The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Producer Plug discusses his journey from New York DJ to hip hop producer for Wu-Tang members, running multiple record stores, and launching R&G Records in Inglewood with Snoop Dogg.
Topics Include:
Producer Plug discusses meeting again at Austin Record Fair
His three superpowers: DJing, executive producing, and music production
Born in Flushing Queens with father's influential Fisher sound system
Father introduced him to WCBS-FM and classic disc jockeys
The Fugees "Killing Me Softly" became his first musicology lesson
Father taught him to stay curious and humble about music
Started buying records at Nobody Beats The Wiz and Coconuts
Carried white garbage bag of records through high school
All The Right Records shop combined haircuts and vinyl shopping
Made popular mixtapes across Queens neighborhoods, sold as CDs
Got on record label promo lists by showcasing his tapes
Mixtapes evolved into producing albums with original beats naturally
Career progression through DJing, A&R, and label executive roles
Opened multiple Records & Goods locations across different cities
R&G stores feature unique Grail Museum showcasing rare pressings
Hip hop's importance: taking best moments from every music genre
Each store represents a spiritual piece of his father
Haradio Sound Lab offers vinyl meditation space for listening sessions
Tom Silverman's advice: learn from my billion-dollar mistakes instead
Vinyl On Demand releases reissues plus upcoming Big Boo collaboration
High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide
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Co-founder and former Three Dog Night frontman Chuck Negron (1942-2026) discusses the collectible records of his career, the early releases on small labels, the rare and recalled albums of Three Dog Night and mega-smash excesses and turnaround of his life and career.
Interview from July 2022
Topics Include:
Chuck's autobiography Three Dog Nightmare .
Basketball was first passion growing up in Bronx schoolyards.
Made first record "Oh Baby" in 1958 at age fifteen.
Early releases on tiny Bronx Records label extremely rare today.
Progressed through Rondelles, Marlinda, and Heart Van regional California labels.
"I Dream of an Angel" became regional hit across central California.
Columbia Records offered deal while playing college basketball at Hancock.
Chose to finish basketball season, damaging initial Columbia Records excitement.
Learned hard lesson about commitment after squandering early industry enthusiasm.
Bill Sharman offered Cal State LA scholarship but chose music.
Left school permanently, ending high-level basketball career for music industry.
Three Dog Night formed with three lead singers sharing spotlight.
Band's strategy: find great songs, not write them themselves exclusively.
"One" by Harry Nilsson became breakthrough hit launching massive success.
Achieved 21 consecutive Top 40 hits selling over 60 million records.
"Joy to the World" became worldwide number one, band's biggest success.
"Black and White" addressed racial integration as mainstream social statement message.
Hard Labor's controversial birthing cover recalled after hundreds of thousands distributed.
Now hosts weekly WhatNot show selling rare Three Dog Night collectibles.
At 80, credits basketball training for vocal stamina and survival.
High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide
Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot
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Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Legendary drummer & producer Steve Jordan (The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Batiste, SNL & more), discusses the history and deep personal reverence for the music of Chess Records and the 75th vinyl reissue series. 
Topics Include:
Steve Jordan discusses touring with John Batiste at Davos Economic Summit
He's producing Robert Cray's new album at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals
JayVee Records finishing Willie Mitchell documentary, The Verbs album, and Tony Joe White posthumous record
Chess Records called arguably the cornerstone of modern music
New vinyl reissue campaign marks first proper Chess reissues in decades
Steve's compilation "Let's Play Chess" features personally meaningful recordings
The Dells were his first Chess records—Chicago's hardcore R&B answer to Motown
Tommy Tucker's "High Heel Sneakers" on Checker was childhood obsession
British Invasion reintroduced American blues that establishment had suppressed racially
Etta James "At Last" originals fetch four to five hundred dollars
Universal fire destroyed masters; some duplicates recovered from Europe thankfully
Early stereo versions often poorly done with hard-panned instruments and fake echo
Chess building preserved physically but control room was completely stripped of gear
Steve brought API console and ribbon mics for 2010 session there
Correctly guessed drum placement; Hubert Sumlin confirmed the next day
Otis Spann's piano still vibrates sympathetically when musicians play the room
Jack Wiener designed Chess gear and later mastered recordings in basement
Mastering represents twenty-five percent of the mix, often overlooked historically
Jamie Krentz alerted Universal to Chess catalog's 75th anniversary reissue potential
Rarities campaign revealed extraordinary alternate takes including deep Lowell Fulsom version
Willie Mitchell spent years perfecting Royal Recording's signature snare drum sound
Keith Richards session led to lifelong friendship with Willie Mitchell
Willie gave Steve one of Al Jackson's tom-toms from Al Green recordings
Recording, overdubbing, and mixing in same room captures authentic studio sound
John Lennon was his white whale—missed meeting him by five minutes
Finally played with Paul McCartney on Rolling Stones' Hackney Diamonds album
Blues Brothers debuted on SNL's third season finale with Saturday Night Live band
Matt Guitar Murphy was a Chess session player—Steve's first Chess connection unknowingly
John Belushi educated Steve nightly on deep Chess catalog from his Chicago roots
Devo's SNL performance was a life-changing moment Steve witnessed firsthand
High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide
Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot
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Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Carina Round discusses the new Puscifer album "Normal Isn't", their creative partnership, how motherhood transformed her songwriting, the emotional experience of revisiting The Disconnection and much more.
Topics Include:
New Puscifer album "Normal Isn't" and concert film drop February 6th
Puscifer described as dark multimedia project with interconnecting 20-year storyline
New characters introduced: Belendia Black, Fanny Gray, the Synth Whisperer
Writing began post-Existential Reckoning; Mat keeps a magical idea folder
Maynard learned Logic software, contributed more initial musical sketches this time
Carina waits for lyrics—word rhythms shape her vocal approach entirely
Mat masters specific gear per album: Fairlight, Synclavier, custom guitars
Carina sang through Eventide effects unit, letting it shape melodies
Mat designs all stage plots, lighting, and visual concepts himself
Carina recently started improv classes—facing her worst nightmare on purpose
Mat discovered her at LA show; V is for Vagina hooked her
Maynard conveys mood clearly while leaving lyrics open to interpretation
Humbling River audition taught her: no preciousness about ideas here
Maynard's response—"as long as it doesn't interfere with me"—was freeing
Having an eight-year-old son completely changed her creative process
Revisiting The Disconnection live revealed surprising wisdom in her youth
Music became her way to connect rather than dissociate emotionally
She bootlegged her own Interscope album just to have it on vinyl
Kids today skip songs constantly—no commitment to full album journeys
Rare Ocean Blue pressing was a happy accident—only 13 copies exist
High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide
Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot
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Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Lucinda Williams discusses her recent creative surge with multiple tribute albums, paying homage to the masters, Folkways days, post-stroke recovery and the new album World's Gone Wrong
Topics Include:
Lucinda announces her 18th album "World's Gone Wrong" releasing January 23rd
Reveals dramatic shift from releasing albums every 3-8 years recently
Credits husband-manager Tom Overby for keeping creative momentum going post-stroke
Explains how new band members made working out songs fun
Describes creative process challenges between inspiration and studio deadlines
Shares need for quiet, private spaces to write freely
Reveals hotel rooms as unexpected creative sanctuaries like John Prine
Discusses how songs emerge either formed or requiring detailed work
Explains editing process of refining and "trimming the fat"
Details collaboration with Tom Overby on "We've Come Too Far"
Talks recording at Ray Kennedy's Room and Board studio
Shares Steve Earle connection from Car Wheels on Gravel Road
Laments losing song ideas when unable to record immediately
Recalls taking control in studio despite band's initial surprise
Tells sweet story of meeting Ringo Starr at Capitol Records
Discusses transformative Beatles albums from early work to Sergeant Pepper
Names Bob Dylan as her North Star musical mentor
Explains The Doors' influence especially their dark poetic imagery
Connects tribute album work to preparing for original songwriting
Previews future projects including Neil Young tribute and stroke treatment
High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide
Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot
Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon
Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide