Sleazy Compilations

Compilations were ostensibly a form of promoting a record label's artists. Sometimes they had  discernible themes, but as often they seemed arbitrarily thrown together. Throughout the 60's and 70's most of these anthologies maintained a level of sleaziness congruent with the "anything for a buck" music industry cliche. Often, they lacked basic information other than performer and title of the piece. The text, if any was usually embarrassingly turgid and irrelevant. The art and design usually embodied the shameless, tawdry lack of care put into the project.


It's difficult to believe that these often abysmal albums  sold well. Masterpieces and vapid ephemera sometimes cheek to jowl. 

Uncharacteristically appealing artwork for this Ellington compilation.

The back is a glorified advertisement for other RCA products.

Quintessential sleaze -- in glorious mono for your listening pleasure. 

"It's the Super Stars. And the Poets. It's the innovators and the Underground. It's the Loners and the Lovers. And it's more. Much more..." Text from Rock Machine, CBS England.

Contemporary British Isle folk music -- almost. Steeleye Span recorded a novelty version of the Buddy Holly song, which is included here and which provides the incongruous title for this motley collection which is an insult to all involved. 

Note: The left side of the front photo wrapped around to the rear  providing an interesting image for the back of the album; A camera fashioned from a large Lipton Tea container. "Rave On!"

Klaus Kinski

Ten inch discs. Great covers.

Inner Sleeve Advertising

The inner sleeve of an LP as a vehicle for promoting other records is both a logical and "cost effective" idea. Yet, I wonder how effective this sort of advertising  actually was. Obsessives such as  myself would never subject our records to such rough paper. We changed them into plastic or cellulose sleeves; but these surviving artifacts offer glimpses into the past: the changing  fashions, lables that have vanished or been swallowed up by corporate consolidations and of course some quality music that manages to endure. 

The Osmonds, Stevie Nicks, Lindsay Buckingham  and Chick Corea -- what a wonderful family.
Does anyone remember the Oyster and Spring labels?

Ravi Shankar, The 50 Guitars of Tommy Garrett, Ornette Coleman and Bob Lind.
All promoted as equal entities to either sink or swim in the market place.

Eclectic offerings from Mercury. Rod Stewart was hot back then as was Chuck Mangione. Not so Jade Warrior or Stray.

ECM was always focused on contemporary jazz, composition and improvisation.
Creative with a capital C, Serious with a capital S. No releases titled: Keith Jarrett Having Fun At The Beach or The Playful Sounds Of Jan Garbarek. 

Nonesuch boasted an impressive classical and international music catalogue, long before "world music" became fashionable.

Verve Jazz.

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Pretty Pictures

I'm not sure what the theme for this post actually is. Perhaps "It's been a truly long time since the last update." or "Pretty Pictures."

These are examples of albums I have no desire to listen to -- not even once. I just enjoy the images and typography. The first selection was a joke gift from a friend. Music by Dorian -- Yeah -- like the name would impel someone to purchase the album. The title was actually the catchphrase for a Hamms Beer advertisement in the 1960's if memory serves beer. 

Dig those yellow shades.

Another artifact from an unfathomable art department from long ago.

The Lonely Bull

On a recent jaunt up  California's central coast I browsed a few thrift stores.

Amazing how the selection of scruffy L.P.s is virtually interchangeable with what I thumbed through in the late 1970's: easy listening, "inspirational songs", soundtracks (the obligatory 

"South Pacific") garden variety pop. Same stuff for decades now --minus the crazy surprises, I scored in the past: "Faperdockly" (worth some bucks), or a silly version of "Obla De Obla Da" by some Japanese guy (not worth anything, but fun to listen to). The dealers have picked everything clean. Does anybody still look and listen simply for delight?

In the past I would have grabbed "Caboom" just for the cover, but a snapshot with my iPod is now sufficient. I'll leave it to be discovered by some kids; I imagine a gawky guy and his cool girlfriend snagging it and hanging it on their apartment wall. Just as likely some hoarder will add it to his pile of detritus. 

Garden Variety Thrift Store Records

Not So Garden Variety; Looking Good Ms Lopez!

More Childhood Detritus

Official Big Mickey Mouse Club Record.
Does not feature Eric Dolphy.

The artwork mirrored the way life looked to me as a child - and still does;
grotesque and often frightening.

Caper-Cutting Cartoon Star.

Manufactured By Synthetic Plastics Co.
No affiliation with the Organic Plastics Co.

Little Red Riding Hood, offset on left in a different style  --
It works.

'To borrow a much-used phrase, "This Popularity Must Be Deserved!"'
 An extract from the sleeve-text.

The longer you stare, the more demented it seems...

The sleeves survived in better condition than the records.
And me for that matter...

Song'N Story Time, Kid's Bible Club

Sword Records/Waco, Texas