JOHN LENNON AND THE PLASTIC ONO BAND

Artist: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
Album: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
Label: Apple
Catalog: SW 3372
Year: 1970
Designer: not listed
Photographer: Dan Richter
Grade: **** stars

 

 

In contrast to the pastoral cover photo which captured John Lennon and Yoko Ono lazing about in New York's Central Park, his first post-Beatles LP is a pretty challenging listening experience.  Later known as an actor, Dan Richter, then working as an assistant to Lennon and Ono, took the photo with a throw-away instamatic camera.   And I guess that's what makes it so appealing to me - the photo is gorgeous and you'd never know it captured two of the most famous people on the planet ... 

HOTGUN - GUINNESS TAX SCAM RELEASE

Artist: Hotgun
Album: Hotgun
Label: Guinness
Catalog: GNS 36014
Year: 1977
Designer: not listed
Artist: not listed
Grade: **** stars

 

 

Most releases on the Guinness tax scam label didn't carry design credits (or even performance credits) and this 1977 release is no exception.  So first let me say I'm not some kind of gun nut.  I don't have a gigantic collection in my home, nor do I worship at the feet of the NRA. In fact, as the parent of two young sons, the subject matter is a bit troubling.  That said, the cover has a distinctive '70s feel that's always reminded me of something Ray Lichtenstein might have done which gives it a certain "wow" factor.  Guinness certainly didn't spend a lot of money on the cover art and in many respects the artwork is better than the music.  

GEOFF MULDAUR AND AMOS GARRETT

Artist: Geoff Muldaur and Amos Garrett
Album: Geoff Muldaur and Amos Garrett
Label: Flying Fish
Catalog: FF 063
Year: 1978
Designer: Laura Karp
Artist: Yasu Yogi
Grade: **** stars

 

 

Folk art ?  American primitive ?   Beats me and frankly I don't really care since Yasu Yogi's cover art is simply stunning.  Great concept (the fact they were signed to the Flying Fish label made it even funnier); great colors ...   a classic cover. 

FLEETWOOD MAC - HEROES ARE HARD TO FIND

  Artist: Fleetwood Mac
Album: Heroes Are Hard To Find
Label: Reprise
Catalog: MS 2196
Year: 1974
Designer: Des Strobel
Photographer: Herbert Worthington
Grade: * star
 





 

This is one of those covers where you have to wonder what the record company was thinking about. Hum, let's slap a cover of a young Mick Fleetwood prominently showing
off his rib cage to the audience - that'll excite the buying public. I'm thinking not.  Admittedly the kid at Fleetwood's feet was cute (I'm guessing it was one of his offspring).  Still, if you were going for the cute concept, wouldn't you have wanted to slap a cover of the young Christine McVie on the cover - personally I would much rather have seen her ribs that Fleetwood's ...

So as an out of shape guy in my mid-'50s I'm in no position to point a finger at anyone. On the other hand I know I'm an out of shape guy in my '50s and I would never dream of  subjecting folks to this kind of a display ...  nobody needs to see a Scott B. on display like this !!!

That said, the album did hit the top-40 in the States and Fleetwood did have an affair with the young Stevie Nicks so what do I know about rock and roll ...

 

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.)

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.