Watch Vinyl

Vinyl is an American drama television series set in the 1970s music scene in New York City. Produced by Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger and Terence Winter, it premiered on HBO in 2016. The show revolves around the life of Richie Finestra, portrayed by Bobby Cannavale, a record executive trying to save his struggling company, American Century Records, and his moral compass while navigating sex, drugs, rock and roll, and the cutthroat industry politics.

The series is an exploration of how music and the industry took on a life of their own during the tumultuous period of American history. Filled with music from major musical artists from the time and referenced by the cast, Vinyl captures the spirit of the era with a nod to some of the real characters who made it happen.

The show is set in stark contrast to the polished, clean-cut image of many of today's moguls, and Finestra is a reflection of the era's excessiveness, corruption, and moral depravity. As Richie struggles to balance his role as a businessman with his love for rock and roll, he becomes entangled in a web of deceit, blackmail and tragedy.

The cast of Vinyl is a winning lineup that, in addition to Cannavale, includes Ray Romano, Olivia Wilde, Ato Essandoh, Max Casella, P. J. Byrne, J. C. MacKenzie, Birgitte Hjort Sorensen and a host of others. However, it's the dynamic between the leads, Cannavale and Wilde, as Finestra and his artistic wife, Devon, that is particularly intriguing. Though they are struggling to keep their relationship together, their love for music and each other will keep them coming back as they face the devastating consequences of their choices.

No character is left untouched in Vinyl. The viewer is taken through the often ugly, but always engaging world of the music industry, and its colorful characters. Through it all, the true force of the show is Finestra, who is a captivating character, edgy, charismatic, arrogant, and yet undeniably grateful for the chance to make his mark on the world.

The visual style of Vinyl is slick and edgy, and the soundtrack is a force to be reckoned with. The use of iconic music from the era, from glam rock to punk, is used to give the show an intricate layer of atmosphere. The opening sequence, featuring the soaring Electric Light Orchestra track “Stranger,” cues audiences to the time period in which it is set. From there, the show uses its soundtrack expertly, weaving a tapestry of sounds that reflects the zeitgeist of the time, from Black Sabbath to David Bowie.

Vinyl takes the gritty and the rawness of the era and expertly channels it into this intense drama, filled with intense and sometimes tragic character moments, political battles, and amazing musical performances that punctuate the series.

Overall, Vinyl is a textured, high-quality drama that captures the soul of the 70s. It's a gritty, unvarnished snapshot of a time and place akin to Mad Men or The Sopranos in its ability to transport audiences back to a place few may have experienced. Though the series only had one season before it was canceled, the legacy of Vinyl in the pantheon of music-centric dramas is assured.

Vinyl is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (10 episodes). The series first aired on February 14, 2016.