bad album covers
Every Grade 8 art teacher has done the requisite album cover design with his/her class (I'm no exception) resulting in at least one unpublished candidate, and every vinyl album collection has at least one that was actually published. My personal favourite from my childhood was my parents' Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass LP "Whipped Cream and Other Delights." I always wanted to be the whipped cream lady and my brothers, once they hit puberty, simply wanted the whipped cream lady. Since Rudy sent me the link to the Museum of Bad Album Covers website I have resisted, knowing how deeply this kind of thing can suck you in, but finally relented tonight in a moment of weakness. The classics are endless, but I was particularly enchanted by these historic -- and banned -- offerings from the Beatles.
The fab four pose with a collection of dismembered babies in this lovely design for the US album "Yesterday and Today." nb this cover was withdrawn shortly after release, and copies are known to change hands for $10,000!
John Lennon and Yoko Ono's legendary bad album cover for "Two Virgins." I didn't include this one initially, as I thought that the sight of John and Yoko naked may have been just too traumatic for the more sensitive souls out there. However several emails pleading for its inclusion have made me relent.
I could spend hours here.
posted by andrea at 7:55 p.m.
21 Comments:
I especially like the first album covers - the ones where the band/artist is still young, optimistic and clueless.
Bring on the nostalgia! :)
Thanks for the link. I am heading over there right now!
My parents have cartons of vinyl records up in their attic. Some are them are prety far out.
The cover with John and Yoko... oi
At school we didn't officially do album covers but of course that didn't stop me.... I wonder where its gone... if I find it I'll blog it... but it was pretty bad...
These are awesome ! The Beatles...wow...that one is something ! My husband would also like to check that site out I'm sure.My Son just picked up an old Police album at the Flea Market and we recently got him an old record player to use.
these are great!! Thanks for the link, but you're right - I'll have to pick my time to visit!!
I too must check out this site...as far as the ones you posted,wow! pretty much sums it up. :)
a.
Virgins? Yeah, right!
Sheesh just what were Yoko and John Lennon thinking? Crazy folks!!
The H.A. Whipped Cream album has a section where the whipping doesn't cover the form that it's put on, but you can't see it here. I actually find the naked John and Yoko rather refreshing - imagine publishing nude pictures without extensive retouching to make everything look perfect! They look like two regular naked people instead of fantasy creatures.... Those were the good old days! And now...I think I'll check out the site:>
Great post! I love the memories these covers evoke. Never saw the Beatles one though! must ... resist ... the other link though!
lovely blog...will return!
Kyknoord: What's really sad is when they're still doing it after a decade or two...
Chitty: Save/steal the tackiest, kitschyest (i.e. good) ones. They'll be worth a fortune one day.
Caroline: Was it your interpretation of the latest Bay City Rollers offering maybe? :) (I can hardly wait.)
Sheri: I loved the Police when I was but a youf. I had all their albums in vinyl. IMO you are the coolest mum.
Megg and Andrea: I just went WOW when I saw them, too. They actually appeal to my subversive side a whole lot.
Cream and Tammy: You dare question the queen and her consort?!?
Carla: I remember that about the album now. Thanks for reminding me. And I secretly admire J&Y for having the chutzpah to stand by their convictions, too, even if it also conformed to their exhibitionist tendencies. :o
Susan: Missed you in my responses. Thanks for visiting and resistance is futile...
I'm with your pubescent brothers...yummy.
yes, I was watching Antiques Roadshow and they said this dolls head album is worth a fortune!!! J&Y were so ahead of their time!
What a brilliant link - thank you!!
Incidentally, did you know that Delia Smith baked the cake on the Rolling Stone's LP, Let it Bleed?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Bleed
Nomad: I didn't know that! I remember being given Let It Bleed for Christmas from a roommate once. He was shocked to discover that it wasn't in my, by then, fairly extensive collection. Now *that's* a great album cover.
Thanks for the link! I still have all of my albumns( including Woodstock). My sons grew up listening to them.
I wish i had shot the whipped cream and other delights album cover. It's so bad it's good. :)
No not bay city rollers... ;-)
I invented a band, Glue, (they may or may not have ever really existed but if they have I've never heard of them) and I did a cover for their second album called of course "Glue II".... I haven't been able to find it so I'll describe it... it was all in ink and watercolour washes... the main subject was a broken flower pot from which came forth a tongue shaped projection of what I hoped looked like glue... on the back was a huge spider... the only compliment I got on this whole effort was that the spider had nice knees...
P.S. My email in isn't working at the moment so if you've sent anything recently I've not been able to read it... our ISP seems to be having a problem ;-(
Seen the link. Really really kitch. OMG I still have the ABBA Spanish album... LOL! I'm an oldie!
What a great link. Wee Hee. Thanks Love.
love
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