Classic Vinyl

In 1980, Kansas keyboardist Steve Walsh released his first solo album, titled "Schemer-Dreamer."  While Steve Walsh is certainly an amazing keyboardist, he should probably leave the cover art design to the professionals.  "Schemer-Dreamer" has gone down in rock history as one of the worst album covers ever created.

Nantucket formed in Jacksonville, North Carolina in 1969 and quickly became a popular cover band. Although these guys never became a household name, they would go on to tour across the country with some of the biggest names in rock & roll.

Nektar was an English prog rock band from Germany, whose psychedelic rock albums earned the band a small but growing cult following.  However, the release of Remember the Future in 1973 would propel Nektar into popularity in the United States.  For the first time on Sam Talkington's Classic Vinyl, you can listen to the entire album right here!

If you're a prog rock fanatic, you won't want to pass up this edition of Classic Vinyl.  We're taking a closer looks at Spartacus, released in 1975 by the German trio Triumvirat.  This album is considered by many to be a progressive rock masterpiece by a band commonly referred to as the "German Emerson, Lake & Palmer."

Tooth, Fang & Claw is the final album by Ted Nugent's Amboy Dukes.  Released in 1974, the album was recorded before Derek St. Holmes began singing with Ted Nugent.  Tooth, Fang and Claw is all about the six-string, and really showcases Nugent's stellar guitar playing.  Listen to the audio to learn a little more about this crazy looking album, and hear about Sam Talkington's hilarious first enc

Bob Seger’s debut album Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man was released in 1969, when the band was known as The Bob Seger System.  If the album is called “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man,” why is there a women dressed in blue on the front cover?

Captain Beyond was a rock band with progressive influences that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1971.  The original lineup included members of Deep Purple, Iron Butter, Rick Derringer and Johnny Winter, which resulted in a great self-titled album released in 1972.

Nantucket Sleighride was the second album released by Mountain.  Released in January of 1971, the title track of the album reads “Nantucket Sleighride (To Owen Coffin).”  So, what’s a Nantucket Sleighride, and who is Owen Coffin?

Blind Faith were one of classic rock's first "Supergroups," and consisted of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood and Ric Grech.  In fact, some people even referred to the band as "super Cream." Their only self-titled album not only hit the #1 spot for Pop Album in both the U.S. and the UK, but also went down in history as one of the most controversial vinyl covers of all

Sam Talkington has shown us a lot of cool album covers since we started collecting Classic Vinyls, so now it's time for an ugly one. Steve Joule is the one responsible for the horrendous album cover of Black Sabbath's "Born Again", the band's 11th studio album released in 1983.

School's Out is the fifth studio album by Alice Cooper, and was released in 1972.  You can still hear the title track on many radio stations today, but you certainly won't find an album cover like this on anymore.  The album sleeve, created to look like a school desk, had a little surprise inside for those who purchased the album.

Steppenwolf Live was one of five live albums released by Steppenwolf.  Released in 1970, the album reached #7 on the rock charts in the United States,  and included popular songs like "Magic Carpet Ride" and "Born To Be Wild."