# PINBALL MUSIC ON VINYL

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2023-05-19  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2023/05/19/pinball-music-on-vinyl

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## Analysis

Jackpot Records, a Portland-based music label and record store, has released a limited-edition two-album vinyl set called 'Jackpot Plays Pinball' featuring original music from classic Williams and Bally pinball machines from the 1980s-90s. The set includes 10 games across two volumes with special splatter-design variants limited to 500 units, priced at $59.99 for the combo set. Label founder Isaac Slusarenko expressed interest in continuing the series.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Jackpot Records was founded in 1997 as a record store in Portland, OR, with the label beginning in 2004 — _Direct quote from Isaac Slusarenko to Pinball News_
- [HIGH] The Jackpot Plays Pinball vinyl set features original recordings from Williams/Bally games spanning 1986-1996 — _Article explicitly lists Pinbot (1986) through Tales of the Arabian Nights (1996)_
- [HIGH] The limited-edition splatter design set is limited to 500 units — _Article states 'limited to 500 units' for Jackpot Exclusive Edition_
- [HIGH] Isaac Slusarenko grew up in the late-1970s/early-1980s and owned a Gottlieb Abra Ca Dabra pinball machine as a kid — _Direct quote from Isaac to Pinball News_
- [HIGH] The recordings are officially licensed through Planetary Pinball and SG Gaming — _Article states licensing explicitly_

### Notable Quotes

> "Pinball and records are more similar than people think. I get pinball themes stuck in my head just like a song."
> — **Isaac Slusarenko, Jackpot Records founder**
> _Articulates the artistic parallel between vinyl records and pinball music as cultural artifacts_

> "My vision for the label was not to be locked into a specific genre of music, but instead records I feel that music fans should own, or records that slipped through the cracks that needed to be rediscovered by a new audience."
> — **Isaac Slusarenko**
> _Explains label philosophy and why pinball music fits within the broader vision_

> "We're very interested in continuing the series."
> — **Isaac Slusarenko**
> _Signals potential for future pinball music vinyl releases beyond these two volumes_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Jackpot Records | company | Portland-based music store and record label founded in 1997, specializing in vinyl records; label division began 2004 |
| Isaac Slusarenko | person | Founder and operator of Jackpot Records; pinball enthusiast and record collector |
| Jackpot Plays Pinball | product | Limited-edition two-album vinyl set of music from classic Williams/Bally pinball machines |
| Williams/Bally | company | Classic pinball machine manufacturers whose game soundtracks are featured on the vinyl set |
| Planetary Pinball | company | Licensing partner for the Jackpot Plays Pinball release |
| SG Gaming | company | Licensing partner for the Jackpot Plays Pinball release |
| Pinbot | game | 1986 Williams pinball machine; featured on Volume 1 of Jackpot Plays Pinball |
| Tales of the Arabian Nights | game | 1996 pinball machine; featured on Volume 1 of Jackpot Plays Pinball |
| Attack from Mars | game | Williams pinball machine featured on Volume 1 |
| Medieval Madness | game | Williams pinball machine featured on Volume 2 |
| Funhouse | game | Williams pinball machine featured on Volume 2 |
| Theatre of Magic | game | Williams pinball machine featured on Volume 2 |
| Abra Ca Dabra | game | Gottlieb pinball machine that Isaac Slusarenko owned as a child |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Pinball music licensing and production, Vinyl record collectibles and releases, Classic Williams/Bally game legacy
- **Secondary:** Adjacent market: retro music and nostalgia collectibles, Music licensing and IP management

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — Article presents the release as an enthusiastic creative project celebrating classic pinball music; no criticism or controversy present. Isaac's passion for both pinball and music is clearly communicated and the product receives straightforward, favorable coverage.

### Signals

- **[market_signal]** Pinball music and culture gaining traction in adjacent markets (vinyl/music collectibles); classic game soundtracks being repositioned as standalone artistic products for broader audiences (confidence: medium) — Jackpot Records launching dedicated two-volume vinyl series of pinball music; Isaac emphasizes parallel between pinball themes and songs; label vision is cross-genre discovery
- **[licensing_signal]** Classic Williams/Bally music rights accessible for third-party licensing through Planetary Pinball and SG Gaming, enabling new product categories (confidence: high) — Article states recordings 'officially licensed through Planetary Pinball and SG Gaming'; original 1980s-90s recordings used, not re-recorded
- **[market_signal]** Limited-edition FOMO strategy applied to vinyl collectible: 500-unit run of splatter design variant at premium pricing (confidence: high) — Jackpot Exclusive Edition limited to 500 units; splatter variant priced at $59.99 vs individual volumes at $29.99 each

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## Transcript

Music store and record label, Jackpot Records, has released a new limited-edition two-album set of music taken from classic Williams/Bally pinball machines, called Jackpot Plays Pinball.

![The two volumes of Jackpot Plays Pinball](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/jackpot-plays-pinball/05-jackpot-plays-pinball.jpg)

The two volumes of Jackpot Plays Pinball

Based in Portland, Oregon, USA, and run by Isaac Slusarenko, Jackpot Records is a popular music store selling multiple formats but specialising in vinyl. In addition, it also re-releases music under its own label.

Isaac told Pinball News, “Jackpot Records started in 1997 as a record store located in Portland, OR where I grew up. The record label began in 2004 and so far has released over 100 records by artists like Devo, Willie Nelson, The Wipers, Mudhoney, Etta James and many more. My vision for the label was not to be locked into a specific genre of music, but instead records I feel that music fans should own, or records that slipped through the cracks that needed to be rediscovered by a new audience.“

This latest release by Jackpot Records takes original music recordings from Williams and Bally pinballs of the ’80s and ’90s, ranging from 1986’s Pinbot to 1996’s Tales of the Arabian Nights.

Here are all the games featured:

Volume 1:

 Pinbot
 Taxi
 Black Knight 2000
 Attack from Mars
 Tales of the Arabian Nights

Volume 2:

 Banzai Run
 Funhouse
 Fish Tales
 Medieval Madness
 Theatre of Magic

The records are available in two versions – in transparent red (volume 1) and transparent blue (volume 2), or in a limited edition ‘Combo Splatter’ design in red/gold and blue/green.

![The gold splatter disc from the two-volume set](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/jackpot-plays-pinball/01-jackpot-plays-pinball.jpg)

The gold splatter disc from the two-volume set

The albums are available to pre-order through the Jackpot Record website. The $59.99 two-volume set is available in a Jackpot Exclusive Edition with the ‘splatter’ design which is limited to 500 units and includes free shipping within the US, although the company does ship internationally too at extra cost. Individual volumes retail for $29.99 plus shipping.

![The team splatter disc from the two-volume set](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/jackpot-plays-pinball/02-jackpot-plays-pinball.jpg)

The team splatter disc from the two-volume set

The recordings are original tracks used in the pinball games, not more-modern re-recordings, and are officially licensed through Planetary Pinball and SG Gaming. That means some of the tracks are reasonably short, allowing between 9 and 23 recordings per side.

![Details of Volume 1](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/jackpot-plays-pinball/03-jackpot-plays-pinball.jpg)

Details of Volume 1

After working with established artists, we asked Isaac why he made the move into releasing pinball music. He told us, “Pinball and records are more similar than people think. I get pinball themes stuck in my head just like a song. There were so many good pinball themes that we made two volumes to accommodate them. These albums fit with the label’s vision of having people discover not only pinball but music.“

![Details of Volume 2](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/jackpot-plays-pinball/04-jackpot-plays-pinball.jpg)

Details of Volume 2

There is also a promo video for the two volumes.

[](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/news/jackpot-plays-pinball/06-jackpot-plays-pinball.mp4)

The promo video for Jackpot Plays Pinball

Isaac is no stranger to either pinball or music. “I grew up as a kid of the late-’70s/early-’80s playing pinball and collecting records. I was lucky to have parents who were amazingly supportive of these interests and surprised us with our own Gottlieb Abra Ca Dabra pinball.”

Asked if this might be lead to even more volumes of pinball music, Isaac said, “We’re very interested in continuing the series.“

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: d0485c3c-4d60-4202-9f47-e50ca5223527*