CHICK COREA AND THE SMURFS

Artist: Chick Corea
Album: Friends
Label: Polydor

Catalog: PD-1-6061
Year: 1978
Art Designer: Chick Corea
Photography: Stanley Gainsforth
Grade: **** stars

 

C'mon, how can you not love a cover that features the Smurfs.  Corea himself came up with the cover concept.   I'm guessing that having spent a great deal of time touring Europe, he became aware of the Smurfs franchise several years before they became popular in the US.   Interestingly Corea doesn't seem to have bothered getting legal rights to use the Pierre Culliford's characters for the cover.   That my explain why Polydor subsequently created an alternate cover for European releases of the album.   Perhaps comfortable they wouldn't get sued in the States, Polydor didn't bother re-packaging the US release.







For anyone curious, here's what the alternative cover looked like. 

STEALERS WHEEL - SELF TITLED 1973 LP

Artist: Stealers Wheel
Album: Stealers Wheel
Label: A&M

Catalog: SP 4377
Year: 1973
Art Designer: Patrick Byrne
Photography: not applicable
Grade: **** stars

 

I've always found the late Scottish painter John Patrick Bryne's primitive paintings fascinating.  I'm apparently not the only person to feel that way.   He's created work for The Beatles (who contemplated putting one of his works on the cover of what became "The White Album"), Donovan, The Humblebums, a slew of Gerry Rafferty LPs, and a couple of Stealers Wheels collections.  Anyhow, rather than reinvent the wheel, courtesy of the Vinyl Revolution Blog, here's a link to a short, sweet, and informative overview of Byrne's career:

http://blog.vinylrevolutions.co.uk/2012/04/18/john-patrick-byrne/

 

DAVY AND THE BADMEN - WANTED!

Artist: Davy and the Badmen
Album: Wanted!
Label: Gothic

Catalog: WA 063-64
Year: 1963
Art Designer: unknown
Photography: unknown
Grade: ** stars

 

My ten year old saw this one and said he could design a better cover.  I believe him. 

RICHARD ALEXANDER - JESUS IS MY BATTLESHIP

Artist: Richard Alexander
Album: Jesus Is My Battleship
Label: Alex

Catalog: RA 101 A/B
Year: 19??
Art Designer: unknown
Photography: unknown
Grade: ***** stars

 

There's just something fascinating about a Gospel/soul album featuring a cover that reflects one of the most efficient killing machines known to mankind.  I'm sure Alexander was trying to underscore the strength of his belief.   I certainly can't criticize that.  On the other thand I'm not sure how Jesus would feel having his name slapped on the side of an American battleship, though I suspect he wouldn't see it as an honor.  

OUTSIDERS (DUTCH) - WONDER WHAT THE LIABILITY ISSUES ARE ...

Artist: Outsiders
Album: Outsiders
Label: Relax

Catalog: 30.007
Year: 1967
Art Designer: unknown
Photography: unknown
Grade: **** stars

 

C'mon, you've got to admit this was a pretty cool idea ... let's put the band in a large wooden crate and hang them from a massive crane over an Amsterdam harbor loading pier.   Oh, tell the band to look like they're having a good time, or we'll drop their sorry butts into the water.   By the way, Wally Tax and the band delivery a classic '60s R&B and beat band album.  

FOCUS - DUTCH MASTERS

Artist: Focus
Album: Dutch Masters
Label: Sire

Catalog: SSAD 7505
Year: 1975
Art Designer: Fred Marcellino
Painting: David Byrd Artists Associates
Grade: **** stars

 

I'm old enough that I can remember cigarette and cigar advertisements being run on television (geez that seems so long ago).   Anyhow, this 1975 Focus "greatest hits" package had a hysterical cover concept based on an old Dutch Masters cigar boxes.   Maybe it's a reflection of my age, but I thought it was funny (and no, I don't smoke cigars, or cigarettes).

SPENCER BAREFOOT - UGLY FEET

Artist: Spencer Barefoot
Album: Spencer Barefoot
Label: Magna Glide
Catalog: MGS 323116
Year: 1977
Art Designer: Stephen Soban
Photographer: Sarah Longacre
Grade: * star




In spite of the artist name, this album apparently featured a series of demos recorded by a guy by the name of Spencer Tracy.   Released by bubblegum pop masters Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz on their Magna Glide label, about all you can say is the cover concept was somewhat lacking.  No idea who PEO was, but the man had some of the ugliest feet I've ever seen.