Thursday, January 28, 2016

WE FIVE "TAKE EACH DAY AS IT COMES"


Artist: The We Five
Album: Take Each Day As It Come
Label: AVI
Catalog: 6016
Year: 1977
Genre: pop
Grading: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Cover Designer: not listed
Cover photography: not applicable
Grade: **** star





Having grown up in the '70s there are certain things that bring back that timeframe.  This cover's one of those triggers.  It's not that I have any particular attachment to the album from my teen years (in fact I didn't even know this album existed until I was in my 50s), rather there's just something in the anonymous "happy" artwork that screams '70s timepiece.  

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

JAMES WELLS "MY CLAIM TO FAME"

Artist: James Wells
Album: My Claim To Fame
Label: AVI
Catalog: 6045
Year: 1978
Genre: disco
Grading: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Cover Designer: The Committee
Cover photography: not applicable
Grade: * star



I grew up in the late '70s when folks were under the impression air brushing was a life-styled choice, not just an art form.  Folks air-brushed everything; their walls, their vans, etc.  Life every aspect of life, there is good and there is bad.  The same is true when it comes to the "art" of air brushing.  Unfortunately, the cover to James Well's debut album falls in the latter category.  I'm guessing this was meant to have kind of an art deco flavor?  Instead it has a guess-nobody-knew-how-to-draw flavor.  I guess that's why they went with the liner notes that gave credit (or blame) for this hideous cover to "The Committee".   (Be warned the four disco tunes inside the sleeve weren't any better.)

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Gospel Oak "Gospel Oak"

Artist: Gospel Oak
Album: Gospel Oak
Label: Kapp
Catalog: KS 3635
Year: 1970
Genre: country rock
Grading: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Quantity: SOLD
Cover Designer: not listed
Cover photography: not listed
Grade: **** stars


This is one of those albums where the cover's the highlight - nothing wrong with the album.  It's decent, modestly entertaining country-rock with an English rock edge (you can read my review at: http://badcatrecords.com/BadCat/GOSPELoak.htm ).

Anyhow, the cover is stunning.  Just look at the size of that English oak tree !!!   Simply amazing.  Wonder what the story of the tree is.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

THE ELECTRIC PRUNES "MASS IN F MINOR"

Artist: Electric Prunes
Album: Mass In F Minor
Label: Reprise
Catalog: RS 6275
Year: 1968
Genre: progressive/psychedelic
Grading: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Quantity: 1
Cover Designer: David Thrasher
Cover photography: not listed
Grade: **** stars


You could make the argument this album was the first rock mass ...  Creative mainstay David Axelrod seemed to have written the material with a true sense of dedication (wonder if he was Catholic) and even though the album's odd mix of Latin lyrics, religious overtones, and psychedelic sounds is an acquired taste, the cover was certainly eye catching.     

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

SAVOY BROWN "WIFE FIRE"

Artist: Savoy Brown
Album: Wire Fire
Label: London
Catalog: PS 659
Year: 1975
Genre: blues-rock
Grading: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Quantity: 1
Cover Designer: Glenn Ross
Cover photography: Buddy Rosenberg - Bob Levy
Grade: **** stars

 
There are so many cool Savoy Brown covers I have to admit I'm a little surprised this was the first one to make the list.  That probably has something to do with the fact this is the first Savoy Brown album I've listed to since I started the blog ...   So, the photo effects are a little dated - remember this album came out in 1975; decades prior to Photoshop.  Regardless, it's the concept that counts and equating Kim Simmonds blistering guitar runs with flames coming out of his fingers was a near perfect concept.    C'mon, you know you love this one as well.

Sunday, January 3, 2016

HOG HEAVEN "HOG HEAVEN"

Artist: Hog Heaven
Album: Hog Heaven
Label: Roulette
Catalog: SR 42057
Year: 1971
Genre: rock
Grading: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Quantity: 1
Cover Designer: not listed
Cover art: not listed
Grade: * star

 
Three days into the new year and I have my first candidate for the ugly covers list ...  I know bands frequently don't have a lot of say when it comes to cover art.  I'm guessing that if you were signed to a Morris Levy controlled label like Roulette you had even less say.  On the other hand, since record companies are in the business to make money, you'd think they'd have an interest in picking a cover that would attract buyers rather than repel them.   Not sure what happened here.  I can only speculate that between the initial idea and the end result, something went horribly astray.