TheVinylPress.com

This was a fun piece- I got the chance to interview Jeff Gold, the owner of Recordmecca and author of the book, "101 Essential Rock Records," to compare notes, not only about collectible pressings, but the sonics of some of these famous records. (Jeff is the guy who discovered those early Bob Dylan acetates a few years ago). His book is also well worth the modest price- it is a good reference for first pressings, has some great essays and is something you'll go back to just for the pleasure of studying some of the pages. http://thevinylpress.com/collectability-sonics-and-essential-records-comparing-notes-with-jeff-gold-owner-of-recordmecca/

Chris Whitley's work deserves a revival. Here's a brief retrospective on this brilliant and original talent: http://thevinylpress.com/chris-whitley-a-brief-retrospective/

If you are a blues fan, you might enjoy this essay about Hoodoo Man Blues, just published in the National Recording Registry, along with an interview of Bob Koester, the owner of Delmark Records (which released the record) and producer of the album. The record, though a studio album, captures the feel of a club band playing live and features Junior Wells, along with (an uncredited on early pressings) Buddy Guy.
Koester's knowledge of the blues is encyclopedic --he has been a vital part of the scene for 60 years--and he provides some good insights in both the essay and accompanying interview. This intro piece contains internal links that will get you to the essay and interview.http://thevinylpress.com/hoodoo-man-blues-essay-and-interview-with-bob-koester/

There's an Elmore James track, "Sunnyland" that I first heard around 1970 and have loved ever since. What I didn't realize until recently was that this was not the original version of the song Elmore recorded, but a late recording, done near the end of his life. (He died young, and never seemed to get the recognition he was due during his lifetime; he died shortly before the 'great blues revival' of the mid-'60s). I decided to research this a little, and that drove me to more questions, about the track, its origins and original release. Thankfully, I got some help from some real blues scholars, including one who has devoted much of his life to researching Elmore James. This left me very impressed by the efforts of real blues scholars, who unearth original documentation and oral histories. Here's the piece: http://thevinylpress.com/on-the-trail-of-elmore-james-sunnyland/

This recording has long been a favorite, both for the music and the sonics. Guy Van Duser, who teaches at the Berklee School, is a master guitarist with a bent for jazz and swing, and a talent for fingerpicking. Guy shares some of his insights into the recording, as well as his work with Chet Atkins, who was one of his early inspirations. http://thevinylpress.com/get-yourself-a-new-broom-chatting-with-guy-van-duser/