Ep524: Population II - Randy Holden's Enduring Legacy

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Guitar pioneer Randy Holden reveals how record label incompetence destroyed his 1970 masterpiece Population II, leading to depression, exile in Hawaii, and eventual vindication through cult status.

Get Population II and III at Riding Easy Records or preorder Population II reissue at Noble Records online

Topics Include:

• Randy Holden is surprised Population II remains influential after recording it in 1970
• He knew it would be big—there was nothing like it musically then
• Population II was ready to release with Sun Amplifiers sponsoring monthly magazine ads
• National promoters wanted to book shows but needed the album released first
• Hobbit Records delayed release for eight or nine months, destroying Randy's career
• The label wouldn't release the record or let Randy out of his contract
• Owner Leonard Poncher's background was Latino music and auto parts wholesaling
• Randy was creating a new form of music that became known as heavy metal
• Poncher's lawsuit with MCA distribution completely tied up the album's release
• Recording Population II went smoothly with Randy overdubbing all bass parts himself
• He used four to eight amps recording through a Fender Jazz Bass
• Engineer Hank Cicalo placed three mics at different distances for guitar tone
• Randy pioneered mixing through car speakers instead of massive studio monitors
• His original mix had full dynamics with sweeping highs and lows
• Mastering engineers destroyed the mix, cutting frequencies to prevent needle skips
• Randy joined Blue Cheer replacing Dickie Peterson but left over musical differences
• Blue Cheer wanted shorter songs while Randy pursued extended musical compositions
• He formed Population II with Chris Lockheed on keyboards and organ bass pedals
• The name meant two people creating massive sound usually requiring four musicians
• Randy's guitar journey began with Fender IV, then Sons of Adam
• The Other Half featured Randy's early heavy guitar work before Blue Cheer
• He recorded Guitar God album in 1997 after decades away from music
• Nobody knows the original Population II pressing number
• Recent remasters by engineers in New York and Smokey Taylor improved the sound
• Randy's broken ring finger now prevents him from playing guitar properly
• He manipulated audiences' emotions playing solos through walls of amps for thousands
• Randy considers music like movies—"Land of the Sun" is theatrical drama
• Playing live was his reason for living, creating heavenly musical moments
• His legacy continues through reissues on Riding Easy Records reaching new generations

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