SKIN ALLEY - TWO QUID DEAL

Artist: Skin Alley

Album: Two Quid Deal

Label: Stax
Catalog: STS 3012

Year: 1973

Designer: Ron Gordon and the Grafe

Photographer: not applicable

Design J. Edward Barker

Grade: ** star



Overlooking how this British blues-rock outfit ever got signed to Stax (as if a soul label would have a clue in terms of how to market the band), the J. Edward Barker cover illustration probably didn't help non-existent sales.  Mickey Mouse's deviant brother offering the buyer a tab of LSD soaked cheese ?   I've always found the grinning mouse kind of disconcerting.

BOOT - "BOOT" ON GUINNESS

 
Artist: Boot

Album: Turn the Other Cheek

Label: Guinness
Catalog: GNS 36002

Year: 1977

Designer: not listed

Photographer: not listed

Design not listed

Grade: **** star




SInce this one was released on a known taxscam label (Guinnesss), it shouldn't come as a major surprise that there were no credits for the album artwork.  That said, the cartoonish cover looked an awful lot like something R. Crumb might have done.  Maybe that's the cover's appeal to my eye.  

LES MCCANN - Live at the Bohemian Caverns

Artist: Les McCann

Album: Live at the Bohemian Caverns Washington D.C.

Label: Limelight
Catalog: LM 82046 (mono) LS 82046 (stereo)

Year: 1963

Designer: not listed

Photographer: not listed

Design not listed

Grade: **** star



C'mon, even if you're not a beebop fan, you've got to admit the cover art is clever.  Great color scheme and a wonderful concept.

PERTH COUNTY CONSPIRACY - Breakout To Berlin

Artist: Perth County Conspiracy

Album: Breakout To Berlin

Label: Rumour
Catalog: KC 1015

Year: 1977

Designer: Abie Sussman and Bob Defrin

Photographer: not applicable

Design artist: Noel

Grade: *** star

 

 

I'm at somewhat of a loss to explain why I like this one - the bright color; the Brandenburg Gate cover?   The weird story behind the album - hippy Canadian band records an album in East Germany ...

DENNIS COFFEY - Back Home

Artist: Dennis Coffey

Album: Back Home

Label: Westbound
Catalog: WB 300

Year: 1977

Designer: Abie Sussman and Bob Defrin

Photographer:
Design artist: Bruce Evans
Grade: * star (miserable)



Hum, I guess you could blame the artistic concept on the era - after all it was the mid-1970s when smoking was still considered to be a normal social activity ...  how many of you can remember ashtrays on restaurant tables?   Does't matter - it's still a hideous album cover.  Simply awful.   Makes me want to go rinse with mouthwash. 

BAMBOO - Grandpa was way cool in '69

Artist: Bamboo

Album: Bamboo

Label: Elektra
Catalog: EKS-74048

Year: 1969

Designer:

Photographer:
Design artist: not applicable
Grade: ** stars



I shouldn't point a finger at anyone since there are some hideous photos of earlier style mistakes I've made - stay away from my high school yearbook unless you want to see the plad prom suit ...  Regardless, you have to admit that Dave Ray and Will Donicht  may have set the standard with their '60s hippy threads !!!  Way cool there guys and I bet the grandkids are impressed as all. About the only things missing are the love beads and a Nehru jacket.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - Springsteen's coolest package - Greetings from Asbury Park

Artist: Bruce Springsteen

Album: Greetings from Ashbury Park

Label: Columbia
Catalog: KC 31903

Year: 1975

Designer: John Berg

Photographer: Tichnor Brothers
Design artist: not applicable
Grade: **** stars

 

I love the beach; been going there since I was a young child (Alabama and Delaware rather than the Jersey shore), which might partially explain why I think this is such a cool cover. The tacky, detachable, oversized beach postcard is just a classic.