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Daily stories about music and vinyl: albums, artists, labels. Read on the web or in the CrateCore app.
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July 25, 2026
STORY · Metal
AC/DC's American Voltage: When Atco Flipped the Switch
Five Australians who had never sold a record in the U.S. cut a Bible-thumping hard rock landmark. On July 25, 1977, Atco Records wired their raw voltage into the American grid with Let There Be Rock.
July 25, 2026 · 5 min read
Cover of “Let There Be Rock” by AC/DC. Source: Cover Art Archive (coverartarchive.org)
July 25, 2026
5 min read
July 24, 2026
STORY · Soundtracks
14 Colored LPs Hold 13 Hours of BBC’s 1981 Tolkien Epic
Ian Holm played Frodo Baggins in 1981, then returned to Middle-earth two decades later as Bilbo in Peter Jackson’s films. That circular journey mirrors the stra…
July 24, 2026 · 4 min read
AI-generated illustration
July 24, 2026
4 min read
STORY · Pop
The Bronx Fly Girl Who Flipped the Billboard 200
Jennifer Lopez went from In Living Color's Fly Girl troupe to a historic Billboard 200 run. She became the first woman with a simultaneous number-one album and film in the United States.
July 24, 2026 · 5 min read
Everwest, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
July 24, 2026
5 min read
STORY · Hip-Hop
Pharrell's In My Mind at 20
A silver-certified disc in Britain, a bronze-medal debut on the Billboard 200, and a guest list that reads like a mid-2000s roll call of hip-hop royalty. The ph…
July 24, 2026 · 5 min read
Web Summit/Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
July 24, 2026
5 min read
STORY · Metal
The Day Pantera's Glam Died a Texas Death
In late 1989, Pantera entered Pantego Sound Studio to record 'Cowboys from Hell', a deliberate, violent departure from the glam metal of their early years.
July 24, 2026 · 5 min read
Cover of “Cowboys from Hell” by Pantera. Source: Cover Art Archive (coverartarchive.org)
July 24, 2026
5 min read
STORY · Metal
The Album Michael Romeo Didn't Want to Break Apart
Symphony X founder Michael Romeo fought against releasing singles from 'Underworld'. He built the album to be experienced as a single, unbroken wave.
July 24, 2026 · 5 min read
Cover of “Underworld” by Symphony X. Source: Cover Art Archive (coverartarchive.org)
July 24, 2026
5 min read
July 23, 2026
STORY · Metal
Slipknot's Antennas to Hell and the End of an Era
Slipknot released Antennas to Hell on July 23, 2012. The greatest hits compilation became an unintended memorial for bassist Paul Gray and the final document of the classic lineup.
July 23, 2026 · 4 min read
Cover of “Antennas to Hell” by Slipknot. Source: Cover Art Archive (coverartarchive.org)
July 23, 2026
4 min read
STORY · Pop
Michelle Williams: From Destiny's Child to Gospel Chart-Topper
In 2002, while Destiny's Child was on hiatus, Michelle Williams released Heart to Yours. The gospel album became the year's best-selling gospel record and launched a multifaceted solo career.
July 23, 2026 · 4 min read
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July 23, 2026
4 min read
STORY · Metal
A Cigarette, a Nickname, and 61 Years of Slash
Born Saul Hudson in London’s Hampstead on July 23, 1965, the guitarist known as Slash turned a childhood nickname into a 61-year career. His work reshaped hard rock with Guns N’ Roses and beyond.
July 23, 2026 · 5 min read
Kreepin Deth, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
July 23, 2026
5 min read
STORY · Metal
Slash at 61: The Guns N' Roses Icon's Enduring Guitar Legacy
From a black top hat to blues-inflected solos, Slash built a six-decade career that redefined hard rock guitar. His Gibson Les Paul became one of the most recognisable sounds in music.
July 23, 2026 · 3 min read
Kreepin Deth, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
July 23, 2026
3 min read
July 22, 2026
STORY · Metal
Ozzy Osbourne: The Prince of Darkness Who Redefined Heavy Metal
Ozzy Osbourne, the self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness who co-founded Black Sabbath, passed away on July 22, 2025. He left behind a legacy that shaped the sound of heavy music for generations.
July 22, 2026 · 3 min read
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July 22, 2026
3 min read
July 21, 2026
STORY
Chris Cornell: The Voice That Defined Grunge and Beyond
Chris Cornell wielded a four-octave voice that defined Seattle's grunge movement. From Soundgarden to Audioslave, his legacy still inspires musicians nearly a decade after his death.
July 21, 2026 · 3 min read
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July 21, 2026
3 min read
July 20, 2026
DROP · July 20, 2026
Rush A Farewell to Kings
Mobile Fidelity is reissuing Rush's 1977 album A Farewell to Kings as a numbered UltraDisc One-Step box set limited to 5,000 copies.
July 20, 2026 · 1 min read
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July 20, 2026
1 min read
July 18, 2026
STORY · Other
Gentle Giant: The Experimental Debut That Defied Borders
In 1970, Gentle Giant recorded their self-titled debut in London. The album blended classical influences with rock instrumentation and defied genre constraints.
July 18, 2026 · 3 min read
Cover of “Gentle Giant” by Gentle Giant. Source: Cover Art Archive (coverartarchive.org)
July 18, 2026
3 min read
July 17, 2026
STORY · Other
Laurel Aitken: From Cuban Harbors to Ska's Birth in London
Born in Cuba in 1927, Lorenzo 'Laurel' Aitken carried Caribbean sounds from Kingston's ports to London's Brixton, becoming the accidental architect of ska.
July 17, 2026 · 3 min read
Mbdortmund, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
July 17, 2026
3 min read
STORY · Other
Mike Oldfield's Exposed: The Live Album That Broke His Stage Fright
In April 1979, Mike Oldfield released Exposed, his first live album. It captured the moment the reclusive multi-instrumentalist conquered his stage fright at Wembley Conference Centre.
July 17, 2026 · 3 min read
Cover of “Exposed” by Mike Oldfield. Source: Cover Art Archive (coverartarchive.org)
July 17, 2026
3 min read
STORY · Metal
Ron Asheton: From Classical Violin to Stooges' Proto-Punk Revolution
Ron Asheton, a classically trained child prodigy who co-founded The Stooges, redefined guitar noise and became the architect of proto-punk's rawest sounds.
July 17, 2026 · 3 min read
Joe Loong, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
July 17, 2026
3 min read
STORY · Soundtracks
Vince Guaraldi: The Jazz Pianist Who Scored Childhood Memories
The piano riff was unmistakable—a bouncing, syncopated melody that instantly evoked the playful chaos of Charlie Brown and his gang. That tune, 'Linus and Lucy,…
July 17, 2026 · 3 min read
University of Santa Clara, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
July 17, 2026
3 min read
STORY · Metal
Shades of Deep Purple: The Debut That Defined a Legend
In the summer of 1968, Deep Purple released their debut album Shades of Deep Purple. It failed to chart in the UK but reached number 24 on the Billboard 200 in the US.
July 17, 2026 · 3 min read
Cover of “Shades of Deep Purple” by Deep Purple. Source: Cover Art Archive (coverartarchive.org)
July 17, 2026
3 min read
STORY · Electronic
Émilie Simon: The French Electronic Alchemist Turning 48
Conservatory-trained opera singer Émilie Simon, who shattered expectations with glitchy electronic pop, turns 48 this year.
July 17, 2026 · 3 min read
Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
July 17, 2026
3 min read
STORY · Metal
David Hasselhoff: From Knight Rider to German Rock Stardom
David Hasselhoff, born July 17, 1952 in Baltimore, became America's unlikely European rock sensation while simultaneously dominating 1980s television.
July 17, 2026 · 3 min read
Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
July 17, 2026
3 min read
July 15, 2026
STORY · Alternative
Pyotr Mamonov: The Explosive Poet of Soviet Underground Rock
Pyotr Mamonov, who died five years ago today, was a street brawler with a poet's soul. As the frontman of Zvuki Mu, he became the voice of Soviet underground rock.
July 15, 2026 · 4 min read
Дмитрий Рузов, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
July 15, 2026
4 min read
July 14, 2026
STORY · Pop
Valentina Tolkunova’s Voice Beyond Pop
Valentina Tolkunova, born in 1946, worked as a dub actor and actor as well as a singer, bringing a rare versatility to Soviet music and film. She would have turned 80 this year.
July 14, 2026 · 1 min read
Министерство культуры Республики Татарстан, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
July 14, 2026
1 min read
STORY · Metal
Kyle Gass: From 7UP Ads to Tenacious D Stardom
Kyle Gass's path to Tenacious D ran through a 7UP commercial, UCLA theatre school, and The Actors' Gang, where he met Jack Black and taught him guitar.
July 14, 2026 · 4 min read
Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
July 14, 2026
4 min read
STORY · Alternative
Dan Smith of Bastille: From Bedroom Composer to Synth-Pop Visionary
Dan Smith, the creative force behind Bastille, went from a teenager secretly writing songs in his London bedroom to a synth-pop visionary. His 2013 hit 'Pompeii' anchored a global breakthrough.
July 14, 2026 · 4 min read
Stefan Brending ( 2eight ), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
July 14, 2026
4 min read
STORY · Rock
Pelageya: From Child Prodigy to Russia's Folk-Rock Icon
A four-year-old girl steps onto a Siberian stage, unaware she's beginning one of Russia's most unconventional musical journeys. Pelageya Khanova, born Polina Sm…
July 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Skrivuts, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
July 14, 2026
3 min read
STORY · Hip-Hop
Taboo Nawasha: From Boyle Heights to Black Eyed Peas
Taboo Nawasha went from breaking on the dance floors of Boyle Heights to becoming a pivotal member of the Black Eyed Peas. His journey was fueled by resilience and a unique cultural heritage.
July 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Walterlan Papetti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
July 14, 2026
3 min read
STORY · Other
Igor Khoroshev: From Moscow Churches to Yes' Keyboards
Born in Moscow in 1965, Igor Khoroshev traded Soviet conservatories for Yes' synthesizers. The classically trained pianist carved a path from church organs to prog-rock arenas.
July 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Yes_19980619.jpg : P199 derivative work: FotoPhest ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
July 14, 2026
3 min read
STORY · Soundtracks
Nicholas Hooper's Half-Blood Prince Score Casts a Musical Spell
Nicholas Hooper's score for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince became the franchise's highest-charting soundtrack. Released July 14, 2009, it earned a Grammy nomination.
July 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Cover of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” by Nicholas Hooper. Source: Cover Art Archive (coverartarchive.org)
July 14, 2026
3 min read
STORY · Folk
Woody Guthrie: The Voice of American Folk Music
Born on July 14, 1912, in Okemah, Oklahoma, Woody Guthrie became the voice of American folk music. He chronicled the struggles of everyday people through songs like 'This Land Is Your Land'.
July 14, 2026 · 3 min read
AI-generated illustration
July 14, 2026
3 min read