Black Sabbath Vol. 4 Vertigo Records UK  (Warner Bros. in US/Canada) 1972.  Features several Sabbath classics, such as “Tomorrow’s Dream,” “Snowblind,” “Supernaut” and “Changes.” Eminem uses the song as the basis for his track “Going Through Changes” from his album Recovery.

Here’s a  video of Ozzy’s “end of the road” last concert.

Now , just for fun, check out this brief clip from evangelist Michael Mills’ album about Hidden and Satanic Messages in Rock Music:

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The album cover features a monochrome photograph of Ozzy Osbourne with hands raised, taken during a Black Sabbath concert. The album’s original release features a gatefold sleeve with a page glued into the middle.  Each band member is given their own photo page, with the band on-stage (and photographed from behind) in the center.  The album’s cover art has proved iconic and even Converse shoes released a limited edition of a pair of sneakers with the Vol. 4 cover.

In June 1972, Black Sabbath reconvened in Los Angeles to begin work on their fourth album at the Record Plant Studios.  The recording process was plagued with problems, many due to drug issues. Despite the copious amounts of cocaine, the band produced another first-rate album that pushed the boundaries of heavy metal and would influence countless bands.    As Butler told Guitar World in 2001, “Yeah, the cocaine had set in. We went out to L.A. and got into a totally different lifestyle. Half the budget went on the coke and the other half went to seeing how long we could stay in the studio…We rented a house in Bel-Air and the debauchery up there was just unbelievable.”

At least two songs on the album reference the use of Cocaine.  The lyrics and title of “Snowblind” is an example of this. The song “Snowblind” also had to be re-recorded because the original version features Osbourne yelling the word “cocaine!” after each verse.  On the officially released version, “cocaine” is whispered quite audibly after the first verse, approximately 41 seconds into the song (During live performances Osbourne would again scream the word at the top of his lungs).

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“Songs and Stories About the Justice League of America” starring The Flash, Plastic Man, Metamorpho (The Element Man), Wonder Woman and Aquaman!  And the villians!  Fumo, The Fire Giant; The Plastic Men; Brunhilde; Mr. Big and, my favorite, The Dehydrator (naturally Aquaman hates him).  This is an LP from 1975 on POWER Records, a division of Peter Pan Records.

(12 votes, average: 3.17 out of 5)

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“A Visit With Uncle Al at His Happy Farm & Castle with Mike Tangi & Larry Smith   Jubilee Records

Check out Cracked.com and their recent posting of Unintentionally Terrifying Children’s Album Covers!

(10 votes, average: 3.20 out of 5)

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George Harrison  “All Things Must Pass” Apple Records  (1970)  (I got my copy that year.)  A triple album with the #1 hit “My Sweet Lord,”  “Isn’t It A Pity,” and many other beautiful songs.  Album design and photography:  Tom Wilkes.

Wilkes was partner in a Long Beach advertising firm when he became art director for the 1967 Monterey International Pop Music Festival for which he created all of the graphics and print materials, including the festival’s psychedelic poster that was printed on foil stock.  Music producer Lou Adler, who produced the landmark music festival with singer John Phillips, said Wilkes “caught the spirit of the time” with his festival graphics.  The Monterey pop festival “catapulted” Wilkes’ career into the music industry, his daughter said, beginning as art director at A&M Records.

During his heyday, Wilkes designed or provided the art direction or graphic design for scores of album covers, including designing the covers for the Rolling Stones’ “Beggars Banquet,” Neil Young’s “Harvest,” Eric Clapton’s “Eric Clapton,” Joe Cocker’s “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” and George Harrison’s “Concert for Bangladesh” and “All things Must Pass.”

As he did with many of the albums, Wilkes also shot the cover photo of Joplin for her 1971 “Pearl” album, which shows the flamboyant singer lounging on a settee.  (Their photo session was the night she overdosed.)

In 1973, Wilkes won a Grammy Award for best recording package for the Who’s rock opera “Tommy,” as performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Choir.

Wilkes passed away in 2009.  He was 69 years old.

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(15 votes, average: 3.33 out of 5)

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Low Down and Dirty Richard & Willie   Dooto Records [1967]  Ventriloquist Richard Sandfield and his pal Willie.

(19 votes, average: 3.42 out of 5)

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“Revista Musical NESCAFE” Vol. 1

(20 votes, average: 3.70 out of 5)

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LP COVER LOVER loves this frame made for displaying and hanging your favorite cover art.  I recently got this easy-to-use, affordable and stylish art frame from a company called Rock on Wall Record Frames out of France.  Check it out.   I used mine for The Hanleys  “A Privilege, Lord” on Zion Records.

(19 votes, average: 3.26 out of 5)

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Una Noche en Buenos Aires  Columbia Records Brazil

(21 votes, average: 2.62 out of 5)

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Tammi Terrell  “Irresistible”  Motown Records (1969)  “Irresistible” is a collection of Tammi’s solo releases including “I Cried,” “I Can’t Believe You Love Me” and “Come On And See Me.” “All I Do” which is my favorite Tammi Terrell solo recording, wasn’t released until 2002 in the UK (in the compilation A Cellarful of Motown!).

The song was written for her in 1966 by a sixteen year-old Stevie Wonder (with Clarence Paul and Morris Broadnax), and was recorded that year by Tammi and also by Brenda Holloway (also not released until 2005).  Stevie Wonder finally released his own version on the 1980 album “Hotter Than July.”  (Michael Jackson, Eddie Levert and Walter Williams of the O’Jays, Charie and Ronnie Wilson of The Gap Band and Betty Wright all provided background vocals!)

Tammi began her singing career in 1960.  In 1967, she met Marvin Gaye.  Their eternally beautiful and romantic duets include “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, “Your Precious Love”, “You’re All I Need To Get By”, “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You”, “If This World Were Mine” and “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” !

In late 1967, she collapsed on stage with Marvin and was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.  After eight surgeries failed to save her, Tammi passed away in March of 1970, causing Marvin Gaye to sequester himself from the studio until he returned with “What’s Goin’ On” in 1971.  Worse yet, her illness and death at just 24 years-old prevented her from realizing her potential as a solo artist.  “All I Do” is nice way to remember her.

(26 votes, average: 3.58 out of 5)

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An audio comic book/musical from Archie Comics on Tifton Records with book, music and lyrics by Bean Clayton and Raol Alland  “Idol-ness in Riverdale” (no date on the record – early 70’s?)  The Archie look that I grew up with in the sixties and seventies was the work of pin-up and glamour girl illustrator Dan DeCarlo whose previous cartoons were most seen in the “adult” men’s digests of the Forties and Fifties (with titles like “Humorama”, “Gee-whiz”, “Eyeful of Fun” and “Romp” to name a few).   He toned down his sexy drawings to make the Riverdale teens suitable for young readers, but I’m sure that Betty and Veronica couldn’t help but spark many tween libidos – and Josie and the Pussycats – forget about it.

(21 votes, average: 3.14 out of 5)

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