Vinyl

Dramarama | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 15, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chameleon / Wea
• ASIN: B000001A3D
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #165,408 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Until The Next Time

2. Haven't Got A Clue

3. What Are We Gonna Do?

4. Classic Rot

5. Memo From Turner

6. Train Going Backwards

7. I've Got Spies

8. In Quiet Rooms

9. Ain't It The Truth

10. Tiny Candles

11. (I'd Like To) Volunteer, Please

Editorial Reviews

Finding itself on a major label for the first time in its career, Dramarama maintained the overall course of its career with Vinyl, combining smart pop/rock kicks and a sense of hip cool for grand overall results. With Brian Macleod taking over the drum duties from departed sticksman Jesse and keyboard/guitar player Tommy T stepping in on a track or two, the otherwise still-in-one-piece group creates and performs up to the best of its considerable abilities. Guest help doesn't hurt either, most often coming from Tom Petty keyboardist Benmont Tench, but Vinyl is still clearly Dramarama's vision rather than anything else. "Haven't Got a Clue" keeps up the winning streak of brilliant first singles from the band's releases, starting with a sample from the legendary Tube Bar crank call series and hitting a great mid-paced groove with a gently descending glam melody. "I've Got Spies" is equally brilliant, a nugget of romantic paranoia that rivals the Who's "I Can See for Miles," with delicious singing from Easdale and a great main melody. Another great moment comes with "Classic Rot" -- a knowing trashing of groups that have lasted way too long, it draws the line clearly between simply re-creating and re-listening to the same old hash and, as the band itself does, taking inspiration from the past and creating their own sound. Even tastier is the identity of the guest guitar player -- as the liner notes proudly say, "THE Mick Taylor, of Rolling Stones fame." The Stones themselves -- or more accurately Mick Jagger -- are the beneficiaries of the cool cover version this time out, in this case a fine take on "Memo From Turner." All in all, Vinyl shows Dramarama still in rude creative health, right down to the neat artwork and the bold Marc Bolan song lyric on the back of the CD booklet: "John Lennon knows your name/and I've seen his." -All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You won't be disappointed, December 1, 1999

By 

Doug ([e-mail]) (Delaware) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vinyl (Audio CD)

This is the fourth of Dramarama's 6 cds (after Cinema Verite, Box Office Bomb, and Stuck In Wonderamaland, but before Hi-Fi Sci-Fi, and somewhere in there was their Bent Backed Tulips album). If you like Stuck In Wonderamaland, you'll like this. Though lacking a "Last Cigarette" or "Anything, Anything" type song, this cd has a couple of often overlooked gems.

My favorite is "In Quiet Rooms". Anyone who has witnessed the college scene will identify with this song. Catchy tune, awfully emoting lyrics.

One thing I particularly like about this album is the range of style. There are tunes to chill and ponder to like "Train Going Backwards" and "I'd Like to Volunteer" but there are also tunes to crank to volume to 10 (11 if you have a Spinal Tap stereo) like "Ain't It The Truth" and "I've Got Spies".

No matter what style the song is you are always comforted in the fact that you experience supreme vocals, excellent lyrics, and masterful craftsmanship.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unrecognized, December 4, 2003

By 

Raegan Butcher (Rain City, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vinyl (Audio CD)

Dramarama should've been bigger than Nirvana. John Easedale, the prime mover of the band, is a great singer/songwriter. All of their albums are worth listening to. This one is one of their finest.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Underrated Band at its Peak, April 4, 2000

By 

Matthew Parks (DURHAM, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vinyl (Audio CD)

Vinyl, along with its darker, edgier cousin Hi-Fi Sci-Fi, represents Dramarama at its creative peak. Vinyl plays like a tribute album to the rock of the late 60's and 70's--everything from the later-era Beatles to the 70's version of the Stones, from Kiss to more obscure acts like T. Rex, The New York Dolls, and Johnny Thunders. After an career of several uneven albums with some great songs ("Anthing, Anything, "Last Cigarette"), the band finally produced an album that's solid from beginning to end. Highlights include "Haven't Got a Clue," "Ain't It the Truth," and a cover of the Stones' B-side "Memo From Turner."