (video)

5.       Elbow, “Gentle Storm”: The latest single from Elbow’s upcoming album ‘Little Fictions,’ “Gentle Storm” is a catchy bit of low-key indie rock. The steady snare rhythm provides a good backbone for the track, letting the rest of the song crescendo and fall around it. The video for “Gentle Storm” is also pretty impressive, taking inspiration from Godly & Crème’s 1985 “Cry” video (with Godly’s blessing and direction). Various faces, including that of Benedict Cumberbatch, blend seamlessly from one into another in the clip. The effect is pretty fun to watch. (video)

6.       Imelda May featuring Jeff Beck, “Black Tears”: A soft mix of blues and jazz, Imelda May’s “Black Tears” is a beautiful piece of music. You can really hear the pain in her voice, emoting with every fiber of her being. Jeff Beck’s expert guitar playing adds even more feeling to the track, knowing just when to be soft and mellow and then build up to that big outburst of a final verse. (video)

7.       Goldfrapp, “Anymore”: “Anymore,” the first single from Goldfrapp’s upcoming seventh studio album, ‘Silver Eye,’ is a high energy, fuzzed-out bit of electronic dance-rock. Its steady groove holds up nicely, bolstered by buzzing guitars and synths. (video)

Whether you enjoy Hip-Hop, rock, pop or blues, this has been a great week for new music. Take a listen to these songs this weekend and let them help you relax as you prepare for the week ahead.

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Find music from many of these artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. Choose from thousands of new and used titles on vinyl, CD, cassette and DVD, as well as cultural memorabilia of all kinds. Shop in store at our Plainview location, or on our website, vinylbay777.com, to see what’s new!

Happy Birthday Mozart – An Appreciation

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, takes a look at the influence Mozart had on music

Today marks the 261^st birthday of famed composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Known for the approximately six hundred compositions he wrote during his short life, his work continues to find a place in modern music to this day.

A child prodigy, Mozart wrote his first pieces between the ages of four and five and his first symphony at the age of eight. By his teen years, he was already writing and premiering very successful operas and playing concerts to hundreds of adoring fans.

However, it is some of his later pieces that have gotten the most attention. His three most notable operas, “The Marriage of Figaro,” “Don Giovanni” and “The Magic Flute,” as well as Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, were all written and/or performed in the last five years of his life.

What stands out most about Mozart’s style is its adaptability. Though firmly in the Classical period, he took influence from everything he heard. He picked up different techniques and sounds during his travels as a young boy. His love of opera came from Italy’s opera buffa, while he learned about avant-garde techniques in Mannheim.  Later in life he began to include elements of Baroque and Romantic-era styles into his own. As a result, his music varied greatly in genre, with his 600 compositions ranging from sonatas and concertos to operas and symphonies.

To say that Mozart was influential to other musicians is an understatement. His influence can be heard in the work of such notable composers as Beethoven, Chopin and Tchaikovsky. Music students are still taught his works in conservatories around the world. Hip-Hop and R&B artists like Ludacris, Young Buck and Kelis have all sampled his operas in their songs.

Mozart is still one of the most popular composers to date. His work continues to soundtrack everything from television shows and movies to video games. His life story has been told many times in literature in the theater and on the big screen. Last year, a definitive 200-CD box set of his work was released and became the top-selling CD of the year (if you count each disc separately, like Billboard does).

Mozart’s work has been able to transcend time and genre in a way that cannot be matched by many other artists or composers. While classical music might not seem like the most popular of genres in today’s musical climate, his symphonies, operas, sonatas and concertos have remained a constant influence on countless generations of musicians in a wide variety of genres. As long as people are still playing and appreciating his work, Mozart’s legacy will live on.

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Find music from Mozart and other historic musicians at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has a wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and cultural memorabilia. Shop in store and online to find thousands of titles spanning the entire musical landscape. More titles are being added all the time, making now the perfect time to stop by and see what’s new.

Six Musicians Who Inspired Cartoon and Comic Book Characters

On Wednesday, the cover for the second installment of Marvel’s ‘America’ comic book series was revealed, claiming to have a famous face as its inspiration. In a post on Instagram, the cover’s artist, Joe Quinones, hinted that the picture was based on Beyoncé’s look in her video for “Formation.” While not a direct take (the original outfit was black, this one is colored like the United States flag), it features the same attitude and empowerment that has made Beyoncé a strong female presence in our culture.

This is not the first time a musician’s likeness has been used to design a cartoon or comic book character. Whether they approved of them or not, there have been many musicians who have provided inspiration to animators. There are even bands that get animated and put themselves in the story.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, has scoured the internet and found six musicians that have had their likeness inspire comic book and cartoon characters.

1.       David Bowie: For DC Comics’ ‘The Sandman,’ Neil Gaiman took a lot of inspiration from his musician friends when creating the story’s characters. One such notable character was that of Lucifer Morningstar, who Gaiman wanted modeled after David Bowie. This became the model for every other depiction of the character after that.

2.       Annie Lennox: When Gaiman wanted to create a character that was androgynous and sexless for ‘The Sandman,’ he once again drew inspiration from music. The image of Desire, who could shift between sexes, be both at the same time or neither, was created to look like Annie Lennox during her Eurythmics years.

3.       Sting: Steve Bissette and John Totleben, who animated DC’s ‘Hellblazer’ series, where fans of The Police and wanted to make a character look like their lead singer. That is why they created the series’ anti-hero, John Constantine, to look like Sting. The character was modeled specifically after his movie roles, namely in ‘Quadrophenia’ and ‘Brimstone.’

4.       Mark Mothersbaugh: Not only did Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh create the music for many of Nickelodeon’s early cartoons, his unique looks were immortalized in one of them too. The character of Chuckie Finster in ‘Rugrats’ was designed to sport Mothersbaugh’s disheveled hair and boxy glasses.

5.       Johnny and Edgar Winter: In the DC comic ‘Jonah Hex,’ one of the villains the title character went up against was a duo of albino worm monsters called the Autumn Brothers. These characters were supposed to be a parody of another famous albino duo: blues rockers Johnny and Edgar Winter. The brothers were not too happy about the inclusion in the books and sued DC Comics. Unfortunately for them, the case was dismissed, as using their likenesses were well within the company’s First Amendment rights to free speech.

6.       Kiss: Kiss is no stranger to lending their image to just about anything. That includes comic books. The kings of self-promotion have been animated in many, including titles by Marvel, Dark Horse and even Archie. Kiss has met superheroes and become superheroes. The band didn’t even mind when their likenesses were stolen by Revolutionary Comics.

Many comic book artists and animators get their inspiration for characters from musicians. Whether the artist is happy about the usage of their likeness or not, it is interesting to note how music idols have influenced not only music, but art and books as well.

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Find music from these artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles to choose from spanning many decades and genres. Browse our massive selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and memorabilia. New titles are being added all the time, so now is the perfect time to stop by our Plainview store or shop online at vinylbay777.com.

Seven Most Innovative Music Videos of Their Time

A lot has happened in the world of music videos over the years. New techniques and technologies have shaped the future of how artists present their music visually to their listeners. Especially in today’s technology-rich world, new innovations in the way video can be shot, like 360 degree views, are sparking a new sense of creativity and interactivity in the field.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, has found seven of the most innovative music videos of their time. From ahead-of-their-time graphic and editing techniques to viewer engagement and interactivity, these videos show that music videos are an ever-evolving art form.

1.       OK Go, “Here It Goes Again”: This was one of the first viral music videos. Released in 2006, the video featured the band doing a choreographed dance routine shot in one take. OK Go have gone on to recreate the same kind of success with each of their subsequent videos, which have featured Rube Goldberg machines, zero gravity, slowing-down time and more. (video)

2.       A-Ha, “Take On Me”: Though it might not seem like it now, the video for “Take On Me,” which featured sketches of the band coming to life, was fairly innovative for its time. The video uses rotoscoping to bring the live action elements into the drawings and give the drawings life-like movement. While rotoscope was being used decades before this, it was not necessarily used with this effect. (video)

3.       Bob Dylan, “Like A Rolling Stone”: “Like A Rolling Stone” didn’t have an official video made for it until 2013, and when it finally got one, it was unlike anything else. Instead of the director choosing the shots of people singing along to the song, the video is set up like an interactive television. Viewers can choose from 16 different stations, all playing a different “television show” where the cast is singing along to the song. (video)

4.       Pharrell Williams, “Happy”: What’s happier than the song “Happy?” A 24-hour party where everyone is singing along to the song. That was the concept behind Pharrell’s video for the song. Situated on a site called ‘24hoursofhappy.com,’ the interactive video gives the viewer the chance to scroll through 24 hours of people singing, walking and dancing while the song plays. Or you can watch the entire thing for 24 hours on continuous loop. (video)

5.       NGHBRS, “Hold Up Girl”: In 2013, Long Island indie-rock band NGHBRS released their debut album, as well as a video for the song’s lead single, “Hold Up Girl.” The video caught the attention of critics for its use of social media site Instagram. Shot in one take, the video features the band’s lead singer scrolling through his Instagram feed, watching short, creative videos and missives from the rest of the band along the way. Critics compared the video to OK Go, and gave NGHBRS a viral video in their own right. (video)

6.       Linkin Park, “Lost In The Echo”: This video takes user interaction to another level. Released in 2012, the video allows you to connect through Facebook and see your photos in the video. This allows the viewer to step into the world of the video, rather than just pick and choose where the story goes. (video)

7.       Weezer, “Buddy Holly”: Weezer have done a lot of innovative editing with their videos over the years, but “Buddy Holly” seems like it would be the most implausible of them all. The 1994 Spike Jones-directed video seamlessly puts the band in the world of the television show ‘Happy Days,’ setting them up as the house band at Arnold’s and fully interacting with the cast members. (video)

Music video technology has come a long way since the practice of releasing such videos became popular. Editing techniques and camera equipment have continued to evolve with time, leading to technologically savvier shoots and more creative ideas. As technology continues to get better, there is no telling where music videos will go next.

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Find music from these innovative artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. Long Island’s top new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777 has a huge selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and memorabilia in store and online. We have thousands of titles to choose from with more being added all the time. 

Seven Popular Songs Originally Written for Movies

Songs written for films have always been a part of our popular music lexicon. In the 1920s, film and theater were popular places to find top hits of the day.

Today, though music may come from many different sources now, film still plays a vital role in popular music consumption. We continue to talk about songs that play a big role in popular films, especially when it’s popular artists of the day who perform them. In the last year, for example, Justin Timberlake’s ‘Trolls’ contribution, “Can’t Stop the Feeling!,” became a Top 40 radio staple, and the ‘Hamilton’ musical soundtrack outperformed some of the most popular artists on the charts.

It’s not hard to find film songs from the last 50 years on top of the popular music charts. There have been many songs that have had lasting effects on the popular music landscape that were originally written for movies.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has picked seven of the most popular songs of the last half-century that were originally written for films.

1.       Celine Dion, “My Heart Will Go On”: Inescapable in 1997, “My Heart Will Go On” became one of the most overplayed songs on the radio. Written by composer James Horner for the classic ‘Titanic,’ the song’s placement during the end credits struck a chord with movie-goers and popular music lovers alike. The song’s soft, begging verses and big chorus and build-up at the end make it as dramatic as the film itself. (video)

2.       Neil Diamond, “America”: Seen as more of a patriotic song nowadays, “America” was originally written by Neil Diamond as part of his 1980 reimagining of ‘The Jazz Singer.’ The movie may have been a bomb, but the song outlasted it, becoming one of Diamond’s biggest hits. “America” peaked at number eight on the Hot 100 and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart. (video)

3.       Eminem, “Lose Yourself”: Eminem was dominating the rap scene in 2002 when he released his film ‘8 Mile,’ loosely based on his life and career. The film was preceded by the soundtrack’s lead single, “Lose Yourself,” which dominated Top 40 airplay charts, as well as the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it peaked at number one. “Lose Yourself” wasn’t like some of Eminem’s previous singles; it wasn’t angry, it wasn’t tongue-in-cheek. It was, however, a serious bit of storytelling with a great message. (video)

4.       Pharrell Williams, “Happy”: It’s hard to forget one of the most ear-wormy of modern earworms, Pharrell’s “Happy.” The song got so big and got so much airplay that most people probably don’t remember that the song came from the animated sequel ‘Despicable Me 2.’ The song spent 47 weeks on the Hot 100 in 2014, peaking at number one. Pop-y and infectious, the song was everywhere. (video)

5.       Simple Minds, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”: Music played a big role in John Hughes’ films and there is no greater testament to that than “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” The musical framing for the final scene in ‘The Breakfast Club,’ the song became one of the biggest hits of 1985. It led Simple Minds to prominence, giving the band its first number one hit and one of the longest-charting singles in chart history. (video)

6.       Idina Menzel, “Let It Go”: Broadway star Idina Menzel, best known for her originating roles in ‘Rent’ and ‘Wicked,’ got her chance in the pop music spotlight in 2013 with “Let It Go,” from the popular Disney film ‘Frozen.’ The song was as big a smash as the film and found a place on the top five of the Hot 100, as well as on Top 40 radio. (video)

7.       Survivor, “Eye of the Tiger”: Written for the film ‘Rocky III,’ “Eye of the Tiger” became a huge hit in 1982. Holding the number one spot on the Hot 100 for six weeks upon its release, the song continues to be a staple at sporting events to this day. One cannot think of a training montage without thinking about this song. (video)

Film continues to be a strong place for music to gain popularity. Many times, artists will write a song for a film and the song will do even better than the film. Other times, the song and the film become synonymous with each other, launching both into cultural notoriety. These songs are proof that movie music still has the ability to be as influential on what we listen to today as any other outlet for music consumption.

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Find movie music and more at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. Whether you’re into movie soundtracks, rock music, R&B, hip-hop or even opera, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a wide array of genres. Browse one of the largest selections of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and cultural memorabilia on the island. Can’t make it to the store during business hours? Shop our selection from the comfort of your own home at vinylbay777.com. New music is being added all the time, so there’s always a reason to drop by or surf our site.

Eight New Songs and Music Videos You May Have Missed This Week (1/16-1/21/2017)

Happy Saturday! This has been one very busy yet important week in the world. But now it’s time to forget about the pains of the week and take the weekend to relax and de-stress. And what better way to do that than with some new tunes.

While you were working and (possibly) stressing over the thought of a new president, there were a lot of new songs and music videos being released that definitely deserve your attention. From reunited bands to bands releasing their first new music in years, to artists releasing their first EPs, a lot has happened in music this week.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, has sifted through all the new music and videos to bring you eight of this week’s best. Check out these songs to get your weekend going and gear up for the week ahead.

1.       From First To Last, “Make War”: For the first time in 10 years, From First To Last reunited with former lead singer Sonny Moore (now known as Skrillex) to release “Make War.” The song is just as hardcore as the rest of the band’s discography. It makes one hopeful that this reunion will last for more than one song. (Video)

2.       Gorillaz featuring Benjamin Clementine, “Hallelujah Money”: Gorillaz’s first song and video in more than six years, “Hallelujah Money” takes on a darker tone than some of their previous hits, and some of those are pretty dark. The song is a commentary on wealth and greed, which is made even creepier by Clementine’s deep, harsh vocals. This is only a taste of what is to come, though, as the band, masterminded by Blur’s Damon Alburn, is working on a new album. (Video)

3.       Biffy Clyro, “Flammable”: British alt-rockers Biffy Clyro have released yet another amazing song from their latest album, ‘Ellipsus.’ “Flammable” is much more up-beat than their last single, “Re-arrange,” but still just as passionate. Why this band isn’t bigger in the US, I don’t know. (Video)

4.       Green Day, “Troubled Times”: Green Day may have released their last album in October, but now they have taken one of their songs and made a political statement video with it. The video for “Troubled Times” features the same kind of fast-paced animation as some of their previous lyric videos, particularly the ones for ‘21^st Century Breakdown,’ except this time it’s President Trump’s likeness and Martin Luther King’s message of equal rights that dominate the discussion. (Video)

5.       Jakob Danger, “A Start,” “Bleu,” “H3LP”: While we’re talking about Green Day, lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong’s youngest son, Jakob Danger, released his first EP, and it’s great. His music has a surf-rock meets garage-rock sound, completely different from that of his father’s band, or even his brother’s band, SWMRS. According to Jakob, the sound is inspired by bands like Beach Fossils and The Strokes, which makes a lot of sense when you hear it. (Songs)

6.       Arcade Fire, “I Give You Power”: Arcade Fire released a new song this past week, their first in four years. “I Give You Power” is a funky, soul-filled protest song that really draws you in, particularly towards its built-up, passionate end. The song will not be on the band’s upcoming album, which is set to come out this spring. (Video)

7.       Spoon, “Hot Thoughts”: “Hot Thoughts” is a pretty low-key song. Its steady bass-line is the main force at work, keeping the song moving along at an even pace while its slightly fuzzy guitars and sharp vocal delivery take the song the rest of the way. (Video)

8.       Dan & Shay, “How Not To”: The country duo of Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney has been gaining a lot of traction over the last few years with their pop-country sound. This week they do it again with the video for their new song, “How Not To.” “How Not To” is a backwards break-up song, with the main character trying to move on from his ex, but is finding it hard to. The video is more of a mini-movie, following a couple who are trying figure out how to stay sober together when they both just got out of bad relationships that drew them to vice. (Video)

This week, we have seen new music from all over the rock and pop music spectrums. We have heard from artists who have not released music in five or six years, or haven’t played together in a decade. Either way, these are definitely songs and videos that are worth taking the time to check out this weekend. Happy listening!

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Find music from many of these artists and more at Long Island’s top new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777. We have thousands of titles to choose from with more being added all the time. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and cultural memorabilia in-store during business hours, or on our website at vinylbay777.com. There’s always something new, so make it a point to make Vinyl Bay 777 part of your weekend plans. 

Surge in Vinyl Sales Allows for New Pressing Plants to Open

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, takes a look at the vinyl pressing plant surge in the wake of the vinyl resurgence

Vinyl is back in the news again. And no, it’s not just because Slightly Stoopid is trying to press an album made of marijuana.

Jack White, White Stripes frontman and Third Man Records founder and owner, has announced that he will be opening Third Man Pressing on February 25. The vinyl pressing plant will be located near the Third Man Records shop in Detroit and boasts the latest in vinyl pressing technology. Third Man Pressing houses eight of the first new presses made in the last 35 years which will be run on a “closed-loop, chilled water system,” making it the first environmentally sustainable record pressing plant in the world. Pressing both Third Man and outside releases, the plant’s first pressings will include represses of The White Stripes’ first two albums, Destroy All Monsters and Xanadu’s split LP ‘The Black Hole,’ and the first of a seven-record Detroit Gospel reissue project.

However, White isn’t the only one opening a record pressing plant this year in the states. Sunpress Vinyl, formerly Final Vinyl, has reopened up shop in Florida. Founded by Jamaican reggae producer Joe Gibbs, who originally opened the plant as his U.S. base in the 1970s, the plant has six pressing machines and will offer packaging services, as well as press your vinyl. Another one of the oldest pressing plants in the US, United Record Pressing in Nashville, will be moving from their historic location to a new, larger facility.

Plants are even reopening in other countries. Tuff Gong, the historic Jamaican vinyl pressing factory started by Bob Marley in the 1960s, has partnered with Sunpress Vinyl to update the facility and make it operational again. The building, which also houses a recording studio, is currently under construction and is looking to open up in May.

Over the last decade, demand for vinyl records has skyrocketed. In the last year alone, sales of vinyl records in the United States rose nearly 26 percent, the only physical format to make gains in a year when physical sales themselves were down nearly 11 percent. Events like Record Store Day have continued bring more people to record shops. Major labels are starting jump on the bandwagon as well and press newer titles on the classic medium. With more and more people clamoring for the feel of a tangible musical item in their hands, it’s no wonder that more pressing sites are opening or reopening for business.

The vinyl resurgence has led to the need for more facilities to produce records. It has prompted old factories to reopen their doors, like Tuff Gong and Sunpress Vinyl, or find larger locations, like United Record Pressing. It has made ventures like White’s Third Man Pressing plausible and worthwhile (though he probably would have built it resurgence or no resurgence). As demand increases and vinyl records see their highest sales in decades, there is no telling how many more presses could open in the coming years.

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Vinyl records continue to live on Long Island at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. Find thousands of new and used vinyl records, as well as CDs, cassettes, DVDs and cultural memorabilia, at Long Island’s top new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles to choose from with more being added all the time. Make it a point to stop into our Plainview location during business hours, or shop online from the comfort of your own home. 

Janis Joplin’s 7 Highest-Charting Songs

Today, January 19, would have been rock singer/songwriter Janis Joplin’s 74^th birthday. Though her life and career were cut short in 1970 by a drug overdose at age 27, her work is still a defining force in rock music today.

Joplin first came to prominence as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company from 1966 to 1968. With her raspy vocals and commanding stage presence, she helped bring the band break into the mainstream. Recording two albums with the band, both peaked in the top 100, with their second album, ‘Cheap Thrills,’ hitting number one. Joplin was able to channel that success into a solo career when she left the band and released ‘I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!,’ which peaked at number five in the United States. Her posthumous second album, ‘Pearl,’ was an even bigger hit, reaching number one upon its release in 1971.

To celebrate the singer’s life and career, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, is taking a look back at the seven highest-charting singles of Janis Joplin’s career. 

1.       “Me And Bobby McGee”: Originally performed by Roger Miller and penned by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster in 1969, Joplin’s version of “Me And Bobby McGee” became the most well-known. When it was released as the first single off her posthumous album, ‘Pearl,’ in 1971, the song would become a number one hit for her in the US and Australia.

2.       “Piece of My Heart”: Despite this song’s continued popularity today, “Piece of My Heart” only peaked at number 12 on the Hot 100 chart. This was a defining song for both Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company. It was the band’s highest charting song from their highest charting album. After its release, Joplin left Big Brother and the band wouldn’t see success like that again.

3.       “Kozmic Blues”: Joplin’s first single as a solo artist, it became a big hit with fans after she performed it during Woodstock. “Kozmic Blues” would end up peaking at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100.

4.       “Cry Baby”: Another cover that Joplin brought to the charts, “Cry Baby” was originally an R&B song recorded by Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters. Adding her own blues-rock spin to it, Joplin released it as the second single from ‘Pearl.’ It would go on to peak at 42 on the Hot 100 chart.

5.       “Down on Me”: “Down on Me” was Big Brother and the Holding Company’s first charting single. Originally an early 20^th century freedom song, Joplin changed the words to give it a lighter mood and it ultimately became a hit. Their version peaked at number 43 when it first came out in 1967. Joplin had a hit with the song again in 1972 when a live version of the song was released on the album ‘Joplin In Concert,’ this time only making it to number 91.

6.       “Get It While You Can”: Originally sung by Howard Tate in 1966, Joplin once again made the song even more popular. The original charted at 134 in the United States, while Joplin’s peaked at 78.

7.       “Coo Coo”: Recorded during the sessions for their debut album but not included on the original track list, Big Brother and the Holding Company released “Coo Coo” as a separate single in 1968, just before the release of their second album. The song would peak at 84 in the US.

Whether she wrote them, rearranged them or covered them, Janis Joplin had a way of taking a song and making it a hit. Her distinct voice and charm made her a rock star and an influence for female singers for decades to come. Though she died young, her music is still some of the most highly regarded in the rock genre today.

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Find music from iconic music figures like Janis Joplin and more at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have a wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes and DVDs, as well as pop culture collectables and memorabilia. Browse thousands of titles from an eclectic array of artists in store and online. More titles are being added daily, so come down and check out what’s new! 

Interview: Jess Rotter Discusses Creating Album Art, New Book and More

Jess Rotter with her album cover
for 'Country Funk'

Artist Jess Rotter has always been into art. From her days growing up in Syosset, New York fascinated by album covers, she knew that creating artworks like that was what she wanted to do.

Defined by clean lines and bold, block color choices, Ms. Rotter’s drawings are distinct. Inspired by the top comic book artists and illustrators of the day, her work combines the cartoonish with the realistic. Whether she’s drawing a children’s book or a band T-shirt or album cover, her designs are straight-forward and easy to look at.

Flash forward to 2006, when Ms. Rotter created her T-shirt label, Rotter and Friends, launching her into the world of band T-shirts and album art. Since then her brand has picked up steam. She has worked on clothing projects with The Gap and Urban Outfitters, album covers and merch for Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Best Coast, ‘Country Funk,’ Angel Olsen, Grateful Dead, Fruit Bats and Kurt Vile, and various posters and projects for Third Man Records, Light In The Attic, MTV, Pitchfork, HBO, Heeb and Lenny.

In 2016, Ms. Rotter released her first book, ‘I’m Bored,’ through Hat & Beard Press. The book features the same clean lines and bold colors she’s known for while using her art to commenting on what it means to be bored in this current age of technology and instant gratification.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, sat down with Ms. Rotter to discuss her artistic background and influences, getting into album art, working with Yusuf/Cat Stevens, how music affects her art and her new book.

Vinyl Bay 777: How did you get into art?

Jess Rotter: I got into art at a pretty early age. I started when I was super young just to pass the time and play with my imagination. And then I always loved the way art was portrayed in vinyl covers. I really began to love the bridge between visual art and music. Andso I studied painting in college and just always kind of stuck with it.

VB: You said you studied painting, but most of your artwork looks like drawings. How did you get into drawings in particular?

JR: My painting always kind of looked like drawings. They were illustrative, like comic book, kind of,big paintings. When I graduated college, it was really hard to sort of get in the industry with a paintbrush. So I found drawing was a more down-to-earth way to get faster work. And I realized over the years that I really connected more to illustration than fine arts. I wanted people to wear my art on T-Shirts and record covers. I found more of a warm connection with drawing. And so, it felt more comfortable.

VB: The lines and colors in your work are very clean. How did you refine that style?

JR: I think I always did, kind offlat, bold colors. They were influenced by 70s comics and 70s album covers.

VB: Who are some of the artists that influenced you?

JR: I love Robert Crumb and I love Philip Guston, who’s a painter. He also did amazing political cartoons. And I love William Stout. Those were all, sort of, older influences. And in the 90s, I always loved Mike Mills’ graphic covers and now he’s gone on to film.

VB: You mentioned album art. How did you get involved in album art? You said it was always something you were interested in…

JR: Yeah, I was super interested in it and I started doing a lot of my own music shirts that paid homage to rare bands of the 60s and 70s and it sort of took off as this cult thing and musicians sort of really got into it and there was this big connection there. And then eventually garnering relationships, I moved on to album covers, which was really exciting. I work a lot with reissue label Light In The Attic Records and did a lot of stuff with them. Most recently this Cat Stevens project, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, which was kind of a dream.

                                   

                                              Yusuf/Cat Stevens Front Cover, Signed

Yusuf/Cat Stevens Back 

                          

VB: How did you get involved in that one?

JR: I connected with them… They had seen my work on a few things and I did a shirt for an upcoming Hal Ashby documentary that’s coming out and Hal Ashby directed ‘Harold And Maude,’ which Yusuf did all the music for back in the day. So Yusuf had seen the shirt and we kind of connected and bonded after that.

VB: How has music affected your art?

JR: I think they go super hand in hand. I think I get my ideas from listening to music. Music brings out the imagination. I get very visual pictures, colors and ideas directly from it. I couldn’t live without it. It’s almost like what I do is secondary because of music. It’s been a very important dual.

VB: What albums were influential to you growing up?

JR: I would say ‘On the Beach’ from Neil Young, ‘The Wolf King of LA’ by John Phillips, ‘Heart Food’ by Judee Sill and… there’s a lot. Anything Beatles, of course, when I’m younger. Beatles were huge, all their solo albums, all the branches from the Beatles was a huge influence in the house growing up.

VB: What have you been listening to now?

JR: I am definitely still stuck in the past. I listen to a lot of reissues. This album by Joanna Brouk has been super influential. Coltrane. I’m really back into Cat Stevens’ catalog. Yeah, that’s what’s on the player.

VB: Last year you released your own book of art, ‘I’m Bored.’ What was that experience like, publishing your own book?

JR: It was awesome. That was all personal, so for me it was a nice way to share with people that I’m not just a music person. I’m influenced by it. I got to a point where I wanted to share what was going on in my heart personally and it was a long time coming. It was a really cool experience. It was fun to work on.

'I'm Bored' by Jess Rotter. Photo found on jessrotter.com

VB: The book is titled ‘I’m Bored.’ Why write a book called ‘I’m Bored’?

JR: It’s got a sarcastic tone to it, I think. It’s a few things: It’s almost like I’m so overstimulated that I’m bored. And also boredom is actually a blessing these days because we’re so overstimulated. So, actually, being bored is… It’s more of a fight to be bored than ever because you have such access to not be bored. But being bored is where ideas can come and thought and reflection. We’re all kind of trying to not be bored. That’s where the title stemmed from.

VB: Do you have any particular works of yours that stick out to you?

JR: There are certain pages in ‘I’m Bored’ that mean a lot to me. Those particular pages sort of signify… And I have a place in my heart for this kid’s compilation I did with Light In The Attic, which was an introduction to vinyl for kids. That’s a project I’m really proud of that we did.

VB: How did you find Vinyl Bay 777?

JR: My mom, husband and I were in the diner and we saw a flyer. My husband and I live in LA and every time my husband and I come here we’re always looking for record shops, and we were like “Oh my god, there’s a record shop in Plainview!” So, we were a little stunned. Obviously, I grew up here, so I didn’t have many record stores around. So, we took the plunge and came here one evening and were blown away. It’s awesome!

‘I’m Bored’ can be purchased through the Hat & Beard Press website. To see more of Jess Rotter’s art, visit jessrotter.com and keep a look out for her work at record shops (like Vinyl Bay 777), merch tables, and clothing stores and in the media.

Vinyl Bay 777 would like to thank Jess Rotter again for taking the time to speak with us.

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Long Island’s top new shop for new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and more, Vinyl Bay 777 has thousands of titles to choose from. Browse our selection in-store at our Plainview location during business hours, or shop online at vinylbay777.com any time to see all the new titles being added daily. 

It’s No Rumor – 7 Reunited Bands Releasing New Music in 2017

Band reunions are a big part of the gossip mill. We all want to at least have a glimmer of hope that our favorite disbanded bands will come back to relive their glory days. And while some bands like Oasis and The Smiths will most likely never get back together and we patiently wait on baited breath for an official Smashing Pumpkins announcement, sometimes the time just becomes right for a real reunion to come about.

It is only the beginning of 2017 and already there have been a number of bands gearing up to release their first bits of new music in decades. That is why Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, brings you this list of seven artists who have definitely reunited and have already released or will be releasing new music together this year.

1.       Slowdive: Though they technically reunited in 2014, 1990s shoegaze pioneers Slowdive released their first song in 22 years on January 12. Last year, the band announced that they were working on a new album, so perhaps more music is still on the way.

2.       From First to Last: Rumors of a potential reunion with former lead singer Sonny Moore (a.k.a. Skrillex) abounded last year when it was announced that their current singer, Spencer Sotelo, was no longer a part of the band. Now the rumors were made official with the release of “Making War” the band’s first song in two years and their first with Moore on vocals in 10. There is no word on if this will turn into a bigger reunion, but one can hope.

3.       Bel Biv Devoe: Best known in the 1990s for their hit “Poison,” Bel Biv Devoe are back after a 16 year hiatus. The R&B group will be releasing one of the most anticipated albums of January when ‘Three Stripes’ hits shelves on the January 27. The first song off the album, ‘Run,’ was released late last year.

4.       Fleetwood Mac: Fleetwood Mac hasn’t really disbanded in the true sense of the word, but they haven’t released an album of new music together in 14 years either. That will supposedly change in 2017, as, according to Christine McVie, the band is currently in the studio working on new material.

5.       System of A Down: System of a Down has not released any new music since 2005’s Hypnotize, when the band broke up in favor of testing out new projects. The band reunited in 2010 to tour, but that has been all they have done for the last six years. However, the band revealed last year that they are currently working on releasing their first new album in nearly 12 years.

6.       Live: In December, Live announced that they were reuniting with their original lead singer, Ed Kowalczyk, for a world tour in celebration of the 25^th anniversary of their debut album, ‘Mental Jewelry.’ It has been seven years since the band last performed with Kowalczyk and more than 10 years since the band released an album with him. While the band isn’t promising a full album in 2017, they have said that they will be releasing something this year.

7.       Chic: Marking the 40^th anniversary of their debut album, Chic frontman Nile Rogers announced that the band will finally be releasing their long-awaited ninth studio album, ‘It’s About Time.’ This will be the funk band’s first album in 25 years, even though it is not the same Chic of the 1970s and 1980s.

So far in 2017, there are a lot of bands who are creating new music for their fans that have not done so in more than a decade or two. Whether they are getting back together with a former lead singer or picking up where they left off years ago, the thought of these bands reuniting and releasing more music is exciting for fans who just want to hear their favorite artist once again.

Find music from many of these reunited bands and more at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com, Long Island's top new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles to choose from in store and online. Browse from our selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, DVDs, memorabilia and more. Titles are being added all the time, so it always pays to stop by and see what’s new.

Six Songs / Music Videos You May Have Missed This Week (1/8 – 1/14/2017)

It’s the end of another long week. Now is the perfect time to catch up on the new music you may have missed during the hustle and bustle of your day-to-day.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, is here to help you find the best songs you may have missed. Here are six new songs and videos released this week that we think you should take a listen to. So sit back, relax and let us provide the soundtrack to your weekend.

1.       PJ, “This Is What It Looks Like”: Content and melody-wise, “This Is What It Looks Like” is a strong song. The lyrics tell a story of not conforming to what other people want you to do just to become popular. Everything will be alright regardless. (video)

2.       David Bowie, “No Plan”: On what would have been David Bowie’s 70^th birthday, an EP including his final four recordings were released. “No Plan,” the title track to this EP, which includes recordings of songs written during the ‘Blackstar’ sessions and found their way into his musical ‘Lazarus,’ has the same low-key charm as the songs on his final full-length. The video is also a fitting tribute to the late legend. It features a wall of television screens with the lyrics of the song flashing across them as a crowd gathers around. The final scene is of Bowie recording. (video)

3.       Iggy Pop, “Gold”: This song may have been written for the 2016 film of the same name, but it is still classic Iggy Pop. Written in collaboration with producer Danger Mouse, Pop’s vocals are low and slow over the electric acoustic guitar-driven melody. Along with its tight production, this song is perfectly put together. (video)

4.       The Orwells, “Black Francis”: “Black Francis” is the latest single from The Orwells’ upcoming album, ‘Terrible Human Beings.’ The song is high-energy and fast-paced, and those gang vocals during the chorus really get you into the song. The video for the song matches its energy to a tee. Between the dancers and the close-ups of the band screaming right into the camera, there is no break from the action. (video)

5.       Breaking Benjamin, “Never Again”: The fifth single from the band’s 2015 album, ‘Dark Before Dawn,’ “Never Again” has the energy and feel of Breaking Benjamin’s past hits. It has that heavy melody and bass that you would expect from the band, plus deep lyrics that make you think. I don’t know if the screams were necessary, but they don’t hurt it too much. The video is also thought provoking, showing three friends finding the “fountain of youth,” only to squander it on themselves before realizing that it is better to just grow old together. (video)

6.       Slowdive, “Star Roving”: The first song from English rock band Slowdive in more than 20 years, “Star Roving” marks the band’s triumphant return to low-key rock. “Star Roving” is upbeat, unlike a lot of other shoegaze tracks I’ve heard. Its lyrics are low in the song’s spacey, atmospheric mix, as if just another instrument, and the sturdy guitar melody is enough to keep your attention the whole way through its rather long five-minute run-time. (video)

Whether you enjoy high-energy rock, low-key shoegaze or soul-healing R&B, this week brought with it some great new tunes and videos. Take this weekend to listen to these tracks and recharge for the week ahead.

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Find music from some of these artists and more at Long Island’s top new record shop, Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. We have thousands of titles in store and online to choose from. Search through our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, DVDs, memorabilia and more. Visit our location in Plainview, or shop online from the comfort of your own home! New titles are being added to our selection all the time!

Seven Biopics with Bad Casting Choices

Sometimes movie studios make bad casting decisions. This seems to be even truer with biopics, where casting directors need to be able to find the perfect actor to play the celebrity or historic figure without fans or historians getting up in arms about the portrayal. Take the show ‘Urban Myths’ for example, who has been in the news lately for its casting of Joseph Fiennes (a white man) as Michael Jackson (a black man) in an episode called “Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon.” There was enough outrage surrounding his portrayal, including from Jackson’s daughter, that Sky Arts, the show’s production studio, pulled the episode from airing.

Fiennes’ casting on ‘Urban Myths’ is not the only missed mark in biopic history. There have been many controversial and poor decisions made about who gets cast in these films. Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, has done its research and now presents to you seven of the worst music biopic casting choices ever made. Sometimes it is based on skin color (like Fiennes), other times the actor playing the main or supporting characters just look nothing like who they are trying to play.

1.       ‘Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B’: There was a lot of trepidation from fans about the making of this film, just because Aaliyah was one of the most beloved young singers of the 1990s. But this Lifetime movie also caught the ire of the late singer’s collaborators Timbaland and Missy Elliott. Timbaland was especially vocal about it, saying it was poorly cast, not just with Aaliyah portrayer and newcomer Alexamdra Shipp, but with the actors playing himself and Missy Elliott too. Outcry on these actors was that they were too light skinned and too skinny.

2.       ‘Nina’: The main problem people had with the casting of Zoe Saldana as singer Nina Simone was that Saldana wasn’t “dark enough” for the role. A big part of Simone’s identity was her skin color, so it doesn’t make sense to hire a light-skinned woman to play her. Simone’s daughter was also against Saldana’s casting for the same reason, saying to the New York Times “My mother was raised at a time when she was told her nose was too wide, her skin was too dark. Appearance-wise this is not the best choice.” Acting-wise, the film got panned too.

3.       ‘Britney’: Lifetime released photos from their upcoming Britney Spears biopic last month and to say that the actors don’t look like the celebrities they are meant to portray is an understatement. The actress playing Spears looks a little like Tara Reid while the group of guys playing *NSYNC looks more like a random group of guys with their hair cut and colored to look like a late-1990s boy band (which one I’m still not sure).

4.       ‘Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story’: Apparently ‘Urban Myths’ wasn’t the first time a biopic got Michael Jackson very wrong. Not only did fans dislike how Flex Alexander looked in the part, but they felt that he didn’t do a good job showcasing the charms and talents of the man he was trying to portray.

5.       ‘Beyond The Sea’: In this 2004 biopic about crooner Bobby Darin, Kevin Spacey plays the titular character, and while the film wasn’t panned too badly, critics didn’t really like it either. As Spacey was too old for the role, some critics called the film a bit self-indulgent, with Roger Ebert coming out and bluntly saying that the film was just “as much about Spacey” playing the role as it was about “Darin himself.”

6.       ‘Phil Spector’: Although this television film was met with many high-profile award nominations, some people, including the murder victim’s representative and Spector’s wife, feel the movie missed the mark. Rachelle Short, Spector’s wife, said of the film that it wrongly depicted her husband “as a foul-mouthed megalomaniac.”It’s also hard to miss the unnatural-looking wigs on both Al Pacino and Helen Mirren.

7.       ‘Madonna: Innocence Lost’: While there is another Madonna biopic on the way, one with a much better reputation proceeding it, there was a television film made by Fox in 1994 about the singer’s early career. The film fell flat with fans and critics, as it sits with a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And aside from the massive 80s jewelry, Terumi Matthews only looks slightly like the Material Girl.

Casting a biopic is a really hard task. Fans of the people being portrayed are often critical of that person’s story being muddied up by the wrong actor, or worse by an actor that looks nothing like who they are portraying. These films show that between looks, acting and writing, casting doesn’t always get it right.

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Find music from the real stars at Long Island’s top new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl, CDs and cassettes, as well as DVDs and cultural memorabilia. We have thousands of titles to choose from with more being added all the time. Come down to our Plainview store during business hours or shop online from the comfort of your own home.