Saturday, October 22, 2016

SPIRIT "SPIRIT OF '84"


Artist: Spirit
Album: Spirit of '84
Label: Mercury
Catalog: 422 818 514-1- M-1
Year: 1984
Genre: rock
Grading: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Cover Painting: The Torch Barer (collection of Lou Adler and Jack Nicholson
Art Direction: Patti Heid - Art Ache
Grade: ** stars



Given it was in Lou Adler and Jack Nicholson's art collection, this painting must be worth a bundle.  That doesn't make it any more attractive as an album cover.   LOL

Sunday, October 9, 2016

FAMILY - "BEST OF FAMILY"


Artist: Family
Album: Best of Family
Label: Reprise
Catalog: K54023
Year: 1974
Genre: rock
Grading: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Cover Painting: Byron Harvey
Art Direction: not listed
Grade: **** stars



As far as I can tell, if you're English soccer isn't just a sport, rather it's almost a religion. No idea if Roger Chapman and the rest of the band were major soccer fans, but given their working class roots, it makes sense.  Any how the Byron Harvey album cover.was cute and the compilation featured most of their hits.

Sunday, October 2, 2016

HUMBLE PIE - "STREET RATS"


Artist: Humble Pie
Album: Street Rats
Label: A&M
Catalog: SP 4514
Year: 1975
Genre: rock
Grading: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Cover Design: Michael Ross
Art Direction: Fabio Nicoli
Grade: ** stars



Seriously.   Street rats are not a good idea on any album cover ...

THE MOVE - "THE BEST OF THE MOVE"


Artist: The Move
Album: The Best of the Move
Label: A&M
Catalog: SP 3625
Year: 1974
Genre: rock
Grading: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Cover Design: Roland Young
Photo: not applicable
Grade: **** stars



Easy explanation for this one - I'm a big Roy Lichtenstein fan and the "cartoon-ish" styled cover art reminds me of his style. By the way, this double album set is one of the all time best compilations ever released.

Saturday, October 1, 2016

STEELY DAN "AJA"


Artist: Steely Dan
Album: Aja
Label: ABC
Catalog: AB 1006
Year: 1977
Genre: rock
Grading: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Cover Patriicia Mistui and Geoff Westen: 
Photo Hideki Fujii
Grade: ***** stars



I was a freshmen in college when this album came out (note the term album - showing my age here).  My roommate bought the album first and we played it time after time after time on his little stereo system.  I can remember staring at the cover and just being mesmerized by its mysterious simplicity.  After a couple of beers it was simply mesmerizing.   

Ironically Alabama is playing Kentucky as I type this (17 - 3 start of the third quarter).  This will be one of the albums played at my wake.