Game Changers Archives - Vinyl Stories

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – At Home with Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (1958)

October 25, 2024

In 1956 Cleveland Ohio musician Jay Hawkins went into OKeh Records studios to lay down his blues ballad “I Put a Spell On You.” But after a feast of chicken and ribs and beer, the once traditional song turned into an orgy of grunts, groans and howls. Although he claimed to have no memory of recording it, a strange thing happened that night. The young blues pianist emerged out of the studio as Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and the sub genre of shock rock was born. The story of “I Put a Spell On You,” and how Screamin’ Jay Hawkins reluctantly became the forefather of shock rock.

Taylor Swift – Speak Now (2010)

January 7, 2024

In 2023, between a sell out tour and as Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year,” Taylor Swift went from being a pop princess to a legitimate cultural icon. Is it hype created by Swifties, or does Taylor Swift actually deserve the fame and accolades. Sam Tweedle weighs in on his opinions on Taylormania and why she is remarkably different than her contemporaries, making her an important figure to the future of music.

Frank Sinatra – Have a Jolly Christmas (1957)

December 5, 2023

How Frank Sinatra put his personal stamp on the Christmas classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” changing the way it could be recorded forever. Only Sinatra had the stones to pull this off.

Arthur Brown – The Crazy World of Arthur Brown (1968)

October 26, 2023

In 1968 performance artist Arthur Brown brought his Faustian nightmare journey through hell to music audiences via his album “The Crazy World of Arthur Brown” and became the godfather of “shock rock.” Through his high pitched wails and the helmet that shot flames from his head, Brown would be considered a “one hit wonder,” but changed the face of rock performance forever. A look at the career of “The God of Hellfire,” the birth of shock rock and Arthur Brown’s continuing influence on the rock n’ roll landscape today.

The Shangri-Las – Leader of the Pack (1965)

July 10, 2023

A look at the lives, music, secrets and legacy of rock n’ roll’s original “bad girls” of pop, The Shangri-Las’ Extra: The story of the Shangri-Las; architect Shadow Morton, and the story of “Remember (Walking in the Sand)” and “Leader of the Pack.”

The Crew Cuts – Rock and Roll Bash (1956)

June 30, 2023

Although thier sound barely sounds like rock n’ roll by todays standards, in 1954 ,Toronto based vocal group The Crew Cuts drove 600 miles in a snow storm to Cleveland and became the first Canadian group to enter the Billboard charts with their doo wop classic “Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream).” A look at Canada’s earliest entry into the pop industry when rock was very young.

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.

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.

Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963)

May 26, 2023

When Bob Dylan released his sacond album, “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan,” in 1963, he gained world wide fame for his political writings and anti-war musings. But behind the songs was the influence of his then girlfriend Suze Rotolo, who was immoralized walking with him on the album’s front cover. Who was Suze Rotolo, and how did she help shape the legend that would become Bob Dylan? A look into their relationship and Suze’s important place in the Bob Dylan mythos.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono – Double Fantasy (1980)

February 16, 2023

Happy 90th Birthday Yoko Ono! A deep dive into the world’s most famous unknown artist, and why she deserves more love.

Burt Bacharach – Greatest Hits (1974)

February 9, 2023

Sam Tweedle celebrates the decade spanning career of America’s greatest pop music composer Burt Bacharach through the impossible task of choosing his top 11 Bacharach songs.

Kate Bush – The Sensual World (1989)

August 30, 2022

In 2022 Kate Bush hit the mainstream for the first time when a new generation discovered her via the hit Netflix seriesd “Stranger Things.” Sam Tweedle travels back to 1989 when he disocvered Kate Bush at age fifteen with her album “The Sensual World” and how it changed the way he listened to music forever.