Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll: Music’s Pleasurable Effect on the Brain

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, takes a brief look at the effects of music on the brain

We all know that certain songs give us immense joy. And while those songs differ for everyone, the reaction is always the same. We smile, we dance. Listening to music does something indescribable that provides us with a certain pleasure.

A new study in the journal ‘Nature’ came out this week confirming that there is a connection between the effect our favorite music has on us and the pleasure center in our brains. In fact, when it comes to giving us pleasure, listening to music has the same effect as taking drugs, consuming food or having sex.

As reported by LiveScience, for this double-blind study, researchers used a group of 15 participants, giving half a drug that blocks opioid receptors in the brain and the other half a placebo. Then, the participants were told to listen to music, two songs that the participants chose that make them happy and a few the researchers chose that were meant to be neutral. Those that received the opioid blocker reported not feeling the same kind of enjoyment they usually get from the songs they chose.

We have long known that music has a positive effect on our brains. Research has shown that playing an instrument helps quicken reaction times, as well as encourage learning and creativity in children. Listening to music can help to improve peoples’ moods and concentrate better on tasks at work. For years, music has been used as a form of therapy for people with severe memory issues, like dementia, movement issues, like Parkinson’s, and patients who have had a stroke and lost their speech.  It even creates community and helps people relate better to others. To say that the effects of music on the brain are highly important is an understatement.

Though 15 participants are not enough to call this study conclusive, it does warrant more research to be done on the subject. If we know what kind of effect music has on opioid receptors, what kind of effect might it have on dopamine, the other pleasure hormone, levels in the brain?

Music does powerful things to the brain. It has the ability to improve our mood, reflexes, memories, relationships and more. With this new study showing that music can have the same pleasurable effect on the brain as sex and drugs, we are inching ever closer to fully understanding the magnitude of music’s power.

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Feed the pleasure centers in your brain by picking up new music at Long Island’s top new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777. Come down and browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs, memorabilia and more. We have thousands of titles to choose from with more being added all the time. Can’t make it to the store? Check out our website, vinylbay777.com, and peruse our selection from the comfort of your own home. Make your brain happy today!

Seven Fashion Designers Inspired by Music

It comes as no surprise that music and fashion go hand-in-hand. Among the countless designers that have clothed our favorite artists over the years for award shows and high-profile tours, there have also been many designers that have been inspired by music itself.  Designers in the 1970 and 1990s who enjoyed the rebelliousness of the counterculture used that to make their designs stand out. Other designers live for music in the same way that musicians or fans do. Even musicians have gotten in to fashion, bringing their on-stage style to the runway.

As New York Fashion Week makes its return for its Spring/Summer 2017 season this week, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, is taking a look at the intersection of music and fashion. Here are seven designers who have made music one of their top inspirations.

1.       John Varvados: Varvados has probably been one of the most vocally music-conscious designers of the last ten years. He has cast many musicians as spokespeople for the brand, including Green Day, Hosier, Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper and Velvet Revolver, just to name a few. His menswear lines are filled with stylized leather jackets, tees, boots and more. Varvados also has his own label, partnering with Republic Records, where he signs artists he wishes to promote. If that wasn’t enough, his New York flagship store is in the old CBGBs building. The music connections run deep with this one.

2.       Vivienne Westwood: It would be sacrilege to not mention Vivienne Westwood on a list of music-influenced fashion designers. She was a big part of creating punk fashion, dressing the Sex Pistols for the two years they were together. From her days working with Malcolm McLaren at their London shop Let It Rock (which was later renamed to Sex), Westwood has been pushing the envelope of style, and continues to push it long after punk became mainstream. Her early style is even influencing style today. For proof, look no further than Pharrell Williams’ “Buffalo Girls” hat at the 2014 Grammy Awards.

3.       Marc Jacobs: From the early 1990s, Marc Jacobs was at the forefront of off-the-beaten-path music fashion. He was instrumental in bringing grunge style to the masses in 1992 for Perry Ellis, making the cheap clothing of the era over into high-quality haute-couture. Jacobs has been working with musicians ever since, from Kanye West to Miley Cyrus. In 2016, he put together a music video with director Hype Williams to play during his runway show that fall. The video starred the likes of musicians Missy Elliot, Courtney Love, Marilyn Manson, and St. Vincent, as well as actors like Cara Delevingne and Susan Sarandon. He was even one of the first designers to work with Apple Music on their fashion music channel.

4.       Tommy Hilfiger: Though his work really caught on with the hip hop community in the 1990s, Hilfiger’s roots in music go further. A musician himself, he made it a point to sponsor big name artists like The Rolling Stones. When hip hop embraced him, he embraced the culture right back, putting artists like Aaliyah and Usher in his ads and dressing Snoop Dogg for ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Hilfiger is still a popular brand with artists like Rihanna, particularly the retro designs that mimic his 90s creations.

5.       Alexander Wang: Wang has said that his love for hip hop inspired his style as a youth. Now, he continues to get inspiration from music as a designer. He was THE first designer Apple tapped for their fashion music channel. Not to mention Wang also put together a music video-like ad for his 2016 line, which included an unheard Skrillex track and featured what looked like some pretty punk-inspired threads.

6.       Kanye West: The first of two musicians I’m mentioning here. Kanye West has been dabbling in fashion for almost ten years now. He is up to season five of his Yeezy collection, which will be showing at this year’s New York Fashion Week. His fashion has been closely associated with his music and an extension of his brand, designing many of the outfits he would wear in his music videos and on stage.

7.       Gwen Stefani: The other musician I’m mentioning is Gwen Stefani. Her line, L.A.M.B. was created as an extension of her on-stage style. She started the line in 2003, around the same time she went solo and released ‘Love. Angel. Music. Baby.’ Inspired by Japanese Harajuku, among other things, L.A.M.B. is an eclectic line that has evolved to accentuate Stefani’s ever-changing style on and off stage.

These seven designers prove that music and fashion work well together. From the counterculture to the mainstream, music has been inspiring fashion and designers for decades. With New York Fashion Week starting tomorrow, it will be interesting to see which designers find inspiration in music.

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Good music never goes out of fashion. Find music from top artists 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 with new ones being added all the time. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and cultural memorabilia in store and online. It’s always a good time to check out what’s new at Vinyl Bay 777. 

Seven Rock Albums to Watch for This February

February has just gotten started, and it looks like it will be a great month for new rock albums. There are a lot of great bands and artists putting out new music in the next few weeks.

With so much new music fighting for your attention, it can be a daunting task to know which albums will be worth your time. That is why VinylBay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, has chosen seven rock albums coming out in the month of February that we think you should be looking out for. From new bands that deserve your attention to established artists coming back for more, here are our top new music picks.

1.       Mother Mother, ‘No Culture’: Mother Mother has been getting a lot of attention in the last six years. Their last three albums peaked within the top 15 on the Canadian album charts. Now the band is poised to take over the charts again with their new album, ‘No Culture.’ From tracks like “Letter” and first single, ‘The Drugs,’ you can hear the intensity and passion they put into their music. (2/10)

2.       Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, ‘Zombies on Broadway’: McMahon’s latest solo project is gearing up to release its second album, ‘Zombies on Broadway,’ this month. Given that their first album produced a radio hit with “Cecilia and the Satellite,” I have high hopes for this album. The singles seem to be filled with the same emotional and sharp lyricism that mark all of his music projects, only with a little bit more of a dance beat. (2/10)

3.       Marilyn Manson, ‘Say10’: Manson’s 10^th studio album, ‘Say10,’ sounds like it will be interesting to say the least. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he said that the album is nothing like his last album and harks back more toward his earlier work, but with a more violent twist. He has already proven that by promoting the album with a very controversial and “not safe for work” music video for the album’s title track. (2/14)

4.       Ryan Adams, ‘Prisoner’: One of the most anticipated albums of the year, Adams is finally releasing new music after spending time revamping Taylor Swift’s. ‘Prisoner’ is already receiving rave reviews from critics, with outlets like Consequence of Sound comparing it to Adams’ breakout debut, ‘Heartbreaker.’ Having only heard the singles, the songs seem just as anthemic and hum-able as anything he’s done. (2/17)

5.       Eisley, ‘I’m Only Dreaming’: It has been four years since indie-rockers Eisley released their last album, 2013’s ‘Currents.’ The album, ‘I’m Only Dreaming,’ their first since the band’s recent line-up change, has been described by frontwoman Sherri DuPree-Bemis in a press release as “whimsical” and having “a vibe that will take you into its own world and let you escape your normal life for a few minutes.” The singles have a low-key feel, but just like Dupree-Bemis says, are melodic and heartfelt.(2/17)

6.       The Orwells, ‘Terrible Human Beings’: I have really been enjoying the singles garage-rockers The Orwells have been putting out lately from their upcoming album ‘Terrible Human Beings,’ especially their last, “Black Francis.” I would be very interested to hear where the rest of the album goes, as it is supposed to be a more mature one than their last two. According to an interview with Spin, the band has said that they did a lot of growing up with this album both lyrically and sonically.(2/17)

7.       Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, ‘The Tourist’: The band’s fifth album, ‘The Tourist,’ has been three years in the making. Of the album, frontman Alec Ounsworth said in a statement that writing it was a “purge of a certain confusion that manifested itself in the last several years.” With that kind of description, it will be interesting to hear how the songs, which from the singles still has the same fuzzy, indie rock sound, play against each other thematically. (2/24)

These are just a few of the new rock albums coming out in February that we think you should have on your radar. Between new bands and established artists, this is going to be a great month for new releases.

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Find music from some of these artists’ back catalogs and more at Long Island’s top new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777. We have a wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and memorabilia to choose from. Browse thousands of titles in-store, as well as online at vinylbay777.com. More titles are being added all the time, so drop by to see what’s new at Vinyl Bay 777.

Week in Review: Six New Songs and Music Videos You Need to Check Out (January 29-February 4, 2017)

Another week has flown by with a lot of amazing new music and music videos being released over the course of it. From 80's icons releasing new music and legends releasing never-before-heard demos to new favorites continuing to make waves, this week has been chock full of great tunes.

If you’ve missed out on new music this week, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, has you covered. We’ve selected six of this week’s top new songs and music videos that we think you need to hear/watch this weekend.

1.       Twenty One Pilots, “Heavydirtysoul”: The latest single from the band’s 2015 album ‘Blurryface,’ “Heavydirtysoul” has a slightly different feel than the last couple of singles the band put out. To start with, the song exchanges singing for a fast-paced rap, similar to that of “Car Stereo.” But “Heavydirtysoul” also adds a bit of urgency. The duo’s spitfire-like lyrical delivery and drumbeats are like bullets flying while the echo-y chorus is like a siren. The video does the same thing, as we watch the car singer Tyler Joseph is in begin to spark and catch fire. (video)

2.       Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”: I know I’ve been mentioning Ed Sheeran’s two new singles lately, but they are really good. This week he released a video for the second single, “Shape of You,” which finds him in a boxing gym with a girl that he is starting to date. The girl helps him train for a fight he has entered into. You’ll have to see the video for the twist ending, but it’s definitely worth watching. (video)

3.       Cold War Kids, “Love Is Mystical”: The first single from the band’s upcoming album ‘L.A. Divine,’ “Love Is Mystical” attempts to spread the message that love can heal one’s faith in humanity. Singer Nathan Willett’s powerful vocals and almost gospel-y delivery do a good job at getting the point across while making the song stand out. The video also does a good job at conveying the message, showing dancers of all orientations and backgrounds locking lips between choreographed dancing in the street. (video)

4.       Depeche Mode, “Where’s the Revolution”: It’s been four years since Depeche Mode came out with new music and they don’t disappoint with their latest single, “Where’s the Revolution,” the first from their upcoming album ‘Spirit.’ “Where’s the Revolution” feels like a protest song drenched in 80s synths. Singer Dave Gahan’s lyrics admonish a public that has given up fighting for what is right, repeating the phrase “come on people, you’re letting me down.”Given today’s political climate, that is a pretty popular sentiment.  (video)

5.       Blondie, “Fun”: This song is a little different than the new wave-pop Blondie were known for in the 80s. Co-written by TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, the song trades soaring melodies for a dance beat and glammed-out vocals. It’s a welcome change that brings Blondie into a new era. (video)

6.       Paul McCartney/Elvis Costello, “Twenty Fine Fingers”: “Twenty Fine Fingers” was originally written as a collaboration between McCartney and Costello in 1989 during the recording sessions for ‘Flowers in the Dirt,’ but was never released, until now. Part of a new deluxe box set of the album, the song is a vaguely country-tinged, bluesy blast from the past. Its acoustic melody is simple, highlighting the brilliance of both artists. (video)

These six songs represent some of the best music that was released this week that you need to check out.  Whether you enjoy newly uncovered gems like “Twenty Fine Fingers,” new rock from established artists like Blondie and Depeche Mode or following the budding music careers of bands like Twenty One Pilots and Cold War Kids, make it a point this weekend to relax and take in these great tunes.

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Looking for something new to listen to? Find music from these artists and more at Long Island’s top new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777. We have thousands of titles to choose from with new ones being added all the time. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and memorabilia in store, as well as online at vinylbay777.com. Stop by and discover something new.

Top Seven Superbowl Half-Time Shows

This Sunday, millions will gather around their television sets to watch the 51^st Annual Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons. But even more people will likely tune in (factoring in the people who don’t care too much for American Football) to see Lady Gaga perform during the half-time show. Given her tendency towards over-the-top fashion and stage productions, it is almost guaranteed that this will be a show of epic proportions.

To get ready for this Sunday’s festivities, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, is looking back at some of the top Super Bowl Half-Time shows of the last 17 years. Our resident blogger has chosen seven of her top performances (in no particular order) that bridge the gap between rock and pop and generally brought excitement to the crowd and television audiences.

1.       The Who (2010): This is by far my favorite Super Bowl performance ever. This made me fall even more in love with The Who and their music. The lighting and stage were mesmerizing and the band didn’t skimp on any of the fanfare. They played as hard as or harder than some of today’s bands ever have. (video)

2.       Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (2009): Bruce Springsteen is an all-around good choice for a Super Bowl half-time show. His music runs on universal themes and with the E Street Band behind him in glorious splendor, he puts on a spectacle. This performance didn’t need fancy lighting work. All he needed was a guitar and anthemic sound to get the stadium rocking. (video)

3.       Prince (2007): It’s hard to argue with having Prince perform at the Super Bowl. He was and still is a legend. But when he appeared out of the smoke on his symbol-shaped stage, you knew this was going to be an above average performance. His set was a brilliant tribute to rock music old and new. By the end, the stadium was awash in a sea of purple as he played “Purple Rain.” (video)

4.       Aerosmith / *NSYNC (2001): I watched this in 2001 for *NSYNC (what 13-year old girl didn’t), but what occurred was a brilliant mesh of established rock and new pop that got audiences of all ages excited. The way they seamlessly switched between performers was smooth. Then by the time they ended the show, they both joined together for one big pop-rock jam session. (video)

5.       The Rolling Stones (2006): It’s no surprise that stadium rock works really well for the Super Bowl half-time show and the Rolling Stones are proof of that. Performing on a stage shaped like their iconic mouth logo, the band ran through a few of their biggest hits meant to energize and get people on their feet. Mick Jagger was dancing all over the stage, naturally, pumping up the crowd. (video)

6.       Bruno Mars / Red Hot Chili Peppers (2014): I don’t usually like modern-day pop performances, but Bruno Mars did his exceptionally well. He took the opportunity to show that he wasn’t just another singer. The show was classy yet energetic and celebratory, filled with funk, pop and rock. Then when he brought out the Red Hot Chili Peppers to play “Give It Away,” the energy intensified further as he riffed with Anthony Kedis. Perfect. (video)

7.       Paul McCartney (2005): The 2004 half-time show set off a lot of bells with the FCC, forcing those putting the productions together to take a more cautionary tone for a few years. Such was the story with Paul McCarney playing the show in 2005. He was a safe, yet great choice. You can’t go wrong with such a legendary performer. All he had to do was sing a few Beatles classics and the crowd went wild. Add in fireworks and an outstanding sing-along of “Hey Jude” and this is a winning set. (video)

There have been many great Super Bowl half-time performances over the years, ranging from large spectacles to raging rock jams.  These shows have melded genres and brought fans to their feet. Hopefully Lady Gaga’s performance at this Sunday’s half-time show will live up to the hype that has been surrounding it, and stand up to all stellar ones that have come before.

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Find music from all these Super Bowl Half-Time Show performers and more at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has thousands of titles stocked in-store and online. Choose from our wide selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and memorabilia. More music is being added all the time, so make a plan this weekend to come down and check out what’s new.

Remembering Sid Vicious on the 38th Anniversary of His Death

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, takes a look back at the legacy and tragic death of the Sex Pistols bassist

Sid Vicious from the Sex Pistols - Winterland -
January 14, 1978. Found on Wikipedia. Chicago Art
Department c/o: L. Schorr

Today marks the 38^th anniversary of punk legend Sid Vicious’ death. On February 2, 1979, Vicious overdosed on heroin at a party, ending the wild two year ride that marked his life on and off stage with famed British punk band, the Sex Pistols.

Vicious, nee John Simon Ritchie, joined the Sex Pistols on bass in 1977 at the suggestion of singer and friend Johnny Rotten. And though he was technically part of the band, he never actually played on their sole album, ‘Never Mind the Bollocks,’ and didn’t always play live at their shows, a combination of poor bass playing and drug abuse. Vicious was actually a better singer than bassist, with former manager Malcolm McLaren writing in The Daily Beast that the musician once filled in for Rotten during a soundcheck and out-performed him. When the Sex Pistols broke up in 1978, Vicious went solo. He released three singles, covers of songs by Frank Sinatra (“My Way”) and Eddie Cochran (“C’mon Everybody” and “Something Else”), for the film ‘The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle,’ and played countless shows at Max’s Kansas City.

Unfortunately, his promising career was cut short by his drug abuse, which led to far worse legal troubles.  While under a heavy heroin-induced sleep, he woke up to his girlfriend Nancy Spungen stabbed to death on the floor and the reality that he was being blamed for the crime, a crime that would overshadow everything he had done as an artist.  The next few months saw him at his lowest point, sandwiching two suicide attempts between two arrests and jail time. In the end, Vicious lost out to heroin, OD-ing just one day after getting out of jail.

The most prominent thing about Sid Vicious was his style and attitude. His look became the definition of punk in the 1970s. Black leather jacket, ripped black “drainpipe” jeans and boots were his uniform, and along with his wild hair and constant sneer, it stuck as a symbol of the genre’s characteristic rebelliousness. According to McLaren, Vicious also invented the “pogo,” a dance many fans do in mosh pits that involves bouncing up and down and hitting into other people, which has also become synonymous with the genre.

With all the theories surrounding his death and that of Nancy Spongen, it is easy to overlook the impact Sid Vicious had on the punk aesthetic. As a member of the Sex Pistols and as a solo artist, his art was at the forefront of the burgeoning genre. His attitude and wardrobe were even more influential, shaping the way people perceive punk to this day.

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Sid Vicious’ legacy lives on at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. Shop Long Island’s top new independent record shop to find music from Vicious and the Sex Pistols, as well as many, many more artists. Browse thousands of titles ranging from punk, rock and metal to classical, jazz and blues and everything in between. We have a wide selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and memorabilia with new pieces being added all the time. Our store is convenient located in Plainview, NY, near the Long Island Expressway and the Northern State Parkway. Come in during business hours or shop online from the comfort of your own home to check out what’s new at Vinyl Bay 777.

Dookie: How Green Day Brought Punk to the Mainstream with One Album

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top music outlet, takes a look at the iconic album’s influence on its 23^rd anniversary

On February 1, 1994, Green Day released their third album, ‘Dookie,’ the first in a long line of releases for major label Reprise Records. It was at this moment that punk finally hit the mainstream and the genre would change forever.

Green Day obviously weren’t the first band to infuse pop hooks with punk rock power chords. Bands like Operation Ivy and NoFX were doing that in the early and mid 1980s and they were being influenced by bands like the Ramones, the Sex Pistols and Bad Religion.

Rock music in the early 1990s was already in the mainstream, as grunge took off just a few years earlier. But with Kurt Cobain’s death and the genre’s slow decline, something new needed to come in to take its place. Green Day’s fresh, more upbeat sound started to attract labels hungry for alt-rock bands. Leaving indie label Lookout! Records and signing to Reprise at the request of producer Rob Cavallo, the band recorded ‘Dookie,’ rocketing the band to stardom at the cost of alienating the underground punk scene that fostered their sound.

That’s not to say that ‘Dookie’ wasn’t a punk album. Like any punk band worthy of the title, Green Day broke long-standing conventions of standard songwriting topics. The album has songs about masturbation (“Longview”), sexual orientation (“Coming Clean”), panic and anxiety (“Basket Case”), general boredom and more. Heck, even the title of the album is a reference to feces. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong’s lyrics are direct and biting. They broke notions of what punk could be too, including several other genre influences within each song’s tightly wound power chord-heavy melodies. No one in the mainstream was writing songs like these, at least not with such blatant disregard for what other people thought about it. They wrote what they wanted to.

‘Dookie’ peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. Critics loved the album’s energy and passion. It won Green Day their first Grammy and has found its place at the top of everyone’s year-end lists. Even now, it has found a place on almost every music magazine’s top albums list. Punk had made it to the mainstream and everyone was getting on board.

Most importantly, the album inspired people to listen to other punk bands and start bands of their own. In the wake of ‘Dookie’s’ success, bands like The Offspring and Rancid got signed to major labels. Blink-182 took that sound even further (and pop-ier) in the early 2000s to become an MTV staple. Bands like Taking Back Sunday, Bayside, Yellowcard, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, Tegan and Sara, Sum 41 and many, many more started playing music because of ‘Dookie.’

There is no denying that the success of ‘Dookie’ helped bring punk into the mainstream, shaping where the genre would go sonically and widening its audience. Green Day provided a gateway for a new generation of music lovers to get into classic punk bands. Many bands have professed listening to ‘Dookie’ and become inspired to pick up a guitar themselves. The album’s bitingly upfront lyricism and disregard for the standard conventions of mainstream pop or punk gave it a unique place within the music landscape of 1994. Even today, ‘Dookie’ ranks as one of the most influential albums of all time, remaining as fresh and new as the day it was released 23 years ago.

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Inspired to find something new? Discover music of all genres at Long Island’s top new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777. We have thousands of titles in store and online at vinylbay777.com to choose from. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and memorabilia. New titles are being added all the time, so make it a point to stop by.

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.