Today in Music History – Led Zeppelin Release Debut Album

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island's Top Music Outlet, Looks Back at the Led Zeppelin Album That Started it All

On January 12, 1969, Led Zeppelin made rock music history when they released their self-titled, debut album. It was a groundbreaking album for many reasons, including the way it was released and, most notably, the new rock music sound it ushered in.

When ‘Led Zeppelin’ was released, Led Zeppelin had barely been calling itself by that name. In 1968, Jimmy Page, the sole member of The Yardbirds, was looking to find a new band to finish out The Yardbird’s Scandinavian tour. John Paul Jones, Robert Plant and John Bonham joined the band, which Page named The New Yardbirds. Page ended up changing the band’s name to Led Zeppelin after the tour, just before they entered the studio to record some of the new songs they had been writing and performing together on the road.

The way ‘Led Zeppelin’ was released was ahead of its time. To start with, the band released the album in stereo only, making it one of the first albums to be released in such a way. Before 1968, most artists and labels were releasing both mono and stereo versions of their work. The album was also recorded before Led Zeppelin was signed to a label. This allowed the band to retain creative control during the recording process. When the band came to Atlantic, the album was completed and ready to be released.

‘Led Zeppelin’ also marked the beginning of hard rock as we know it today. The sound brought together the blues rock that came before it with a certain heaviness not heard anywhere else before. In the album’s recording, Page used unconventional methods of creating certain effects, like recording room ambiance by putting a microphone 20 feet from an amp and cultivating a “reverse echo” by recording over the track backwards. What came from it was as sound unmatched by any other band at that time.

It was the unique sound of ‘Led Zeppelin’ that would make the album so iconic and influential. From this album and subsequent albums, rock genres as diverse as prog rock and heavy metal were born. The album has been named by many magazines and music sites as one of the greatest albums ever recorded, including Rolling Stone, who after panning it when the album first came out put it on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time at number 29.

Led Zeppelin’s groundbreaking 1969 self-titled debut, released 48 years ago today, created a new genre of rock that the world had never heard before. Historic for its stereo-only release and unparalleled hard rock sound, ‘Led Zeppelin’ will always be remembered for the legacy of great rock music that it has influenced over the years.

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Find music from Led Zeppelin and more at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. The top new independent record shop on Long Island, we have thousands of titles to choose from in store and online. We have a wide selection of genres on new and used vinyl, CD, cassette and DVD, as well as artist and cultural memorabilia. New items are being added all the time!

Seven Creative Ways Artists Released Their Albums

Billy Corgan has announced that he will be starting a new, three-part musical project for 2017. For one month, the Smashing Pumpkins singer will be travelling the United States on the “Thirty Days” project, documenting the entire trip though releasing music, interviews and videos. The journey is expected to yield a collection of the singer’s favorite 50 songs that he has written (dubbed “50 by 50”), a covers album and an entirely new album.

This isn’t the only innovative idea an artist has had on the subject of releasing new music. There have been many artists that have changed the album release game forever with just one out-of-the-box idea.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new music outlet, has found seven artists who have turned the music industry on its head. From giving away free music to releasing music unannounced and more, these artists have changed the way we think about how an album gets released.

1.       Smashing Pumpkins, ‘Teargarden by Kaleidyscope’: Corgan is not new to finding different ways to release music. In 2009, the singer decided that it would be a good idea to release a new song on the band’s website for free every week for 44 weeks, ultimately leading up to the release of the ‘Teargarden by Kaleidyscope.’ Unfortunately, the project was never finished. Between the ten songs from the original project and ‘Oceana,’ ‘Teargarden’ only yielded 23 songs.

2.       Radiohead, ‘In Rainbows’: The prospect of releasing an album at a pay-what-you-want price doesn’t seem that crazy nowadays with all the legal, free music you can find online from bands who really want you to hear their music. But in 2007, when Radiohead decided to release their seventh album, ‘In Rainbows,’ in such a way, the idea that someone could opt to not pay for an album was crazy, particularly to a music industry that bases its worth on album sales. The joke was on the record industry, though, as ‘In Rainbows’ became the band’s most successful and top-selling album to date, even before getting a physical release two months later.

3.       U2, ‘Songs of Innocence’: The thought of an artist giving away their album seems like a good idea and an amazing opportunity, especially if you are as famous as U2. But when you force an album on people, they tend to get angry. Such is what happened when the band released ‘Songs of Innocence’ in 2014. The band had a deal with iTunes where the album would be automatically downloaded to everyone’s iPod without consent. While the deal got the album “to as many people as possible,” and got people talking about them, this method mostly just got people annoyed.

4.       Jay-Z, ‘Magna Carta Holy Grail’: Take what U2 did with ‘Songs of Innocence,’ add consent, and you have a plausible idea that won’t turn people against you. When Jay-Z released ‘Magna Carta Holy Grail’ in 2013, he struck a deal with Samsung to distribute a million copies of the album through a special app four days before the album hit stores. People got excited for the album and on the day of its official release, immediately went platinum.

5.       Beyoncé, ‘Beyoncé’: Most of the time, the consumer knows when an album will drop. There is usually press surrounding it and promotion leading up to it. But in 2013, Beyoncé decided to forgo all of that and release her new, self-titled album secretly on iTunes. The release came with a visual album, with cinema-quality videos made for each song on the album. This worked really well for Beyoncé. So well, in fact, that she did it again in 2016 with ‘Lemonade.’

6.       Kanye West, ‘The Life of Pablo’: 2016 was the year that streaming services really broke out as a means to get music to people. Kanye West seems to know that better than anyone else. He released his seventh album, ‘The Life of Pablo,’ exclusively to Tidal for its first six weeks. Not only that, but every time you listened to it, it might have been slightly different because he kept tinkering with the songs the entire time, calling the album “a living, breathing, changing creative expression.”

7.       Wu-Tang Clan, ‘Once Upon a Time in the Shaolin’: What’s better than releasing an album to the entire world? Releasing it to one person. In an attempt to turn their 2014 album into a piece of contemporary art, hip-hop veterans Wu-Tang Clan released one physical copy of ‘Once Upon a Time in the Shaolin.’ The group toured it to various galleries and art museums before auctioning it off like an artist would do with a painting. ‘Once Upon a Time in the Shaolin’ now resides with the highest bidder: noted internet and pharmaceutical troll Martin Shkreli.

In the modern age of the music industry, there are many new and exciting ways artists can release their music to get people’s attention. These albums prove that there is no one linear idea of how an album must be presented to the public. There is always room for new ideas and innovations in the field. Billy Corgan’s newly announced ‘Thirty Days’ project is proof of this, continuing to challenge how music is released in the 21^st Century.

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Find music from these artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. Browse thousands of titles on new and used on vinyl, CD, cassette and DVD, as well as memorabilia and more in store. Don’t have time to stop by our Plainview location? Shop online at vinylbay777.com and check out our music selection from the comfort of your own home. New titles are being added in store and online all the time!

Life After Ziggy Stardust - Bowie's Legacy One Year Later

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, looks at life one-year after Bowie’s passing

It’s hard to believe that it has been an entire year since the world lost the music icon that was David Bowie. Best known for his forward-thinking sound and countless transformations, Bowie passed away from cancer on January 10, 2016, just two days after his 69^th birthday and the release of his 25^th album, ‘Blackstar.’

Bowie rose to fame in the late 1960s, hitting it big in 1969 with his single “Space Oddity.” From there, a star(man) was born. Throughout his career, the singer would reinvent himself many times; the 1970s saw the creation of glam-rock alter-ego Ziggy Stardust, as well as an experimental electronic sound later in the decade, while the 1980s saw a more commercially viable sound and his best chart success ever. Bowie continued to experiment with sound throughout the rest of his career until his death.

Since his passing, David Bowie has arguably become an even bigger star. ‘Blackstar’ became the singer’s only album to peak at number one on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States. The album also hit number one in 23 countries, becoming certified gold or platinum in many of them. ‘Blackstar’ was considered one of the top albums of 2016 by a handful of publications. At the end of the year, two of his albums ended up on the Billboard 200 year-end sales chart. The album continues to be a popular topic into 2017, as people are continuing to dig into its packaging, finding countless “easter eggs” hidden away in it, some of which have still not been found.

Heck, Bowie is not even done releasing music on his own. On January 8 (what would have been the singer’s 70^th birthday), he released the ‘No Plan’ EP. The musician’s last known recordings, the four-track record features songs from his 2015/2016 musical ‘Lazarus,’ recorded by Bowie around the same time as ‘Blackstar.’ A video for the song “No Plan” was also released, showing televisions with lyrics to the song scrolling on them. As the song progresses, people start gathering around the screens, paying tribute to the late singer.

Even though it has been a full year since David Bowie’s passing, the world continues to mourn and remember the singer as if it happened yesterday. There have been people doing tributes to him all-year long in various forms. This includes the ‘Celebrating David Bowie’ show tonight at Terminal 5, where many of the singer’s past collaborators and friends will come together to remember man and his music/vision.

David Bowie’s music and career inspires others and will continue to inspire people long after his death. He may have passed away a year ago, but his legacy will live on infinitely. The stars will continue to look different without him for years to come.

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Pick up music from the late David Bowie, as well as music from other artists, at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. Long Island’s top new record shop has thousands of new and used titles to choose from on vinyl, CD, cassette and DVD. New titles are being added daily, so stop by our Plainview location, or shop online to see what’s new.

Week in Review: Seven Songs You May Have Missed (1/1-1/7/2017)

Happy New Year! The first week of 2017 has come to an end. Whether you have been partying it up or working over the past week, you may have missed some of the new music that has been released over the last seven days.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has you covered. We’ve chosen seven of this week’s best new songs that we think you need to hear. So settle in and check out what the New Year already has to offer.

1.       Punchline, “It’s A New Year (Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself)”: Punchline released their first new song in two years on January 1. “It’s A New Year” is less pop-punk and more indie-rock, a transition that seems quite natural, particularly with the lyrical content of this song. Everyone needs a fresh slate from which to begin in the new year and this song so melodically spells that out. It’s a great anthem for the new year. (video)

2.       AFI, “Snow Cats”: Of the two singles AFI have released from their upcoming self-titled album, I enjoyed “Snow Cats” more. There is just more to hold on to melodically there. “Snow Cats” features the kind of half-haunting dramatic vocals fans are used to from Davey Havok with a heavier bass and rhythm section more like the band’s past offerings. (video)

3.       Ed Sheeran, “Castle On The Hill”: Sheeran has been teasing new music all week and we finally got it on Friday in the form of “Castle On The Hill” and “Shape Of You.” While both offerings are good and genuine, “Castle On The Hill” has this joyousness to it that makes it memorable. Call me a sucker for songs about time passing, but there is so much sunlight and happiness in it. (video)

4.       The Shins, “Name For You”: “Name For You” is the second single from the band’s first album in five years, ‘Heartworms.’ Written to empower his daughters, the song sums up his thoughts on how the world sees strong women. The song is upbeat and vocally and thematically on-point. If the rest of the songs on the album are like this, ‘Heartworms’ will definitely be an album worth looking forward to in March. (video)

5.       The Flaming Lips, “We A Family”: Yet another video from the band’s upcoming album ‘Oczy Mlody,’ “We A Family” finds the band collaborating with Miley Cyrus again for one of the more easily graspable songs melody-wise released from the album thus far. The two already proved that they could work together well on Cyrus’ ‘Dead Petz,’ and “We A Family” expands on that. Cyrus’ vocals are soft and laid back on her parts, complimenting Wayne Coyne’s vocals perfectly. (video)

6.       Kiesza, “Dearly Beloved”: Kiesza had a break out year in 2014 with “Hideaway,” and she seems poised to do it again with her latest single “Dearly Beloved.” The song has this infectious 80s funk quality to it, mixed with a bit of pop flair. This dance-pop jam is surely going to be one of the year’s early radio favorites. (video)

7.       Kehlani, “Undercover”: If not for the prominent use of a certain “f” word, I could hear this little pop song being on the radio. It tells an oft told story of forbidden love in a very simple to understand manor. The song is very catchy as well. (video)

If you missed out on this week’s new music, check out these songs to help get your first full weekend in 2017 started right. Whether you are looking for the latest dance song or something a little more indie, punk-y or pop-y, this list has you covered. Take a listen and enjoy the start of your 2017!

Find music from some of these artists and more at Long Island’s favorite new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777. We have the largest selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and memorabilia on the island. Search from thousands of titles in store and online at vinylbay777.com. New titles are being added all the time, so there’s always a reason to stop in. 

Seven Rock Artists Who Made Cameos in Movies

In March, Terrence Malick will be releasing his latest film, ‘Song to Song.’ The film, about two “entangled couples” navigating the music industry in Austin, Texas, stars Rooney Mara, Ryan Gosling, Michael Fassbender and Natalie Portman as its main characters. And to make the film seem authentic, Malick has enlisted the help of musicians Iggy Pop, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Patti Smith, Florence + the Machine and The Black Lips, among others, to make cameos.

Obviously, these musicians are not the first to make cameos in films. There have been many artists that have lent their presence to a film, some in more storyline-driven roles than others.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, has picked seven of the most interesting rock artist cameos made on the big screen. Some of these artists just had to play, others got to be in on the fun of the plot. Either way makes for good (or halfway decent) cinema.

1.       The Offspring, ‘Idle Hands’: ‘Idle Hands’ was a late 1990s teen horror flick about a high school student whose hand becomes possessed. The Offspring doesn’t come in until near the end, when they play at a school-sponsored Halloween party. Things get crazy when the teen’s severed hand attacks Dexter Holland, scalping him mid-song.

2.       Billy Idol, ‘The Wedding Singer’: Billy Idol doesn’t actually sing in this film, about a wedding singer who falls in love with one of the waitresses at a gig. Idol’s cameo comes when Adam Sandler’s wedding singer character is on a plane talking about his waitress (Drew Barrymore) that got away. When Sandler realizes that the waitress is on the same flight, Idol and others help him try to win her back.

3.       Sugar Ray, ‘Father’s Day’: Sugar Ray is more of a plot point in this film about two men who go searching for their potential son who has run away from home, even though the band does make an appearance. The runaway boy is in fact following the band across the country. The two men finally confront the boy at said Sugar Ray show.

4.       Bruce Springsteen, ‘High Fidelity’: Springsteen makes a brief appearance in this 2000 classic as a figment of main character Rob’s (John Cusack) imagination. Rob has an imaginary conversation with The Boss about life and love while Springsteen picks at a guitar and gives him advice.

5.       Cannibal Corpse, ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’: Cannibal Corpse seem like a weird choice to appear in a comedy flick, but they did. The band was in a couple of scenes, including one in which Ace Ventura makes his way to the stage while being chased and stage dives.

6.       ZZ Top, ‘Back To The Future 3’: Another interesting choice, ZZ Top was the band that played in the Old West. The band got into character too, even leading people in a square dance.

7.       Blink-182, ‘American Pie’: It wasn’t a big cameo, but Mark, Tom and Travis did have a short appearance in the first ‘American Pie’ film. They were the band playing while Jason Biggs’ Jim was being filmed failing to seduce the girl on his bed, stopping their rehearsal to watch the webcast.

There have been many artists who have made cameos in films, either playing music or helping to advance the storyline. Perhaps the cameos in ‘Song to Song’ will do both. We’ll have to wait until March 17, when the film hits theaters, to see.

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Find music from all of these artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has thousands of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, DVDs, memorabilia and more. New titles are being added to our selection all the time, so make plans to stop-by and browse.

On the Importance of The Doors’ Self-Titled Debut Album

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, takes a look at the impact ‘The Doors’ had on music

January 4 marked the 50^th anniversary of the release of The Doors’ debut self-titled album. To celebrate the occasion, the band is planning to release a 50^th anniversary 3 CD /LP deluxe edition of the album, complete with mono and stereo versions of the album on CD, the mono mix on vinyl, and a live recording of their March 7, 1967 show at The Matrix in San Francisco. Packaged in a 12x12 hardcover book with rare photos and liner notes, the deluxe edition will be released on March 31.

‘The Doors’ has been lauded by many publications and critics as one of the greatest albums of all time. Rolling Stone and NME ranked the album at number 42 and 226, respectively, on their lists of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.”

The album was, and still is, a fan favorite too. Featuring the band’s two biggest hits, “Break on Through” and “Light My Fire,” ‘The Doors’ peaked at number two on the Billboard charts, coming in second only to The Beatles’ ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.’ The band released five more albums before singer Jim Morrison’s death in 1971, none of which had the same kind of impact as their debut.

So what made this album so special in particular? Perhaps it was the band’s unwillingness to sound like any other band out there at the time. The band never had an official bass player because Morrison felt like it made them sound too much like everyone else. On ‘The Doors,’ all bass parts were played by Ray Manzarek on keyboard, and then overdubbed after the fact.

The Doors also made it a point to try and capture the essence of their live show in that first recording. According to Manzarek in the documentary ‘Classic Albums: The Doors,’ “It’s ‘The Doors: Live from the Whisky a Go Go’… except in a recording studio.” It was on stage during their legendary high-energy, drug-addled performances, that the band developed what would become their signature sound; a mixture of rock, blues and jazz. Combined with Morrison’s weighty, sharp lyricism and passion for poetry, and The Doors became like no other band before them.

And other artists took notice. If it wasn’t for The Doors, some of punk’s heaviest hitters, such as Patti Smith and Iggy Pop, may never have gotten into music. Even younger rock bands like The Strokes and The Dandy Warhols were inspired by the band’s work.

The Doors’ music has inspired countless other artists, as well as generations of fans. It is because of the unique sound and “live-ness” that the band created on their first album that we are still talking about them today. After 50 years, ‘The Doors’ is still as impactful as it was when it was first released in 1967. With this new 50^th anniversary deluxe edition, fans of all ages will be able to experience the genius that was The Doors all over again in a whole new way.

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Find music from The Doors and more at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop, and vinylbay777.com. We have thousands of titles ranging from the classics to new favorites and everything in between. Open seven days a week, we have a wide selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and memorabilia in store and online.

Vinyl Records / Streaming Rise as Music Sales Take a Nose Dive

Vinyl Bay 777 Takes a Look at the State of the Music Industry in 2016

A new industry-spanning year-end report on the by BuzzAngle was released on January 3, detailing in depth the growth and decline of the music industry over the last year. The report shows that even though this has been a disappointing year for the music industry, there were still some highs, namely the continued growth of vinyl record sales and streaming services.

Let’s start with the bad news. Music sales are down… way down. Over 2015, 2016 saw a drop in sales of 15.6 percent. This includes physical and digital sales, which individually saw decreases of 11.7 percent for physical, 19.4 percent for digital albums and 24.8 percent for digital song sales from last year.

Poor sales do not mean that people aren’t buying physical albums. Physical mediums, like CDs, vinyl and cassettes, still account for more than half of all music purchases. It is worth noting however, that physical sales have shifted a bit. CD sales were down 14 percent in 2016 while vinyl records saw a 25.9 percent increase over 2015. That brings vinyl up to a new high that hasn’t been seen in more than two decades.

Nor does it mean that people aren’t listening to music. In fact, music consumption rose 4.9 percent in 2016. Much of that was due to paid and ad-supported streaming services. This past year saw a record high in audio streaming, with more than 250.7 billion streams over the course of the year. The report makes note that the average daily amount of streams was more than the entire amount of songs downloaded within the year (1.2 billion streams per day verses 734 million downloads).

And if you thought record companies weren’t making money off of streaming, guess again. A chart detailing audio streaming shows that over the last eight quarters, paid subscriptions to streaming services skyrocketed past ad-supported free subscriptions. The difference is astounding, with a more than 40 billion subscription gap between the two.

The report also details the artists who had the biggest year in terms of sales and streaming. Drake takes home the gold as artist of the year. His album ‘Views’ was the most consumed album of 2016, followed by Adele’s ’25,’ Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade,’ Rihanna’s ‘Anti’ and Twenty One Pilots’ ‘Blurryface,’ respectively. Adele’s ‘25’ remains the top-selling album of the year for the second year in a row. As for vinyl, Twenty One Pilots had two albums in the top 10, including the number one spot for ‘Blurryface,’ in a market dominated by legacy and deep catalog releases (albums 3 years or older).

The sales outlook seems a little sunnier in the UK, where sales actually increased by 1.5 percent last year over 2015. Vinyl made an even bigger increase over there at 53 percent, putting the medium at a 25-year high for the country, even though it accounted for a smaller percentage of overall sales than in the US. The highest-selling vinyl album in the U.K. was David Bowie’s ‘Blackstar,’ followed by Amy Winehouse’s ‘Back To Black,’ which also came in at number two in US vinyl sales.

Even though the US record industry saw a decrease in sales for the year, music consumption in 2016 was on the rise. Vinyl records continued to make their re-entrance as a viable sales medium while we saw a major shift in listening habits from song downloads to paid streaming services. Looking ahead at the music industry landscape, it will be interesting to see where music consumption will go from here; if streams will overtake every other form of listening or if somehow album sales can make some sort of resurgence in the coming year.

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Keep physical music mediums alive in 2017 by shopping Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. The top new independent record shop on Long Island, we have thousands of titles in store and online to choose from. Come down and shuffle through our selection of new and pre-owned vinyl, CDs, cassettes and DVDs, as well as memorabilia and more. We are open seven days a week and are conveniently located off Sunnyside Boulevard in Plainview, NY, just a short distance from the L.I.E. and Northern State Parkway. 

Seven Upcoming Albums to Get Excited For in January

Happy New Year! It’s a brand new year with a lot to look forward to musically. January alone will see some highly anticipated albums come out from some amazingly talented artists.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, wants to help you get excited for new music in 2017. That is why we’ve selected seven albums coming out in January that we think will be worth a listen.

1.       Dropkick Murphys, ‘11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory’: This is the ninth studio album for the Celtic punk band from Boston, who last released an album, ‘Signed and Sealed in Blood,’ in 2013. ‘Short Stories’ was heavily inspired by their work in supporting those with drug addictions seeking recovery, as well as personal stories of addiction and loss. From the three singles the band released last year, their sound seems more honed in and their content more personal. It will be interesting to hear where the rest of the album goes. (1/6)

2.       Halestorm, ‘ReAniMate 3.0’: One of the hottest metal bands of the last five years, Halestorm will be releasing their third covers EP this year. The band will be taking on some classic metal songs from Metallica and Whitesnake, as well as rockers from Joan Jett, Soundgarden and Twenty One Pilots. The most interesting cover here might be of Sophie B. Hawkins’ “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover” though, as it is the only song on the track list that isn’t a rock song. (1/6)

3.       The Flaming Lips, ‘Oczy Mlody’: The Flaming Lips have been working for nearly a year on ‘Oczy Mlody,’ finally releasing a few singles from the album about a month ago. From the singles, the album sounds like it might be a little “out there,” but that is okay. What other kind of creativity would you expect from The Flaming Lips anyway. (1/13)

4.       The xx, ‘I See You’: Many music critics, ourselves included, named “On Hold” as one of the best songs released in 2016. Because of this, the band’s upcoming third album, ‘I See You,’ their first in nearly five years, there are high expectations for the entire album. The band released a second single, ‘Say Something Loving,’ earlier this week, which continues in the new sonic direction “On Hold” led the way with. (1/13)

5.       AFI, ‘AFI’: AFI have been teasing the release of their new album since October, but the wait is almost over. The band’s self-titled tenth studio album, also known as “The Blood Album,” will be coming later this month. It is their first release in nearly four years and, if the first single “White Offerings” is any indication, the album will be less about hooks and more about energy. The band has come a long way in their more than 20 years together and it will be interesting to see where they go from here. (1/20)

6.       Bell Biv DeVoe, ‘Three Stripes’: New Edition offshoot Bell Biv DeVoe, best known for their 1990 single “Poison,” has not released an album together since 2001, making the release of ‘Three Stripes’ later this month that much more exciting. The new jack swing trio released a video for the album’s first single, “Run,” in September and it doesn’t sound any time has passed at all. They still have the same sweet harmonies that got people hooked on them all those years ago. (1/27)

7.       Cloud Nothings, ‘Life Without Sound’: Indie-rockers Cloud Nothings are one of the most talked about bands of the last seven years and for good reason. The band’s sound is tight and their songs are easy to grasp onto. That is why the anticipation for their fifth studio album, ‘Life Without Sound,’ is so great. The band has already released one stellar single from the album, “Modern Act,” with an unforgettable music video, and the world needs more. (1/27)

From rock to R&B, these are the albums we are excitedly looking forward to in January. With all these highly anticipated albums coming out this month alone, it looks like 2017 is gearing up to be a great year in music.

Find music from many of these artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com, the top new independent record shop on Long Island. Shop in store and online for new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVD, memorabilia and more. We have thousands of titles to choose from with new ones being added all the time. 

Seven Party Songs to Dance Your Way Into the New Year

Happy New Year’s Eve! It’s time to party away 2016 and welcome 2017 with open arms. And what is a party without some high-energy party tunes!

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has got the perfect playlist for your New Year’s Eve bash. We’ve collected seven of the top party songs ever recorded and created this eclectic list, mixing pop, rock, Latin, rap, R&B and funk to make the ultimate soundtrack for your dance party. So get out your dancing shoes, break out the champagne and noisemakers and get ready to party like its 1999!

1.       The Black Eyed Peas, “Let’s Get It Started”: The movement in this song is great. It starts out slow with Fergie showing off some slinky vocals, and then the base comes in along with will.i.am’s intro, which then escalates into the first verse before erupting into that bouncy chorus that everyone knows. It’s perfect for getting the party started. (video)

2.       Jennifer Lopez, “Let’s Get Loud”: With a thumping beat and Latin tones, “Let’s Get Loud” is one of those songs that have become bigger than itself. Written by Gloria Estefan and given to Lopez to put on her debut album, “Let’s Get Loud” became a staple on wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, sweet 16 and general party dance floors from 1999 on. (video)

3.       House of Pain, “Jump Around”: Equal parts hip-hop and rock, this song urges you to get up and, well, “jump around.” It’s hard not to at least bob your head along with the beat, even if you’re in your car and it comes on the radio. (video)

4.       Beastie Boys, “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)”: Sometimes you forget that the Beastie Boys were once a punk band and even though this song came out much later than that, you can still hear that edge in the lyrics and melody of “Fight for Your Right.” Although it is only mildly rebellious, the song has still become a party anthem for the ages. (video)

5.       Kool and the Gang, “Celebration”: Now for a party classic. Kick it old-school with the joyous funk of “Celebration,” which brings a bit of hope and sunshine to any party. And besides, it lays out your exact plans for you: “celebrate and have a good time.” (video)

6.       50 Cent, “In Da Club”: The intro to this song has become one of the most imitated phrases of the last 13 years: “go shorty, it’s ya birthday, we gonna party like it’s ya birthday.” For maximum effect, start a dance circle and watch people break it down. (video)

7.       Prince, “1999”: This song helped spark another phrase that has become synonymous with partying hard: partying “like its 1999.” Which you should totally do tonight. It might not be the end of the century, but “1999’s” groove is perfect for ringing in any new year. (video)

Keep your New Year’s Eve parties going all night long by adding these dance tracks to your party playlist. With such an eclectic selection, all of your guests are sure to enjoy the build up to 2017. Have a happy, healthy and safe New Year!

Make it your New Year’s resolution to listen to more music. Stop by Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop, in 2017 to check out our large selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and memorabilia. We have thousands of titles in-store and online at vinylbay777.com, with more being added all the time. 

Vinyl Bay 777’s Top 10 Songs of 2016

Across genres, 2016 has been a great year for music. From rap and R&B to punk, rock and pop, there have been so many incredible songs that have come out in the past year that it is hard to remember all of them.

As Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’ s top music outlet, looks back at the music of 2016, we wanted to acknowledge some of this year’s outstanding songs. Our writer has collected a list of 10 songs that she has enjoyed throughout the year. Touching on indie rock, pop punk, soul and hip hop, check out some of the best songs 2016 had to offer.

1.       Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam, “A 1000 Times”: The first single from former Walkmen singer Hamilton Leithauser and Vampire Weekend multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij, “A Thousand Times” is an indie rock charm that builds slowly-and-steadily. It doesn’t take much to like this song; its lyrics are simple and its chorus is repetitive and catchy. (video)

2.       The XX, “On Hold”: After a couple of listens, this song really grew on me. I love the back and forth the male and female singers have lyrically, like a doomed conversation between two people who were once in love. The pain in the male’s words and voice in particular gives this song a lot of depth. (video)

3.       Twenty One Pilots, “Heathens”: This song was everywhere this year after it came out as a single from the ‘Suicide Squad’ soundtrack. Twenty One Pilots has this amazing ability to write unique and catchy music that not only found itself a place in rock music, but in pop as well. (video)

4.       Green Day, “Still Breathing”: The third single from Green Day’s new album, ‘Revolution Radio,’ “Still Breathing” is a little like “Wake Me up When September Ends” all over again. One of the most personal songs on the album, it is deep and introspective, most likely about singer Billie Joe Armstrong’s drug addiction and recovery. The lyrics deliver the message that even though all of these things have happened; he’s come out on the other side alive. What a great sentiment for this time of year and the crazy year we have all had. (video)

5.       Tegan and Sara, “Boyfriend”: What stands out most about “Boyfriend,” the first single from Tegan and Sara’s latest album ‘Love You To Death,’ besides its 80s synth-pop feel, is the sister duo’s lyrical delivery. The song finds the singer talking to her secret girlfriend who won’t admit that they are a couple to the public. When the sisters sing “and trust me like a… like a very best friend,” they pause before saying “very best friend,” and that drama just says everything about the mood and motive of that song. (video)

6.       Solange, “Cranes in the Sky”: The first time I heard this song on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ it was mesmerizing. The song is beautiful; so soulful and on-point. It’s no wonder people have been talking about the song and album since it came out in October. (video)

7.       A Tribe Called Quest, “We the People”: Another song that I heard on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ “We The People” is the first single the hip hop group has released in 18 years and their last with founding member Phife Dawg. The track perfectly captures the political atmosphere of today and concisely presents it with a catchy back beat and chorus. (video)

8.       David Bowie, “Lazarus”: This song plays like a retrospective of David Bowie’s life, which makes it even more ominous knowing that he would pass away just days later. Its steady tempo and hefty lyrical content make the song one of his best, but also one of his heaviest. (video)

9.       Weezer, “King of the World”: Weezer have finally gotten their groove back. After putting out a terrific album in 2014, ‘Everything Will Be Alright In The End,’ they followed it up this year with another self-titled album (the White Album) and “King of the World,” it’s second single.  Dreaming up what it would be like if the narrator was in control, instead of being tied down by everyone else, “King of the World” continues the band’s return to the self-depreciating lyrics and biting wit. (video)

10.   Leonard Cohen, “You Want It Darker”: This song haunted me for weeks after it was released, and not because it came out only weeks before Cohen passed away. The way he used the word “Hineni,” which translates from Hebrew to “Here I Am,” and cantor-al melodies in the chorus gives the song a whole new level of darkness on top of its minimal instrumentation and other really dark lyrics. But that insistence on making you think about it long after hearing it is what makes this song so good. (video)

As 2016 comes to a close, it’s nice to take a look back at all the great music that artists have released over the last 12 months. These 10 tracks only skim the surface of the year’s best songs. Use this list as a jumping off point for your own best of 2016 list.

Start the new year off right by checking out music from most of these artists and more at Long Island’s hottest new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777. Shop in-store and online (vinylbay777.com) from our selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and memorabilia. We have thousands of titles to choose from and new ones are being added all the time. 

Seven Rock Songs about New Year’s Day

It is almost New Year’s Eve! With only three days until the ball drops, it’s time to put the last few touches on your countdown to 2017. That includes putting together perfect soundtrack to blast while welcoming the New Year.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is here to help you make the ultimate rock playlist to soundtrack your New Years get together. We have picked seven songs about the holiday to get you in the mindset for a brand new year. So sit back with champagne in hand with the ones you love, listen to these tunes and welcome 2017 with open arms.

1.       A Great Big World, “This Is the New Year”: “This Is the New Year” begs the listener to live for today. It is okay to remember what happened in the previous year, but take what you learned and make your life better. This is another chance to change yourself and the world. “This Is the New Year” is a very uplifting song with an amazing message. (video)

2.       Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, “Auld Lang Syne”: Who said that traditional had to be boring? There are a lot of punk versions of “Auld Lang Syne,” but Me First and the Gimme Gimmes turn this classic into a crazy, mosh pit-worthy mess. They don’t take themselves seriously, they don’t take the song seriously and you shouldn’t take it seriously either, which makes it so great. (video)

3.       The Walkmen, “In the New Year”: This song has the melody and cadence of a Christmas song. However, its lyrics are more like a New Years break-up song, with the narrator ending the relationship and looking forward to something new “out of the darkness and into the fire.” The raucous guitars add energy to the song, making it a bit chaotic yet hopeful at the same time. (video)

4.       Regina Spektor, “My Dear Acquaintance (A Happy New Year)”: This cover of the Peggy Lee song is very bare-bones, but it gets its point across. Driven lyrically rather than instrumentally, “My Dear Acquaintance” is a jazzy prayer wishing everyone, both friends and family and strangers alike, a happy New Year. (video)

5.       The Zombies, “This Will Be Our Year”: Considering how dark this year has been for many, this classic rock n’ roll song is full of positivity for the New Year. Primarily a love song, the narrator of the song sings about how this is going to be their year and how they’ve “only just begun.” It may take a while, but the darkness will be lifted. (video)

6.       Death Cab for Cutie, “The New Year”: This song is a bit depressing as songs about New Year’s Day go. Over a typical Death Cab “emo” down-tempo melody, the lyrics talk about how New Year’s is no different than any other day except for the way we act. All he really wants is for it to be easier to see his significant other. (video)

7.       Eagles, “Funky New Year”: This song is very bluntly about getting drunk and stoned on New Year’s Eve. If anything, this song is a PSA warning against the dangers of partying, set to a “funky” groove. (video)

While you are finalizing your New Year’s Eve playlist, check out these songs about the New Year to get your party going. Whether you are into somber songs or uplifting lyrics, these songs are guaranteed to be the perfect rock and roll soundtrack to help you usher in 2017 right.

Find music from many of these artists and more into the New Year at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. The top new independent record shop on Long Island, we have a wide selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes and more to choose from. New titles are being added all the time, so there is always a reason to stop by!

Seven Live Shows to Make Your New Year’s Eve Rock

Phish at MSG 2015. Found on Brooklyn Vegan. Photo by AZN Pics.

Still looking for that special way to enjoy the last bits of 2016 and ring in 2017? Why not see one last live show before the end of the year?

There are many options for New Year’s Eve in New York this year. And while Patti Smith will not be doing her annual New Year’s shows in New York (she’s playing in Chicago this year), there are still some great choices out there.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, has your New Year’s Eve plans covered. We’ve collected a list of seven shows that will surely have you rocking into 2017.

1.       Bush: Looking to stay on Long Island? Bush will be bringing their 90s grunge-style to The Paramount on Saturday night, sponsored by Long Island’s 94.3 The Shark. The band is also hinting at new music in the New Year. They already released a new song, “People at War,” in June.

2.       Phish: Phish will be back at Madison Square Garden this week for a four-show New Year’s run starting tonight (December 28). This run has become a tradition for the band, having played The Garden seven out of the last eight New Year’s Eves. The band released their 16^th album, ‘Big Boat,’ this past year.

3.       Black Lips: Southern punk band Black Lips will be doing New Years right in New York City this year. On Saturday night, the band will be playing with Wolves, Chances, Winstons and more at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn. Then, you can join the band for brunch at The Roxy Hotel on Sunday afternoon.

4.       Macy Gray: The jazz-soul singer best known for her hit “I Try” will be playing three nights at Iridium Jazz Club in Times Square starting Thursday. There will be a total of five sets: one on Thursday, two on Friday and two on New Year’s Eve. Gray released her latest album, ‘Stripped,’ in 2016, which includes reworked versions of her biggest hits and covers of artists who have inspired her.

5.       Guided by Voices: Guided by Voices will be playing at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on New Year’s Eve with The Moles.  The band, who reunited this year after disbanding in 2014, released ‘Please Be Honest’ in April.

6.       Thurston Moore & John Zorn: If you are into improv, this will be the show for you. Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and saxophonist John Zorn will be at Zorn’s performance space, The Stone, in the East Village on Friday and Saturday. Other musicians sitting in will include DNA’s Ikue Mori and cellist Okaying Lee. Moore will be playing at St. Mark’s Church on the 1^st, reuniting with Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo.

7.       Titus Andronicus: Punk band Titus Andronicus will be saying “F*** 2016” with their show at Brooklyn Bazaar Saturday night. High Waisted and Toys In Trouble will be providing support for the show, which will also feature DJ sets from Michael T, Dirtyfinger and Cousin Cole, and a “ball pit drop” at midnight. The band’s fourth album, ‘The Most Lamentable Tragedy,’ was released in 2015.

Whether you like punk, rock, jazz or improv, there are some great shows happening in New York this weekend. Ring in 2017 right with great live music for a great new year.

Before embarking on your New Year’s Eve plans, come down to Vinyl Bay 777 or shop vinylbay777.com and pick up music from all these artists and more. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of new and used titles on vinyl, CD and cassette to choose from, as well as memorabilia, DVDs and more. We are conveniently located at 101-14 Dupont Street in Plainview, just off the Long Island Expressway and the Northern State Parkway.

Seven New Hanukkah Songs for Eight Nights of Hanukkah

We are almost half-way through Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. Since Christmas Eve, families have been gathering around the menorah, adding a new candle every night to remind us of the miracle of the oil and to remember the miraculous ways in which we have been able to keep Jewish tradition alive for thousands of years.

Many compare the festival of Hanukkah to that of Christmas. After all, it comes around the same time and has become a gift-giving holiday over the years. But unlike Christmas, you don’t hear many songs about the holiday on the radio. Sure, you have Adam Sandler’s “Chanukkah Song” and the couple of songs the Barenaked Ladies recorded for their holiday album years ago, but it’s just not as popular.

However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t songs being made about Hanukkah. Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island's music outlet, has rounded up seven new Hanukkah songs that were released this year. From the a cappella parodies people have come to expect to completely original melodies, these songs are sure to make the holiday special for the rest of those eight nights.

1.       The Maccabeats, “Hasmonean”: A Hamilton Hanukkah”: The Maccabeats aren’t the only a cappella group to do a Hamilton parody this year; Six13 did one as well, and performed it for the President no less. Both tell the story of Hanukkah and the Maccabees, but The Maccabeats did it better. It has more melody and more flow, and just makes more sense in general. (video)

2.       Shir Soul, “Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah”: For this year’s holiday, Shir Soul decided to imitate Pentatonix in their video for Hanukkah mash-up “Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah.” They bookend the track with the classic title song, giving it a pretty well-rounded feel. The group also tosses in other holiday classics “S’vivon” (Dreydel) and “Al Hanisim,” sung very traditionally, as well as Pink’s “Just Like Fire,” which is not a holiday song, but goes really well with the theme. (video)

3.       Nefesh Mountain, “The Hanukkah Dance”: Believe it or not, this is a cover of a Woodie Guthrie song. Guthrie related to Jewish culture and spent a lot of time collaborating with his Jewish mother-in-law. On the whole, the cover stays true to the folk-y original, albeit with more instrumentation. The band also released a cover of Guthrie’s “Hanukkah Flame,” which is a more subdued song. (video)

4.       Y-Studs, “Don’t Let Me Down”: Y-Studs chose to parody arguably the most talked about group of the year, The Chainsmokers, for their Hanukkah inspiration. The a cappella group chose to make it a partial plea to G-d as much as a song about the holiday. It ends up being less in-your-face than most of the parodies you find, which is a good thing. (video)

5.       Kyra Goldman, “Nes Gadol Haya Sham”: Now we get into original songs with Kyra Goldman, whose “Nes Gadol Haya Sham” (A Miracle Happened There) uses light as a reflection of self and as a people. She asks people not to lose the light in them this holiday so that others can see the light in all of us. It’s very catchy and very well done. (video)

6.       Strange Eventful History, “One Night of Hanukkah”: This piano-driven, show tune-inspired song takes a stab at the once-in-30-year coincidence of the first night of Hanukkah falling on Christmas. In a way, it feels like only one night of Hanukkah matters this year because Christmas is a more popular holiday in this country. It is a great concept for a song. (video)

7.       Julie Geller, “Rekindle the Light”: This song uses the Hanukkah lights as a metaphor for “rekindling the light from within.” She sings about not letting the outside world stop you from being you. Geller has this soothing voice that makes it easy to listen to her and the message of hope her music talks about.  (video)

While Hanukkah may fall in Christmas’ shadow in terms of public celebrations, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t music being produced for the holiday. Hopefully these seven songs have helped get you into the Hanukkah spirit.

Still looking for Hanukkah presents for the music lover in your life? Records make great gifts! Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop has thousands of new and used titles to choose from on vinyl, CD, cassette, DVD and more, as well as memorabilia of all kinds. Shop in-store or online at vinylbay777.com!

Top Seven Songs / Music Videos of the Week (12/20-12/24)

It’s the end to another week and the start of the holiday weekend. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, both or neither, it’s still the perfect time to take a break and reflect on the week, and the year, that was. Why not look back at this week’s new music then, shall we?

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, has compiled a list of seven new songs and videos that came out this week that you should check out. Catch up on this week’s music and have a happy holiday season.

1.       Ryan Adams, “To Be Without You”: The second new song from Adams’ upcoming album, ‘Prisoner,’ “To Be Without You” is a more melancholy track than the previous single, “Do You Still Love Me.” Adams wrote on Instagram of this song that “it broke my soul in a zillion pieces writing this,” but in the end, it was essential that he did. (video)

2.       Tegan and Sara, “That Girl”: This week, Tegan and Sara released the final video for the final song on their new album, ‘Love You to Death.’ “That Girl” is a slow-tempo, introspective song. It’s less pop-y than some of the other songs on the album, but it works. The video is a look behind the scenes of their last tour, which fits the theme of the song perfectly. (video)

3.       Nine Inch Nails, “Burning Bright (Field on Fire)”: “Burning Bright” is the first song Nine Inch Nails has released since announcing their new EP, which came out on Friday. The song is a bit dissonant and doesn’t have much of a melody to grab on to, but that seems to be what frontman Trent Reznor is looking to do. In a new interview about the music the band will be releasing in 2017, he says that he wants the music to be less friendly and less hook-filled. (video)

4.       Nelly Furtado, “Pipe Dream”: “Pipe Dream” is a vastly different kind of song than we’ve heard from Nelly Furtado yet. It’s not a pop song. Sonically, it leans more indie-pop, maybe even a little bit quieter. The video is just as reserved as the song; its shot on what seems like a grainy film camera or cell phone and features Furtado walking from room to room of her home. (video)

5.       The Perms, “Lose Yourself”: This song is upbeat and catchy. The video features a girl going through her day, being catcalled at the gym and knocking items over at the store. The viewer is not shown that the protagonist is different until the end, when she arrives at a party and it is revealed that she has a unicorn horn. Now that she has found her unicorn people, she finally looks happy. (video)

6.       Jake Ward, “If You Leave Me Alone”: The video for this song finds the singer trying to win back his girl ‘High Fidelity’ style, but instead of a boom box, he uses a megaphone. The song is a passionate plea for her not to leave him alone. (video)

7.       Kings of Leon, “Find Me”: The video for “Find Me” continues the narrative from the band’s “Waste a Moment” video, picking up the story with an investigation into the disappearance of a town’s youths. The song follows a pretty typical Kings of Leon garage-rock format, so it’s easy to listen to. (video)

If the long work week has left you feeling like you’re missing out, take a listen to these songs and fill your weekend and holiday with new music. Happy Holidays!

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Pick up music from these artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. As the best new independent record shop on Long Island, we have thousands of new and used titles to choose from in-store and online right now. Choose from vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs, memorabilia and more.