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Return to Vinyls

David Husom
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MUSIC HISTORY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Return To Vinyls Podcast focuses on what makes the great music that we love from Jazz and R&B artists and the stories behind the creation and the creators. As a working visual artist and retired professor in Art, Journalism and Liberal Studies host and creator David Husom has spent his life surrounded by creative people in the arts. He brings that perspective of the creative process. The podcast goes beyond just music—looking at the process and work that goes behind creating music and art and the history of the music industry. It is more than just another record review podcast and website.

  1. EP 24: Roberta Flack She Introduced Soul to Jazz, Jazz to Folk and Soul To Soul.

    10/28/2025

    EP 24: Roberta Flack She Introduced Soul to Jazz, Jazz to Folk and Soul To Soul.

    It is not unusual for a song to come out and basically be ignored, but then it is plucked from obscurity and used in a movie or TV show. And all of the sudden it is everywhere. Downloads or streaming make that a pretty easy task. But what about back in the days when vinyl was the only choice? What if Clint Eastwood, known for his great fondness for jazz, took one of those now forgotten songs two years later and used it in a feature film. That is exactly what happened with Roberta Flack’s "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and Eastwood’s directorial debut, the 1971 film "Play Misty for Me." The song became a number 1 hit and achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the Billboard Year-End top selling single of 1972. Something no sleeper hit had done before or since. "Roberta Flack First Takes" has been released in a new mastering and pressing. Add to that her demo recordings made before that album, called "Roberta Flack Lost Takes." Together they show a star rising from the unknown and lighting up the music world. Both are now available on 180 gram vinyl and the music is amazing.

    29 min
  2. EP 23: Les McCann; He Introduced Soul to Jazz and Jazz to Soul and Soul To Soul.

    10/03/2025

    EP 23: Les McCann; He Introduced Soul to Jazz and Jazz to Soul and Soul To Soul.

    In 1971 the African country of Ghana hosted a musical celebration called the “Soul to Soul Festival.” It is often referred to as the “Woodstock of Africa.” Although the festival was to honor the tenth anniversary of an independent Ghana, the Festival not only introduced American soul, R&B and modern jazz to the African continent, but the concert had a profound effect on the American musicians who played there that weekend; including jazz pianist and vocalist Les McCann, accompanied by saxophonist Eddie Harris. They had recently crossed over to success with a politically tinged soul music hit. And a young singer recently discovered by McCann, who was on the cusp of having her first major hit, Roberta Flack. Both McCann’s and Flack’s unreleased early work has been issued in the past two years to glowing reviews from the music press. (More on Roberta Flack’s two early albums and her music in Season 2 Episode 12 coming soon) But along with fronting a very traditional modern jazz trio, McCann was starting to explore jazz mixed with soul and politics. With a concert at a Swiss jazz festival he turned the jazz world upside down and created an anthem of 1960s protest that is still relevant today.

    36 min
  3. EP 23: Les McCann: He Introduced Soul to Jazz and Jazz to Soul and Soul To Soul.

    09/26/2025 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    EP 23: Les McCann: He Introduced Soul to Jazz and Jazz to Soul and Soul To Soul.

    In 1971 the African country of Ghana hosted a musical celebration called the “Soul to Soul Festival.” It is often referred to as the “Woodstock of Africa.” Although the festival was to honor the tenth anniversary of an independent Ghana, the Festival not only introduced American soul, R&B and modern jazz to the African continent, but the concert had a profound effect on the American musicians who played there that weekend; including jazz pianist and vocalist Les McCann, accompanied by saxophonist Eddie Harris. They had recently crossed over to success with a politically tinged soul music hit. And a young singer recently discovered by McCann, who was on the cusp of having her first major hit, Roberta Flack. Both McCann’s and Flack’s unreleased early work has been issued in the past two years to glowing reviews from the music press. (More on Roberta Flack’s two early albums and her music in Season 2 Episode 12 coming soon) But along with fronting a very traditional modern jazz trio, McCann was starting to explore jazz mixed with soul and politics. With a concert at a Swiss jazz festival he turned the jazz world upside down and created an anthem of 1960s protest that is still relevant today.

    36 min
  4. Coda To Episode 22: The best compilation and reissue albums from Miles Davis — for those that want it mellow.

    09/02/2025 · BONUS • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Coda To Episode 22: The best compilation and reissue albums from Miles Davis — for those that want it mellow.

    There are some great compilations of Miles Davis' music from all eras. That includes electric, post bop, hard bop and the cool years all together on single CDs. One of the best single disc overview of Miles Davis’s music over the years is: "Miles Davis Mellow Miles." It is a UK and European Import. It is still in print and available new or used in the US. It is clearly the best greatest hits of Miles Davis if you are looking for something on the mellow side but not smooth jazz that puts you to sleep or Bebop that shakes you awake. But there are more great Miles Davis albums too. Check out this bonus episode available exclusively to subscribers on Apple Podcast to hear about the best compilation and reissue albums from Davis. And they are often on CD at bargain prices. Free three day trial available.

    16 min
  5. EP 22: Miles Davis For Beginners Part Two. The Cool and Kind of Blue Years.

    08/18/2025

    EP 22: Miles Davis For Beginners Part Two. The Cool and Kind of Blue Years.

    Miles Davis was a true jazz lovers — jazz musician. Well, if the criteria is that he was never very popular with mainstream music buyers. Unlike other jazz greats like Louis Armstrong, Stan Getz, Dave Brubeck and Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis never had a hit record in spite of releasing 57 singles. He had just a few albums that charted in the top 100. So no, Miles Davis never crossed over into popular music circles. Supposedly, you have to really know something about jazz to understand his music. Which is too bad because he did record a whole heck of a lot of accessible music. And he did create the best selling jazz album of all times. Sure there are all these categories when looking at Miles: Bebop, Cool Jazz, Hard Bop / Post Bop, Modal jazz, Jazz Rock / Fusion and orchestral / third wave music. But in the end they are just names. What matters is the music. And Miles Davis produced some truly great music. And amongst the best of the best is Kind of Blue, that five times platinum album.

    48 min
  6. EP 21: Miles Davis For Beginners. Part One, The Electric Years.

    07/14/2025

    EP 21: Miles Davis For Beginners. Part One, The Electric Years.

    Think you are not a fan of jazz, think Miles Davis has nothing to offer you? Davis, during his 45 plus year career, released at least 60 studio albums and 39 live albums, as well as 46 compilation albums, 27 box sets, and 4 soundtrack albums. He reinvented himself almost as often as he changed his socks (well at least every few years anyway). Starting in the 1940s there was a move away from big band swing with Be Bop. He then moved on to cool jazz - he was there for the birth of the cool. Then in 1959 he redefined jazz, moving from chord changes to modes - he was the guy who did it first.  But in the 1970s he moved again. This time to electric jazz or fusion - he was one of the creators. After a nearly seven year hiatus of not recording or performing he returned playing popular songs of the day including Cindy Lauper and Michael Jackson numbers. He even impressed the master of funk himself - Prince. Return to big bands - sure he did that too. Mix jazz and hip-hop. He was not just sampled but created his own hip hop inspired sounds. So there certainly must be something in there that you can swing to, bop to, rap to, grove to, or just lay back to. Yes because Miles at his best was often laid back and he could be downright mellow.

    44 min
  7. Coda To Episode 20: Stax Songwriter Bettye Crutcher Was One of John Lennon’s Favorites, She Is Finally Getting Attention

    06/30/2025 · BONUS • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Coda To Episode 20: Stax Songwriter Bettye Crutcher Was One of John Lennon’s Favorites, She Is Finally Getting Attention

    Wow & Flutter is a special bonus for subscribers to Return To Vinyls +. The music industry has a long history of not being friendly or very supportive of women, be they singers, musicians, songwriters or management. Stax Records songwriter Bettye Crutcher was unique. According to USA Today on her death in 2022 "fellow writers at Stax understood her unique value. Her perspective was powerful and necessary for the company because we were all male songwriters.” said David Porter, Stax’s hall of fame songwriter and producer. “She brought that feminine view and understanding, and helped us understand as well.” You will know some of her hits from Season 2 Episode 8 from Stax Blues Singer Johnnie Taylor. But she did so much more including releasing an album of her own material. Long overlooked she is finally getting the attention she deserves.

    24 min
  8. EP 20: Stax Blues Singer Johnnie Taylor Had The First Platinum Record With 2 Million Sales. And it Was A Disco Song.

    06/17/2025

    EP 20: Stax Blues Singer Johnnie Taylor Had The First Platinum Record With 2 Million Sales. And it Was A Disco Song.

    Memphis based Stax recording star soul singer Johnnie Taylor is probably best remembered today for his R&B hits. But very few crossed over to top 40 radio. So unless you are an in-depth fan of Stax records hits from the 1960s or perhaps a follower of vintage disco you probably do not know much of his catalog of soul and blues and his dance disco hit. It is odd sometimes that artists are remembered for just one or two things when they had relatively successful lifetime careers. There is no doubt that Taylor was a talented singer. He was often compared to his friend Sam Cook and his label mate Otis Redding. Although success seemed to overlook him compared to the superstars of soul music his music is making a comeback and he is finally getting more of the attention he is so deserving of. He did achieve a record industry milestone. He was the first artist to be verified for selling over two million copies of a single song. For an artist to achieve that kind of success must be appreciated for being in touch with the musical cultural zeitgeist of a time period. Let's be honest to have a hit is no small feat. And Johnnie Taylor may not be a household name outside of R&B, Blues and Soul music but he did have hits. Along with recording the first 2X Million seller Platinum record, he also had an R&B hit that did cross over and it is still played to this day. And when you hear it you very well might recognize it. It is one of many recordings he made before sliding out onto the discotheque dance floor. And that journey from the blues to disco is a great story.

    44 min
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Ratings & Reviews

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5 Ratings

About

Return To Vinyls Podcast focuses on what makes the great music that we love from Jazz and R&B artists and the stories behind the creation and the creators. As a working visual artist and retired professor in Art, Journalism and Liberal Studies host and creator David Husom has spent his life surrounded by creative people in the arts. He brings that perspective of the creative process. The podcast goes beyond just music—looking at the process and work that goes behind creating music and art and the history of the music industry. It is more than just another record review podcast and website.

Information

  • Creator
    David Husom
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © David Husom
  • Show Website
    Return to Vinyls
  • Provider
    David Husom