Welcome back to One for the Vinyl Den, the monthly music discovery series on the Friday Vinyl Club Podcast!
Looking for fresh music recommendations spanning jazz, soul, indie folk, and emotional pop?
Every month, host Ollie curates a personalized playlist of 5 emerging or classic tracks he’s been spinning on Spotify and sends them over to Papa (Jamie) for a week of repeat listening. Then, they sit down in the studio to connect, debate what worked, and decide which single track earns the ultimate honor: being pressed onto an imaginary custom 7-inch vinyl record for the family den.
After last month's indie rock and global discoveries, Ollie’s July selections lean heavily into emotional vulnerability, smooth jazz standards, stripped-back indie folk, and soul-stirring ballads.
EPISODE ROADMAP & TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Episode 1 Recap & July Intro: Moving from last month's indie rock into a quieter, more emotional batch of songs.
03:23 - Late-Night Jazz & Grooves: Unpacking Tom Misch's "Red Moon" and his connection to Loyle Carner.
09:37 - A 1950s Jazz Standard: Discovering Sarah Vaughan's "I'll Close My Eyes" and a surprising 25-year-old Quincy Jones link.
16:19 - Independent Indie Pop: Analyzing Jack Mernin's "Back and Forth" and the emotional push-and-pull of modern songwriting.
21:54 - Cinematic Indie Folk: Hans Williams' "Hold My Love" brings quiet emotional power and Passenger-inspired vibes.
26:42 - Reconnecting with a Live Memory: James Smith's "My Angels" and memories of seeing him live in Manchester.
33:29 - The Final Pressing: Papa makes his official decision on which track gets pressed to the custom 7-inch vinyl record.
OLLIE'S JULY PLAYLIST HIGHLIGHTS
"Red Moon" by Tom Misch: A warm, minimalistic late-night groove featuring stripped-back acoustic guitar, space, and a fun studio Easter egg for sharp-eared listeners.
"I'll Close My Eyes" by Sarah Vaughan: An astonishing 1950s jazz standard recorded live in Paris with a 55-piece orchestra, produced by a 25-year-old Quincy Jones.
"Back and Forth" by Jack Mernin: A driving indie pop track with a clever rhythm and vulnerable lyrics exploring the emotional push-and-pull of modern relationships.
"Hold My Love" by Hans Williams: A gentle, anthem-like indie folk track with Passenger vibes that builds with quiet emotional power and reassurance.
"My Angels" by James Smith: A powerful, heart-on-sleeve ballad with strong vocal presence and lived experience, building naturally around themes of family, love, and protection.
THE 7-INCH VINYL DEN SELECTION
After a week of repeat listening and debate, Papa narrows down his top contenders to make the final call.
The Winner: Listen to the episode to find out which track took top honors and earned a spot in the den!
The Vibe: Emotional vulnerability, timeless vocal performances, and reconnecting through shared live gig memories.
CONNECT WITH THE CLUB!
Playlist: Listen along on our official One for the Vinyl Den companion playlist on Spotify.
Instagram: Say hello, vote for your favorite track, or see our latest spins @jamieb1NINE73
Email: Got a 5-track playlist challenge for us? Email us at TheFridayVinylClub@hotmail.com
Which of these 5 tracks would you choose to press onto a 7-inch vinyl record for your own collection? Drop us a message or leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, we’d love to feature your pick in the next episode!
