Vinyl Chapters: The Stories Behind the Music.
Scroll Down for our reader’s photos and stories about their chosen records.
Browse the site for music reviews, features, news, guides and anything else based around vinyl.
Artist: Celia Cruz.
Record: Canciones Premiadas De Celia Cruz.
⠀
"This is the very FIRST Celia Cruz album I purchased 11 years ago when I first started working at Radio-Active Records. I had never bought an actual latin record prior to this one. Sure, my grandparents had a record or 2 lying around (one of them oddly enough being Stacy Q's 'Two Of hearts') but not any I ended up inheriting.
⠀
I am 2nd generation Cuban and it is so embedded in my blood that sometimes I forget it's literally all the parts of me that I can't immediately explain. I, like my biological father, am a musician. It's always been my language "by ear" and touch. Self-taught. His main instrument was percussion. That was his life in Cuba before he came to the states in his teens. Most of that generation experienced a hustle for survival and music that can't really be retold appropriately or explained, only understood through blood. If you know, you know.
⠀
I listen to a Queen-like Cruz & I remember exactly where I come from. It's somewhat grounding. It's a familiar feeling of belonging. In those moments I realize how music therapy is so helpful. It truly helps me remember a lot of feelings from when I was growing up. Not just as memories but almost like I'm reliving them... kind of how a certain scent can ignite a lost memory in time. This is one of those albums for me.
⠀
Culture is extremely important and I am proud to be a gay Hispanic woman. A lot of people don't know that I'm extremely proud to be all three!"
⠀
#celiacruz #cuban #vinylchapters #nowspinning #musiccreatesmemories #musictherapy #vinyl #records #vinylgram #lp
Artist: Celia Cruz.
Record: Canciones Premiadas De Celia Cruz.
⠀
"This is the very FIRST Celia Cruz album I purchased 11 years ago when I first started working at Radio-Active Records. I had never bought an actual latin record prior to this one. Sure, my grandparents had a record or 2 lying around (one of them oddly enough being Stacy Q's 'Two Of hearts') but not any I ended up inheriting.
⠀
I am 2nd generation Cuban and it is so embedded in my blood that sometimes I forget it's literally all the parts of me that I can't immediately explain. I, like my biological father, am a musician. It's always been my language "by ear" and touch. Self-taught. His main instrument was percussion. That was his life in Cuba before he came to the states in his teens. Most of that generation experienced a hustle for survival and music that can't really be retold appropriately or explained, only understood through blood. If you know, you know.
⠀
I listen to a Queen-like Cruz & I remember exactly where I come from. It's somewhat grounding. It's a familiar feeling of belonging. In those moments I realize how music therapy is so helpful. It truly helps me remember a lot of feelings from when I was growing up. Not just as memories but almost like I'm reliving them... kind of how a certain scent can ignite a lost memory in time. This is one of those albums for me.
⠀
Culture is extremely important and I am proud to be a gay Hispanic woman. A lot of people don't know that I'm extremely proud to be all three!"
⠀
#celiacruz #cuban #vinylchapters #nowspinning #musiccreatesmemories #musictherapy #vinyl #records #vinylgram #lp
Artist: Aerosmith.
Record: Pump.
⠀
“It's like Steven Tyler says of himself in his book, "When I first heard rock ‘n’ roll - what happened? My God ... before I had sex, that was sex. The first song that got me straight into that Bloodstream went."
⠀
My first Aerosmith song that went straight into my bloodstream and started the fire for the band was ‘Janie's got a Gun’ from the album, ‘Pump’. I was just 13 years old.
But this voice that gives you goosebumps with every single word, the lyrics that were ahead of their time in 1989 because it dealt with the subject of abuse in the family. Just wow.
⠀
The second time I heard it, I closed my eyes and let the sounds and words flow through my whole body. I felt the emotions of the song so deeply that I started crying.
The Aerosmith fire still burns inside me after more than 30 years. And every new record that moves into my collection is like sex.
⠀
You carefully open the foil and carefully pull it off the vinyl. Gently caress the cover and pull out the vinyl with trembling hands. All you have to do is strip off the inner sleeve and you hold the bare vinyl in your hands to gently place it on the turntable. The needle slides slowly over the vinyl until it reaches its position and with pleasure finds its position in the groove. Yes, it is like sex!”
⠀
#aerosmith #steventyler #pump #vinylchapters #musiconvinyl #nowspinning #vinylenthusiast #vinyl #recordcollection #vinylnerd #instavinyl
Artist: Aerosmith.
Record: Pump.
⠀
“It's like Steven Tyler says of himself in his book, "When I first heard rock ‘n’ roll - what happened? My God ... before I had sex, that was sex. The first song that got me straight into that Bloodstream went."
⠀
My first Aerosmith song that went straight into my bloodstream and started the fire for the band was ‘Janie's got a Gun’ from the album, ‘Pump’. I was just 13 years old.
But this voice that gives you goosebumps with every single word, the lyrics that were ahead of their time in 1989 because it dealt with the subject of abuse in the family. Just wow.
⠀
The second time I heard it, I closed my eyes and let the sounds and words flow through my whole body. I felt the emotions of the song so deeply that I started crying.
The Aerosmith fire still burns inside me after more than 30 years. And every new record that moves into my collection is like sex.
⠀
You carefully open the foil and carefully pull it off the vinyl. Gently caress the cover and pull out the vinyl with trembling hands. All you have to do is strip off the inner sleeve and you hold the bare vinyl in your hands to gently place it on the turntable. The needle slides slowly over the vinyl until it reaches its position and with pleasure finds its position in the groove. Yes, it is like sex!”
⠀
#aerosmith #steventyler #pump #vinylchapters #musiconvinyl #nowspinning #vinylenthusiast #vinyl #recordcollection #vinylnerd #instavinyl
Artist: Elvis Presley.
Record: The Best of Elvis (Good Rockin' Tonight).
⠀
"This was my first album. It belonged to my father and he was always a big fan of Elvis. When I decided to collect, he said "take your first album". So it’s very important to me."
⠀
#elvis #elvispresley #goodrockin #vinylchapters #vinylstories #vinyl #nowspinning #recordcollection #recordenthusiast #lp #vinyllove
Artist: Elvis Presley.
Record: The Best of Elvis (Good Rockin' Tonight).
⠀
"This was my first album. It belonged to my father and he was always a big fan of Elvis. When I decided to collect, he said "take your first album". So it’s very important to me."
⠀
#elvis #elvispresley #goodrockin #vinylchapters #vinylstories #vinyl #nowspinning #recordcollection #recordenthusiast #lp #vinyllove
Artist: Queen.
Record: Queen II.
⠀
“Queen - I've been in love with this band since the first time I heard them in primary school. Their experiments in both music and music videos completely changed history. Freddie's extraordinary vocals completed by the equally outstanding voice of Roger and Brian and the great John Deacon on bass made this band legendary. I think one of these artists' greatest works is released in 1974, ‘Queen II’. Perfectly combining everything we love this band for and for me, it's special because it started my adventure with Queen.”
⠀
#queen #freddiemercury #vinylchapters #musicislove #nowspinning #vinyl #vinylenthusiast #instavinyl #vinylstories #brianmay
Artist: Queen.
Record: Queen II.
⠀
“Queen - I've been in love with this band since the first time I heard them in primary school. Their experiments in both music and music videos completely changed history. Freddie's extraordinary vocals completed by the equally outstanding voice of Roger and Brian and the great John Deacon on bass made this band legendary. I think one of these artists' greatest works is released in 1974, ‘Queen II’. Perfectly combining everything we love this band for and for me, it's special because it started my adventure with Queen.”
⠀
#queen #freddiemercury #vinylchapters #musicislove #nowspinning #vinyl #vinylenthusiast #instavinyl #vinylstories #brianmay
Artist: Eric Clapton.
Record: Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.
⠀
"Pattie Boyd must be one hell of a woman!
⠀
George Harrison, who married Boyd in 1966, wrote 'Something' and 'If I Needed Someone' among other Beatles compositions about her.
⠀
Eric Clapton, who was also in love with her, wrote 'Layla' and 'Wonderful Tonight' about her. After she rebuffed Clapton’s advances in late 1970, he descended into a heroin addiction AND self-imposed exile for three years!
⠀
Who is this woman?!?
⠀
Wait, AND once he was cured of his addiction in 1974, Clapton AGAIN pursued Boyd and they later got married in 1979.
Whew, I may have to buy her book!"
⠀
#ericclapton #slowhand #layla #georgeharrison #beatles #vinyl #recordcollection #nowspinning #vinylenthusaist #instavinyl #lp
Artist: Eric Clapton.
Record: Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.
⠀
"Pattie Boyd must be one hell of a woman!
⠀
George Harrison, who married Boyd in 1966, wrote 'Something' and 'If I Needed Someone' among other Beatles compositions about her.
⠀
Eric Clapton, who was also in love with her, wrote 'Layla' and 'Wonderful Tonight' about her. After she rebuffed Clapton’s advances in late 1970, he descended into a heroin addiction AND self-imposed exile for three years!
⠀
Who is this woman?!?
⠀
Wait, AND once he was cured of his addiction in 1974, Clapton AGAIN pursued Boyd and they later got married in 1979.
Whew, I may have to buy her book!"
⠀
#ericclapton #slowhand #layla #georgeharrison #beatles #vinyl #recordcollection #nowspinning #vinylenthusaist #instavinyl #lp
Artist: Metallica.
Record: Ride the Lightning.
⠀
“Metallica first came to me in my early teens during the ‘Load/Reload’ era and I was instantly a fan (I can hear the collective sighs from here). Little did I know what I was in for when I listened to the early stuff for the first time. I have met some of my best friends because of Metallica. The first song I learned on bass for my first band was ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ in which I discovered Cliff didn’t play with a pick and I never looked back.
⠀
I got into record collecting in 2015. At around 2016, I was in Hollywood on a work trip when I decided to check out Amoeba Records on my lunch break. I browsed through the Metallica section expecting not to find much and there in front of me was a first Elektra pressing of ‘Lightning’. The problem was... I hesitated. Thought it was too much for a used record when in fact after research I found it was fair. I left and grabbed lunch only then to come to my senses. I ran back only to see some guy grab it and continue browsing. I let the opportunity slip.
⠀
To make myself feel better, I found this copy on discogs for around the same price but I don’t think the quality is as good. I’ll never know for sure.
⠀
Moral of this story... go with your gut!
⠀
I also just picked up this reissue on ‘Lightning Blue’ vinyl and it’s pretty sweet so at least there’s that.”
⠀
#metallica #ridethelightning #vinylchapters #stories #musicstories #nowspinning #vinyl #recordcollection #metal #vinylenthusiast
Artist: Metallica.
Record: Ride the Lightning.
⠀
“Metallica first came to me in my early teens during the ‘Load/Reload’ era and I was instantly a fan (I can hear the collective sighs from here). Little did I know what I was in for when I listened to the early stuff for the first time. I have met some of my best friends because of Metallica. The first song I learned on bass for my first band was ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ in which I discovered Cliff didn’t play with a pick and I never looked back.
⠀
I got into record collecting in 2015. At around 2016, I was in Hollywood on a work trip when I decided to check out Amoeba Records on my lunch break. I browsed through the Metallica section expecting not to find much and there in front of me was a first Elektra pressing of ‘Lightning’. The problem was... I hesitated. Thought it was too much for a used record when in fact after research I found it was fair. I left and grabbed lunch only then to come to my senses. I ran back only to see some guy grab it and continue browsing. I let the opportunity slip.
⠀
To make myself feel better, I found this copy on discogs for around the same price but I don’t think the quality is as good. I’ll never know for sure.
⠀
Moral of this story... go with your gut!
⠀
I also just picked up this reissue on ‘Lightning Blue’ vinyl and it’s pretty sweet so at least there’s that.”
⠀
#metallica #ridethelightning #vinylchapters #stories #musicstories #nowspinning #vinyl #recordcollection #metal #vinylenthusiast
Artist: Various.
Record: Progressive Piano.
⠀
"I collect record cover art. I have collections of record covers by Banksy, Peter Blake, Damien Hirst, David Shrigley, Klaus Voormann and And Warhol.
⠀
Record cover art is a growing specialist field and some covers have become extremely rare (i.e. expensive) and some covers were designed but never released.
⠀
The Progressive Piano cover was designed by Andy Warhol, and RCA planned to release it, even giving it a catalogue number, but it was never released. The design is a lithograph in the Warhol Museum.
⠀
So what does a collector of Andy Warhol's record covers do if he wants a complete collection? Obvious! He makes his own cover. So in 2009, I made my first cover reproduction of this eight-track album that had been allocated catalogue numbers for both an LP and a 7-inch version. Hej presto! I have both."
⠀
#piano #vinylchapters #banksy #andywarhol #vinylcollector #diy #coverart #nowspinning #vinyl #vinylfan
Artist: Various.
Record: Progressive Piano.
⠀
"I collect record cover art. I have collections of record covers by Banksy, Peter Blake, Damien Hirst, David Shrigley, Klaus Voormann and And Warhol.
⠀
Record cover art is a growing specialist field and some covers have become extremely rare (i.e. expensive) and some covers were designed but never released.
⠀
The Progressive Piano cover was designed by Andy Warhol, and RCA planned to release it, even giving it a catalogue number, but it was never released. The design is a lithograph in the Warhol Museum.
⠀
So what does a collector of Andy Warhol's record covers do if he wants a complete collection? Obvious! He makes his own cover. So in 2009, I made my first cover reproduction of this eight-track album that had been allocated catalogue numbers for both an LP and a 7-inch version. Hej presto! I have both."
⠀
#piano #vinylchapters #banksy #andywarhol #vinylcollector #diy #coverart #nowspinning #vinyl #vinylfan
Artist: Prince.
Record: Lotus Flower.
⠀
“It’s not my favourite Prince album but the record is important to me because it’s the one that made me feel like I knew the artist and his music in a more intimate way. Thanks to Prince I discovered new and other types of artists that he influenced a lot. This album built my musical culture and my passion for records started with ‘Lotus Flower’ from 2009. I think that I will love it for a long time.”
⠀
#prince #lotusflower #vinylchapters #albumartwork #records #nowspinning #lovevinyl #vinyl #instavinyl #vinylnerd
Artist: Prince.
Record: Lotus Flower.
⠀
“It’s not my favourite Prince album but the record is important to me because it’s the one that made me feel like I knew the artist and his music in a more intimate way. Thanks to Prince I discovered new and other types of artists that he influenced a lot. This album built my musical culture and my passion for records started with ‘Lotus Flower’ from 2009. I think that I will love it for a long time.”
⠀
#prince #lotusflower #vinylchapters #albumartwork #records #nowspinning #lovevinyl #vinyl #instavinyl #vinylnerd
Artist: Cheap Trick.
Record: Dream Police.
⠀
"I had just turned 17 in 1982 when my best friend (still 16) and I asked our parents to let us drive 5 hours to the coast and spend the weekend. Unbelievably they said yes, so we got our fake IDs (you could drink at 18 back then) and our tickets to see Cheap Trick with Aldo Nova opening up! It was an awesome experience. Ah man, the good ole days!"
⠀
#cheaptrick #dreampolice #vinylchapters #memories #vinyllove #recordcollection #nowspinning #instavinyl #vinyl #33rpm
Artist: Cheap Trick.
Record: Dream Police.
⠀
"I had just turned 17 in 1982 when my best friend (still 16) and I asked our parents to let us drive 5 hours to the coast and spend the weekend. Unbelievably they said yes, so we got our fake IDs (you could drink at 18 back then) and our tickets to see Cheap Trick with Aldo Nova opening up! It was an awesome experience. Ah man, the good ole days!"
⠀
#cheaptrick #dreampolice #vinylchapters #memories #vinyllove #recordcollection #nowspinning #instavinyl #vinyl #33rpm