121. Isaac Slusarenko Discusses Bubble Puppy, A Gathering of Promises

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YMAAA has never been visited by the head of a record label or proprietor of a record store, but this week’s guest, Isaac Slusarenko, is both! Isaac runs the Jackpot Records label and store, and on this week’s episode, he introduces Al to Texas-based psychedelic rock band Bubble Puppy and their lone album, 1969’s A Gathering of Promises. Isaac talks about how he learned about this band and this album and how it changed the way that he sought out new music to listen to. Isaac also explains how he wound up opening the Jackpot Records store more than 25 years ago and which new releases we can expect from the label,.

Follow Isaac and Jackpot Records on Twitter and Instagram at @jackpotrecords!

Also be sure to visit the store’s website at jackpotrecords.com.

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1:09 Isaac joins the show

1:52 Isaac talks about why he opened Jackpot Records

3:32 Al remembers learning about Djangos

5:38 Isaac explains why A Gathering of Promises is a special album for him

12:17 Isaac talks about other small label discoveries he made, emboldened by his discovery of Bubble Puppy

15:59 Isaac discusses Bubble Puppy’s second iteration called Demian

17:08 Bubble Puppy inspired Isaac to make a pilgrimage to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

18:03 There is a Bubble Puppy-Funkadelic connection

19:44 How was “Hot Smoke and Sassafras” a top 20 hit??

21:41 Bubble Puppy reminded Al of a lot of other bands

24:30 Bubble Puppy apparently had a following in England

26:13 Mike Mills is a fan of the album

26:52 Al doesn’t know if this is an album he’ll go back to often

28:19 Isaac talks about the importance of an album’s artwork

30:17 Isaac doesn’t find it easy to single out favorite tracks

33:33 Isaac reveals some of his other finds

37:51 Isaac discusses the origins of the Jackpot Records label

40:00 Isaac talks about how he determines what gets published on his label

44:21 Isaac reports on Jackpot Records’ upcoming releases

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