Sunday, March 17, 2013

HENDRIX - WAR HERO


Artist: Jimi Hendrix
Album: War Hero
Label: Reprise
Catalog: MS 2103
Year: 1972
Designer: Paul Jansen
Photographer: not applicable
Grade: **** stars



 
This is one of those covers where the appeal is hard for me to articulate.  It's certainly not the most clever, or innovative concept I've ever seen - jjust a close up drawing of Jimi Hendrix's face.  That said, there's something remarkable in Paul Jansen's cover art work.  I never met Hendrix and I'm not even a giant fan, but the close-up just seems to nail the essence of the man.  Plus I think I could grow a moustach that's at least as good as what Hendrix was sporting.)

Sunday, March 10, 2013

SCAFFOLD - FRESH LIVER


Artist: Scaffold
Album: Fresh Liver
Label: Island
Catalog: ILPS 9234
Year: 1973
Designer: Tetsunari Yoshimura
Photographer: Fin Costello
Grade: * star



 
Wow, not a lot to say here, other than Scaffold managed to come up with one of the ugliest cover concepts imaginable. 

BLOODROCK - U.S.A.

Artist: Bloodrock
Album: U.S.A.
Label: Capitol
Catalog: SMAS 465
Year: 1973
Genre: rock
Designer: John Hoernie
Photographer: not applicable
Grade: * star





Not a big Bloodrock here so take these comments with a grain of salt - the cover is probably the album highlight.  That said, I can't say I'm a big fan of John Hornie's cover.  It's colorful and kind of Peter Max-styled pop-art cool, but a tad too graphic for my tastes.   Hum, guess I could say the same thing about Bloodrock's musical catalog.