Michael Cuscuna (1948-2024) - The Vinyl Guide Interview

04/21/24 • 59 min

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Michael Cuscuna (1948-2024) spent several decades preserving record label archives and compiling rare recordings, sessions and 'vault material' through Mosaic Records. In theis 2019 interview he discusses this fascinating journey through the vaults of Blue Note, Atlantic, Impulse and more to make this material available to music lovers around the world.

Starting his career, joining Atlantic
Producer and A&R for Atlantic Records
Working with the Atlantic Records tape warehouse
Early tape finds – Mingus at Antibes
Convincing Ahmet Ertegun to reissue lost material
Unissued material lost in a building fire
Starting to document and archive Blue Note tapes
Joining Blue Note, organizing the archive
Finding Alfred Lion’s notes and files in Japan
Obtaining the Francis Wolff photography negatives
Improving the condition of the negatives and imagery
Was Alfred aware of the legacy of Blue Note Records?
Did Blue Note have the original artwork and cover layouts?
Memories of the Blue Note Reissue Series
Much of the Blue Note vault materials have been issued
Trainwreck sessions that haven’t been released
Blue Note artwork in the 70s and 80s
Listening to hours and hours of outtakes
Idea for Mosaic Records boxsets
Working with various labels and rights holders for reissues
Columbia reissuing Miles Davis
Mosaic shift from LP to CD
Deciding what’s next for Mosaic Records releases
Challenges of developing boxsets
Most rewarding Mosaic Releases
Current pricing of Mosaic Records boxsets
Story of the Monk/Coltrane at Carnagie Hall
Story of the Charlie Parker / Dean Benedetti tapes
Interview wrap up

Support this podcast at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

Starting his career, joining Atlantic
Producer and A&R for Atlantic Records
Working with the Atlantic Records tape warehouse
Early tape finds – Mingus at Antibes
Convincing Ahmet Ertegun to reissue lost material
Unissued material lost in a building fire
Starting to document and archive Blue Note tapes
Joining Blue Note, organizing the archive
Finding Alfred Lion’s notes and files in Japan
Obtaining the Francis Wolff photography negatives
Improving the condition of the negatives and imagery
Was Alfred aware of the legacy of Blue Note Records?
Did Blue Note have the original artwork and cover layouts?
Memories of the Blue Note Reissue Series
Much of the Blue Note vault materials have been issued
Trainwreck sessions that haven’t been released
Blue Note artwork in the 70s and 80s
Listening to hours and hours of outtakes
Idea for Mosaic Records boxsets
Working with various labels and rights holders for reissues
Columbia reissuing Miles Davis
Mosaic shift from LP to CD
Deciding what’s next for Mosaic Records releases
Challenges of developing boxsets
Most rewarding Mosaic Releases
Current pricing of Mosaic Records boxsets
Story of the Monk/Coltrane at Carnagie Hall
Story of the Charlie Parker / Dean Benedetti tapes
Interview wrap up

Support this podcast at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

Previous Episode

Ep444: Recording Melvins with Buzz Osborne & Toshi Kasai

Buzz Osborne and Toshi Kasai have been musical collaborators for several decades of Melvins and related releases. They discuss their partnership, history, studio lessons and memories, recording "Tarantula Heart", future releases and more.

Buzz and Toshi met at a Tool recording session
Toshi and Buzz have similar humour and work ethic
Melvins work on defined time schedules
How “Tarantula Heart” was recorded
Melvins have to re-learn the songs from Tarantula Heart
Potential relation to “Plan D” recording approach
Making the 20 minute track “Pain Equals Funny”
How to approach playing “Tarantula Heart” tracks live
Melvins activity during the pandemic
Recording session with Melvins & Napalm Death
Lots of Melvins unreleased material
What has Buzz Learned from Toshi?
Buzz would like to re-record the Atlantic albums
What has Toshi learned from Buzz?
How will Buzz approach the next album?
Constraints during recording
Trying to not overthink material
Examples of sessions that were not successful
Husker Du’s “Data Control” was recorded multiple times before the Helms Alee version
Upcoming HAZEXXL remix of “Pain Equals Funny” / Boris split
Melvins recent vinyl reissues
“(A) Senile Animal” vinyl screwup
Any preparation for the end of Melvins?
Upcoming projects, albums
Interview wrap up

Order "Tarantula Heart" at Ipecac or Blixt Merchandise

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

Next Episode

Ep445: Dweezil Zappa - Return of the Son of...

Dweezil Zappa returns to The Vinyl Guide to share stories of Frank, the recordings, Frank's record collection, an unreleased track with Eddie Van Halen, discuss his tour celebrating 50 years of "Roxy & Elsewhere", "Apostrophe'" and more!

The changing world of touring
50 years since “Roxy & Elsewhere” & “Apostrophe”
Memories of the making of Roxy and Apostrophe
"Roxy and Elsewhere" arrangements and approach for live shows
Frank’s approach to being “in the moment” in a guitar solo
Dweezil’s live interaction with other band members
The Rox(postroph)y touring band
Did Dweezil recognize the uniqueness of his upbringing?
Dweezil’s history with playing guitar
Seeing the guitar neck as shapes
Working with his dad and musicians that were around the house
Frank’s response to Dweezil becoming a musician
How did Frank look back on “Roxy & Elsewhere” and “Apostrophe”?
Various entry points to Frank’s music
Does Dweezil have his father’s archivist mentality
Dweezil has had no involvement for Zappa Family Trust releases
Thoughts on the recent Roxy box sets
What Zappa music is Dweezil still aspiring to play?
ROX(POSTROPH)Y tour plans, international tour dates?
Dweezil’s version of “Stayin’ Alive” with Ozzy Osbourne
Frank and Ozzy’s interactions
Frank’s vinyl collection and listening habits
When the Zappa family would receive Frank’s latest album
Did Dweezil have any time with Randy Rhoads?
The unreleased “What The Hell Was I Thinking?” track w/ Eddie Van Halen, Brian May, Angus and Malcolm Young & lots more
Dweezil is remixing projects for ATMOS (Deep Purple ‘Machine Head’ recent project)
The history and future of “What The Hell Was I Thinking?”
Working with Brian May, Joe Walsh and Eddie Van Halen
Any special guests on the ROX(POSTROPH)Y tour
Dweezil’s podcast “Running with the Dweezil”
Interview wrap up