Saturday, November 25, 2017

PETER IVERS - "TERMINAL LOVE"














Album: Peter Ivers
Title: Terminal Love
Label: Warner Brothers
Catalog: BS 2804
Year: 1976
Genre: new wave
Grading: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Sleeve design:--
Concept: --
Cover photo: --
Grade: **** stars

Peter Ivers is definitely an acquired taste.  This album even made Spotify's list of the 101 strangest albums ever released.  That aside the cover art is a hoot.  The photo perfectly captures the pain of love.

Sunday, November 19, 2017

AL GREEN - "LIVIN' FOR YOU"

Album: Al Green
Title: Livin' For You
Label: Hi
Catalog: ASHL 32082
Year: 1973
Genre: soul
Grading: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Sleeve design:Tom Daly
Concept: Farmlett, Barsanti & Wood Inc.
Cover photo: --
Grade: * stars



One of Al Green's classic, mid-'70s albums ...   Not one bad song on the set and it's packaged in something that looks like it was drawn by a stoned high school student looking to decorate his Chevy van.  You had to wonder what Green and Hi were thinking and what the album might have done commercially had it been presented in a slightly more elegant concept.

THE REDS - "THE REDS"

Artist: The Reds
Album: The Reds
Label: A&M
Catalog: SP-4772
Year: 1979
Genre: new wave
Grading: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Sleeve design:Amy Nagasawan
Concept: Amy Nagasawan
Cover photo: Tom Drahas
Grade: **** stars



Tons of new wave albums had striking covers and crappy music.  Philadelphia's The Reds debut album featured a striking cover and a decent set of new wave-ish tunes. That made for a winning combination all the way around.

Saturday, November 11, 2017

FRJID PINK - "FRIJID PINK


Artist: Frijid Pink
Album: Frijid Pink
Label: Parrot
Catalog: PAS 71033
Year: 1970
Genre: rock
Grading: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Sleeve design:Victor Kahn
Concept: Victor Kahn
Cover photo: Jeff Bailey
Grade: **** stars



Admittedly, the cover design showing band members Tom Beaudry (aka Kelly Green), Tom Harris, Richard Stevers, and Gary Lee Thompson) sitting on top of a monkey bar set wasn't all that original.  What makes this one stand out are the startling, day-glo colors.  The pink and black are almost retina burning, making for an album package that jumps out at you from a mile away.