In celebration of Record Store Day on April 20, we asked local musicians to share some of the music they’ve recently found or rediscovered at area record stores. Here’s what they had to say…
Franciene Hatcher of Frantastic Noise
Vinyl single: “Shy Guy” by Diana King
“I’m a huge fan of Caribbean music, and this song is a nostalgic throwback for me. It takes me back to the days when I would grab a hairbrush, stand in front of the mirror, and sing along with all my heart, trying to imitate Diana King’s sound and movements from the music video.
“Owning a vinyl holds a unique appeal to me. There’s a certain skill and delicacy required to handle vinyl records, reminding me of the care and attention I strive to bring to the music I create.”
Franciene Hatcher is following a knockout Shine A Light performance with the release of Frantastic Noise’s new single “NoiseMaker” on Saturday, April 27 in conjunction with a birthday celebration at Philadelphia’s AudeoBoi Studios. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com.
Fred Reed
Vinyl album: The Best Of . . . Vol. 1 by Earth, Wind & Fire
“I just purchased this album on vinyl. They are one of the greatest bands I’ve listened to. I always love their unique sound and needed to add it to my vinyl collection. Make sure you get a copy!”
Fred Reed follows up his recent R&B hit “I Want You Back” with a new hit single “Found You” featuring Raheem DeVaughn, set for release on April 5 on all major digital platforms.
John Faye
Vinyl album: Eat To The Beat by Blondie
“A few months ago I saw an almost-pristine copy of Eat To The Beat by Blondie in a thrift store and I took it home and fell in love with it all over again. They were one of the first bands I got into in my early teens, and this was the record that came out directly after Parallel Lines, which had “Heart of Glass” and “One Way Or Another” on it.
“To me Eat To The Beat has more urgency and adrenaline to it, with songs like ‘Dreaming’ and ‘Accidents Never Happen,’ and when I listen to it, I’m right back in my house in Newark dreaming all my adolescent rock and roll dreams.”
John Faye will be releasing his new singles “Sell Your Soul As An NFT!” on April 1 and “Feng Shui” on May 10 in advance of his appearance at “Asian American Pie” — an all-Asian fronted music fest — at Philly’s World Café Live on May 11. For more info, visit JohnFaye.com.
Chris Malinowski of The Collingwood
Vinyl album: Sunshine Superman by Donovan
“This record is unbridled Summer of Love romanticism, swathed in psychedelia and bedeviled by Scottish folklore. The regal Donovan is to folk rock what Ronnie James Dio is to heavy metal. He poetically lures the listener into a swirling cosmos of “be-ins” and free-love circles, but he wears a sincere eros on his satin sleeve, richly embodying both the dancing and the yearning of the human heart.
“‘Guinevere’ and ‘Bert’s Blues’ are my most beloved from this release, which is best spun behind Ren Faire walls when the patrons have staggered home for the evening. Embrace your partner. Pour the wine. Warm the blood. Find a lonely fire. Disrobe. Burn out, lovingly.”
Chris Malinowski and his band, The Collingwood, will be releasing a music video for their new song “All Velvet” on April 14 in advance of their appearance on The KOH Show on April 22 and their performance at Kelly’s Logan House on April 26.
Samuel Nobles
Vinyl single: Self-titled by Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou
“Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou is an Ethiopian pianist and composer, and this is one of my favorite albums — I finally got a copy a few months ago.
“I love the spirit in which she plays the piano. Her style is so emotive and unique, featuring fast, bright trills and melodic runs that are super infectious. To me, there’s a haunting quality of these aged recordings that somehow feels both distant and as if you’re standing in the room with her while she plays.”
Musician and soundtrack composer Samuel Nobles has recently released a new 14-track piano album called How Sweet You Are, which is available on most digital platforms including Bandcamp.
Olivia Rubini
Vinyl single: Wildflowers by Judy Collins
“I take such inspiration from the original Laurel Canyon ladies of the late ‘60s & ‘70s, like Judy, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt and Joan Baez — that era has given me some of my all-time favorite songs, like ‘Both Sides Now,’ which is on the 1967 Wildflowers album. Albums like that really fulfill me creatively and spark my inspiration for writing.
“I think I’ve really embraced that classic sound in some of my new music so it’s definitely no surprise that writers like Judy Collins are in heavy rotation for me.”
Olivia Rubini can be seen and heard on NBC’s The Voice representing both Team Legend and Wilmington, Del., on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m.
Chris Julian of Lester’s Pearl
Vinyl album: Hell on Church Street
“This album is a reimagining of Tony Rice’s 1983 Church Street Blues. If you are familiar with Punch Brothers, their rendition of this album stays true to their five-piece instrumentation, while giving a massive salute to the classic Tony Rice songs!”
Chris Julian and his band Lester’s Pearl will open for Philadelphia’s Cosmic Guilt at The Queen’s Crown room on Friday, May 17. For tickets visit TheQueenWilmington.com.
Kenny Vanella
Vinyl album: Old Soul by Stephen Marley
“The title track is great, plus there are some really great collaborations like ‘Winding Roads’ with Jack Johnson and Bob Weir, a great acoustic remake of ‘I Shot the Sheriff’ featuring Eric Clapton, and a remake of the Joe Higgs classic, ‘There’s A Reward’.”
Kenny Vanella will be releasing his new single “I Fly a Flag” featuring Kumar Bent at the end of April. The full album, Revival of the Spirit, will be released late spring/early summer. Recorded at Tuff Gong International in Kingston, JA and produced by Squidly Cole, it features collaborations with Andrew Tosh, Alex Wasily (Dumpstafunk), and Wilmington-based MC/lyricist, Richard Raw.
Butch Zito
Vinyl single: See You Around by I’m With Her
“I’m With Her is a group composed of Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O’Donovan — a great band in the Americana vein!
“I’m a hard sell anymore, but these folks got me. I’m hooked and would travel to see them.”
Relix Records recording artist, Butch Zito and his band, Stackabones, just released their fifth album, Roll Them Bones, which features collaborations with Barry Sless (Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros) on pedal steel and the late Johnny Digiovanni (Steal Your Peach) on drums. More info at Stackabones.com.
