WEST COAST POP ART EXPERIMENTAL BAND - "A CHILD'S GUIDE TO GOOD & EVIL"

Artist: West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band
Title: A Child's Guide To Good & Evil
Label: Reprise
Catalog: RS 6208
Year: 1968

Genre: psych
Art Direction: Ed Thrasher
Cover photo:  John von Hamersveldt

Grade: ***** stars

There are thousands and thousands of psychedelic album covers out there.  This one easily gets into my top-10 list.  It lacks the rainbow of colors typical of psychedelic offerings, but that might be part of what makes this such a great cover.

Baltimore's John von Hamersveldt is probably best known for designing The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour", but over a career starting in the mid-'60s, he's designed 300+ covers, including The Stones' "Exile On Main Street", The Jefferson Airplane's "Crown of Creation" and The Beach Boy's "WIld Honey".  All are stunning, but this may be my favorite.

Here's a link to von Hamersveldt's website: http://jvh.cool/

MILT JACKSON - "SUNFLOWER"

Artist: Milt Jackson
Title: Sunflower
Label: CTI
Catalog: CTI 6024
Year: 1972

Genre: jazz
Art Direction: Bob Coano
Cover photo:  Peter Turner

Grade: **** stars

Maybe because I just saw the film Jamanji 2, this cover came to my mind.  I'm not at zoologist, but I'm guessing those are ostriches on the cover?  No matter, the late Peter Turner's image of the heads silhouetted against the sun made for a stunning cover.



Turner was responsible for dozens and dozens of albums covers; most for the CTI jazz label.  There's even a book featuring his work and a fascinating website devoted to his work:  http://peteturner.com/

VARIOUS ARTISTS - "A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS"

Artist: various artists
Title: A Very Special Christmas
Label: A&M
Catalog: SP-3911
Year: 1987

Genre: rock
Art Direction: Keith Haring
Cover art:  Keith Haring

Grade: ***** stars

Even if you are not into art, there's a good chance you've seen the work of the late Keith Haring.  I don't know what you would call it ...  Grafitti?  Pop art?  Street Art?  To me it really doesn't matter since there's something charming and uplifting in the simple, almost child-like Christmas themed cover he provided for this 1987 charity album intended for the Special Olympics.

There's a ton of Haring information on the web.  A good place to start is the Wikipedia link on the artist:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Haring

PAT TRAVERS - "RADIO ACTIVE"

Artist: Pat Travers
Title: Radio Active
Label: Polydor
Catalog: PD-1-6313
Year: 1981

Genre: rock
Art Direction: Bob Heimall
Cover art:  Digital Effects

Grade: **** stars

I'll make these comments short and to the point - I love the unusual color contrast effects.  Very '80s !!!