Long Forgotten Archives - Vinyl Stories

Rebbie Jackson – Reaction (1986)

November 6, 2023

In 1984 Michael Jackson’s big sister launched her solo career. No, not LaToya. His other older sister – Rebbie Jackson! Ever heard of her? Despite a trio of solid pop albums and the support of her famous siblings, iconisim seemed to pass Rebbie behind. A look at the life and music of the forgotten Jackson sister, and how she chose love and family over the madness of showbusiness.

Mercy – Love (Can Make You Happy) (1969)

August 28, 2023

Was “Love (Can Make You Happy)” by the Tampa, Florida based band Mercy ever a hit? The strange story of an ambitious singer/songwriter, the con man who tried to steal his musical legacy, and a pretty love song that stemmed out of an unlikely film.

Various Artists – Lambada (1989)

August 21, 2023

Journey back to 1989 when an international dance craze was started via French-Brazillian band Kaoma’s hit “Lambada” and the shocking crime which ended lead singer Loalwa Braz’s life. Extra: Just who wrote “Lambada” anyway, and how Kaoma’s success spawned Roberta and Chico – the 1980’s most uncomfortable kid’s act.

Various Artists – Beyond the Valley of the Dolls Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1970)

August 14, 2023

In 1970 director Russ Meyer introduced a new rock band, The Carrie Nations, to audiences in his film epic “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.” With music written by Stu Phillips, and featuring the talents of Lynn Carey, The Strawberry Alarmclock, and The Sandpipers, the film contained some of the freshest and most dynamic rock music ever written for a film, reflecting the sounds and attitude of Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip culture. But the music would be ignored by the Billboard charts and barely found an audience while one of the key players was mysteriously missing from the soundtrack album. An introduction to the world of “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” and the music of The Carrie Nations.

Rodriguez – Cold Fact (1970) and Rodriguez – Coming From Reality (1971)

August 10, 2023

This week we said goodbye to The Sugar Man. In 2012 Detroit based singer/songwriter Sixto Rodriguez inspired struggling musicians and music fans world wide via the Oscar winning documentary “Searching for Sugar Man.” The lessons I learnt from Rodriguez, how his story changed the way I thought and wrote about music, and a loving tribute to his songs and legacy.

Jean-Pierre Mirouze – Le Mariage Collectif Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2012)

August 7, 2023

A forgotten soundtrack to an obscure French exploitation film, Jean-Pierre Mirouze’s exciting and exotic soundtrack to “Le Mariage Collectif” went ignored and undistributed when test printings were made in 1971. Nearly lost forever it wasn’t until a discarded acetate containing the music was pulled out of a Parisian garbage dump in 2010 that the world finally had the chance to hear the best film score you’ve never heard before, which gained a cult following amongst audiophiles and music hipsters.

The Vampires’ Sound Incorporation – Psychedelic Dance Party (1969)

August 3, 2023

Who were the Vampire Sound Incorporation? When European horror film director Jess Franco commissioned two German composers to create an overlooked psychedelic masterpiece! Extra: The tragic legacy of Soledad Miranda, the woman who inspired the music of The Vampire Sound Incorporation.

Robert Colbert featuring Johnathan Frid and David Selby – Dark Shadows Original Television Soundtrack (1969), The Charles Randolph Green Sound – Quintin’s Theme (1969) and Andy Williams – Get Together with Andy Williams (1969)

July 31, 2023

The time a piece of incidental music from a soap opera hit the Billboard charts. A deep dive into the history of “Quentin’s Theme,” one of Billboard’s strangest hits.

The Velvet Underground – Squeeze (1973)

July 7, 2023

When is a Velvet Underground album not a Velvet Underground album? When it’s “Squeeze” A look at the Velvet’s junior member Doug Yule, and how recording a Velvet Undergound album without any members of the Velvet Undertround got him erased from the VU’s legacy,

Gene Pitney – It Hurts to Be in Love (1964)

June 28, 2023

How Gene Pitney helped give The Rolling Stones thier first American “hit.” The story of “The Girl Belongs to Yesterday.” Extra: The time the Stones and Gene Pitney recorded together. Not for the faint of heart or easily offended.

Sonny and Cher – The Wondrous World of Sonny and Cher (1966)

June 23, 2023

After getting thrown out of a Hollywood restaurant in 1965, a fed up Sono Bono wrote an emotional manifesto titled “Laugh at Me,” which became his only hit record, A look at “Laugh at Me,” Sonny’s fight for respect, and why he allowed the laughter to continue through the 1970’s and beyond. Extra: The lasting legacy of Sonny and Cher, and Chaz Bono’s attempt to reinvent “Laugh at Me” as a transgender anthem.

Black Widow – Sacrifice (1970)

June 9, 2023

Some bands sing about black magik, but Black Widow took it to a whole other level. The story of how prog-rock band Black Widow shocked the Church of England in the summer of 1970 with their ritualistic stage show combining magik, demonology and Satanisim.

Coven – Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls (1969)

June 7, 2023

In 1969 Chicago’s Coven became the first rock band to mix black magik and Satanisim with rock n’ roll in thier lp “Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls” making them the pioneers of occult rock. Extra: Lead singer Jinx Dawson reveals how Black Sabbath stole Coven’s legacy.

Sajid Khan – Sajid! (1969)

May 24, 2023

Remember Sahjid Khan? When India spiritualisim became cool in the 1960’s, teen magazine maven Gloria Stavers jumped on board with her own teen star from the middle east,, keeping him in the hearts of girls all over America. A look at Sajid Khan’s short but groovy career, and the last ditch effort to keep him relevant by cutting a forgotten pop album.

Mashmakhan – Mashmakhan (1970)

May 15, 2023

If Jethro Tull and The Doors had a love child, it’d be Mashmakhan. Montreal based prog-rockers Mashmakhan had a massive hit in Canada and Japan with “As Years Go By” but the less commerical psychadelic infused tracks that made up the remainder of their 1970 debut album confused radio programmers and record buyers, making them a “one hit wonder.” An appreciation of one of the best underappreciated Canadian albums ever recorded.

The Sugar Shoppe – The Sugar Shoppe (1968)

May 12, 2023

Sometimes it doesn’t matter how good of a band you are, you just don’t get a hit. The story of Toronto based pop group The Sugar Shoppe – the best “no hit” wonder that you’ve never heard of, and the best Canadian pop album you haven’t listened too.

Tommy Page – Tommy Page (1988) and Tommy Page – Paintings in My Mind (1990)

May 10, 2023

A deep dive into the career of often overlooked 90’s teen idol Tommy Page. Was he ahead of his time, and did his association with the New Kids on the Block help or hinder him? Extra: Was Tommy sending us a musical cry for help before his 2017 suicide?

David Bowie – Black Tie White Noise (1993)

April 19, 2023

His first solo album in years, David Bowie’s 1993 album “Black Tie/White Noise” got little attention upon it’s original release, but has reemerged as one of Bowie’s most powerful statements about racial conflict and American hate. How the LA riots juxtopossed with his mariage to Iman inspired Bowie to write an overlooked masterpiece which deservesd rediscovering.

Tommy James and the Shondells – I Think We’re Alone Now (1967)

February 24, 2023

How Tommy James and the Shondells’ hit “Mirage” created one man’s obsession for American Bandstand ’67. A loving journey back to a time and a place thast exists only on grainy black and white You Tube videos.