Zone-Magazine-Wally-Lopez-Issue-040

If you where staying on a lonely
island for 1 year which 3 vinyls would
you take along and why?
Ah, that always difficult question, haha! It changes
every day, but here we go: Air with Moon Safari, because it's
a perfect pop album. Great songs and beautiful production. I
like a good sound. It also brings together styles – pop,
lounge, 70's rock – which I really like. A timeless classic. I
also choose the Ramones' first album, because that band
blew away the cobwebs of the 70s. For me it is still the
ultimate rock & roll album. I have seen the band live many
times and those concerts are still in my Top 10. Just as I am
glad that I ever interviewed most of the original band
members. For the third album I choose Judas Priest with
Unleashed In the East. It is typically a live album with songs
that are all better than the original studio versions. It is also
mainly the album that ignited my love for metal in the late
1970s. But then again, tomorrow it could be different
choices. The jazz and classical department is the fastest
growing department in my collection, to name just one
example.
In your book you say it all started
when your sister gave you the “Blue”
double album by The Beatles. Do you
still listen to the that album?
Ha, well noticed. The 'Blue' double LP that I
received a long time ago was already second-hand.
Apparently my sister was too frugal to get me a new one –
just kidding. But seriously: I traded it in a long time ago for
a mint Japanese pressing from the 1970s. I'm not
sentimental about that. I also have the re-issues that came
out later, such as the 3-LP version from last year. For me,
there are still few albums that bring together as much good
music as that blue compilation 1967 – 1970 by The Beatles.
I still put it on regularly. The Beatles are never boring.
the right direction. Music has meant a lot to my life, both
privately and professionally.
How happy are you seeing that vinyl
is back into the mainstream? & what
are your thoughts about colored
vinyls and all the other limited
editions that are being sold these
days?
I'm extremely happy with the return of vinyl
to the mainstream. I am especially happy that young
people are also discovering that the LP is the most
ideal way to really listen to music. Purchasing and
playing an LP requires a certain commitment, while
the music is divided into pleasant chunks of about
twenty minutes. LPs also often have memories
attached to them, because of the store where you
bought it or because of the person who gave it to you.
I really enjoy seeing how young people build such memories.
Last Saturday was Record Store Day. In a store I visited I
saw a girl of about 10 euphorically dancing away with an
Olivia Rodrigo single. My heart jumped. That's the future of
vinyl! Well, and about colored vinyl. I know people are
complaining about it. It's a bit much, but I think the market
will eventually correct the industry. I remember that there
was also colored vinyl in the 70s. The very first pressing had
a colors. The early buyers were lucky. It would be nice if it
went back to that, instead of 10 different color variants.
Thank your for your time. It was a
pleasure talking with you. Anything
you want to share with us?
Thanks. Your welcome. Famous last words: support
your local record store!
Would you share another career
defining moment with us that made
you the music loving man you are
today?
In the early 80s I saw the band Golden Earring live.
My first pop concert. It was an extremely impressive
experience. It was a world I wanted to belong to, although it
took a long time for that to become reality. Funnily enough,
my first serious interview was with Rinus Gerritsen, the
bassist of Golden Earring. It was such an inspiring
experience that I thought: I want to continue with that. Not
much later I took care of his archive, which much later
resulted in a book: Golden Earring – The American Dream.
Written together with Jeroen Ras. There have been many
experiences and encounters that have given me pushes in