Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of record covers from the golden age of LPs


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November, 2008

Honey Rock

Juan Garcia Esquivel   “Cabaret Tragico”   RCA Victor Mexico. (1957)   The soundtrack from a Mexican crime drama—his second to last release before heading north to the States. Vocals on five of the tracks by Columba Domínguez, Elsa Cárdenas, Carmen di Lirio, and Kitty de Hoyos.

One of the last and the best of those infamous mexican nightclub melodramas (“Películas de Cabareteras”), it features a stunning noirish cinematography, over-the-top acting by half a dozen of wonderfully weird and wicked latina beauties such as Columba Dominguez and Kitty de Hoyos (looking like a drag queen performing Marilyn Monroe!) plus great -if low budget- musical show clips performed by the mesmerizing Esquivel, the “King of Zu-Zu-Zu”! Another masterpiece from the great (beer-drinking?) director Alfonso “Corona” Blake, who began as an assistant to Luis Bunuel and Emilio “Indio” Fernandez and gave the world some of the finest campy horror- and “Il Santo”-classics.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (72 votes, average: 4.19 out of 5)
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Papa Joe’s A Go-Go

“Live! At Papa Joe’s Northern A Go-Go”   The Starliners

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (58 votes, average: 3.36 out of 5)
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Look up

“Speak Low” Hal Otis and His Orchestra Westminster Hi-Fi. Jayne Mansfield doesn’t have to say anything at all.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (80 votes, average: 4.31 out of 5)
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Hats off

Dr. Seuss’ “The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins”   Paul Wing with Music and Sound Effects.   RCA Victor EP.   Only $.79 for “up to 16 minutes”.   A rare Jim Flora picture sleeve.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (51 votes, average: 2.98 out of 5)
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The music machine

“Kiddin’ on the Keys”   Bengt Hallberg Trio   Karusel Records   Swedish jazz.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (55 votes, average: 3.96 out of 5)
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Surfing bird

“Surf Ride”   Savoy   Featuring Art Pepper and an all-star west coast jazz band.   (1954)   Another example of incongruous cover art.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (50 votes, average: 3.60 out of 5)
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Pick it up in space?

George Otis “How to Receie the Gift of the Holy Spirit”   Bible Voice Records

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (61 votes, average: 3.87 out of 5)
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They kicked Pluto out

“The Planets”

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (59 votes, average: 3.90 out of 5)
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Lady of the lei

Hawaii Hi-Fi

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (76 votes, average: 4.29 out of 5)
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Stir it up!

“Bill’s Recipes”   Bill Le Sage (Accordion, Piano, Vibes) and his band.   SAGA Records

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (50 votes, average: 3.94 out of 5)
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