The Vinyl Playground Podcast

I recently read that a study shows that the music that you love between the ages of 13 and 17 will stay with you your entire life.   I decided to take a look at my last 3 purchases to see just how accurate that quote was. Four words - “Well, I'll be damned!” Hosted by Alex Oliver (the "music man, record guy, host and curator"), The Vinyl Playground Podcast is equal parts education a...

When the shelf space was clear, almost 1000 vinyl LPs were donated to Goodwill and Salvation Army, or traded for credit at my favorite record store. This left a LOT of empty space to fill on my record shelves. Meaning? A trip to the record shop, and 3 new additions to help reconstruct The Vinyl Playground. Hosted by Alex Oliver (the "music man, record guy, host and curator"), The Vinyl P...

Dedicated to my mentor of 40 plus years, this special episode answers the question "How am I important to you" with great musical tracks from The Band; Cream; Crosby Stills & Nash; Todd Rundgren and The Steve Miller Band.  Question? Comments? Insults? Please, feel free to contact me at:  musicmanalex@cox.net as well as https://www.facebook.com/alexoliver68/ Trimordial Studio Las Vega...

Through Mark Volman, and the music of The Turtles, I learned how to grow, and “grow past myself.” It took years, but I learned to stop worrying about my physical appearance, get out of my own way, be a musician, and play for “love of the song.” I owe a lot to Mark Volman. My confidence boosted when I found out about him, and his history even past the Turtles. And I will miss him walking around on...

In this episode - The Rutles, and a strong case for music as an educational tool of great depth and power.  Featuring songs from the made-for-tv-movie All You Need Is Cash, this is a loving tribute to some music (and words) that very much mattered to me then, and now.  Thank goodness it still exists in the family archives.  Hosted by Alex Oliver (the "music man, record guy, host and curator&q...

Igor is in search of the "perfect set of love songs" to present to Friday, his girl friend, on Valentine's Day. Can Professor Music Man help his assistant with a little bit of ancient "mix-tape voodoo?" Featuring songs from the film Mad Monster Party, as well as Paul McCartney, The Four Tops, The Replacements, Minnie Riperton, Extreme, and Jefferson Airplane. Happy Valenti...

In this TVP - A trip to Sears & Roebuck, some history on Eartha Kitt's holiday classic "Santa Baby," and of course, pictures with Santa Claus! Cheers from here and Happy Holidays!   Alex is the owner of "The Vinyl Playground," the online, mail-order vinyl LP record shop. The items you see in these videos are all for sale, via the internet, at: https://www.discogs.com/s...

In this TVP - A short look (and listen) at 3 classic tunes from 3 classic animated Christmas specials . Plus childhood holiday memories of "picking and choosing" which cartoons to watch. Cheers from here and Happy Holidays!   Alex is the owner of "The Vinyl Playground," the online, mail-order vinyl LP record shop. The items you see in these videos are all for sale, via the inte...

In this TVP - Christmas Eve - we "little terrors" of the family each receive the gift of opening only one present before Christmas Day . Plus, a beautiful rendition of O Holy Night by Trombone Shorty. Cheers from here and Happy Holidays!   Alex is the owner of "The Vinyl Playground," the online, mail-order vinyl LP record shop. The items you see in these videos are all for sale...

In this TVP - A Christmas road trip to Candy Cane Lane, singing dogs, and Uncle's flatulence make for a very difficult "read through" when the mic is on and "live." Apologies for the foul-ups, bleeps, blunders and giggles. Happy Holidays!   Alex is the owner of "The Vinyl Playground," the online, mail-order vinyl LP record shop. The items you see in these videos...

In this episode -the stories behind the music from: Scooby Doo, George of the Jungle, Fat Albert, Groovie Goolies, and others. "Songs In The Key of Cartoon," is a quick look into the history of some of the most beloved cartoon theme songs of the late 60s and early 70s.  It also serves as a tribute to the friends with whom I shared "the experience" of schoolyard sing-alongs. Thi...

TVP presents a "Halloween Special," in salute to some of the most beloved and "creepy" music associated with the bizarre, macabre, and strange. Tonight, we'll hear music from: Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, and Sir George Martin and Orchestra; "slasher flick" John Carpenter's Halloween; Hitchcock's Psycho; stop motion animation classics Mad Monster Party? a...

For Halloween, TVP "exhumes and examines" the legendary theme music for The Twilight Zone television series. Exceprt from Episode 10, "Halloween Music Macabre." Cheers from here and Happy Halloween. Alex Oliver is the owner of "The Vinyl Playground," the online, mail-order vinyl LP record shop. The items you see in these videos are all for sale, via the internet, at:...

For Halloween, TVP "exhumes and examines" the legendary theme from John Carpenter's Halloween. Exceprt from Episode 10, "Halloween Music Macabre." Cheers from here and Happy Halloween. Alex Oliver is the owner of "The Vinyl Playground," the online, mail-order vinyl LP record shop. The items you see in these videos are all for sale, via the internet, at: https://w...

It's Spring, 1985, and once again I get suspended from school. Mom's NOT going to like this - time to drown out life with some music by Van Halen.  (Excerpt from "Ep. 9 - Action Kills Fear")  Cheers, and thank you for your ears.  Alex Oliver is the owner of "The Vinyl Playground," the online, mail-order vinyl LP record shop. The items you see in these videos are all f...

It's Spring, 1985.  Suspended from school, my fears start to envelope my everyday living. And my moods were dark, and soundtrack'd by the music of The Velvet Underground   (Excerpt from "Episode. 9 - Action Kills Fear")  Cheers, and thank you for your ears.  Alex Oliver is the owner of "The Vinyl Playground," the online, mail-order vinyl LP record shop. The items you...

It's Spring, 1985, and there's absolutely no experience like getting punched in one's "manly center of gravity" first thing in the morning at school. At the time, I was studying the music of The Partridge Family. Result? I "tear up" and writhe in pain whenever I hear "I Think I Love You."   (Excerpt from "Ep. 9 - Action Kills Fear")  Cheers, a...

Age 16. High School freshman. Suspended for fighting . . . again. Whether right or wrong, I was stuck in my room for five days, mostly cloaked in a paralyzing fear of, well, virtually everything outside of my control. And mixed in with the fear? Well, there's music from: Simple Minds; The Doors; Van Halen; the "Bridge Over The River Kwai" Soundtrack; Steve Carlisle; The Velvet Under...

Fall, 1984 - I was a newly-minted high school freshman, surrounded by the then-current Top 40 (Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, etc.). My ear, however was tuned to the music of nearly 20 years earlier - the music of the 1960s.  And mixed in with the music? First love. First kiss. Last suspension from high school. Yup - lots of firsts, plus music from Wham!, The Doors, E...

AKA "Love and the Campus Fuzz," this is a 45-second segment of upcoming TVP Episode 8 - HS Freshman: First Love. Cheers! Alex is the owner of "The Vinyl Playground," the online, mail-order vinyl LP record shop. The items you see in these videos are all for sale, via the internet, at: https://www.discogs.com/seller/thevinylplayground/profile No copyright is claimed and to the ex...

Fast recollection of the afterglow following my first kiss, freshman year high shcool, 1984. It was a doozy - and part of me is still "stuck on stupid." Cheers! Alex Oliver is the owner of "The Vinyl Playground," the online, mail-order vinyl LP record shop. The items you see in these videos are all for sale, via the internet, at: https://www.discogs.com/seller/thevinylplaygroun...

Episode 4: The Crest of a New Wave. I recount, recall, and remember some of the first "new" music I heard via radio and television in 1979 - 1981. This included music by Blondie, Elvis Costello & The Attractions, The Police, and Pretenders.  The Vinyl Playground Podcast takes a look at a rather large collection of records, my family's record collection. 12 record collectors unde...

This episode focuses primarily on my discovery of 1960s pop music, as a 12 / 13 year old in early 1980s Los Angeles. Music by The Dave Clark 5, Spanky and Our Gang, John Fred, Neil Diamond, The Kinks, and The Animals.  Alex is the owner of "The Vinyl Playground," the online, mail-order vinyl LP record shop. The items you see in these videos are all for sale, via the internet, at: https:/...

1982. Age 13. Junior high school. Teenage love. Friendship, and betrayal. Acne, and more record money for vinyl LPs. It's a story as old as time - love "short circuits" the brain of young man. The musical soundscape of the times included songs by J. Geils Band; Human League, The Righteous Brothers, Patti Austin (with James Ingram); The Who; The Isley Brothers, The Undisputed Truth;...

Summer, 1978. Age 9. My family movies, and I get my first glimpse of "it" - the family record collection. At the time, it was 42 years worth of collecting. Be prepared to share memories and my varied musical soundscape of the times: songs by Frankie Valli, Gerry Rafferty; Tower of Power, The Beach Boys; Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Chicago and Santana. Music does indeed "save."...