If I see a box of records at a yard sale, I apologize to Janie and dive in until I've examined them all (or at least all of the covers). I don't care what you say about digital technology and the evils of "pops", nothing beats the acoustic purity of sound on analog vinyl records.
This won't be about the music though. This article is about some of my favorite album art. if you go down the hallway in our flat, you'll see some of them tacked on the wall.
I have purposely avoided same of the most obvious choices, and rather I'll just say yes I agree, Zeppelin had some great album covers, as did Oingo Boingo, Zappa and The Stones. I've sought here to show you some of my other favorites - maybe some you haven't seen before.
For the title to make sense, I must explain that almost all of these were bought at yard sales for anywhere from a quarter to $2. The entire series Would You Buy This or Not? is about the great things you can get at yard sales.
Let's have a look!
Apparently there was a documentary called Janis, and here is the two-record soundtrack. Along with some of her well-known songs, it has interviews and recordings of her singing in a coffeehouse with dishes clattering. I used to have it on 8-track, and then years later blew probably $25 to buy the LP online.
What moves me about this album cover is her expression. If anyone wants you to tell them what her music was about, show them this:
While we're on expressions, I love the inside cover of McKinley "Muddy Waters" Morganfield's record Electric Mud. This was the great Blues man's take on acid rock, and while some say it's a perfectly awful record, it's a fave of mine. What did Muddy think of it? Well, you tell me: 
David Bromberg's Wanted Dead or Alive has some stunning music on it, and for the cover art, they took on a spoof of King Kong:
Here's something a lot more colorful. I'm not crazy about Heart's music any more - I'm really not sure what I saw in it frankly - but this is the most evocative album cover I have ever seen. It promises, "Buy this record. The music in here will send your heart flying."
When it comes to 1950s music, I have a rule of thumb that the cheesier the album cover, the better the music. This, my first ever purchase of cha cha cha and mambo music, did not disappoint. The expressions on both faces are wonderful, but that dress is way cool.
Another time, where the art was excellent, the music wasn't good at all.
I can hear this next picture, even if the music on the Grateful Dead record sounds nothing like what the picture makes my imagination play. Look at the face of the singing turtle. Look at the joyous dance of the other.
Squeeze's greatest hits album Singles, takes a spin on an alternate meaning of the word, showing a middle-aged man out cruising the bars and after a few drinks caught in the act of pinching his own butt.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this a katydid here on the front of Katy Lied? 
In 1975, Dr. Hook released their last record of what I and a lot of people would call biker music. Almost simultaneously they released a record of bubble gum music. It seems they were - perhaps - bankrupt, and needed to explore the possibility of playing music that was softer and more accessible. The bubble gum record took off, and the biker band record (titled Bankrupt), merely served to thrill those of us who love Dr. Hook for what Dr. Hook used to be when Shel Silverstein wrote most of their songs. These are images from the front and back of Bankrupt:
For me, the record It's a Beautiful Day is emblematic of the hippie longing for a simpler time, a return to nature. I've never had any trouble selling these records for $25 or more. It must be the cover, because I can't see the appeal in the music.
Theme albums sometimes result in the most fabulous music, like Nilsson Schmilsson (theme: wee hours of the night) and Jethro Tull's Aqualung (theme: life of a creepy old man). In Thick as a Brick, Jethro Tull brings the theme out onto the album art in a very effective way. The theme here is a little boy, wise and corrupted way before his time, writes poetry about the cynicism and corruption of the adult world.
King Crimson's cover for In the Court of the Crimson King, sports - wow - this:
Fleetwood Mac also used to be a completely different band than the one that scored fabulous commercial success. In those early-70s days, their records sported great art, including this from arguably their best record:
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It snowed yet again today. Contrary to reputation, it doesn't usually snow this much in the Twin Cities. Even if there was no snow, there wouldn't be any yard sales. The snowy days are the warm ones, and on the days it doesn't snow it can be like a blast freezer. So, until we can get out to some yard sales, I'll continue to do targeted features of things we've found at sales in past years.
Next week: folk art and ethnic crafts
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Comments: 51
Maria, a friend of mine went on vacation and while he was gone he framed album art and hung it in the stairwell going up to the upper level of his building. When people got to the top, there was a list of prices and a note telling people to slip money under the door. I don't know if he sold any or if any were stolen, but it was vintage Jeff and Michelle.
The recording industry doesn't care about art anymore, Peter. I agree. No kind of art, except for maybe the writing of Ayn Rand.
Thanks for the tour.
Cheryl, thank you. Even if there were great art on the music today, it's too small to see. Of course, some records came with posters folded up inside. I'm still looking for the Cheech and Chong Big Bambu record that still has the rolling paper in it.
My whole collection of LP albums and covers burned in our fire and I never tried to replace any of them..... I didn't collect them for the covers, but because I enjoyed the artist - Roger Williams (I had every single one of his LP's) Nat King Cole en Español (there were three of them, with him singing popular songs from the Latin Americas) and I had all of several other bands and performers..... oh well.........
The chart topping lineup of Fleetwood Mac got me into their back catalog. I loved Mystery and have it and Bare Trees on CD. Dug Hypnotized.
I think today's artists are just as skilled but a CD case is so small!
I always liked the Beautiful Day cover. I remember looking at it as a kid and having it speak to me somehow. Decades later, I got to play with IABD founder violinist David LaFlammeand Doobie Brother bassist Tiran Porter at the Skip Spence (Moby Grape) Memorial concert. The surviving grape members took the stage as well. The San Francisco sound was before my time but what a blast to hear the black light tone live and get to jam with some of its founders. I was in a band with Skip's son Omar Spence at the time.
fave cover of all time is WHipped Cream and other Delights- TJ Brass.
Bret, Janis just about always looked like hell on stage. I understand she felt very uncomfortable in front of crowds, and probably tried too hard under those circumstances. Her best singing was by far in the studio or in very small venues (like the coffee shop).
The old Fleetwood Mac albums were for me almost always 2/3 outstanding and 1/3 what were they thinking. But that's creativity for you. They weren't out to avoid annoying people at all costs. Then Play On is one of their records that is a gem from start to finish.
What fun to play with those musicians. It would be like me getting to play with John Fogerty, but then I understand his music wasn't appreciated much in the San Francisco scene.
Some of my faves over the years have been
Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
Pink Floyd - Animals
Kansas - Leftoverture
Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
David Bowie - Diamond Dogs
Elton John - Captain Fantastic
any of the cover designs by 23 envelope for the 4ad label - bands have included Bauhaus and Dead Can Dance
New Order - Technique - designed by Peter Saville
recently Interpol - our Love to Share
for cheesey, anything by Floyd Cramer
Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece
Nana, you're welcome. That Janis record is great. I love hearing her sing Walk Right In.
Vicky, it wasn't you who had the bad taste, but rather the twisted minds who made that record in the first place. Whew.
In many ways I'm the same as you, Ron...I never started again with several collections I use to have. Once they were gone, that was it. But it is still sad
The cover is black and gray with the singer sitting in a corner with a large picture of a woman's face on one wall. Why I bought it, I don't know. But I played it yesterday and though the music is sad and forlorn about the loss of a relationship, I still like it.
Cynthia, you lived in Leadville? My neck of the woods, almost. People can ask whatever they want for something; as long as someone else is willing to sell it for $3, its worth $3.
Alan, I think the medium can't be blamed for it all. Music went to hell in recent years, unless you listen to The Current, of cours.
I'm BLOODY impressed!
Lloyd
I resisted converting to CDs for a very long time (mid 90's) because I loved vinyl (and the entire package, including the cover and liner notes) so much. I still have about 1000 or so albums and a turntable but I've yet to unpack them since my last move.
That's great Deb! I really like that cover. It's very bop.
Thank you, Lloyd!
Jim Paul, I'm so glad you like the Electric Mud record. I just think it's so damned interesting that someone born into Muddy's circumstances would be making an acid rock record before his days were done. I got to see him in Telluride once. He was pure magic. Howlin' Wolf had nothing on him. Oh, man. Robert Fripp is just amazing. I remember seeing them play Elephant Talk on Saturday Night Live, and several years later I had a radio show where I'd play it at least once a month. They were so hot.
Why, thank you Susan. It's quite an honor.
Janna, isn't that Ray Charles record great? Both Bye Bye Love and You Don't Know Me are marvelous renditions. I only wish our cats would mambo; that would be my meal ticket, if they'd agree to take it on the road. We have some CDs, but I think I may make the leap straight to soft media. Unpack the records! They make such great wallpaper.
I had many of these, until , well, I didn't. I am still looking to replace, "Joe Bird and the Field Hippies". Do you have it? Most folks have never even heard of them.
Actually it was rather techno for the times('69), a fusion of rock and experimental electronics...maybe early moog synthesizer. One of the songs, "The American Metaphysical Circus", was a later album/band title. It was, what we called back in the day "Trippin' music".
"Well, there's gonna be a Freakers' Ball
Tonight
At the freakers' hall.
And you know
You're invited
One and all . . . "
Carol, I almost included the Umaguma cover.
Other than that, you've got a great collection.
The single biggest thing I miss about "albums" is the art work, not only the covers but the posters you could score quite often. YES had some of the wildest fantasy art you've ever seen.
The list is endless, the artwork from the music of the 60s and 70s is priceless.