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Feb 12, 2016 By Hays Davis Web Exclusive

Vinyl drops us into the pre-Internet music business of 1973, a period where a hundred-dollar handshake might open doors to airplay, well before anything as civilized as market research was considered. Created by Mick Jagger, Martin Scorsese, Rich Cohen, and Terence Winter (the creator of Boardwalk Empire), Vinyl follows Richie Finestra (Boardwalk Empire‘s Bobby Cannavale), the founder and president of American Century Records, as he struggles with what might be the death throes of his label. Directed by Scorsese, the pilot unveils a colorful group of characters that could legitimately have “Sex, drugs, and rock & roll” embossed on their business cards.

Cannavale is ideal for the role of Richie, a man with a good ear and a deep-rooted love for music who climbs to prominence from humble beginnings in the ‘60s, but the cast as a whole will likely draw viewers back to a world of Humble Pie and Frampton’s Camel performing on radio’s “King Biscuit Flower Hour” and business being conducted by rotary-dial car phone. As Richie draws near a deal with a group of Germans for the sale of American Century, one that hinges on the signing of Led Zeppelin, a number of memorable scenes ripe with entertaining period references underscore the plight of the label’s staff. A meeting turns heated when Richie scorches those present for not seeing the commercial appeal of ABBA (“Who knew Vikings could sing?” is overheard after someone sees their 45’s picture sleeve) and for letting The Good Rats slip away. Office assistant Jamie Vine (Juno Temple) offers a possible saving grace with The Naughty Bits, a young new band led by singer Kip Stevens (James Jagger, son of Mick Jagger). And when Frank “Buck” Rogers (a scene-stealing Andrew Dice Clay), the owner of a chain of radio stations, threatens a boycott of American Century airplay over an incident with Donny Osmond, Richie is drawn into a series of events that could threaten everything.

Head of promotions/payola master Zak Yankovich (Ray Romano), giftedly shady head of sales Skip Fontaine (J.C. MacKenzie), and ill-fated artist Lester Grimes (Ato Essandoh) are among the engaging characters who could ensure that Vinyl lives as much more than a destination for leisure suits, coke noses, and Foghat. (www.hbo.com/vinyl)

Author rating: 7.5/10