Episode #295June 13, 2025
Living Colour Vivid - What Was This?
Living Colour’s “Vivid” — Mick Jagger in the Control Room?! Full Album Deep Dive
@LivingColour #80srock #cultofpersonality #80smetal #classicrock @LivingColourMusic2
If you remember the explosion that was Living Colour’s Vivid album in 1988, this video will take you right back—guitar solos, MTV memories, and the unmistakable voice of Corey Glover.
In this episode, Robert John Hadfield and Gary Casella takes a full-on deep dive into Living Colour’s groundbreaking debut album Vivid, and all the context that came with it—from Mick Jagger’s unexpected role as producer, to the revolutionary music video for “Cult of Personality,” to Vernon Reid’s wild guitar style that somehow made chaos sound… catchy.
We look at the track-by-track progression, the bold fashion, the unexpected melodies, and the message behind the madness. You’ll hear personal stories, rare trivia (Mick Jagger dancing while producing), and a read-through of a rare 1988 Atlanta Constitution article covering the band just weeks after the album dropped.
Whether you're a long-time fan or just discovering this band, this is a trip worth taking.
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 — Mick Jagger producing… and dancing?
00:16 — MTV’s obsession with “Cult of Personality”
01:46 — Body gloves, braids, and breaking the mold
02:53 — The brilliance of hitting the chorus early
04:03 — Why the lyrics hit harder than your average ‘80s hit
05:20 — Album art breakdown: subway-style chaos meets Commodore 64
08:38 — “Vivid” is all over the place—and that’s the point
11:06 — The Glamor Boys, Flavor Flav, and genre-mashing
12:03 — Tracklist pacing: hits, misses, and the second-song stumble
12:53 — Surprise! Mick Jagger’s role revealed
15:16 — Open Letter to a Landlord and the album’s emotional pivot
16:01 — Vernon Reid’s guitar genius: chaos with precision
18:18 — Etchings on the vinyl & collectible details
21:17 — Playlist reminder and channel organization
23:07 — Full reading of the 1988 newspaper article
30:25 — Track-by-track breakdown, including a Talking Heads cover
33:13 — The album's slow burn to Grammy-winning status
34:04 — Corey Glover’s voice vs. the glam metal high-note wars
36:32 — Why Vivid still matters—and where the band is now
37:14 — Call for comments and memories
@LivingColour #80srock #cultofpersonality #80smetal #classicrock @LivingColourMusic2
If you remember the explosion that was Living Colour’s Vivid album in 1988, this video will take you right back—guitar solos, MTV memories, and the unmistakable voice of Corey Glover.
In this episode, Robert John Hadfield and Gary Casella takes a full-on deep dive into Living Colour’s groundbreaking debut album Vivid, and all the context that came with it—from Mick Jagger’s unexpected role as producer, to the revolutionary music video for “Cult of Personality,” to Vernon Reid’s wild guitar style that somehow made chaos sound… catchy.
We look at the track-by-track progression, the bold fashion, the unexpected melodies, and the message behind the madness. You’ll hear personal stories, rare trivia (Mick Jagger dancing while producing), and a read-through of a rare 1988 Atlanta Constitution article covering the band just weeks after the album dropped.
Whether you're a long-time fan or just discovering this band, this is a trip worth taking.
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 — Mick Jagger producing… and dancing?
00:16 — MTV’s obsession with “Cult of Personality”
01:46 — Body gloves, braids, and breaking the mold
02:53 — The brilliance of hitting the chorus early
04:03 — Why the lyrics hit harder than your average ‘80s hit
05:20 — Album art breakdown: subway-style chaos meets Commodore 64
08:38 — “Vivid” is all over the place—and that’s the point
11:06 — The Glamor Boys, Flavor Flav, and genre-mashing
12:03 — Tracklist pacing: hits, misses, and the second-song stumble
12:53 — Surprise! Mick Jagger’s role revealed
15:16 — Open Letter to a Landlord and the album’s emotional pivot
16:01 — Vernon Reid’s guitar genius: chaos with precision
18:18 — Etchings on the vinyl & collectible details
21:17 — Playlist reminder and channel organization
23:07 — Full reading of the 1988 newspaper article
30:25 — Track-by-track breakdown, including a Talking Heads cover
33:13 — The album's slow burn to Grammy-winning status
34:04 — Corey Glover’s voice vs. the glam metal high-note wars
36:32 — Why Vivid still matters—and where the band is now
37:14 — Call for comments and memories
Chapters
00:00
Mick Jagger producing… and dancing?
00:16
MTV’s obsession with “Cult of Personality”
01:46
Body gloves, braids, and breaking the mold
02:53
The brilliance of hitting the chorus early
04:03
Why the lyrics hit harder than your average ‘80s hit
05:20
Album art breakdown: subway-style chaos meets Commodore 64
08:38
“Vivid” is all over the place—and that’s the point
11:06
The Glamor Boys, Flavor Flav, and genre-mashing
12:03
Tracklist pacing: hits, misses, and the second-song stumble
12:53
Surprise! Mick Jagger’s role revealed
15:16
Open Letter to a Landlord and the album’s emotional pivot
16:01
Vernon Reid’s guitar genius: chaos with precision
18:18
Etchings on the vinyl & collectible details
21:17
Playlist reminder and channel organization
23:07
Full reading of the 1988 newspaper article
30:25
Track-by-track breakdown, including a Talking Heads cover
33:13
The album's slow burn to Grammy-winning status
34:04
Corey Glover’s voice vs. the glam metal high-note wars
36:32
Why Vivid still matters—and where the band is now
37:14
Call for comments and memories
