Essentials

July: Joni Mitchell’s The Hissing of Summer Lawns

In July, the Essentials Record of the Month is Joni Mitchell’s The Hissing of Summer Lawns, a pioneering album that features sounds from jazz, African music and a new vision of pop. It’s available on Green vinyl with lacquers cut from master tapes (AAA) at 45 RPM by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound.

Why we picked this: It's Joni at the nexus between pop stardom and avant-garde sonic explorer, we think it's her masterpiece. 

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August: DMX’s It's Dark And Hell Is Hot

The August Essentials Record of the Month is DMX’s breakthrough album It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot. It’s pressed on 2LP “Blood Out, Blood In” vinyl with lacquers cut by Cicely Balston at AIR Mastering. It includes a Listening Notes booklet by JayQuan and an exclusive art print. 

Why we picked this: It's DMX's best album, an uncompromising vision for what rap could be. 

Sign up here to receive an email notification when It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot becomes available starting July 22. 

September: Ramones' Rocket To Russia

In September, the Essentials Record of the Month is the Ramones’ Rocket To Russia, released in 1977. It’s pressed on 180g “Gabba Gabba Hey” vinyl with lacquers cut from master tapes (AAA) by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound. It includes a Listening Notes booklet by Nicholas Rombes with and an art print by Oliver Barrett, where each Member will get 1 of 4 drawings of the individual Ramones. 

Why we picked this: It's been too long for us to have Essentials and not do a classic punk album; the Ramones are as punk as punk gets. Plus this album feels underrated, and is as good as any album they ever made.  

Sign up here to receive an email notification when Rocket To Russia becomes available starting August 26.

Classics

July: Alice Coltrane’s Transfiguration 

In July, the VMP Classics Record of the Month is Alice Coltrane’s live album Transfiguration, recorded in 1978 at the UCLA concert hall. It’s available on 2LP black vinyl with lacquers cut from master tapes (AAA) by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound. It comes with a Listening Notes booklet written by Harmony Holiday. 

Why we picked this: Alice's last jazz album is a live album that captures her during a moment of great, well, transfiguration: After this she'd never be the same, or make music like this. 

Sign up now to receive Transfiguration.

August: Teo Macero With The Prestige Jazz Quartet’s Teo

In August, the VMP Classics will feature producer and saxophonist Teo Macero, known for producing Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew and for collaborating with Charles Mingus. His self-titled album Teo is pressed on 180g black vinyl with lacquers cut from master tapes (AAA) by Ryan Smith.

Why we picked this: Miles Davis' longtime producer made a bunch of really great bop records as a bandleader, and this record feels like getting a private bop concert in your home. 

Sign up here to receive an email notification when Teo becomes available starting July 22.

September: Junior Wells’ It’s My Life, Baby! 

It’s My Life, Baby! is Junior Wells’ blues album, recorded half live at Pepper’s in Chicago and half in studio. It’s featured as the September Classics Record of the Month and is pressed on 180g black vinyl with lacquers cut from master tapes (AAA) by Ryan Smith. It includes a Listening Notes booklet by Dr. Francesa T. Royster.  

Why we picked this: Junior Wells' solo work often gets less shine than his work as a sideman, and this album is him at the peak of his powers: Half live, half studio, all killer. 

Sign up here to receive an email notification when It’s My Life, Baby! becomes available starting August 26. 

Hip-Hop

July: Method Man & Redman’s Blackout!

In July, VMP Hip-Hop subscribers will receive the 25th-anniversary edition of Method Man and Redman’s collaborative debut album, Blackout! It’s here on 2LP “Blackout” vinyl with lacquers cut by Cicely Balston at AIR Mastering, and includes a Listening Notes booklet written by JayQuan. 

Why we picked this: The debut collab album by two of the funniest and talented men to pick up a mic, it's time to feature them together, as they've both been featured in VMP Hip-Hop as solo acts. 

Sign up now to receive Blackout!

August: Ghostface Killah’s The Big Doe Rehab

The August Hip-Hop Record of the Month is Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah’s The Big Doe Rehab. It’s pressed on Purple + Red vinyl with lacquers cut by Cicely Balston at AIR Mastering. It includes a Listening Notes booklet by JayQuan.

Why we picked this: This album is as decadent and rich sounding as the cover, the premier Wu swordsman delivering bar after bar. 

Sign up here to receive an email notification when The Big Doe Rehab becomes available starting July 22.

September: Young Jeezy’s The Recession

Young Jeezy’s The Recession will be featured in VMP Hip-Hop in September. Originally released in 2008, this marks the first time it has ever been reissued. It’s available on 2LP Onyx vinyl with lacquers cut by Cicely Balston at AIR Mastering, and includes a Listening Notes booklet by Dimas Sanfiorenzo.

Why we picked this: Because it's unbelievable an album that is this good has never been on vinyl before. 

Sign up here to receive an email notification when The Recession becomes available starting August 26.

Country

July: Ronnie Milsap’s There’s No Gettin’ Over Me

Ronnie Milsap’s There’s No Gettin’ Over Me is coming to VMP Country in July. The VMP edition of this record marks the first time it has been reissued since the early ‘80s. It’s pressed on 180g Red vinyl with lacquers cut from master tapes (AAA) by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound. It comes with a Listening Notes booklet written by Caleb Johnson.

Why we picked this: Coming from an era when country music nearly crossed completely with Yacht Rock, this album is like listening to the Steely Dan house band play honky tonks. 

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August: Chalino Sánchez’s Corridos de los Félix y Los Quintero 

Chalino Sánchez is featured as a VMP Country artist for the second time in August. His album Corridos de los Félix y Los Quintero is a 2002 posthumous compilation album, and it’s pressed on vinyl for the first time ever. It comes on 180g Green vinyl with lacquers cut by Cicely Balston at AIR Mastering, and includes a Listening Notes booklet by Judy Cantor-Navas. 

Why we picked this: After featuring Chalino last year, with an album that honored his biggest hits (15 Exitos 15), we wanted to feature an album that shows off his narcocorrido side. 

Sign up here to receive an email notification when Corridos de los Félix y Los Quintero becomes available starting July 22.

September: Nickel Creek’s Nickel Creek  

Nickel Creek’s self-titled album is the VMP Country Record of the Month for September. It’s pressed on 2LP Orange vinyl with lacquers cut by Cicely Balston. 

Why we picked this: Because it's one of the best bluegrass bands ever, playing their heads off. A classic. 

Sign up here to receive an email notification when Nickel Creek becomes available starting August 26.

Rock

July: Los Campesinos!’s We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed 

July’s Rock Record of the Month is We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed by Los Campesinos!. Their sophomore album is pressed on 180g Red and Black Marble vinyl with lacquers cut by Cicely Balston at AIR Mastering. It comes with a Listening Notes booklet by Jenessa Williams. 

Why we picked this: One of the best bands to emerge from UK indie, this Los Campesinos album is their most overlooked, but it's quietly one of the best UK indie rock records of the last 20 years, tuneful, damaged, beautiful. 

Sign up now to receive We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed.

August: Taking Back Sunday’s Where You Want To Be

In August, VMP Rock subscribers will receive the 20th-anniversary edition of Taking Back Sunday’s sophomore album, Where You Want To Be. It’s pressed on 180g Tan Color-In-Color vinyl with lacquers cut by Barry Grint at AIR Mastering. 

Why we picked this: It's only been a year, but it's about time we did an emo album in Rock, and might as well do one of the best emo bands to ever do it. 

Sign up here to receive an email notification when Where You Want To Be becomes available starting July 22.

September: Ramones’ Too Tough to Die 

In September, the VMP Rock Record of the Month is the 40th-anniversary edition of the Ramones’ Too Tough to Die. It’s pressed on 180g Blue Cloudy vinyl with lacquers cut from master tapes (AAA) by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound, and includes a Listening Notes booklet by Nicholas Rombes.  

Why we picked this: If there's any punk band to double dip on in the same month, it's the Ramones, and if Rocket to Russia is sometimes overlooked, this one is even more so. Fix that, with this release, the title ain't lying. 

Sign up here to receive an email notification when Too Tough to Die becomes available starting August 26.