“Don’t Scratch The Vinyl.”
A music podcast hosted by Chad Jones
Each episode will be Chad breaking down a classic album in its entirety. The show will discuss the context of when the record was released, why it mattered in real time, and what music fans can take from the compilation today. Chad will conduct episodes solo or with a guest.
Van Halen: 5150 / David Lee Roth: Eat "Em and Smile
In the 1980s fifth calendar flip through, Van Halen had once again scaled to the top of Rock ‘n’ Roll Mountain. After hitting a slight speed bump in the commercial and critical acclaim department early in the decade, Van Halen plastered “The Mighty” back in their moniker with their 6th studio album, 1984.
At this point, it seemed like Van Halen was indestructible. But as fate would have it, the disease of more, ego, creative differences, and simmering frustrations would boil over and forever change the band's tenor. 15 months after 1984’s release, Van Halen was left without a lead singer…
On April 1st, 1985, Van Halen and David Lee Roth filed for a musical divorce. While stories still conflict over whether Dave quit the band or Van Halen fired him, enough evidence points to the two sides mutually agreeing to part ways.
The original Van Halen run was over. But Eddie and Dave still had many musical chapters to write. In 1986, their first full year as separate entities, both Van Halen and David Lee Roth proved they still had plenty left in their creative tanks.
30 Jul 2026
Sublime: Self-Titled
Over the decades, Southern California has bestowed humanity a treasure trove of iconic groups, albums, scenes, stories, and songs. But the territory’s desired way of life and one-of-a-kind ambiance was best musically depicted by a Long Beach trio’s self-titled effort that was released as a posthumous tribute to their fallen frontman.
After bumming around the backyard party/club circuit for years, Sublime was set to enter a new era in 1996. In May, the band was primed to release their major label debut that summer after recording sessions in Austin, Texas. On a west coast tour, the crowd was in a frenzy of appreciation taking in live renditions of songs set to come off the new record. But lamentably, the band’s voice, guitarist, and soul would not live long enough to truly realize just how much his music would positively impact the world.
19 Jun 2026
AC/DC: High Voltage
AC/DC is stripped, down n’ dirty, rock n’ roll as God intended. Heavy guitar riffs, rippin’ musical sequences, and lyrics so suggestive they would make Mother Teresa blush. The quintet from down under formed in Sydney, Australia, in late 1973. And after a myriad of early lineup changes, the band rounded into form 2 years later.
1975 would be a crucial year for AC/DC. The band released their first 2 studio albums under EMI in their homeland of Australia. The group’s first record, titled High Voltage, debuted in the Land Down Under on February 17th, 1975. Later that year, on December 1st, T.N.T. was made available for purchase in Australia and New Zealand.
Atlantic Records saw the potential and inked AC/DC to a major label deal. In 1976, the band was ready to distribute their sound worldwide. So, with 2 records already under their belt, the Aussies decided to pick out the best of the bunch for their debut international album.
Armed with new cover art but the same title as their Australian debut, AC/DC unleashed their first international record in Europe and the UK on April 30th, 1976. The supercharged High Voltage jumped across the pond and landed in the United States on May 14th of that year. The record consisted of 9 songs from the band’s first 2 home-country releases. 2 tracks would come from the original High Voltage, while 7 songs were pulled off of T.N.T.
The album was primed to leave its mark on the music world. Some saw the group as an irritating skid mark fouling up rock as they knew it. While others, who would be vindicated many times over as AC/DC would go on to become one of the most successful, beloved, and enduring bands in history, welcomed this rockin’ stampede of renegades that masterfully balanced a dangerous demeanor with a light-hearted attitude.
23 Apr 2026
The Ramones: Debut Album
In the mid-1970s, there was nothing about the rock n’ roll lifestyle that was relatable or obtainable for fans of the genre. The simple chord play and familiar song structure that dominated primitive rock music were things of the past. By the genre’s third decade, intricate and complicated instrumental play had fully taken a death grip on rock.
During that same time, New York City had seen better days. The region was full of dilapidated buildings and sketchy characters. The era of The Rat Pack and Mickey Mantle running around the bright lights and big city was gone. It was now Travis Bickle’s Big Apple.
And with the angst and frustration of New York literally and figuratively falling apart, a rocking revolution was taking place. Deep into the borough of Queens was the neighborhood of Forest Hills. And that is where a gang consisting of four guys donning leather jackets, tattered sneakers, and worn-out jeans formed to forever change what rock music could look and sound like.
On April 23rd, 1976, The Ramones’ debut record was released to the masses. Their cover art was eye-popping, a black and white photo of the four guys leaning against a brick wall in their iconic punk rock garb. Inside the album sleeve contained 14 tracks that combined did not quite crack the half-hour threshold. But the foursome accomplished more in 29 minutes than some bands achieve in 29 years.
31 Mar 2026
Metallica: Master of Puppets
By the time Master of Puppets came out on March 3rd, 1986, Metallica was truly ready to make the jump to the big time. For 6 months that year, they were the opening act for Ozzy Osbourne. It would be the last time the band played second fiddle to anyone on tour.
Metallica's third studio album grabbed mature concepts and meshed them perfectly with gripping, emotional, and vibrant instrumental play. The album sounded even more operatic and larger than live compared to the group's two previous records. Themes of war, the system, and losing hope were at the heart of one of the most important rock records of the 1980s.
Metallica had been building to this for years, and it led to the band pushing themselves and the metal genre into untreaded water. But unfortunately, 1986 was also the year a tragic incident forever altered the band’s very foundation.
2 Mar 2026
Recapping KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas/Show Update
The first time I attended KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas, I arrived holding sweaty resumes while riddled with anxiety. Just two years later, the lead singer of The All-American Rejects was telling me he recognized my face from social media.
This past December, I attended 106.7 KROQ's 34th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas as a member of the press. I was excited to see bands like Rise Against, Social Distortion, Third Eye Blind, and others on that bill in person. It was an experience I will never forget.
This episode includes an update on the program, including what has been happening at the start of the year and what albums the show will discuss in 2026.
1 Jan 2026
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers: Southern Accents
Smack dab in the middle of Ronald Reagan’s Presidency, Tom Petty wanted to remind the world that even though he had moved to California in the mid 70’s to pursue a music career, he was born a rebel in Gainesville, Florida who grew up with a southern accent.
The sixth installment of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers was released on March 26th, 1985. Southern Accents showcases Petty coming to grips with his southern heritage. This album dives into the complexities that arise when sharing the pride you have in your homeland with outsiders who will not always appreciate your culture. Taking in this collection of songs feels akin to enjoying a conversation with the rocker himself.
29 Oct 2025
No Doubt: Tragic Kingdom
No Doubt was dripping with talent, creativity, and attitude. Trying to put the Anaheim band in a genre box was as difficult as trying to pin a simple label on David Bowie. They used horns, keyboards, guitars, pianos, drums, bass, vocals, and spirit to express themselves. No Doubt could be classified as Ska, Punk, Alternative, Pop, depending on who you ask. But regardless of whichever distinction you choose, the term “unique” must accompany said description.
In October of 1995, No Doubt invited the world on a tour through a Tragic Kingdom. Armed with a myriad of songs; some pumped with adrenaline, others sprouting sun beams, and a few dripping with emotion, Gwen Stefani and the lads were primed to catapult into the music stratosphere.
1 Oct 2025
Green Day: Dookie
In April of 1993, the Bay Area trio known as Green Day made the jump to the big leagues when they signed with Warner Brothers. The band was ready to unleash their sound under the backing of a major label They wanted to harness their live energy on an album and share it with the world. What followed was one of the most important albums of the 1990s and the record that finally launched punk rock out from the underground doldrums and into the bright lights of mainstream music.
Dookie premiered on February 1st, 1994 under WB’s Reprise Records. At the time, it acted as a fresh way to introduce punk rock to a starving clientele who received some morsels of the genre through other artists. In the years that followed, the record would serve as a significant influence for the upcoming rendition of rock bands. And for people searching for a punch from the alternative neighborhood, well, Green Day’s Dookie has always been more than happy to supply the fist.
10 Sept 2025
Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited
In early 1965, with already four folk records under his belt and enough critical praise to satisfy even Axl Rose, Bob Dylan was preparing one of the great Zags in music history. In March, the folk community was waiting with bated breath for another acoustic centric, poetic album from Dylan.
But instead, he threw a curveball and electrocuted his audience by batting "Subterranean Homesick Blues" leadoff for Bringing It All Back Home. The record’s title was a red herring, as Dylan was leaving his humble folk cabin for a rock n’ roll high rise.
For the first time, he brought in an assortment of musicians for an album. While he had some assistance in the studio before, this collection was not going to just be focused in on Dylan and his 6 acoustic strings.
While the record would still include some pulls from his old bag of tricks, such as the endearing “Mr. Tambourine Man,” it was clear Dylan was taking his career in a different direction…down Highway 61…
And on August 30th, 1965, Bob Dylan unleashed Highway 61 Revisited to the masses. It became a defining cultural document for Dylan, rock, folk, the 60s, and anyone who ever took a left because everyone wanted them to take a right.
20 Aug 2025
The Offspring: Smash
One of the most potent albums to come from a 90’s California group sold over 11 million copies despite being distributed on Epitaph Records, an independent label. During this time, the voice and leader of these Garden Grove punks was a white guy with braids who had earned two biology degrees from the University of Southern California. Their lead guitarist was an elementary school janitor whose nickname was, and still is, Noodles. And the band’s name was inspired from a 1987 horror film titled, The Offspring they were born to kill.
In April of 1994, the Orange County foursome came out with their 3rd album, titled Smash. In an era where rock bands were tapping into mainstream fame on major labels, The Offspring were going at things the old fashion way: word of mouth, local radio play, and dynamite music.
6 Aug 2025
Aerosmith: Toys in the Attic
In 1975, Aerosmith pulled out all the bells, whistles, and harmonicas for their third studio album. Toys in the Attic is riddled with tracks that were destined to grace classic rock radio until the end of civilization. The record also contains a slew of numbers that would assist in cultivating Aerosmith’s diverse catalog. The Bad Boys from Boston's footprint on 70’s culture was set in stone, but this record ensured Aerosmith would forever be considered rock n’ roll royalty.
22 Jul 2025
Nirvana: MTV Unplugged In New York
On November 18th, 1993, Nirvana was primed to bare their sensitive sides in an intimate setting. Armed with acoustic guitars, well placed microphones, a cello, flowers and candles fit for a funeral, a surprise musical guest, cigarettes, tea, an office chair, and a set list woven together from a potent combination of cover and original songs, The Grunge God's were set to create one of the defining cultural documents for the last decade of the 20th century.
Kurt Cobain’s last album with Nirvana was released posthumously on November 1st, 1994. While it would have been a haunting record without the connection to tragedy, the LP takes on an almost mythical significance with the world having to say good-bye to the iconic front-man all too soon.
30 Jun 2025
Van Halen: 1984
Van Halen's members, including Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth, create their sixth studio album, 1984, which blends synthesizers and guitars to define the 1980s music scene.
11 Jun 2025
Don't Scratch The Vinyl: Introduction Episode
Host Chad Jones introduces "Don't Scratch The Vinyl," a music history podcast, and shares the format of breaking down albums song by song to provide context and lasting relevance.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 21 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
28
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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