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Left Bank Books and Vintage Vinyl present a FREE live telecast with Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter in conversation with Cornel West! The interview will take place at the New York Public Library about Jay-Z's book Decoded, and we will be screening this event at Vintage Vinyl on Monday, November 15th beginning at 6:00PM sharp. Decoded is a narrative journey through the lyrics and life of one of the most prolific artists of our time, multi-platinum, 10 time Grammy Award winning entrepreneur and icon, Jay-Z. At the event, Vintage Vinyl will feature Jay-Z's music, and Left Bank Books will sell SIGNED copies of Decoded with pre and post-telecast soundtracking will be provided by DJ Needles!
Who: A Conversation between Jay-Z and Cornel West

THE COOL RULER OF JAMAICA: 1951-2010
To Jamaicans at home and those living the world over, Gregory Isaacs was fondly invoked by a variety of names: Mr. Top Ten, Jah Gregory, also Jah Tooth; Mr. Love, The Lonely Lover, or indeed by just his first name. Yes, it was like that, and whatever the case, when it came to music for either affairs of the heart or hard realities on an island in the 3rd world, the man was universally known as The Cool Ruler.
Sadly, two of the very greatest of Jamaicas premier vocalists have gone on in 2010; just a short while ago Sugar Minott, a very beloved singer in reggae circles, and now Gregory Isaacs. The singular and deeply popular singer of Jamaica for nearly 40 years, he died from lung cancer while at his home in London. A slim, debonair and relaxed figure onstage, possessed of the greatest gifts of emotional intimacy and regret, Isaacs was a supreme instrument for conveying that feeling, and he passed on to his legion of fans through some of the very best songs ever written in the Caribbean.
More often than not, these were compositions he wrote, and so many became major hits in the reggae market after 1976 that as time went on, his live shows inevitably became medley vehicles in the service of such a large songbook for this one singer.
Whether love tunes (some will say he invented the reggae genre known as Lovers Rock) or righteous protestations of those in poverty, Gregory Isaacs simply gave voice to a nation and was a name of the first rank of reggae. Celebrated in Japan and Nigeria, the Americas or Europe, this tall almost delicately featured man was for many years an absolute matinee idol, and even as the wear from years of a hard life was noticeable in the arch of his career, Isaacs always made women sigh and their men-folk knowingly sing along at numerous live appearances, be it in a club, theatre or festival settings.

But if I dont get my desire, then Ill set the plantations afire
But what another singer would have made into a statement of revolutionary fervor (or even anger) becomes something deeper: a weary moment of recognition that things between humans have come to such a sad moment. In this he shares the same quality heard in the Cuban music called son, or in Portugal fado, but those two forms are not associated with social protest, and for those who view reggae as a musical expression of social consciousness and the voice of the sufferer, Mr. Isaacs was revered as much a master of roots reggae as he was the voice of romance and music for your most serious romantic moves in the dance.
Back in the days after the death of Bob Marley, it was often a topic in reggae circles as to who could don the mantle of Jamaicas Greatest Performer. If you would have asked me then, the name Gregory Isaacs would have probably been my first choice: a tall handsome and slyly reserved performer on stage, in an immaculate 3 piece suit and matching hat; a certified crooner with a unique, nasal delivery that drove women in his nation and overseas to the same levels of idolatry as an Al Green or even Marvin Gaye. I thought of him as quite possibly the Julio Iglesias of reggae, if he wished. Isaacs had all the gifts for such a success, but personal problems (including jail time and drug addiction) stalled his total ascent to the top of the entertainment field. He was left with his status as one of the most successful and beloved singers in the Caribbean and the far-flung world of its Diaspora, and right now millions of fans are playing their favorite songs by Jah Gregory, The Cool Ruler. May this great and gentle singer rest in peace.

VINTAGE VINYL HAS AMAZING ART FROM STEVE KEENE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!!!
Though you may not know his work by name, you most definitely know Steve Keene's art by sight. Having done art for such artists as Pavement, Silver Jews, Apples in Stereo, Dave Matthews Band and many more, Keene is internationally known for his inspired yet economical art and Vintage Vinyl is proud to be able to offer Steve Keene art for sale! Stop by Vintage Vinyl and see the amazing selection of Steve Keene originals that are now available for sale!

VINTAGE VINYL IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF MUSIC BY TWO GREAT ARTISTS, OLIVER SAIN and U-ROY: St. Louis Breakdown: The Best Of Oliver Sain on Sain Sound Records, and Foundation Skank: Rare Sides By The DJ Originator, on Sound System Records.

Both are available on CD and 180-gram vinyl presses, and from the time we announced plans for their release in 2008 there were inquiries and expressions of interest both here in our hometown as well as from friends nationally and around the world. This is fitting, for both men have created a body of work that over time only grows in reputation around the globe.

OLIVER SAIN was the single most influential musician in the St. Louis area from 1960 to his death in 2003; no one had as great an impact as this bandleader/songwriter/producer/studio owner in nearly a half-century of dominance. But beyond his hometown, Sain gained international respect and admiration for his distinctive sound as an alto saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist.

Yes, he wrote material for which others (Fontella Bass, Ann Peebles) achieved chart hits, with a telling gift for crafting songs for female vocalists (blues singer Tracy Nelson has been quoted as saying his song Walk Away being as fine a lyric ever written for a woman), and always had the best working band St. Louis could boast, but as a soloist in the blues/soul/funk realm, only Maceo Parker is comparable as having such a signature sound and original tone. His influence on no less than St. Louis native David Sanborn is obvious, and the recordings on St. Louis Breakdown show a master of the studio world framing his great playing over original compositions as well as songs by others that became so transformed by Oliver, his versions are arguably definitive. Specifically, his stirring, strutting version of Soul Serenade was a rallying cry for his fans in our city----his four-note introduction to this King Curtis number would evoke standing ovations and cheers at the shows and club appearances he made throughout his career.

We are so proud of making available again the music of Oliver Sain, a man we admired and loved as one does your best of friends. PERHAPS one day, our city will posthumously recognize this cultural icon; in the meantime, listen to his music, and be amazed and gladdened. Give a listen, and you will understand.

At this point, U-ROY inhabits a status similar in reggae as Louis Armstrong did in his later years: The unchallenged innovator, so responsible and influential on those who followed his ground-breaking achievements, its impossible to imagine how the music of their respective nations would exist without them. Still in full possession of his musical skills and in demand on stages around the world, Jamaicas greatest DJ has received his nations highest cultural award, The Order Of Distinction, in the rank of Officer. As one of the most enduring of Jamaican artists, his influence extends to non-reggae forms; as Leroy Pierson noted in the liner notes for Foundation Skank: 1971-1975 Rare Sides by the DJ Originator,

This is our second release by U Roy on our label devoted to Jamaican music, Sound System (the first, The Lost Album: Right Time Rockers being rated as essential in The Rough Guide To Reggae), and it gathers the very rarest of his recorded music, almost entirely from releases on his various labels in Jamaica between the years 1971-75. These include Roys personal choices of hits by producers such as Lee Perry, Bunny Lee, and others, transformed by him into dialogues with the top vocalists of that time: Ken Booth, Delroy Wilson, Slim Smith, Dennis Brown, Linval Thompson, and Johnnie Clarke. Top producers were so desirous of having the #1 DJ record for them they readily allowed him use of their best sides, and today these records stand as the equal to Roys best work in the 1970s. Anyone who wishes to hear one of the greatest of reggaes founders in full-flight of his talents should give Foundation Skank a listen; we anticipate there will not be as impressive an example of 70s reggae made available in 2009, and a Grammy Nomination would not be out of place.

Rick Wood's Concert Diary - Vol. 93
5/8/10 Adam Reichmann, The Ranch House. Ray, Noah and I showed up early enough to hang out and catch up with people before the music started upabout 40 people out to hear this solo performance from former front man from the local band, Nadine. Set one mixed old favorites (Here To Amuse You, Twilight, AngelaAdam on loping Lennonesque keyboards and Closer) with a couple of newer songs and an obscure Springsteen cover (I didnt recognize it). His vocals varied in range from song-to-song; sometimes in a high falsetto (ala the self-titled Neil Young album) and others in a lower tone. Ive always liked Adams warm and tuneful songs; it had been years since I had heard some of these.
I talked with a bunch of interesting people during the longer-than-usual break. Set two scattered more familiar so